Scion tC by Ron English at SEMA 2007

When Scion released their 'blank canvas' tC Spec Package it was just a matter of time untill this would happen. Don't get us wrong we're all for tuning and personilizing your car, after all we're not living in an Orwellian world, but there is such a concept as too much of a good thing. Ron English has gone above and beyond with his Scion tC, which is on display at SEMA this week. The car is painted in a custom purple paint and has electroluminescent lighting animated yin-yang-ish artwork by Ron English splattered all over the car. To top things off, the car sits on 19 inch custom (and hopefully one-off) billet wheels by Coddington. The windows are covered in a Rabbit Holes hologram depicting some kind of alien, three-eyed bunny.

EXTERIOR

• 19" custom billet wheels by Coddington Wheels
• 245/35/19 fk452 tires by Falken Tire
• 1 3/4" lowering springs by Eibach Springs
• Custom House of Colors purple pearl paint by Franks Autobody
• Custom hologram images by Rabbit Holes
• Custom electroluminescent lighting animating Ron English's ying-yang artwork by Lit Media Group
• Smoked lighting by Franks Autobody

INTERIOR

• Custom two-tone leather interior with Ron English artwork embroidered in the head rests by Bill Dunn Upholstery

Interior accent painting by Franks Autobody

Custom car design and coordination by Robert Wilson

Halloween Subaru Impreza WRX at SEMA

Subaru of America will showcase the all-new Impreza and Impreza WRX models during the SEMA show, with a collection of tuned 4 and 5-door 2008 models, including a Halloween themed Impreza WRX and the original Subaru performance icon, the 1998 Impreza 22B.

Show display cars include:

Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) WRX 5-door with engine work by AEM. Boasting 450 HP, this ultimate WRX features extensive engine tuning parts including; programmable engine management system, AIT and Map sensor, Harman Motive GT35R Turbo kit, STI (Subaru Technica International) 6-speed transmission and STI Twin Plate clutch. The interior features Sparco seats and harnesses, a full roll cage and custom gauges. Prodrive 18-inch GTI wheels provide a more menacing appearance to match the performance potential. This vehicle showcases the tuning potential provided by the tried and true combination of Subaru Symmetrical AWD and the turbocharged flat four boxer engine. Just a hint of what will be available in the aftermarket for the WRX.

Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) WRX 5-door outfitted with signature SPT cat-back exhaust system, cold air intake, turbo heat shield and battery tie-down. The car has STI springs, 18-inch STI wheels and various STI interior and exterior styling and performance features.

Subaru Rally Team USA prototype WRX 5-door to be campaigned in the 2008 season by SRTUSA rally driver Ken Block and 2006 and 2007 Rally America National Champion, Travis Pastrana. Featuring an all-new paint scheme, extensive carbon fiber racing parts and a rally-ready 2.0-liter Boxer race engine developing approximately 325 HP and 425 lb.-ft. of torque.

Happy Halloween. This one-of-a kind WRX 5-door “Ten Thirty-One” car by Subaru features Halloween lighting effects to the headlights, taillights, wheel openings, front grille and undercarriage all wrapped in a Halloween-themed orange and black body.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan by Sport Compact Car Magazine. The new SCC project car features SPT cat-back exhaust system and turbo heat shield, Crawford Performance downpipe and I-Speed USA ECU, AP Racing front four-piston big brake kit, 13-inch two-piece front brake rotors, rear two-piston big brake kit with 13-inch rear brake rotors. The interior features a Pioneer Electronics stereo and Sparco seats. A custom flat-black paint job offset by unique white painted Prodrive 18-inch wheels that announce this as an SCC project car.

Kicker Impreza 2.5i sedan equipped with a full line of Kicker car audio equipment including Kicker RS56.2 - 4 sets, ZX650.4 – 2, ZX1500.1 – 2, CVX10 4ohm – 6, Stinger SP1000 – 1, SP800 – 3 and 2 Clarion VMA7196 7” monitors highlighting an Xbox360 Elite. Bodywork incorporates the latest in STI accessories, with STI sport springs and carbon fiber body kit.

