2011 BMW Concept 6-Series Coupe

BMW will preview the next generation 6-Series with a special concept car that will make its world debut at the Paris Auto Show at the end of September. The concept features a new design language that will be used in lots of future BMW models.The 6-Series Concept is defined by stretched bonnet, the short front overhang, a passenger compartment set well to the rear, and a low silhouette

Honda Civic R Type White Bodykit Style

Honda Civic R Type White Bodykit Style

Honda Civic Type R View Engine

Honda Civic Type R View Interiors

Honda Civic Type R

People say school days are the best days of your life but I disagree. For me university was quite simply brilliant fun (and hard work I promise), for three years which quite frankly outstrips anything else I've encountered. Whether it was learning about something I actually had an interest in (handily for this article I studied journalism), the social aspect which encompassed partying, constant football playing and music shopping, or living away from home and growing up, I'm not sure. Throughout the three years there was one motivation to actually sit down and write my essays and it was a picture on my bedroom wall. Neither of Kelly Brook, nor great literature scholars but of a Honda Civic Type R.

The thing I loved about the Honda was that the standard Civic was so boring to look at and drive that you seemingly needed at least 65 years of life experience before being able to own one. Don't get me wrong, just because it was boring to drive doesn't mean it wasn't a good car, it was just very safe and sensible and, well it was for old people. The Type R badge didn't just add a few thousand pounds to the price tag; it transformed the retirement home company car into a snarling piece of motoring exotica that I aspired to own one day if I studied hard.

I'd struggle to win the argument that it looks much different from the standard model, with 17 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and twin exit exhaust the only obvious external differences. This however was more than enough for me to start salivating and by the time I read the performance figures I needed oxygen. A 2 litre VTEC engine lurked under the bonnet producing 197bhp, revving to a crazy 8,250rpm and dragging the car from 0-60mph in a mere 6.6 seconds. To put it more succinctly, it was as if Honda had strapped a rocket to a mobility scooter.

Inside you weren't met with the most luxurious cabin but racing seats, white dials and a brushed aluminium gear knob offered further evidence that speed really was the only priority for this car. The gearbox is mounted on the dashboard which appears odd at first but it falls so easily to hand and changes so slickly, you'll be converted in minutes. Despite it being front wheel drive, the car handled superbly thanks in no small measure to it's expensive independent rear suspension (something Honda have skimped on with the latest derivative) and communicative feedback through the steering wheel.

Quite rightly in the little Honda's lifespan (2001 - 2006) it became the biggest selling fast hatchback, smashing all modest targets Honda HQ in Japan had. Priced at a tad under £16,000 and delivering all you could want in a driving experience, this was hardly a surprise.

The big question then is, three years on from graduating from university do I have a Honda Civic Type R on my driveway? Um, no but my 'I really want one of those' radar is still twitching very strongly. The very exciting news however is that prices are now reaching a level where this extraordinary car is accessible to the majority - and very possibly me too. A low mileage four-year-old car is now valued at £8,000 (add £400 for air conditioning).

This being a Honda, there should be very little to worry about with a car of this age, the VTEC engine is one of the most reliable in the world and the car itself is well put together, so don't expect to find doors hanging off. As with any used car though it's important to check some key points.

Firstly the car was available in red, black and silver. If the one you're looking at is white it's an import from Japan which may have an extra 20bhp but will be difficult to insure, will depreciate quickly and will have your Honda dealer running for the horizon. The turning circle isn't great on the Type R so check the alloy wheels for signs of a struggle against the kerbs and whilst you're there, have a look at the side skirts for speed hump damage.

Other than that the Type R is as widely praised now as it was when new and with the new model now on sale this version should become more readily available. As a final plus point (if one was needed) it's faster and handles better than the new model. Right I can't wait any longer...I'm off to buy one.

Honda Civic R Type White Bodykit Style

Honda Civic R Type White Bodykit Style

Honda Civic Type R View Engine

Honda Civic Type R View Interiors

Honda Civic Type R

People say school days are the best days of your life but I disagree. For me university was quite simply brilliant fun (and hard work I promise), for three years which quite frankly outstrips anything else I've encountered. Whether it was learning about something I actually had an interest in (handily for this article I studied journalism), the social aspect which encompassed partying, constant football playing and music shopping, or living away from home and growing up, I'm not sure. Throughout the three years there was one motivation to actually sit down and write my essays and it was a picture on my bedroom wall. Neither of Kelly Brook, nor great literature scholars but of a Honda Civic Type R.

