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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