The limited production 1998 Impreza 22B STI Coupe developed to commemorate 40 years of Subaru and celebrate the Subaru World Rally Team’s third World Rally Championship (WRC) Manufacturers title. Subaru produced just 400 of these legendary cars for the Japanese market and only 24 cars for the rest of the world. Three non-numbered cars were built for competition in the WRC and driven by the late Colin McRae.

2008 MINI Clubman Greets America

North America rolled out the welcome mat for the 2008 MINI Clubman today amidst news of the new model's pricing in the U.S. A MINI Clubman (or MINI Cooper Clubman) will cost $20,600, while a Cooper S Clubman will go for $24,100, inclusive of destination charges.

That price reflects a modest step up from the Cooper and Cooper S, which go for $1,900 and $2,250 less in the states. The 2008 convertibles will still cost more than the Clubman, at $22,600 and 26,050.

MINI claims the Clubman opens up a "totally-new market segment," but in reality the Clubman is still a small sedan. An interestingly designed sedan, but a sedan nonetheless.

The five-door Clubman is laid out with two passenger-side doors - one of which is a suicide door called the "Clubdoor" - two rear doors, and one driver-side doors. The wheelbase on the Clubman is over three inches longer than that of the Cooper, helping to give significantly more room for rear passengers. Family's with two young children will find the Clubman to be a somewhat reliable option, as it will be a bit easier to get child safety seats in and out. Unfortunately, the lack of a door behind the driver may still be a put off for these buyers.

With split-rear doors at the back, MINI Clubman owners will find it easier to load and unload bulky items into the boot, although a hatchback with a higher placed hinge may have connected this model with the Cooper a little more. Still, with significantly more room in the boot, and a body length over 9 inches longer than the Cooper, the Clubman seems to be a solid option for anyone who feels as though they have outgrown their MINI.

The American market is a very important one for MINI, which saw 150,000 sales in its first five years. This may be the single biggest problem with the car: will it only be bought by current and former MINI Cooper owners, or will MINI be able to attract new customers with the Clubman?

Airborne Mini Coupe Tuning

A small Englishman called Mini Cooper is often a target of many tuners. A designer Joe Iacono and Rick Leos, a famous hot-rodder from Autocraft of Torrance in South California like small, but cute vehicles, so they’ve taken one Mini Cooper to a garage.

So these gentlemen has done one modification named Mini Cooper S Cabrio R53, but now they want to know what amount of power under the hood can this tiny car handle. So they’ve focused to its stuff under the hood.

So the first thing done was modifications of head cylinders on the Mini’s 1.6 four cylinder engine.
Of course, the performance tuning like this need better camshafts, tuned lead-ins and modified exhaust system. Also there’s new turbocharger and heavy duty intercooler. These ingredients boost the engine to some 300hp.

It’s pity that there’s no closer info about its top speed, acceleration and other interesting stuff. This power engine must do miracles in case of the light-weight Mini.

So the R56’s design looks exactly as the previous R53. A sporting bodykit bringing some muscles is a work of Joe Iacon. It’s not very aggressive, but decent with a sense for pure lines.

And if you combine the bodykit with beautiful black rims with red hem and vented brake discs under; the best warrior mix is here to attract all nearby eyes. And the Englishman looks great!

And what about its interior? The whole interior includes black leather upholstery with red stitches all around and it’s a great choice. Everyone who enters the car knows that it’s in the Airborne, because all Mini badges were removed and replaced with Airborne ones.

If you like this Mini and want to own this nice car in your garage don’t wait too long. There’ll be only 100 models available, but there’s a great chance that you’ll have the only Airborne in your county.

Volvo Develops 'Green' C30 Racer For STCC

Volvo Car Corporation will develop an entirely new racing car based on the compact C30, and Volvo will continue to work with bioethanol (E85) and Green Racing in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Volvo Cars has committed to a three-year development program for the C30.

"The decision to leave this year's racing car, a Volvo S60, was fairly simple. The Volvo C30 is a somewhat smaller and more agile car with excellent driving characteristics, even in the standard version," says Derek Crabb, head of Powertrain and Engine at Volvo Cars and the man recently appointed to lead Volvo's Racing Department.

"Our decision to continue racing is based on the positive attention and the good results that the recently concluded STCC season has meant for Volvo's brand," says Crabb.

