Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed

After four years in its present incarnation Mercedes-Benz has announced the new 2014 model year E-Class. Beloved of Chinese businessmen, Turkish cab drivers, Eurocrats and the discrete middle-classes the world over, the E-Class embodies Mercedes-Benz' brand values – comfort, practicality, technology, affordable luxury with a hint of sportiness, plus of course styling that suggests aspirations to higher levels of grandeur. For the 2014 model the exterior is a subtle break with the past whilst the underlying technology is a showcase for the future.

This is a conservative market sector and any changes must be sensitively applied. At first glance the vehicle looks to be no different but there are a number of significant changes. The standard “Luxury” version wears a familiar grill but the shape has been altered with the addition of sharper corners and a slightly more pronounced snout, in common with the rest of the range. For the “Sport” version an entirely new grill is fitted with an integral three-pointed star that mimics the SL and SLS sports cars.
The traditional double headlights have finally fused into one lens and there is a more pronounced front lip spoiler at the front. Full LED lights are available and the annoying always-on running lights persist. The Sport version gets the front splitter and rounded air intake treatment while an AMG styling pack is available for the full angular race car front end.


Along the side the stylized ‘Ponton’ wheel arch, that evoked cars of the fifties, has gone, to be replaced by a modern signature “slash” as seen on the new A and B classes. The side sill line has been lowered and the combined effect is to make vehicle look a little longer and less dumpy in the rear three-quarters. The Station Wagon body style in particular benefits from this change.
The rear of the vehicle was always an excellent form and the changes are simple tweaks to make it look a little wider.

The interior architecture will be home-from-home familiar to anybody who has been in a Mercedes in the past few years but there has been a little tidying in places plus the addition of additional trim pieces to harmonize and raise the perceived luxury to S-Class levels.

While the visual tweaks inside and out have been relatively subtle, the E-Class carries eleven newly-developed driver aid technologies under the banner of “Intelligent Drive.” The basis for all this is new state-of-the-art sensors and their associated algorithms. Mercedes-Benz has introduced the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera which is located on the windshield near the rear-view mirror. This camera features two “eyes,” set at an angle of 45 degrees to produce a three-dimensional view of the area up to 55 yards (50 meters) in front of the vehicle and with an overall range of up to 550 yards (503 meters). The stereo camera gathers data for processing by various systems. They can detect vehicles driving in front, oncoming or crossing and evaluate this three-dimensional visual information to determine their speed and position. They can also identify pedestrians within a large field of vision.


Along with the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera, Mercedes-Benz is also introducing a new version of the Multi-Mode Radar sensor system. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based collision warning system with Adaptive Brake Assist is standard equipment on both the sedan and wagon. It helps to reduce significantly the risk of a rear-end collision. Also part of standard equipment is ATTENTION ASSIST, which now warns of inattentiveness and drowsiness across a wider range, and provides visual information on attention level and time driven since the last break.
Also available are a number of assistance systems that are either new or now feature significantly enhanced functionality:

• DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist can help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane and can semi-autonomously follow in-line traffic
• For the first time, the Brake Assist system BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, and boost the braking power applied by the driver accordingly
• The PRE-SAFE Brake can now detect pedestrians as well and initiate autonomous braking
• PRE-SAFE PLUS can identify an imminent rear-end collision and then prompt the PRE-SAFE system to trigger occupant protection measures that reduce the forces exerted on passengers. If the vehicle is stationary, it can also prevent secondary accidents in the event of a rear-end collision by applying the brakes
• Active Lane Keeping Assist can now detect when the adjacent lane is not clear, including the presence of oncoming traffic, overtaking vehicles, crash barriers etc. Under threat of a collision, even if the lane marking is not a solid line, the system can prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane unintentionally by applying the brakes on one side. This system pairs perfectly with Active Blind Spot Assist
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS allows high beam to remain permanently switched on without dazzling traffic by masking out other vehicles in the beams' cone of light
• Active Parking Assist enables automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and perpendicular spaces
• The Surround View Camera will cover all four sides of the vehicle and enable a 360-degree view including virtual bird's-eye perspective; a top view of the vehicle and its immediate surroundings. Dynamic guide lines help during parking and maneuvering

