A Range Rover that inspires self confidence.

Range Rovers have been modified quite extensively by aftermarket companies from around the world, ranging from the tasteful OEM-look to the outrageous and extravagant. The new Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE might fall into the latter partially because of its exterior color scheme that’s supposed to inspire self confidence, along with its impressive widebody kit.

The Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE is nothing short of eye-catching because of its color scheme. The body of the Range Rover wears a high-gloss, mirror-like pink paint while the roof sports a brushed matte pink finish.

Even without the shimmering pink paint, the Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE is a head-turner thanks to its new body kit. The kit starts up front with a new bumper with larger, more complex air intakes, a new spoiler, and integrated LED daytime running lights. A new carbon fiber hood with power bulge and vents allude to the power hidden beneath it and improve cooling in the engine bay. But the most exciting part of the new Range Rover is its four-part widebody kit that extends the width of the SUV by 80 mm total. The kit includes new front fenders made from handmade carbon fiber GFK composite, side skirts, door fixtures, and rear wing panels. At the rear, a new skirt integrates the new tailpipes milled from a single block of metal and incorporates the new sport muffler.

Even the chassis was tuned for sport and style. Hamann Motorsport can equip the Range Rover with either 23-inch three-piece Edition Race forged wheels with a polished rim flange and titan bolts or one-piece, 23-inch Unique Forged wheels, each paired up with 305/30/23 Continental tires. The suspension is also lowered by 40 mm to create a more athletic appearance and improve handling.

Beneath the vented carbon fiber hood sits a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine that will be given a tune by the Hamann Motorsport engineers in the near future. As of now, however, things remain the same as far as output goes, but it is still more than enough to make the MYSTÈRE get up and go.

Inside, customers will be given a wide array of options thanks to the in-house upholstery department. Hamann logos will be worn by the velour floor mats, door sill trims, and other parts, while customers can choose from an array of custom leather, alcantara, double-clear coat finishes, carbon fiber, stainless steel, aluminum, and other materials to create a unique interior atmosphere.

The Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE Range Rover is available to customers and will be available with an engine tune in the future.

Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE Range Rover Specifications

Wheels, Tires, and Suspension:
Wheels: 23-inch three-piece Edition Rave or one-piece Unique Forged
Tires: Continental 305/30/23
Suspension: Electronic lowering module; 40 mm lower

Exterior:
-Mirror-finish, high-gloss pink paint with matte brushed pink roof
-New front bumper with integrated spoiler and LED lighting
-Carbon fiber hood with vents and power bulge
-Carbon fiber GFK composite front fenders; 80 mm wider
-Carbon fiber side skirts
-Carbon fiber door fixtures
-Carbon fiber rear fender panels
-Rear spoiler with integrated end pipes milled from single block of metal

Interior:
-Hamann logo on velour floor mats and door entry sills
-Custom leather, alcantara, stitching, carbon fiber, stainless steel, double-clear-coat, aluminum components and finishes

Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE Range Rover Gallery

[Source: Hamann Motorsport]

Would you drive the Hamann Motorsport MYSTÈRE Range Rover with its pink paint scheme?

Entire Article: The new Hot Pink Hamann Motorsport Range Rover “MYSTÈRE”

Yup, that’ll buff right out.

Owning a sports car or a super car is something to be proud of. Owners often take care of them, wash them, perform preventative maintenance on them, and keep them pristine, more so than a “normal” car. Every once in a while it’s always a good idea to get it detailed to keep it looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor. One Ferrari 458 Italia owner in the UK left his car to get detailed by a mobile detailer, but it wasn’t that clean when they got it back.

According to Nancy Atkinson Turner, one of her ex-valeters (aka car detailer) had a Ferrari 458 Italia and totaled it while it was being cleaned. Apparently, Turner believes that the valeter had turned off traction control and due to the wet road, caused the Ferrari to spin-out and crash.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a total loss, and because he’s a detailer we can say “that’ll buff right out.” Common sense dictates that you would not think to drive any customer’s car unless you’re moving it in the wash. There is no reason to take the car out for a joyride! Big FAIL on you, Mr. Valeter. Good luck getting business after this accident.

[Source: Jalopnik, Nancy AtkinsonTurner Twitter]

What would you do if your Ferrari 458 Italia was totaled while getting detailed? 

Entire Article: Friday FAIL: Where Detailers Wreck Your Ferrari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Dv3lqxH6I

Getting some runs in before the big show.