The thing I loved about the Honda was that the standard Civic was so boring to look at and drive that you seemingly needed at least 65 years of life experience before being able to own one. Don't get me wrong, just because it was boring to drive doesn't mean it wasn't a good car, it was just very safe and sensible and, well it was for old people. The Type R badge didn't just add a few thousand pounds to the price tag; it transformed the retirement home company car into a snarling piece of motoring exotica that I aspired to own one day if I studied hard.

I'd struggle to win the argument that it looks much different from the standard model, with 17 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and twin exit exhaust the only obvious external differences. This however was more than enough for me to start salivating and by the time I read the performance figures I needed oxygen. A 2 litre VTEC engine lurked under the bonnet producing 197bhp, revving to a crazy 8,250rpm and dragging the car from 0-60mph in a mere 6.6 seconds. To put it more succinctly, it was as if Honda had strapped a rocket to a mobility scooter.

Inside you weren't met with the most luxurious cabin but racing seats, white dials and a brushed aluminium gear knob offered further evidence that speed really was the only priority for this car. The gearbox is mounted on the dashboard which appears odd at first but it falls so easily to hand and changes so slickly, you'll be converted in minutes. Despite it being front wheel drive, the car handled superbly thanks in no small measure to it's expensive independent rear suspension (something Honda have skimped on with the latest derivative) and communicative feedback through the steering wheel.

Quite rightly in the little Honda's lifespan (2001 - 2006) it became the biggest selling fast hatchback, smashing all modest targets Honda HQ in Japan had. Priced at a tad under £16,000 and delivering all you could want in a driving experience, this was hardly a surprise.

The big question then is, three years on from graduating from university do I have a Honda Civic Type R on my driveway? Um, no but my 'I really want one of those' radar is still twitching very strongly. The very exciting news however is that prices are now reaching a level where this extraordinary car is accessible to the majority - and very possibly me too. A low mileage four-year-old car is now valued at £8,000 (add £400 for air conditioning).

This being a Honda, there should be very little to worry about with a car of this age, the VTEC engine is one of the most reliable in the world and the car itself is well put together, so don't expect to find doors hanging off. As with any used car though it's important to check some key points.

Firstly the car was available in red, black and silver. If the one you're looking at is white it's an import from Japan which may have an extra 20bhp but will be difficult to insure, will depreciate quickly and will have your Honda dealer running for the horizon. The turning circle isn't great on the Type R so check the alloy wheels for signs of a struggle against the kerbs and whilst you're there, have a look at the side skirts for speed hump damage.

Other than that the Type R is as widely praised now as it was when new and with the new model now on sale this version should become more readily available. As a final plus point (if one was needed) it's faster and handles better than the new model. Right I can't wait any longer...I'm off to buy one.

Porsche Panamera Tuned by 9ff and Russian firm's Top Car and Cardi

Our Russian friends over at Cardesign have sent us a new set of sketches depicting one of the first tuning proposals for the just revealed Porsche Panamera sports sedan. Although it was initially believed that 9ff was the only one company working on the Panamera, turns out that the German tuner has also joined forces with two Russian companies, called "Top-Car" and "Cardi". The role of each firm in the tuning project is defined as "Top Car" who will handle the design, Cardi the production of the bodykit parts and 9ff, the performance upgrades.

This isn't the first time that the three tuning firms have collaborated on a Porsche project as last year they introduced the Cayenne-based Vantage GTR.

According to the folks at Cardesign, Top Car has designed two distinctive bodykits for the Panamera. The complete kit replaces every external body panel aside from the rooftop while the second package adds new front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a restyled bonnet. In both cases, the visual upgrades are rounded off with a set of newly designed alloy wheels. 9ff has not disclosed any details about the mechanical upgrades it is preparing for the Panamera.

It remains unclear whether or not the Panamera project will be offered exclusively by Top-Car and/or by 9ff.