The following Petrol, diesel and hybrid engine models are offered plus 4-wheel drive:

• E250 BlueTEC: 2.1-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel: 190 hp
• E350 Sedan: direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 302 hp
• E350 4MATIC Wagon: direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 302 hp
• E400 HYBRID Sedan: electric motor and direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 27 hp + 302 hp
• E550 4MATIC Sport Sedan: turbocharged direct-injection 5.5-liter V8: 402 hp.

Vehicles are on sale in early 2013. Prices will be announced at the Detroit auto show in January when the AMG E63 version will also be unveiled.

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Brutal Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Black Series revealed

Due for its public debut at the upcoming Los Angeles motor show, Mercedes-Benz AMG has finally revealed images and details of the SLS Black Series. Ever since the gull-winged wonder was first released in 2010, enthusiasts and schoolboys have been anticipating the inevitable ultimate (road-going) version. It'll come as no surprise that the beast in question is wider, harder, faster, and completely awesome.

"The new SLS AMG Black Series is a perfect study in the one hundred percent transfer of technology and engineering from motorsport to road," says Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG. "We have drawn inspiration from the worldwide success of the SLS AMG GT3 customer sport racing car on both a conceptual and a technological level. Boasting numerous lightweight components and fascinating dynamics, our fifth Black Series model guarantees pure, unadulterated 'Driving Performance.' The SLS AMG Black Series is the ultimate choice for fast laps and a highly emotional driving experience."

Fair enough Ola. The uprated AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine generates a power output of 622 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque making the SLS AMG Black Series the most powerful AMG high-performance automobile with a combustion engine. Only the planned SLS AMG Electric Drive with a maximum output of 740 hp has more power.

The vehicle accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, and onward to a top speed of 196 mph (315 km/h). The additional 39 hp of power compared to the 583 hp delivered by the SLS AMG GT is courtesy of the following enhancements:

• Increase in maximum engine speed from 7,200 to 8,000 rpm
• Fully revised high-speed valve train with modified camshafts, adapted cam geometry and optimized bucket tappets featuring a special coating that is typically used on race vehicles
• Modification of the intake air ducting: de-throttling and adaptation to match the new maximum engine speed
• Adaptation of the engine mapping and increase in peak pressure

The AMG V8 engine in the SLS AMG Black Series also has an additional specialized mounting system. A gas-filled strut braces the eight-cylinder engine against the body, effectively eliminating undesired load shifts during highly-dynamic race-track driving (i.e. behaving like a loony).

With a curb weight of 3,417 pounds (1550 kg), the Black Series is not only 154 pounds lighter than the regular SLS, but unsurprisingly also attains the best power/weight ratio by far of all AMG Black Series vehicles to date. Numerous body parts, such as the hood, the rear panel behind the AMG sports bucket seats, the diagonal braces on the underbody and the torque tube between engine and transmission are made entirely from carbon-fiber. In contrast to its 58.6-pound counterpart with a sand-cast aluminum housing, the carbon-fiber torque tube weighs just 29.3 pounds. Carbon fiber components also replace a number of parts of the aluminum spaceframe, while a lithium-ion battery takes on the role of the conventional starter battery, saving an amazing 17.6 pounds – why don’t all cars have them?

Naturally the suspension has been modified for greater rigidity and a new lighter wheel design saves another 8.8 pounds of unsprung weight per corner.

Of course none of this engineering is of any use if the machine doesn’t look the part. The aforementioned wheels now carry 10.8 inch (front) and 12.8 inch (rear) wide sports tires that fill the widened arches. Front, rear and side skirts and a rear diffuser, all in a signature Black Series design style signal the vehicles intent. The package features extensive use of carbon fiber on the front splitter, side sills and rear skirt. The enlarged air intakes with carbon fiber “flics” also ensure optimum airflow into the cooling modules at the front. The rear wheel arches feature massive air-flow oulets.

