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31/10/2010 | By: Jason Siu

Sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and admire someone else’s hard-earned money at work. SR Auto Group got their hands on #100 of 350 Lamborghini LP670-SVs out there in the world and added their own treatment. Can you really go wrong by going with a matte black treatment on one of the world’s rarest Italian supercars?

To go with the menacing flat black look, a set of 20-inch Pur Design One wheels were bolted onto the bull. The wheels aren’t overly flashy, and are probably a great option for those with a Lamborghini wanting something a little subtle yet sporty and classy. It sports a 12-spoke design with a concave style and this particular set was finished in a glossy black.

It’s not the orange and black Status design Murcielago, but it’s certainly an appropriately fearsome Halloween treat.

[Source: Teamspeed]

See more photos after the jump:

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30/10/2010 | By: Jason Siu

While most of the aftermarket likes to overwhelm consumers with excessive amounts of horsepower, some companies like to refine the finer details, making the driving experience a more fulfilling one. Take Umbrella Auto Design for example; they began their business by focusing on Acura’s flagship supercar, the NSX. They built a wickedly clean demo car, refining it from bumper to bumper on the outside while starting their F1 line o interior series. Now they’ve taken the same magic to the Nissan GT-R.

Their focus with the GT-R, so far, is just the interior. We already know how potent the GT-R is, and we all know there’s more than enough companies out there trying to push 1,000′s of horsepower out of its powerplant. So it’s really refreshing to see Umbrella Auto Design releasing an interior package for the GT-R that brings its cockpit in line with its performance.

The majority of the interior is redone in black ultrasuede with silver stitching: front seats, steering wheel, e-brake, boot, shift knob, dashboard, door panels, center console, rear lower side panels, rear upper side panels, rear seats, headliner, visors, rear package tray, subwoofer cover and rear armrest. Several interior pieces are also repainted satin black instead of the factory light gray.

Umbrella Auto Design’s interior really gives the GT-R the sense of luxury it needs to back up the performance and driving experience the vehicle already offered. No pricing is announced unfortunately.

[Source: GTR Blog]

GALLERY: Umbrella Auto Design Nissan GT-R F1 Interior

30/10/2010 | By: Amy Tokic

Following the news of Google’s self-driving car, there’s news that the German’s have been working on a pretty cool idea – an autonomous car controlled by an iPad.

This latest addition to the market, brought to you by the AutoNOMOS Labs project at Germany’s Freire University, combines a modified Volkswagen Passat that is equipped with sensors, GPS, radar and scanners, along with an iPad app that relays coordinates and other user information to the car. The test vehicle in question is a taxi – no word on why this type of technology is being used on a taxi service, but it is an interesting concept.

Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Mashable]

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30/10/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Knowing that they potentially have a huge hit on their hands, Honda has really leveraged this year’s SEMA show to hand some of the aftermarket’s most brilliant minds their new CR-Z. Eibach Springs is one of these companies, and having received the car in July, they went straight to work researching and developing new products for the tiny hybrid. And with such a well-known brand as Eibach Springs behind the helm of this build, it’s no surprise that Eibach’s trusted partners for the past several decades also played a role in building the CR-Z for this year’s SEMA Show.

From the Eibach camp, they went straight to what they do best: suspension modifications. The Honda CR-Z was their test bed for a new set of springs, sway bars and mono-tube coilovers. For power, Eibach Springs called their friends at K&N to develop an intake for the new Honda sport hybrid.

Once they got their coilovers installed, the car headed off to get a roll bar designed and the C-West aero kit installed. To accent the C-West aero, Eibach Springs had a Mugen spoiler overnighted from Japan (no, this is not a Fast & Furious joke) – the deadlines of building a SEMA car are pretty stressful.

After paint and body, the car made it back to Eibach to have the Stoptech big brake kit installed along with a set of wheels. With the paint scheme and graphics applied, this CR-Z looks killer. The interior Sparco seats and roll bar really hint that Eibach will be flaunting it out at the track someday soon. We hope so.