Pikes Peak is right around the corner and after the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak was outfitted with its racing livery, the team was ready for testing with Sebastian Loeb behind the wheel.

At Mont Ventoux, France, the race team put the 875 bhp racecar through its paces in preparation for making the trip across the pond to the Colorado mountain.

The new Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak sounds just as good as it looks and has us very excited to see if the world’s best rally driver can take this no holds barred racecar to the top of Pikes Peak and set a new record. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for this footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKEmE7-wpSM

[Source: RallyExara YouTube Channel]

What do you think of the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak on video?

Entire Article: Let’s go testing with Sebastian Loeb in the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak – Video

Going for Gold.

Porsche Design and their partnership with Blackberry has resulted in some pretty interesting and special mobile phones for the past couple of years. Whether you’re a Blackberry fan or not, there’s some pedigree behind the phone as the P‘9981 model has won the prized “red dot” award for the “best of the best 2013″ for design quality, and “Smartphone of the year 2012″ by the Plus X Award team. Now the Porsche Design team is looking to take the smartphone a step further with the super-exclusive P‘9981 Gold Blackberry.

The Porsche Design P‘9981 Gold Blackberry wears a stainless steel case with a gold-colored titanium coating, and then finished with a 24-carat gold layer. The QWERTY keyboard is tailored specifically for the new gold case that decorates the smartphone while the back wears hand-wrapped leather. A special limited-edition number is engraved into the case on the camera cover, and is milled from a solid block of 24-carat gold.

Under the hood of the P‘9981 Gold Blackberry is a 1.2 GHz processor and sensors that support various augmented reality experiences instead of the traditional flat-six engine that powers Porsche models. An 8GB built-in storage capacity along with a 16 GB Micro SD card will come standard with a total of 40 GB of storage available as an option. The Porsche Design P‘9981 Gold Blackberry will be capable of capturing HD video and feature Liquid Graphics technology utilizing a 24-bit graphic display and crystal-clear touchscreen.

Each Porsche Design P‘9981 Gold Blackberry will come with a unique Blackberry PIN number with the prefix “22A” to notify others that the phone is a Porsche Design P‘9981. Other features include the advanced Blackberry internet browser and Wikitude ‘augmented reality’ world browser.

Only 25 P‘9981 Gold Blackberry models will be made available at select Porsche Design stores starting June 2013. Pricing has not been released.

Porsche Design P‘9981 Gold Blackberry Gallery

[Source: Porsche Design]

What do you think of the Porsche Design P‘9981 Gold Blackberry?

Entire Article: Porsche Design gets Exclusive with the new P‘9981 Gold Blackberry

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a car that has introduced such innovations as voice recognition, active cruise control and anti-lock brakes, is a showcase of future technologies. It is a car that makes all other cars better. Mercedes – never one to shy away from the spotlight – has turned the world’s attention to itself once again with the premier of the new 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class.

Since its inception, you could always recognize an S-Class immediately; a tradition that continues with the 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class. I personally always believed that the 2005 model was the best looking supreme ‘Benz. The new car is reminiscent of that fluid design. The radiator grille is now larger and has substantial presence. With a long hood, sweeping roofline and gently slanting rear end, the new S-Class has classic saloon proportions. The S-Class looks prestigious and powerful. In the old movies, someone would jump into a cab and yell: “Follow that car!” This is that car.

The new car of kings is also 300 lbs. lighter than the one it replaces (4442 lbs.) Making it easier for the 455-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V-8 and eight-speed automatic to provide rapid transit for Sheiks, Sultans and Titans of industry.

In the past, the short wheelbase car was always the main focus of design -not so with this generation. Since Asian and European markets prefer chauffeur-driven cars and North American and European cars are owner-driven., it made more sense to design a large car and produce a small car from it.

As with every one before it, the S-Class is a car of firsts.

The first car to use LED lighting for both interior and exterior lighting. Not a single bulb lights the new car. Loaded S-Class sedans will feature lighting from nearly 500 LEDs, including about 300 LEDs in the interior. The LED can be lit in seven colors with five dimming levels and four dimming zones

The 2014 S-Class is touted as the first vehicle to incorporate a hot stone massage system.

The new S-Class is the world’s first car to be able to detect imperfections on the road ahead and instantly adjust the suspension accordingly . ROAD SURFACE SCAN and MAGIC BODY CONTROL work hand-in-hand with full air suspension and damping systems to float this car along much like the A310 Airbus whose factory it was introduced in.