As on the SLS AMG GT3 racer, the carbon-fiber hood features a central air outlet. Aside from effectively dissipating engine heat, this outlet also increases downforce at the front axle. The wing-like cross-fin and the star recessed into the radiator grille are finished in high-gloss black to match the exterior mirrors and the fins on the hood. The carbon-fiber insert on the sides with air outlet and a black fin is also reminiscent of the GT3; this feature helps reduce the temperature in the engine compartment.

If all of this isn’t quite extreme enough for you then you can option a massive carbon rear wing plus additional carbon flics at the front fro increased downforce, as the cars in the photos are wearing. Just the thing for the weekly shop.

It’s clear that a huge amount of real engineering development has been carried out over the past year to create what will be AMG’s flagship vehicle. It’s quite likely that many of these cars will be purchased simply as toys for posing, but its nice to know that you really are purchasing the closest thing to a GT3 racer for the road that will undoubtedly be a complete hoot on a track.

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Luxury Cars Take Over London

London is a center for finance, media, fashion and culture and as such, it has long been thought of as a destination where one can go to flash their cash!

However, even for London’s usual high standards, in the past few weeks the English capital city has seen more than its fair share of luxury cars thanks to an influx of visitors from the rich Arab states.

The UK leg of the annual excursion by rich luxury car owners from various Arab states is known as The Season. An array of brightly colored, personalized luxury sports cars have been spotted by residents and visitors and has left many bemused by the spectacle.

The exclusive neighborhoods of Kensington and Knightsbridge are where many of the high end luxury cars have been seen and others have been photographed outside the swanky Mayfair hotel The Dorchester. 

Some of these luxury sports cars have included a Bugatti Veyron, a Koenigsegg Agera, a Lamborghini Aventador and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

A Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe sprayed all-over pink was spotted with an Abu Dhabi number plate and a bright yellow Ferrari 599 from Saudi Arabia has also been seen. An Iraqi registered Mercedes 4×4 has been a common sighting and many Londoners have been left surprised at the sudden increase in luxury cars on their roads.

Resident Matt Rogers said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I walked past the Dorchester hotel this morning and I saw all of these beautiful cars in one place! I have never been lucky enough to see a Bugatti Veyron before and I saw two parked together followed by one driving past me all in the space of two minutes.”

Unfortunately, some of the drivers had a blatant disregard for the rules of the road in London and one man from Bahrain was caught powersliding his Nissan GT-R into busy traffic; just a few feet from a host of pedestrians. Two Ferrari F430 cars (one from Dubai and one from Saudi Arabia) were spotted being clamped for illegal parking.

However, there were plenty of harmless posers as well and everyone seemed to enjoy the spectacle from those who were driving around the streets of London in their luxury cars down to those who were lucky enough to watch them!

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McLaren 12C Can-Am Edition concept to debut at Pebble beach

McLaren’s new race manufacturing arm, McLaren GT, is set to make its presence felt at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance by rolling out its 12C Can-Am Edition racing concept. Based on the 12C GT3 race car, the one-off design study is finished in McLaren Orange and satin black, with its U.S. appearance marking the first time a 12C racing variant has ventured outside Europe.

As a concept car and therefore not subject to any of the regular racing regulations, the McLaren team was freed up in their attempt to create “the ultimate track car.” With the benefit of some engine calibration and an optimized cooling system, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that is found in the 12C GT3 has been upped from a de-tuned 500 hp to 630 hp, making it the most powerful 12C variant ever shown.

The 12C Can-Am Edition concept also shares the same 75 kg (165 lb) carbon fiber MonoCell chassis used in both the 12C GT3 and the 12C road car and boasts an overall dry weight of 1,200 kg (2,645.5 lb). Carbon fiber can also be found on the side radiator vanes, wing mirrors and engine cover, as well as in various components of an optimized aerodynamic package.