With several other CR-Zs planned to be on display at SEMA we’ll be sure to bring you photos of all of them, with AutoGuide’s 2010 SEMA Show coverage starting November 2nd. Until then, check out our complete SEMA Preview here.

GALLERY: Eibach Springs SEMA Honda CR-Z

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[Source: CRZ Forum]

http://www.crzforum.com/forum/aftermarket-crowd/2312-eibach-cr-z.html
29/10/2010 | By: Colum Wood

With yesterday’s announcement that GM is moving ahead with plans to build a new Cadillac model that will rival the BMW 3 Series, the team at GMInsideNews has some exciting info to share about the product rollout.

According to their sources, the new model (likely to wear the ‘ATS’ badge), will come standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, with a V6 optional. The sedan will debut in the Fall of 2012 as a 2013 model, with a Coupe following the next year as a 2014 model and a Convertible shortly after that.

But the real excitement doesn’t come until 2015, when the ATS-V debuts. And while the others may get 4-cylinder or V6 power a V8 is planned for the high-performance version. There is, however, a strong possibility that GM could look to use its upcoming twin-turbocharged V6, which is also planned for the CTS.

[Source: GMInsideNews]

29/10/2010 | By: Colum Wood

The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show is set to take place next week and everyone from Scion to Ford have announced big lineups of wild modified vehicles. Having made appearances in year’s past, it’s little surprise to see that Kia will also be in attendance.

No specifics have been given, but a short press release by Kia outlines a total of six vehicles that will be on display. Kia describes them as being a mix of concept and “production-intent” vehicles, meaning that at least one of them is certain to show up at dealers soon.

Included in the press release is the above photo of what appears to be a Limited Edition “Tiger” Soul.

Kia will hold a press conference at SEMA to discuss its show cars, it’s design-lead transformation and its future motorsports activities. AutoGuide’s complete coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starts Tuesday, November 2nd. Until then, check out our SEMA Preview here.

29/10/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Building off of their success in NASCAR, Toyota has announced the RK Collection Camry NASCAR Edition show car, which will make its debut at SEMA next week. The special edition Camry is actually a two-door coupe and was developed by RK Collection, assisting Toyota Racing Development (TRD) realize the full potential of the Camry into a NASCAR counterpart.

The Camry Coupe features an exterior shell custom-made by RKC and includes a full body kit, Toyota grill, carbon fiber brake ducts with fog lights and of course, TRD emblems throughout. On all four corners are stylish 20-inch TSW Jarama wheels. They are staggered with a 8.5-inch wide fitment in the front and a 10-inch wide fitment in the rear. They’ll come wrapped with Michelin Pilot rubber.

Powering the NASCAR Edition Camry is a massive 358 ci TRD NASCAR V8 power plant. The motor puts out 680-hp @ 8500 RPM. Gliding it through the gears is a Tremic T-56 Magnum 6-speed manual transmission equipped with Ram’s dual-disc street clutch. Enhancing the V8 is a custom 3-inch exhaust, Thrush mufflers and custom side exhaust tips.

No race-inspired machine would be complete with a wicked suspension setup. The Camry receives modified Macpherson struts in the front, while the rear sports Venza’s modified multi-link independent suspension.

Inside the panels have been covered in leather while the headliner has been finished in suede. SPEK gauges by Proparts are seen in the dashboard while Vintage Air provides air conditioning. A four-point roll cage was also installed not to only stiffen the chassis, but to reinforce for safety.

Last but not least, the Camry also has a wicked stereo system for those wanting to replace the exhaust note with more memorable tunes. Pioneer’s AVIC-2110BT stands as the head unit while Boston Acoustics equips the Camry with six amplifiers, two pairs of component speakers and a 12-inch subwoofer.

