Archive for the ‘Accessories’ Category
September 2nd, 2010 | 
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One of the most iconic engines will be getting an upgrade. Subaru’s flat “boxer” four-cylinder motor that is used in most of their products will be getting a 20th birthday present in the form of a new flat four that will debut in the Forester.
The motor that will be in the Forester will be connected to a CVT transmission, most likely the same one that we find in the Outback and the Legacy.
The motors will likely be around 2.0 and 2.5-liters and we would expect there to be many different variations on the new boxer. We can expect a turbocharged version, direct injection versions, and maybe even a hybrid version. According to Japan’s Nikkei Sangyo daily, the motors will be 10 percent more fuel-efficient and will be offered on all of Subaru’s more popular models.
We would expect the new Forester to get around 23 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway when equipped with the new flat four and the CVT transmission.
Subaru To Bring Out New Flat Four Motors originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 September 2010 10:30 EST.
We’ve all been there; riding along in your lowered ride, enjoying the day, when all of a sudden – Thump, Scraaaaaape. Another victim of that darn speed bump. It’s moments like these that make the driver wish he had a higher car. And it’s situations like these that have made TechArt got to the trouble of preparing a new noselift system that can offer 60 mm of additional height at the front spoiler. This system can be applied to models like the Porsche Boxster, the Cayman, and the 911.
The TechArt Noselift System is activated by a convenient little button located in the roof console of the Boxster and in the center console of the Cayman. The noselift system, including that convenient little button, is installed with EMC-safe electronic control units and vehicle-specific wiring harnesses. High performance test procedures are followed to ensure that, when that button is pressed, the car smoothly and silently adjusts its height to a safer level for those nasty little speed bumps and ramps.
Press release after the jump.
TechArt offers new Noselift System for Porsche Boxster and Cayman originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 1 September 2010 09:00 EST.
Posted in Accessories, Porsche, Porsche 911, Porsche Boxster, TechArt, car tuning, porsche Cayman | 
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British tuner, Superchips, has decided that diesel engines can be just as much fun as their petrol counterparts, so they decided to do a little reconfiguring for BMW’s 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine that powers models like the BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6.
Superchips was able to increase the power of the diesel engine by 44hp at 4183 rpm and 90 Nm of torque at just 2222 rpm. This brings the total output to 313hp and 627Nm of torque. In order to accomplish this task, Superchips had to perform a remap of the engine while taking into consideration the “careful optimization of fueling and turbo boost settings”. According to Superchips, this reconfiguration allows for a sharper throttle response, a keener, more urgent engine, a harder pull throughout the rev range.
The BMW 3.0 D ECU remap is priced at £445.00 and comes with a 12 month/30,000 mile supplementary vehicle warranty.
Press release after the jump.
Superchips upgrades BMW’s 3.0D engine for various models originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 23:00 EST.
Posted in Accessories, BMW, BMW 3-Series, BMW 5-Series, BMW 7-Series, BMW X6, bmw X5, car tuning |
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There are a lot of things in this world that you can have to show your love for cars, but nothing screams that fact more than bringing home a desk that has been made to look like the rear end of a Chevrolet Corvette.
Really, anybody who calls themselves a card-carrying member of the auto enthusiast club should have one of these desks at home or at the workplace. Die-cast models? Old news, people. These desks are what it’s all about now.
Made from the highest-grade material that takes an intricate amount of intensive labor to accomplish, these desks detail the rear of the car of your choice, down to the working lights, as well as tail light lenses, stainless steel exhaust pipes, and even custom vanity plates. More than that, these desks can also be customized to come with solid wood construction, handmade billet aluminum engraved knobs, and a customized paint finish depending on your taste buds.
The only downside to this remarkable auto desk is the price tag that’s attached with it, which, in this case, comes at a jaw-dropping $1950 to $3100. But, hey, if you really want to let everyone know your love for the automobile, these M6 desks are about as extravagant as you can get without buying an actual car.
Corvette-inspired desk is a must-have for anyone who loves cars originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 28 August 2010 12:00 EST.