Detroit Preview: Fisker Karma

Just one short year after Fisker showed us its plug-in hybrid Karma show car at the "Detroit Auto Show", the house that Henrik built will be returning to the Motor City to debut the production version of its ambitious project. Fisker says the production model, which is shown in the post just-released official pic, will only vary slightly in design from the show car, including a different upper grille that's a bit larger towards the outer edges and a larger lower air intake. The exhaust pipe from the internal combustion engine will also exit from an odd place: behind the front wheels. We'll also get our first view of the Karma's production interior in Detroit next month.

Fisker announced last month that it had chosen General Motors' turbocharged, direct-inject 2.0L four-cylinder as its power source of choice, and after sampling the engine in the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo, we're very eager to see what it will do in a hybrid set-up designed to make one very large luxury saloon move like the wind. Combined with the hybrid system's 22.6 kWh electric motor, the drivetrain as a whole is said to produce 408 horsepower and propel the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and onto to a top speed of 125 mph. What sounded like vaporware 365 days ago is starting to take form, and we'll be on hand in Detroit next month to bring you more.

ASI's 800hp Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT

What does SEMA mean to you? For most of us, it's a place for the country's top tuners to show their wares to a power-hungry public. But the dark side of SEMA never ceases to rear its ugly head, and further proof will be available at the Toyo booth where the Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT will be displayed.

The unholy brainchild of Japanese tuner ASI features a custom carbon fiber wide-body kit that makes ASMA's unfortunate creations look demure in comparison. The two-tone paint scheme... uhhh... compliments the massive haunches, deep side skirts and GT-style wing, while 22-inch blingalicious rollers prove that chrome is still in high demand... unfortunately.

According to Modified Luxury and Exotics, only 29 Tetsu GTRs will be produced, each putting out over 800 hp. We'll be on hand to provide live shots of the other five vehicles featured at the Toyo stand, assuming our camera lens doesn't crack when we zoom in on the GTR's gaudy fascia.

Source: Luxury Exotics

Rolls Royce Silver... Bullitt with 1040 Hp Hemi V8

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this kitschy Silver Shadow isn’t your typical chauffeur driven Rolls Royce. The custom made limo is equipped with a 592 Hemi V8 that with the help of a dual stage nitrous system pumps out a mouthwatering 1040Hp. Leaving aside the pimp-my-Impala steering wheel, another interesting detail is the roll cage that’s wrapped around with leather and contrast stitching.

British Luxury: The Bentley Azure

The Azure name is most notable for being convertible versions of already present Bentley sedans. Chopping the top, changing the visual look and making the sedan into a two door coupe are what the changes basically represent. From 1995 to 2003, the Bentley Azure was a convertible version of the Continental sedan. In 2006, the name was resurrected for a convertible version of the Arnage sedan. Both cars had 6.7L V-8 engines but with different outputs. The Old Azure made 400 horsepower except the T edition which made 420; the Azure that it currently being produced makes 450 horsepower.

Project Kahn Bentley Continental GTS ‘Black Edition’

Project Kahn is proud to announce the launch of the new Bentley Continental GTS ‘Black Edition’.

The ‘Black Edition’ has an eight-piece body consisting of a three piece rear valance, two side skirts, a two piece front valance and a rear boot spoiler. This kit has been developed by our Project Kahn design team and has undergone many hours of testing not only to ensure safety but also to ensure that a perfect fit is achieved for each car.

The ‘Black Edition’ package contains a full interior styling program which includes a bespoke Project Kahn Luxury Leather upgrade and high gloss piano black interior fascia panels with the optional extras of either a high gloss piano black steering or a carbon fibre finish steering wheel. Each car comes with privacy tinted glass perfectly matched to compliment the cars exterior. To complete the ‘low to the road’ aggressive stance the ‘black edition’ is fitted with a Project Kahn electronic lowering module. As standard the suspension is lowered by 20mm but this can be adjusted according to the customers’ requirements.
Each ‘Black Edition’ is fitted with the Project Kahn GTS sports exhaust system which provides a slight increase in performance whilst accelerating but more importantly emits a unique sound emanating from the car as a deep rumble.

However the most unique feature of the ‘Black Edition’ is the addition of the new ‘Silver Mist’ alloy wheel.

Source: Tuning News