This package includes carbon fiber front splitter, dive planes and rear wing, which is held in place by polished aluminum mounts. A carbon fiber diffuser is also fitted beneath the two-tone rear bumper to enhance the performance of the aerodynamic package, which McLaren says offers an increase in down-force of 30 percent.

The carbon fiber also extends to the vehicle’s interior with detailing throughout the cabin, across the dashboard and sill panels. There are two black race seats with six-point harnesses and the same steering wheel derived from Lewis Hamilton’s MP4-24 Formula 1 car that is found in the 12C GT3. A full race-specification rollcage and an integrated AC system, which is now mandatory in a growing number of race series, are also on board.

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McLaren one-off X1 surfaces at Pebble Beach

The Pebble Beach Concours at Monterey is used to seeing the weird and wonderful creations of bespoke vehicle design and craftsmanship, but one of the most surprising entrants this year was from the McLaren Special Operations team. The vehicle, known as the X1 Concept, is an extraordinary mixture of McLaren MP12C road car and an entirely new bodyshell crafted in a style that wouldn't look out of place in a 1930s comic book. Before you imagine that McLaren has hit the crazy button, a little explanation is in order.

McLaren only benchmarks itself against one other company: Ferrari; and for several years Ferrari have been running a very successful bespoke vehicle creation service. (The latest car to have been completed being Eric Clapton’s unique toy.)

McLaren announced its own Special Operations customization team at last year’s Pebble Beach and over 15 percent of all MP12C purchases are now customized in some manner. The idea had been brewing for some time before that though. Three years ago, before the MP12C was even publicly announced, a wealthy individual who already possessed an F1 and an SLR, approached McLaren to create a unique car based on the upcoming 12C.

Paul Mackenzie, now head of McLaren SO, and Design Director Frank Stephenson went to see the gentleman to start to explore the sort of car he wanted.

"The key qualities the client desired were 'timeless and classical elegance.' Which was some challenge," said Stephenson.

Inspirational cars included a 1961 Facel Vega (actually one of my personal favorites), a 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance Ghia, a 1959 Buick Electra, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K and a 1971 Citroën SM. There were various examples of architecture – including the Guggenheim museums in New York and Bilbao – plus a Jaeger LeCoultre art deco clock, an Airstream trailer, a Thomas Mann Montblanc pen, a grand piano – and an eggplant. "The client liked the shiny texture of the finish," notes Stephenson. There was also a black-and-white photo of Audrey Hepburn.

After a design competition that included designers from outside of McLaren and even the automotive industry, a scheme was chosen from McLaren’s own Hong Yeo, a recent Royal College of Art graduate from Korea.

"X1 embodies the McLaren value that every part has to have a purpose," said Yeo. "No details are simply visual cues, every one has a purpose. Although I like to think the wide body combined with pontoon style rear fenders will ensure the car glides when it's moving just like a superhero's cape...'

The fixed points of engineering for the vehicle were the 12C’s unique "mono-cell" carbon-fiber passenger tub and glasshouse, and of course the 625 hp twin-turbo V8 engine and drive chain. Everything else is completely bespoke; body, lights, wheels, mirrors, trim, and the construction took over two years in total. A full on-road development program was required since the car would be homologated for road use. A Computational Fluid Dynamics program and 625 miles of track test driving was also required to ensure stability at high speed.

All body panels of the X1 are made from carbon, and are finished in a rich piano black, as specified by the owner. Body sides are lacquered visual carbon fiber. "The black paint has no metallic or color tints and is one of the most challenging colors to paint, but the finish is absolutely exquisite and befits the car perfectly," adds Stephenson.