At Pebble Beach, Jaguar unveiled the XJ75 Platinum, a concept that is said to preview the R version of the XJ luxury sedan. That you knew already, but today we are going to talk about an important feature offered with the concept: a bespoke mechanical clock created by British watch brand Bremont. Coincidentally, this is the first time the company creates a clock for a car, but when Jaguar asks, people tend to do what they want.
Bremont’s co-founder Giles English said: “Jaguar is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of luxury cars and a great British brand. We are very proud to have been asked to make this clock for their XJ75 car and were keen to make something different for Jaguar. As such rather than a quartz clock we have created a beautiful mechanical clock that also has a chronograph function.”
The clock is distinguished by a black and white color theme that flows well with the
Satin Matte Pearlescent White exterior color and dark chrome or gloss black exterior chrome elements.
Giles Taylor, Jaguar chief designer for the car said:”“Our design teams talk a similar language when it comes to clean cut form with a sharp, sporting edge. The XJ75 Bremont clock design has superb functional clarity in its detailing and this is combined with a beautifully crafted outer metal bezel that suggests strength and longevity.”
Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept car clock by Bremont originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 August 2010 11:00 EST.
Giuliano Mazzuoli has unveiled a special edition Contagiri Watch inspired by the legendary Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione model. It comes in white gold and carbon fiber and will be limited to 500 units. But, before you buy, you should know that they are exclusively reserved for the fortunate owners of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.
This watch is like no other in which the number setup is quite unorthodox. It is setup up to look like a gauge in a car where the zero is at the southernmost point of the watch with the one-hand moving in an arc of 270°. When the hand gets to the 12, it repositions itself back to the zero position where you will find the historic green four-leaf clover symbol.
The Alfa Romeo Contagiri 8C Competizione watch has a 44mm stainless steel and black diamond-like-carbon (DLC), automatic mechanical movement, and a black rubber strap with matching metal buckle. It will be limited to only 500 units and each piece will come in a watch box covered in smooth calfskin leather and reptile stamped by master Florentine artisan leather workers.
Contagiri 8C Competizione Watch originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 23:00 EST.
Prospective owners of the new Lexus LF-A will have something to cheer about as the company, in collaboration with US-based travel bag and suitcase manufacturer Tumi, is set to release a line of travel cases exclusively for the supercar.
The two-piece luggage set is set to come with the LF-A in a number of select markets, including Europe and America.
The two Tumi cases were created using materials like aluminum and carbon fiber, two materials that are predominantly used in the actual supercar. What’s more, the cases will also carry the corresponding vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car that comes with it. The two cases, a smaller case that could be used for light travel and a bigger case that can be used for longer travels, were also designed to snuggly fit into the trunk of the LF-A.
All 500 models will be produced 20-at-a-time per month with the supercar, together with the cases, set to be delivered to its customers beginning at the early part of next year.
Lexus releases exclusive LF-A luggage collection originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 20:00 EST.
At the end of 2009, Parmigiani unveiled the Bugatti Tourbillon Watch inspired by the 16 C Galibier concept. This particular watch could be used as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, or could even be mounted on the dash of the owner’s Bugatti. Pretty classy, huh? Well, it seems that Parmigiani are at it again ,and this time they have unveiled a new watch inspired by the latest Veyron Super Sport. This doesn’t necessarily surprise us considering the Bugatti is a record-breaking machine that deserves a timepiece modeled after it, but they better get it produced soon as the sizzle might fizzle once the Koenigsegg Agera completes its task of breaking the Bugatti’s record.
But back to the timepiece. Parmigiani has played with the shape of this watch to make it as exclusive and daring as the Veyron SuperSport itself. The watch has a partially carbon fiber dial that has been placed perpendicular to the display axis with the use of a double pinion with bevel gearing system. This sytem setup allows for a 90 degree angle transfer of energy. This world premier technology allows the time to be displayed on the side of the timepiece.