After it debuts at SEMA, the car can be seen on November 12th at Phoenix International Raceway during the NASCAR race weekend.

AutoGuide will bring you plenty of live shots of the NASCAR Edition Camry from the SEMA Show with coverage starting November 2nd. Until then, check out our SEMA Preview here.

GALLERY: RK Collection Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition

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Official press release available after the break.

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29/10/2010 | By: Colum Wood

If the SEMA Show stands for anything, it’s that the aftermarket industry is as much about style as it is about performance. That being said, Lexus has decided to showcase its lineup of hybrid models at the world’s largest aftermarket expo next week.

Several tuners will will take part, including Fox Marketing, EST Styling and VIP Auto Salon, with tuner cars including the HS250h, LS600hL and an RX450h that will get such a wild transformation it will look like some of the modified BMX X6 M cars we’ve seen lately.

Also of note is a GS450h built by 0-60 Magazine outfitted to look like a genuine touring car, with Volk wheels, Tein suspension a massive spoiler and aggressive aero kit.

And let’s not forget the most attractive Lexus to the tuner-set, the new CT200h. Lexus will test the market at SEMA with a CT200h F-Sport Concept, featuring bigger wheels, wider tires, an upgraded braking kit and an F-Sport suspensions.

Oh, and because Lexus also loves horsepower, they’ll also have on hand a Pearl Gray version of its LFA supercar.

AutoGuide’s coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starts Tuesday, November 2nd. Until then, check out our SEMA Preview here.

GALLERY: Lexus CT200h F-Sport Concept

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GALLERY: Lexus GS450 by 0-60 Magazine

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GALLERY:LS600h L by VIP Auto Salon

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GALLERY: RS450h by Paul Tolson of EST

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GALLERY: HS250h by VIP Auto Salon

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Official release after the jump:

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29/10/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Subaru has announced its lineup of booth cars for the 2010 SEMA Show, with center stage going to the record setting ‘Fastest STI Ever.’ Back in June Subaru announced that this test mule for the new 2011 WRX STI lapped the Nürburgring in just 7:55 – a total of 4 seconds faster than the Cadillac CTS-V (despite having almost half the horsepower). It didn’t hurt that the car was piloted by Tommi Makinen either.

Debuting alongside the Fastest STI will be a host of other STIs, including Travis Pastrana’s Mount Washington record setting STI race car, two tuner cars (one by Kicker Audio and one by K&N Performance), and an official in-house project car: the Get More G’s Subaru Performance Tuning WRX STI 2010.

Joining this lineup will be Jamarri Whiteside’s 2006 WRX STI. Who’s Jamarri Whiteside? Well, his WRX won Best of Show at Subiefest this year.

Subaru will also be holding an autograph session with SRT USA drivers Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra, plus four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen will also be in attendance.

AutoGuide’s coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starts November 2nd. Until then, check out our SEMA Preview here.

GALLERY: Fastest STI Ever

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GALLERY: Travis Pastrana’s Mount Washinton Record Setting STI

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Official release after the jump:

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29/10/2010 | By: Colum Wood

Following just after the annual Texas Auto Writers Association announced their top vehicle pics for 2010, our brothers to the North have just done the same. After several days of testing and grading 150 new vehicles the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced its top picks in 11 different vehicle classes.

General Motors took home a total of three awards with the new Chevy Cruze taking the award in the Best New Small Car over $21,000; the Buick Regal taking home Best New Family Car Over $30,000 and the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe being awarded Best New Sports / Performance Car. Volkswagen and Ford took home the second highest number of wins, with the Jetta TDI announced as the Best New Family Car Under $30,000; while the new Touareg finishes as Best New SUV/CUV over $50,000. The Ford Fiesta won for Best Small Car Under $21,000 while the new 2011 Edge was awarded Best SUV/CUV under $50,000.

The overall winners for Canadian Car and Truck of the Year will be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto in February.

See after the jump for all the winners in their respective categories:

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