Components were tooled exclusively for the car. They even include unique head- and taillights, inspired by the McLaren Speed Marque logo. The brightwork is machined from solid aluminum, and a nickel finish is then applied. The McLaren logo in the nose is specially machined from solid aluminum then nickel plated. Wheels are also unique to the X1, and are diamond turned with a tinted lacquer to complement the exterior nickel-plated brightwork.

The brightwork itself is all machined from solid aluminum, and then nickel finished to give the same hue throughout. Even the McLaren Speed Marque badge in the nose is machined from solid aluminum, then nickel plated.

The same brightwork is used for the over-the-shoulder rails (as specified by the owner), at the base of the windscreen and the back of the glasshouse, and for the "eyebrows" over the bespoke headlights. The McLaren Airbrake rear wing is also machined from solid aluminum and nickel plated, to complement the rest of the brightwork.

Perhaps the most unusual styling feature is the enclosed rear wheels, an upshot of the owner's desire to have a car reflecting "timeless elegance." The wheels are accessed by carbon panels using, as Stephenson explains, "some of the most gorgeous hinges you've ever seen."

The unique body of the X-1 means some dimensions have changed over the 12C. The X1 is 4 inches (10 cm) longer and about 7.5 inches (19 cm) wider but the height is unchanged and overall weight remains the same at 1400 kg (3,080 pounds) due to the extensive use of carbon-fiber.

While the basic architecture of the interior did not change, personalization includes bespoke Harissa Red McLaren Nappa leather used for the seats, door and roof trim, and switchgear with machined nickel-coated, aluminum bezels. The carbon interior trim has a titanium weave, to give a 3D-like effect. Special tufted carpet covers the floor.

It would be wrong to comment on the success or otherwise of the final design. It is after all one man’s vision and if he is happy then that’s all that really matters. For McLaren it shows two things; the inherent flexibility of the 12C’s mono-cell construction and the Special Operations team’s ability to create just about anything you want around it.

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Radial Engine Bike Built by Jesse James

This radial engine motorcycle was built by Jesse James at West Coast Choppers. For those who don’t know, radial engines were used in the past to power aircraft. The engine, 7 cylinder – 110 hp, was manufactured by Rotec Engineering in Australia and was purchased by the owner of the bike, Russell Ballentine from Kansas, who had the crazy idea of building bikes with aircraft engines (he even owns the patent). Ballentine asked mechanic Mike Redpath to modify the engine, bought more parts, and then brought it to Jesse James to build a prototype. The finished bike was painted in green but I also found photos before the paint job. 

Credits: http://blog.leatherup.com

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Cool Custom Motorcycle Helmets That Actually Exist

Helmets are a must when riding a motorcycle, but that doesn't mean you have to stick with the same old boring designs you find in stores. Here are ten weird and cool examples to get you inspired, or at least scouring the internet for your next purchase. 

10. Halo Helmet

9. Gundam Helmet 

8. Predator Helmet

 7. Rocketeer Helmet

6. LEGO

5. Stormtrooper

4. Master Chief

3. The Hulk

2. Twisted Metal

1. Bobba Fett

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The History of Harley: Over 100 Years of Motorcycle Greatness

If you’re a motorcyclist, you know that the name “Harley Davidson” simply can’t be touched by other names in the business. Harley Davison started out as a pipe dream nearly 110 years ago now, and it’s spent the past century becoming perhaps the most prestigious motorcycle company across the entire globe. Over the course of the past century, Harley Davidson has produced some of the most beloved motorcycles in history. This house name continues to faithfully roll out new, beautiful bikes, all under the same dedication to craft and quality that the original Harley and Davidson stood by. From huge bikes to smaller one, everyone has their own personal Harley preference—and whatever model you love most, you know you’re riding a roaring piece of high quality machinery. You love your Harley, but you may not know the history behind the business. From humble beginnings—Harley’s design of an engine to fit on a bicycle— to big earnings, Harley Davidson has left a rich legacy in the US and all over the world. The following timeline chronicles just a few of the great moments in time for the big business of Harley Davidson.