In terms of aesthetic design, the train wheels are cut in the shape of car wheels and the plate and 10 bridges are designed and decorated in line with Parmigiani’s exclusive criteria as seen on the Calibre 370. The movement of the watch is displayed through six sapphire crystals. As for the hands, applique indexes, and counter; these components are displayed in the exact shade of orange picked out for the record-breaking SuperSport.
Press release after the jump.
Bugatti Super Sport Watch by Parmigiani originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 12:00 EST.
Remember when the M5 was caught testing and some sly cat took a picture of its engine? Well, it’s been quite some time since then and we have yet to see any more photos of the M5 in the wild, but somebody decided to change all that by leaving the new M5 in a parking lot in what appears to be a rest area or a gas station.
We can see the new production wheels, the new shift knob, and the meaty looking Pirelli tires. There are new interior shots that show new seats and a tachometer with a reduced redline.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that will put out around 555 horsepower. That will make this model far more powerful than the old model and not to mention, far better looking.
The chassis will likely be aluminum and there should be loads of carbon fiber parts. The new M5 will also get an electronically controlled limited slip differential and Dynamic Performance Control.
The official car will debut at the Paris Motor Show.
New Shots Of The BMW M5 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:00 EST.
Remember when the M5 was caught testing and some sly cat took a picture of its engine? Well, it’s been quite some time since then and we have yet to see any more photos of the M5 in the wild, but somebody decided to change all that by leaving the new M5 in a parking lot in what appears to be a rest area or a gas station.
We can see the new production wheels, the new shift knob, and the meaty looking Pirelli tires. There are new interior shots that show new seats and a tachometer with a reduced redline.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that will put out around 555 horsepower. That will make this model far more powerful than the old model and not to mention, far better looking.
The chassis will likely be aluminum and there should be loads of carbon fiber parts. The new M5 will also get an electronically controlled limited slip differential and Dynamic Performance Control.
The official car will debut at the Paris Motor Show.
New Shots Of The BMW M5 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:00 EST.
The guys over at VW Vortex were apparently at the right place at the right time when they were in Germany a couple of weeks ago. They came upon a bunch of new Audi catalogs and while flipping through the pages, they came across a little sporty discovery.
Audi Exclusive is offering a new interior option for the TT sports car, both coupe and roadster versions. The new interior is inspired by the RS5’s interior and includes a combination of black and accenting Karmesin Red fine Nappa leather. With the TT, Audi has decided to filter even more of the Karmesin Red throughout the interior by including it in on the center console, 6’oclock spoke on the steering wheel, and even on the inside of the doors; elements to which were left in black on the Audi RS5.
The new option can be ordered anywhere in Europe, but there are no details yet on its availability in the North American market.
Audi TT gets RS-5 inspired interior originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 09:00 EST.
Think of Recaro and the images that pop into your mind are that of high end automobile bucket seats. Images that will more than likely not pop into your mind are those of children. Children don’t drive cars, so that makes sense, right? Sure it does, except for now Recaro is making car seats for kids. They even have a website completely dedicated to their child seat line. Weird, huh?
Recaro’s new line is called the ProSeries and consists of the ProRide, ProSport, and ProBooster. The range can carry babies and children all the way up to 120lbs. The ProRide is fit for a new baby that needs to to be facing the rear, but can also be turned around to face the front when the child reaches the appropriate age and weight. Max weight for this seat is 70lbs. The ProSport is a combination harness to booster car seat that can accommodate children up to 90lbs. in harness mode and 120lbs. in booster mode. The ProBooster is fit for kids from 30-120lbs. and features 11 head restraint positions.
The Recaro ProSeries car seat line is fit to keep any child safe with its side impact protection and energy absorbing foam. The kiddies will be kept cool by the coolmesh air ventilation material on the provided on the seats as well.
Get ready to spend some money, though. These Recaro seats run between $99 and $279 and, by the way, a lot of them are currently out of stock so you may have to wait awhile before getting your kids in one of these.
Recaro launches ProSeries child safety seats originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 August 2010 15:04 EST.