Mercedes’ DISTRONIC PLUS ( with Steering Assist and Stop and Go Pilot) system uses on-board cameras and radar sensors to detect lane markings and other vehicles. This system is capable of navigating some turns and autonomous piloting. You guessed it! This is the first car that can drive itself.

We have before us a plethora of electronic controls used solely for the purposes of comfort, convenience and efficiency. Two 12.3-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display screens convey information. An Enhanced Voice Control System and Premium Audio System are standard, along with FrontBass speaker technology. Ventilated seats have four fans in the cushion and two in the backrest. Rear seat belt buckles that only appear when the doors are open and heated armrests are standard fare on the new 2014 Mercedes S-Class.

Order the optional RearSeat package, and the S-Class provides individual rear seats separated by a large console with extra storage, collapsible tables, and cupholders that keep beverages warm or cold. Safety features include inflatable rear seat belts, which can reduce strain on the occupants’ ribcages in a collision, and an inflatable cushion designed to keep reclined rear-seat passengers from sliding under the seat belt in a crash. There are enough luxury touches to make you forget there ever was a Maybach.

The car will arrive in September, first as the 2014 S550 model with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive (2WD or AWD). Later an S500 Plug-In Hybrid will be made available and, of course, there will be a high-performance S63 version.

Today, you can have a Hyundai Elantra that parks itself. A decade ago, that was the stuff of science fiction and cartoons. With such things as interior perfuming and computer-controlled headlights, Mr. Zetsche made sure the package was as impressive as the presentation. In 10 years time, many of these breakthroughs will be available to the masses, thanks to the meticulous engineers at Mercedes-Benz and their out-of-the-box thinking.

The BMW 7-Series and Audi A8 now have a longer, lower, wider and more athletic S-Class to deal with. They also must roll up their sleeves and begin to design smarter flagships that can see and feel. So many models have benefitted from the trickle-down technologies of Mercedes-Benz. They were never meant for us but became passe’ to the moguls they were designed for. The 2014 Mercedes Benz S-Class has not only excelled beyond its current company technologies, it has surpassed the industry as a whole.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gallery

12►

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Is the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class the most innovative executive sedan in the industry?

Entire Article: Mr. Success…Your Chariot Awaits: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r46D1lRpO1k

Pick up the sticks and let’s race!

In case you missed it, Xbox One was just announced and it can do everything from play television to refill your Red Bull Gam3r Fu3l while you play COD and scream at other gamers using a vocabulary that would shock even the most foul-mouthed of scoundrels.

The new Xbox One may boast an impressive list of technology designed to give users the best experience and give PlayStation 4 a run for its money, but us gearheads are excited for something else that they announced during the launch – Forza Motorsport 5!

The latest in the popular Forza Motorsport series will offer “drivers” an even more exciting experience using cloud computing to provide a rich gaming experience that stops just short of smelling the rubber you just burned. Actually gameplay will be shown during E3 next month so stay tuned!

The new Forza Motorsport 5 will only be available on Xbox One, leaving out all of the Xbox 360 owners.

[Source: Microsoft]

Are you excited for the new Forza Motorsports 5 or are you a GranTurismo fan?

Entire Article: Time for some Forza Motorsport 5 on the Xbox One – Trailer

Ford Raptor Fun for Everyone!

The Ford Raptor is one of those badass trucks that can take a beating and give one too, whether it’s on- or off-road. The only real downside to the truck is that can seat five people, with four of those being considered “comfortable”. The team at Hennessey Performance wanted more people to enjoy the truck’s performance, so they created the eight-passenger VelociRaptor SUV.

“Over the past three years we have built nearly 400 upgraded Raptor trucks for enthusiasts around the world”, said Don Goldman, CEO of Hennessey Performance. “We are now very excited to be able to offer the VelociRaptor SUV to those who like the Raptor but want more seats and space.”

The conversion retains all of the mechanical components and electrical systems of the Ford F-150 Raptor that it is based on, including the 6.2-liter V-8 engine pumping out 411 bhp. As an option, customers will be able to have the VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged upgrade that bumps power output all the way up to 600 bhp. Numerous other options such as Brembo front brakes, larger wheels and tires, LED lighting, custom interior and electronics, as well as security systems and armoring are also available.

The Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor SUV weighs in at 600 lbs. more than the stock Raptor, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds with the standard engine. SUVs with the VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged upgrade see a drop in acceleration times down to 5.9 seconds.

The Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor SUV has not been tested for off-road usage like the truck it is based off of, so it is suggested that drivers keep things to moderate to light off-road duties. “Don’t plan on pre-running Baja or negotiating Rubicon with our SUV – that is not why we built it”, said company founder, John Hennessey. But, if you’re looking for the ultimate vehicle to drive from Aspen to Telluride in January, the VelociRaptor SUV would be perfect.”

The new Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor SUV will start at $149,500 and be limited to just 30 units per year, with other upgrades available at an additional cost.

Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor Gallery

12►

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Is the Hennessey Performance VelociRaptor the ultimate performance SUV?

Entire Article: Hennessey Performance Gives Us the Eight Passenger VelociRaptor SUV

Sharp looks with 600 ponies.

The Audi R8 has been an icon in the German automaker’s lineup since it was introduced as a car that paid homage to the brand’s racing victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The newly-facelifted version of the super car takes the modern design direction of Audi a step further and now the team at ABT Sportsline is looking to take the driving experience to another level.

Sitting behind the driver and passenger is a 5.2-liter V-10 engine spitting out 525 horsepower in stock form. That’s usually enough to put a smile on your face, but the folks at ABT Sportsline wanted more. The 5.2-liter V-10 was equipped with a new weight-optimized stainless steel exhaust system with quad tips to expel an exciting sound. The engine was then given the ABT Power treatment that ups power all the way up to 600 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque, sending the R8 to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds and to a top speed of 199 mph – just short of the 200 mph barrier.

With the ABT Audi R8 V10 being capable of easily reaching triple-digit speeds, the German tuner had to optimize the aerodynamics to improve stability without adding weight. They opted for a full, visible carbon fiber body kit that adds style and aids performance. The fascia of the Audi R8 benefits from a new front skirt that increases downforce and a set of intake grilles that flank a new ABT center grille. A pair of weight-optimized side skirts adds a dynamic style to the side profile and run to the rear where a large rear wing and bumper fascia sits. The bumper features a three-dimensional outlet design and diagonally-stacked exhaust tips for a clean and custom look.

The final touch for the ABT Sportsline Audi R8 5.2 was the chassis, where the German tuner again, optimized the car for weight and performance. The chassis benefits from either a set of suspension springs for V-10 models or a height-adjustable coilovers for models with the V-8 engine. Both options provide a more dynamic ride quality and improved center of gravity. Customers can also choose from 9.0 x 19 and 11.0 x 19 CR alloy or ER-F lightweight forged wheels paired up with 235/35 and 305/30 R19 performance tires.

The new Audi R8 by ABT Sportsline is currently available with all of the upgrades as a complete package or individual accessories. Pricing for the modifications has not been released.

ABT Sportsline Audi R8 5.2 Specifications

Engine:
Displacement: 5.2 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-10
Aspiration: Naturally-aspirated
Maximum Horsepower: 600
Maximum Torque: 405.6 lb-ft. (5550 Nm)
-ABT Power tuning
-Weight-optimized stainless steel exhaust

Wheels, Tires, and Suspension:
Wheels: ABT CR or ER-F lightweight forged alloy
Front Wheels: 9.0 x 19
Rear Wheels: 11.0 x 19
Front Tires: 235/35 R19
Rear Tires: 305/30 R19
Suspension: Suspension springs (V-10) or Coilovers (V-8)

Exterior:
-Carbon fiber front skirt with new intake grilles and spoiler
-Carbon fiber front grille
-Carbon fiber side skirts
-Carbon fiber rear spoiler wing
-Carbon fiber rear skirt

[Source: ABT Sportsline]

What do you think of the design and power output of the ABT Sportsline Audi R8 5.2?

Entire Article: ABT Sportsline Takes on the new Audi R8 5.2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu2cJsvkDoE

Oh that V-10!

The Lexus LFA is nothing short of an amazing car with a great story of engineering and development behind it. It may not be the fastest or the most powerful super car on the market, but it’s packed with all sorts of new and exciting technology and has a beautiful V-10 beneath its hood.

The Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition is even more exciting as it packs an extra 10 bhp for a total of 563 bhp, a recalibrated transmission, lightweight wheels and new tires, and new aerodynamics to make it speed through tracks even quicker.

Thanks to NM2255, we have a dual-view of one Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition as it drives around the F1 circuit at Monza spitting out all sorts of beautiful V-10 exhaust notes.

[Source: NM2255 YouTube Channel]

What track would you like the drive the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition on?

Entire Article: Watch the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition Conquer Monza!