McLaren MP4-12C GTR Rendered
Artist Jon Sibal has developed renderings of the proposed McLaren MP4-12C based on classic, iconic liveries such as Gulf, Marlboro, and Fina. Being a huge Gordon Murray fan, Sibal was able to draw inspiration from Murray’s works on the F1 and its evolution to GTR status, incorporating similar aerodynamic themes such as front splitters and wider fenders to accommodate the race car’s OZ wheels. Sibal has also promised a Long Tail version that will pay homage to the 1997 GTR Long Tail. The MP4-12C will break later this year, with the GTR sure to follow.
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Warrior Footwear – Spring/Summer 2010
Warrior Footwear was originally created in 1935 to supply China with affordable athletic shoes, and after decades of dominating their respective market, they have evolved to become a beloved brand among alternative-minded youth in Beijing and Shanghai. Referred to as “Hui Li” in China, the Warrior brand has defined itself by using lightweight canvas with flexible rubber soles to achieve what they call a “a classic silhouette with clean sophisticated definition.” We love their iconic look and are excited to see their upcoming spring/summer collection, which promises to almost double their current lineup, adding four new styles and seven new color options.
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Infiniti FX Limited Edition
We’ve learned a few things over the years, namely that the UK (almost) always gets better versions of our cars, and that you can (almost) always improve on an already great idea; The Infiniti FX Limited Edition is proof of both. Infiniti has taken their already sinister-looking crossover and made a few tweaks that we think will truly enhance an already sensational vehicle. Only two paint jobs are offered: Black Obsidian and Moonlight White, both of which look great riding atop a set of 21-inch turbine-style wheels. The exterior is further enhanced with dark graphite accents and smoked headlight surrounds. The already well-appointed interior receives a makeover as well, and becomes even more inhabitable with the addition of an Alcatara headliner, illuminated entry guards, and the obligatory carbon fiber trim. The last addition to the options list is the Connectiviti/Technology package, which boasts GPS navigation, an 11-speaker Bose Premium Sound System, iPod connectivity and a 10GB music box. Since there are no performance upgrades, the Limited Edition can be ordered with either the FX37 or FX50, at the cost of £55,855 and £62,035, respectively.
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2011 BMW 335is
Since its inception, the BMW 335 has, in every iteration, dominated its respective market. It is only natural that its near-perfection would catch the attention of both inhouse and third-party tuners, and modified versions of the 3-series can be found in nearly every major market except one. Thankfully, that’s about to change, as BMW recently announced that the United States will actually get the first shot at the newest horse in its stable, the 335is. With club racers in mind, BMW made a series of modifications that could make this the best 3-series yet. The engine and cooling system were modified in tandem, the latter being done to allow for better breathing and the added stress that comes from an additional 20bhp (up to 320) and 32 pounds of torque (up to 332). Don’t stop grinning yet, though. The 335is is able to ratchet its performance up one notch further, with a devestatingly powerful overboost feature; by upping the boost to 14.5psi, the car is able to provide 370bhp for up to seven seconds. With the whole 3-series range slated for a minor aesthetic overhaul this year, this special edition can be identified by its ferric 18-inch wheels, gloss black kidney surrounds and mirror caps, black window trim, and a deadly-looking pair of blacked-out exhaust tips that rest below its functional rear diffuser. The suspension and interior have both been upgraded with M components, and the transmission will come as either a 6-speed manual or with a 7-speed DCT, which had previously been unavailable on any other 3. The 335is is supposed to come in between the 335i and M3 in virtually every way, but we can’t help but wonder if BMW has done too well here. One is reminded of Porsche’s Cayman, which was supposed to offer a nice middle road between the Boxster and 911; however, it has since become debatable as to whether or not most versions of the 911 should even exist. Like the Cayman, the 335is promises to offer outstanding performance for its price, and should be a stylish and well-rounded vehicle. We are hoping enthusiasts stateside really warm up to the 335is, as it would likely open future doors to other special editions. The convertible will debut first, hitting dealerships in March and costing about $59k; the coupe will be available in June and is priced just over $50k.
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Brabus GL 63
In a thesaurus somewhere in Germany, look up Brabus and one may find a suitable synonym: hardcore. The Bottrop, Germany-based tuners have never produced vehicles for the faint of heart, and we are pleased to see they are still up to their best work. What they have done with Mercedes’ lauded family-hauler can best be described as aggressive, both aesthetically and performance-wise. Stepping up to bat for inhouse tuners AMG (who neglected to offer a high-strung version of the GL), Brabus’ first step was to massage the venerable 6.3 liter V8 into the sport-ute, then adding a pair of turbochargers and a massive water-to-air intercooler. The intake, exhaust, brakes, suspension and gearbox were given the Brabus treatment as well, and the end result is 650bhp and a 0-60 time under 5 seconds. The exterior is upgraded with lightweight rolling stock and a widebody treatment, giving the truck a more aggressive stance to match what’s under the hood. The interior is absolutely breathtaking, and boasts custom quilted leather with alcantara piping and a ton of carbon fiber tech pieces. The only thing we were disappointed to see was that Brabus has continued its tradition of aggressive pricing as well; the uber-truck is rumored to cost over $500,000. It will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in a few months but orders are being placed now.