Anyone with a Viper alarm system and an iPhone or Blackberry has had the luxury of the Viper SmartStart app for quite some time now. People with an Android, well, they got nothing. It so what it is, but before you go and get your panties in a knot, Direct Electronics have announced that the SmartStart app will now be available for the Android market.
“The Android operating system enables millions of smartphones on all major carrier networks and across a full range of price points,” said Kevin Duffy, President of Directed Electronics. “With this app release, our Viper SmartStart solution is available to more than 75% of all smartphone users.”
The app is available on viper.com, but don’t go downloading it just yet. The app may be free, but customers will have to get the Viper SmartStart hardware installed in their vehicle along with a compatible Viper remote start or security system in order to take advantage of the free app. After all of that has been taken care of, the Viper SmartStart app will allow owners to start their engine with the push of a button, pre-warm it in the winter, and pre-cool it in the summer. Other features, depending on the Viper product choice, will allow owners to lock and unlock the doors, pop the trunk, or arm their security system and get an alert on their smartphone if their alarm is triggered. Have more than one car? The app allows for control of multiple vehicles at on one smartphone.
Viper SmartStart now available for Android users originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 30 July 2010 16:00 EST.
Nissan has gone a bit health conscious. The Japanese automaker has revealed its all-new “Health & Well-Being” concept that will attempt to create a more healthy and comfortable environment for drivers and passengers.
The car has three features that will make those goals achievable. They are a comfortable captain’s seat, an advanced climate control system, and a quick comfort seat heater. All of these will help reduce stress by optimizing blood flow and improving air quality.
The comfortable captain seat has plenty of unique feature that make it so much more than a normal chair. These features include a seat cushion-integrated leg rest, an articulated seatback, and three-layered cushion pads. Nissan hopes that this new seat will improve blood flow and reduce fatigue, but with a chair this comfortable, it might make you want to take a nap.
The climate control system has three fancy devices that are aimed at improving air quality. The first is a plasmacluster ions generator. This system is basically vitamin C and it will reduce airborne bacteria and mold levels. The other two devices are inside/outside air control and a grape polyphenol clean air filter. Nissan is also quick to point out that the vitamin C ions can help moisturize skin.
The final technological device is the quick comfort seat heater. The seat applies heat to the thighs and buttocks first, then it moves on to the lower back and thighs again. This will shorten the time it takes the passenger to feel warm by 35 percent.
The Health and Well-Being concept is part of Nissan’s larger “Life on Board” strategic technology focus.
Hit the jump to see the press release.
Nissan Creates Health & Well Being Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 29 July 2010 18:00 EST.
Jeep and Mopar are offering consumers the chance to really enjoy their summer trip this year. Well, not all consumers, but those who own a Jeep can take advantage the first off-road camper trailers. There will be two different models, both going on sale this August.
The first of them is the Jeep Trail Edition Camper for Casual Campers. It is priced at $9,995 and features an extensive use of lightweight tubular-aluminum construction, 32″ BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires, a diamond-plated aluminum top, a comfortable multi-use sofa, a queen-sized bed, and a 110-volt power inverter that provides additional cooking, heating, cooling, and entertainment options.
The second one is the Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper for Extreme Off-roaders, a model priced at $11,995. It gets a heavy-duty frame, more ground clearance (15 inches), a full-underbody skid plate, and 35″ BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires. It will be available in Bright Silver Metallic, Black, Flame Red, Mango Tango Pearl, and Natural Green Metallic.
Press release after the jump.
Jeep Off-road Camper Trailers from Mopar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 23:00 EST.
Summer is in full swing once again. No more snow on the grounds, rusting out our old cars and causing us to wrap up our sports cars for the cold winter months. Now, the sun is out, scorching the ground and our cars as well.
This has been one of the hottest summers on record and if you love to drive that can be problematic. Our beloved engines love cool air. Cold air is decent, but hot air is the worst for motors. So, when we go on our daily commutes or our long vacations, this hot summer can take its toll on our favorite cars.