The C30 is a far more logical base as a racing car than is the S60. The C30 clearly demonstrates Volvo's environmental technology available on the market, with versions such as the Flexifuel and the upcoming 1.6D Efficiency. The Volvo 1.6D Efficiency has an average fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km (62 mpg-imperial) and CO2 emissions under 120 grams per kilometre.

"Development of the new racing car will be done jointly by Volvo Cars and Polestar Racing, which has successfully handled our participation in STCC for several years. However, it is currently too soon to provide any detailed information about the construction of the new car. The objective, on the other hand, is clear - Volvo will develop a winning car," Crabb concludes.

VOLVO C30 E85 FIA SUPER 2000
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Body:
A standard C30 body reinforced by a safety cage and side impact protection on the driver's side, developed in collaboration with Caran

Aerodynamics:
Front splitter (the lower section of the bumper) and a rear spoiler wing developed by Polestar in Volvo's wind tunnel.

Engine:
An aluminium, transversely mounted, 5-cylinder, inline, four-valve, 1999cc engine.
Only minor modifications are permitted on the cylinder block and cylinder heads, while valves, cam shafts, pistons, connecting rods, and the crankshaft have been replaced by racing-specific components.

Oil: Castrol 5W-30

Power/torque: 215kW+ at 8750 rpm - approx 230Nm at 7300rpm.

Fuel: E85

Exhaust system:
Stainless steel with catalytic emission controls, specially manufactured by Ferrita

Driveline:
6-speed sequential gearbox with straight-cut gears, manufactured by Hewland. Front-wheel drive
Mechanical differential with a torque-controlled ramper and friction discs.
SACHS 184mm two-disc carbon fibre clutch
Oil: Castrol TWS 10W-60.

Weight: Minimum weight 1134kg including driver (58-60 kg)

Front wheel suspension:
Öhlin's struts developed with Polestar. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-sway bar

Rear wheel suspension:
Multilink with coil springs and Öhlin's dampers. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-sway bar

Front brakes:
Performance Friction
Four-piston callipers with radial and axial ventilated discs 332x32mm

Rear brakes:
Alcon two-piston callipers with axial ventilated discs 290x10mm.

Steering:
Servo-assisted rack and pinion

Wheels:
17x10-inch BBS wheels

Tyres:
Michelin 17-inch slicks (no tread) or grooved rain tyres

First Photos of John Cooper Works MINI Clubman

Drawing on its three-doored sibling for inspiration, the Clubman by JCW incorporates a new front bumper, (redundant) air scoop, carbon fibre mirrors and new exhaust tips. A unique stripe design has been applied, stretching from above the grille and over the bonnet, while it continues double-striped over the rear. Red brake callipers feature under extra light-weight 18-inch alloy wheels, for more precise road handling ability.

Power is expected to be hiked to near 215 hp from the MINI's 1.6-litre tubrocharged unit, in line with that of the JCW Cooper S hatchback. Torque is to rise to around 200 lb.-ft.

Further modifications such as carbon fibre instruments and switchgear can be expected, while an F1-style light on the instrument cluster indicating optimum gear shift time is also likely to feature. Stay tuned for more details ahead of the car's debut at Geneva next Spring.

Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster Make North American Debuts

The new SLR Roadster is a soft-top sports car heralding the hallowed SLR of the fifties, which was the basis for generations of high-performance touring cars. And so the open-top version returns with a car - although based very much on the SLR Coupe and its concept of optimum weight distribution - that has undergone a series of changes with over 500 new or revised components. Revisions include that of the now-frameless swing-wing doors, boot lid, rear wings, A-pillars and windscreen surround.

Performance comes from a powerful AMG-supercharged V8 engine, placed just behind the front axle to optimise the distribution of weight. Outputting 626 hp, excellent road-holding characteristics are achieved, with a top speed of 206 mph and acceleration to 62 mph from standstill in just 3.8 seconds.

Despite losing its roof to the elements, the SLR Roadster does not leave its supercar-owning occupants compromising on comfort nor practicality. The roof is triple layered to ensure excellent insulation and high levels of comfort even in poor weather. Maximum speeds are permitted even with the roof raised due to its rigid structure, its contours shifting by only a few millimetres at 200 mph. The soft- top is available in three fabric colours - anthracite-black, red-black and beige-black - allowing for high levels of combination with exterior colours and interior trims.