Credits: http://www.motorcycleinsurance.com

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Student-designed Roskva electric motorcycle launched

Five Norwegian engineering students from the University of Life Sciences in Oslo have come together to design and build an electric motorcycle that's a little different from the rest of the field. Rather than construct the vehicle around a steel or aluminum frame (like the Brutus we covered last year, for instance), the Roskva bike features a carbon fiber monocoque frame that reportedly weighs less than 25 kg (55 pounds). Carbon fiber is also the material of choice for the wheels, single-sided swingarm and enclosed driveshaft.

The final Roskva design renderings were released in May 2012, after which Erik Olsvik (26), Hans Ola Krog (24), Lars J. Norberg (25), Odd Arne Skjong (team leader - 23) and Espen Kultorp (24) got to work building the first operational prototype. The electric motorcycle was officially launched at Oslo's Aker Brygge earlier this month.

During the formative stages of the development process, the team was considering maximizing aerodynamics by enclosing the whole of the front of the motorcycle (including the front wheel) inside a bullet-shaped fairing, but this looks to have now been abandoned in favor of a more minimal design with a beak-like, pointed affair.

Within the lightweight frame, which has been strengthened to take the weight of the whole motorcycle, sit 414 individual lithium iron phosphate cells in series for a total capacity of 6 kWh. The batteries power two Lynch D135RAGS electric motors from the LEM200 series that deliver 80 Nm (59 ft lbs) of torque and peak power of 96.6 horsepower.

An onboard Kelly controller on each of the two motors can handle a voltage of 120 volts and 600 amps at peak. All of which is claimed to give the bike a top speed of 180 km/h (110 mph), a range of 100 km (62 miles) and a zero to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) time of just three to four seconds.

Elsewhere, the Roskva electric motorcycle features a telescopic front fork with 120 mm (4.7 inches) of travel, Krarm integrated rear suspension, regenerative rear braking and dual disc brakes at the front.

The immediate future will see the team testing and tweaking the prototype Roskva in the steady move toward commercial availability.

"We will not be able (or willing) to sell any bikes before additional tests and revisions have been performed," Skjong told us. "It will also require additional safety testing. The prototype is not road legal, but it has been constructed with current and future regulations in mind."

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Rolls-Royce celebrates Charles Stewart Rolls

We’re used to “special editions” from auto manufacturers trying to lift sales with a lick of paint and some fancy decals, but when Rolls-Royce does a special edition it’s a much more cerebral and artisanal endeavor as befits the mindset of its customers. The Phantom Coupe Aviator recently shown at Pebble Beach is a subtle but rather lovely limited edition inspired by the Rolls-Royce engined Supermarine aircraft of the 1930s; a precursor to the iconic Spitfire and from a time when cars and aircraft engines were actually made by the same company.

"Our founding forefather Charles Stewart Rolls was a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of motoring and aviation to the limit," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO. "With our exclusive Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection we celebrate this great British hero, presenting a car which hints at experiments in early flight married to the best engineering, modern design and exquisitely crafted materials.”

The only exterior clue is the striking grey metallic paint which is given a contrasting matte finish on the hood, windshield surround and grill surround. The interior however is a riot of detailing – it includes a hand-crafted mahogany lower dash with Sapele contrasts underneath a matte grey stainless steel fascia with custom matte black dials, and an aviation standard mechanical clock.

The transmission tunnel cover is in anodized aluminum with exposed torx fixings and swage lines that echo the oil cooling veins on the Supermarine fuselage side. These highlights are repeated on collection car armrests. The tunnel incorporates two extraordinary polished aluminum cup holders that look like they should be in a jewelery shop.

The leather-lined glove compartment includes an embossed Charles Rolls quote following his first flight with the Wright Brothers in 1908: "The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man." Deep. A center console chrome plaque describes Rolls – only the second man in Britain to hold a pilot's license – simply as Pioneer Aviator, below a representation of his signature. The floor mats are in leather with machined aluminum protective bullet rods.