There are a few steps we can take in order to prevent our engines from overheating and help keep our cars in the best shape possible. They aren’t complicated so everybody should be able to follow them.
Hit the jump to read on and see the tips.
Summer Driving Tips originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 18:00 EST.
Four-speed transmissions were replaced by five-speeds, then six, seven and now the eight-speed gearbox is king of the hill for automakers. Amazingly, eight gears might be a thing of the past, as Mercedes-Benz is working on a nine-speed transmission for its high-output, large-displacement engines.
But why stop at nine? Why not jump the gun to ten? The Mercedes engineers believe that nine ratios is the most a gearbox could handle. They even added that they feel it is the most a customer can handle as well. This nine-speed automatic will offer more than just an extra gear. Automatic transmissions are lighter, more reliable, less complex, and cheaper to manufacture than the dual clutch transmissions even though the dual clutch trannys can typically shift faster and are more fuel efficient than automatics.
Of course, we don’t know this for sure since Mercedes is keeping their press mouth shut for the time being. We’ll keep you posted on any other developments we find.
Mercedes works on a Nine-Speed Automatic originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 19 July 2010 17:00 EST.
Imagine driving around town without the benefits of music playing from your car’s speakers. Can’t do it? Yeah, neither can we.
Essentially one of the most important items of a vehicle is in-car music, which can turn an otherwise boring day behind the wheel of your car into your very own karaoke session. And thanks to the wonder that is technology, listening to your music in your car now be even more enjoyable courtesy of another new breakthrough in the Pandora and Pioneer alliance.
After giving us the Pandora Internet Radio, users can now enjoy the feature even more with the PandoraLink app from Pioneer. All you need to do is use your pre-existing Pandora account, connect it to a compatible in-dash navigation receiver, select your audio source, and just like that, you’ll gain instant touch screen access to your Pandora account where you can now enjoy all your favorite Internet radio stations.
With a market that’s dominated by the likes of Sirius XM, Pioneer is bent on becoming a major player in the world of Internet radio. Teaming up with Pandora was the first step to that goal, and now the partnership is beginning to see the fruits of its labor with the new Pioneer PandoraLink feature that’s sure to become a staple in many vehicles in the near future.
Video: A DIY guide to accessing PandoraLink in your vehicle originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 15 July 2010 09:22 EST.
Nissan said today that it may halt production of its vehicles in Tennessee and Mexico because of a parts shortage from Hitachi Ltd.
The company has not yet decided to stop production as of now, Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan’s chief operating officer told Automotive News. If production does come to a halt, it could mean a loss of 15,000 vehicles. Production in Japan will stop on July 14 to July 16 because of the parts delay.
The part in question is an engine control unit that wasn’t delivered on time. The supplier said that integrated circuits needed were not available at the time.
“We’re working around the clock to try and minimize any inconvenience to our customers,” Shiga said at the launch of the fourth-generation March compact car.
“For now, we’re still gauging when and whether we would need to halt production in the United States.”
If Nissan do decide to stop production, the first models affected might be the Altima and the Sentra.
Nissan may stop production of Altima and Sentra in North America originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 20:00 EST.
Do it yourself projects seem to be taking off in recent years. Like going to a restaurant to cook your own food or making your own pottery, we love to get charged more to do things ourselves. Yet, who can blame companies for allowing us to indulge our need to create. They don’t have to hire people and they can charge a lot. It’s the perfect business plan.
Chevrolet has caught on to this phenomenon as well. For buyers of the new Z06 and ZR1, GM will give you the option to build your own motor and even put your name on it to guarantee you won’t be able to resell it. For a small fee of $5,800, you can travel to Detroit, which is the first place we think of for a holiday, and construct your very own LS7 or LS9 V8.
Construction takes place at the Performance Build Center, where you can take the block through all the production stages. Those who love to build and work on motors should really enjoy this, but for the rest of us, we just want our Corvette built by the people who were trained to build it.
Hit the jump for the press release.
We can now pay to build our own Corvette engine originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 12 July 2010 21:00 EST.
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