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Carlsson C25
Sometimes we think there are too many tuners out there, period. But then, the clouds part, and we’re left with a more concise thought. There are only a few tuners out there that really matter. Carlsson’s 20-year pedigree of tweaking Mercedes’ finest has staked their claim to this smaller group of tuners. In anticipation of the Geneva Auto Show, Carlsson has posted some renderings of its latest creation, the C25, which they refer to as a ‘Super-GT.’ In the words of Markus Schuster, Carlsson’s CEO, his intent was “[T]o develop a car which is highly exclusive on the one hand and can be used for the daily journey to office on the other hand.” How many C25 owners will be visiting their offices is what we’re not too sure about. Picking up where the SL65 AMG Black Series left off, the C25 is the proud owner of 753bhp and a tire-melting 848lb-ft of torque, which helps the supercoupe arrive at 60mph in a brief 3.7 seconds. While that in and of itself isn’t out of the ordinary these days, Carlsson’s unique method of allocation is sure to draw headlines. As the name alludes to, there will be only 25 of these magical vehicles up for grabs; the caveat is that each country is only allowed one. So who do you think will be lucky enough to pick one up? Weigh in and let us know. In the meantime, enjoy these images until it breaks cover at Geneva.
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The Macallan Flight of the Decades
There are few names in the boozing world that command more respect than the Macallan label. In honor of some forthcoming products, the esteemed distillers from the Speyside region decided to host an event at the Soho House in New York City, and we are certainly hoping to get an invite next time an event like this rolls around. Tastings from the night included the pre-cask New Make Spirit, cask strength 18-year sherry oak, 50-year, and 52-year vintages. The Macallan ambassadors also appeared to make good use of their revolutionary ice-ball machine, which uses gravity (among other things) to make perfect spheres of ice. Soho House also managed to fuse some of the world’s oldest scotch with up-to-date technology, providing live Twitter updates on flat screens throughout the bar, which no doubt kept the bloggers in full effect that evening.
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2011 Infiniti M
Infiniti is finally poised to replace their aging flagship, and it will debut here in the United States this September. Said to be inspired by the Infiniti Essence (the Japanese Marque’s coolest concept car ever), the third-generation M has been thoroughly redone both inside and out and will offer a bevy of engine choices to compete with the class-leading boys from Munich and Stuttgart. The base model will be equipped with a 3.7 liter V6 (good for 330bhp), with a 5.6 liter V8 available as well; the latter engine will of course be the highlight of the model and we hope the driving dynamics of the M are not compromised by such enormous power gains. The skin of the M looks great; Infiniti has incorporated some curves from the newer G37 as well as the squared-off grille from the Essence; the rear of the car, surprisingly, looks very Jaguar-esque (not to say that’s unflattering, just unexpected). The interior, as expected, is bathed in wood, aluminum, and leather as a proper luxury sports sedan should be. Whether or not the newest M can compete with the 5-series and E-Class remains to be seen, but as always Infiniti manages to bring a lot of sport into the typically banal sedan category.
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The Highland Park Earl Magnus Whiskey
The genius Scots who, for centuries have made some of the world’s finest whiskey, have erected another suitable tribute to Magnus Erlendsson, the first Earl of Orkney. Situated in Orkney themselves, the distillers at the The Highland Park have made yet another masterful whiskey. This booze is bottled at cask strength, in this case a whopping 52.6 percent ABV (just as Magnus would have wanted it), but don’t fear that its potency will overtake the whiskey’s traditional notes of peat; also present are hints of lemon, ginger, and vanilla. Another unique aspect is a customized label depicting Earl Magnus in a stained glass window; the bottle is housed in a wooden gift box etched with Highland Park branding and the story of Earl Magnus. In this respect, the whiskey is a tribute not only to Magnus but to Orkney itself, and the Highland Park has done them both proud.
1946 Saab 92001 Ursaab: The Original Saab
With Saab’s future teetering on the brink, we thought it prudent to look back at the vehicle that they started with. Like some other European carmakers, Saab originally had its place in the aircraft manufacturing industry. And, like its brethren, the end of the second World War meant branching out to other aspects of manufacturing. Its first creation, the Ursaab (meaning ‘Original Saab’), came to be after 16 aircraft engineers collaborated on a vehicle that would ultimately be one of their finest creations. Out of the 16, only two had drivers licenses, and virtually none had automaking experience. Using a few junked cars and some intuition, the Saab team developed a prototype that racked up over 300,000 miles during late night and early morning super-secret test runs. With their background, the team also managed to make the car with an extremely low drag coefficient; by utilizing a streamlined design and eliminating a large back windshield and boot, the Ursaab was more aerodynamically advanced than the more recent Porsche 996 and Ferrari F40. Obviously, the Ursaab proved to be a huge success and paved the way for the Saab 92, their first production vehicle and an automotive icon. The ‘Original Saab’ has since been cleaned up and is on display at the company’s museum in Trollhättan, Sweden.
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