All very tasteful, and the marketing narrative just about holds together. Only 35 examples will be made, so get your order in quick. Price? Don’t be silly; get your people to talk to their people.

Source: http://www.gizmag.com/rolls-royce-phantom-coupe-aviator/23853/

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Pimped Ferrari comes in gold

the Golden Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano by Hamann sets the road ablaze. Finished in gold, the Ferrari features a new bodykit, subtle Hamann spoilers, an extra 53 HP, new wheels and hp. Indeed, this highly pimped gilded Ferrari would have been a miss where the royals roam.

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£420,000 chrome SLR McLaren

Last year, a chromed out Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was spotted on the roads of Dubai and lately, one super-shiny SLR McLaren has been seen in Manchester, England. The guy behind the wheel was El Hadji Diouf, who plays for Blackburn Rovers Football Club, an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. He has spent a whopping £420,000 (US $636,750) on the blinged-up Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The playmaker is an avid car collector and has been seen previously driving Range Rovers, Lincoln Navigators and Cadillac Escalades. Anyway, he is not the only football player to have owned this chromed beauty. Arsenal defender William Gallas and former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele also own the same-styled car that can do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 207mph.

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Pimped up Bentley Gold for Bling-Lovers

ASI, the Japanese tuner specialized in Bentleys, has released the photos of their latest project - the ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold. The ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold is powered by the production 6.0 liter W12 engine that is tuned to deliver 800 hp. For the $800,000 price tag on the ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold they offer a dry carbon bonnet, boot lid and rear wing, a 1800mm+ wide body kit. The ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold features hand painted, original Japanese art by Nakamura Tetsuei.

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Su Zhongyang’s Ivory Carving Car

We have seen the cars studded with diamonds and plated with gold and now, celebrated Folk art master Su Zhongyang has created a stunning ivory carving masterpiece. His Jiu Jiu Xiang Long ivory carving car is adorned with 99 fortunate dragons. The car is 4.5 meters long, 1.81 meters wide and 1.9 meters high and weighs 2 tons. Most parts of the ivory car are festooned with colossal ivory and yak bone. If ivory only doesn’t impress you that much, the masterpiece is adorned with gold and diamonds too. The incredible ivory carving car is valued at US $2.7 million. 

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Honda bursts onto the electric motorcycle racing scene at IOM

Electric motorcycle racing became a lot more interesting today when the TT Zero race at the Isle of Man was run and the top three riders all finished at average speeds of more than 100 mph.

The win went to the Segway MotoCzysz team with Michael Rutter (pictured below) producing a lap of 104.56 mph but the extra strong showing of a 102.215 mph lap on the Mugen (Honda) ridden by John McGuinness indicates the electric bike racing scene is going to become very competitive in the near future. Honda rarely fails when it sets its mind to something, and it is the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and the current MotoGP champion.

John McGuinness when interviewed after the race, revealed some interesting information. He said he'd ridden most of the race at 50% power but towards the end he was told that he could use 60% power. "So I turned it up to 60% and didn't it go then," he said, indicating that a LOT more power was available for shorter circuits.

For Michael Czysz (pictured), it was his team's third straight IOM TT win and it must have brought mixed feelings. On one hand his work has created the stand-out team in international competition in the pioneering period of the sport, but he now faces, Segway's involvement not withstand, a company that knows the racing business better than any.

Czysz has developed exquisite technology that can rightfully claim to be world beating as of this moment, but Honda is clearly coming after the mantle of the world's fastest EV producer, and it brings with it a full hand of knowledge in a wide range of relevant technologies, and enough money to get the job done, whatever that takes.

Mugen is unquestionably a surrogate Honda team.

Mugen is a company owned by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro, and currently the largest shareholder of Honda Motor Company. It is a company that has never actually been owned by Honda, but over the last four decades it has worked for no other manufacturer, and certainly does a lot of the bleeding edge performance tuning and race engineering for Honda.

If Team Segway MotoCzysz and German Team Muench (below) have been the big boys on the block for the last few years, they most certainly are no longer, and they face a formidable foe.

It's the beginning of what we expect will be an interesting battle as the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer seeks to dominate electric motorcycle racing as it has done gasoline motorcycle racing

Mugen alone is formidable, being a large, very focussed organisation which acts as Honda's bleeding edge in many forms of motorsport, though not previously on two wheels.

It is a very well funded, race-hardened organisation that has built engines and entire cars for major races series across the globe for decades, including eight years as an engine supplier in Formula One for the likes of Jordan, Ligier, Prost and Lotus during the 1990s.

Its engines have four F1 wins to their credit. It's organizational capacity is also bleeding edge. As McGuinness indicated after his second-placed ride, "they didn't just turn up here, they've been here before", and he also indicated obvious respect that the bike worked straight out of the box and ran flawlessly.

Just how closely related the motorcycle we saw on Honda's stand in the Tokyo Motor Show last November is to the Mugen is anybody's guess.

There are some similarities between the two machines, but the sideplates on the Mugen are obviously there to stop people from seeing inside so we may never know what has been borrowed and from where.

Indeed, Honda's omnidirectional wheel as first seen in the U3-X might yet turn out to be one of the engineering breakthroughs of the century, so there's obviously a lot of work being done in different corners of the company on electric motors and controllers.

Honda has known it would be going electric motorcycle racing for at least a decade, and it jealously guards its motorcycle racing heritage. That's why it spends hundreds of millions on its superbike and MotoGP racing efforts and employs Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa to ride Honda motorcycles and win world championships.

It is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and the moment we have waited for since Azhar Hussain kicked off TTX four years ago is finally here.

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Four new concepts at GTI Worthersee

It's where the company trotted out its now legendary Golf GTI W12-650 concept in 2007. The concept involved taking the 650 bhp bi-turbo 5,998 cc W12 engine used in the Volkswagen Phaeton and squeezing it into a Golf GTI three-door bodyshell to create the fastest Golf on the planet. The sprint from standstill to 62 mph took just 3.7 seconds and it had a maximum speed of 201.8 mph.

This year it showed five new cars: the Golf GTI Cabriolet (which had debuted at Geneva International Motor Show), plus four completely new concept cars in the form of the Polo R-WRC, Polo WRC Street, Golf GTI Black Dynamic and Golf GTI White Concept.

Golf GTI Cabriolet

Though the Golf GTI Cabriolet had already been shown at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, the Wörthersee event offers a chance to get much closer to the car, to engage with Volkswagen experts on the features and benefits of the car, and in many cases to see it driven and to even drive such exclusive cars.

Polo WRC Street

The Polo WRC Street concept car is visually unique with its rear spoiler, diffuser, sports suspension and an inscription with R-WRC logos. Under the bonnet, a 220 PS 2.0-liter TSI engine produces exceptional performance.

Polo R-WRC - "the hottest Polo ever"

The Polo R WRC is from the workshops of Volkswagen Motorsport and is a road-going prototype for the FIA World Rally Championship. It was dubbed the “hottest Polo ever” by Volkswagen Head of Development Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg during the presentation, and will be competing in WRC races from next year.

The engine of the WRC prototype is a 1.6-litre TSI engine with around 300 PS power output The car has a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds.

Golf GTI Black Dynamic

The GTI Black Dynamic is the work of nine Volkswagen apprentices and features an 1,800-watt sound system with nine loudspeakers, which takes up the entire trunk.

Golf GTI White Concept

The Golf GTI White Concept design study features ‘Oryx White matt’ paintwork with a vehicle interior in black/red contrast. In addition to the sports seats in Nappa leather, red contrasting stitching adorns numerous details such as the steering wheel, handbrake lever and door armrests.

A door sill trim – with the GTI logo and honeycomb pattern in White Matt and Aluminium – go to complete the unique appearance of the Golf GTI ‘Concept White’.

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