TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Max Speed Speedometer Watch
- Chris Harris Drives His Unusual Dream Car: A 1986 BMW M5
- Lexus ES 300h
- Toyota Working on PlayStation 3-Compatible Feature for the GT 86
- Free BMW 1M poster from H&R
- Carlsson C25 China Limited Edition
- Video: Porsche Cayman caught on the road
- Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by Vath
- Porsche Boxster 981 SP81-R by SpeedART
- Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition
| Posted: 02 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT
Typically when we review watches, it is a fine timekeeping piece, like a Tag Heuer, but sometimes we just can't pass up a cheap, yet amusing, watch. Enter in our latest example, the Max Speed Speedometer watch, and you hit all three qualities we look for in an inexpensive watch: neat, innovative, and car-centric. This watch takes the latter of our three key qualities to an extreme that we rarely see. The face of this watch is set up to look similar to the dashboard of a car, as it has a speedometer that goes from 05 to 55 in increments of five and a tachometer that goes from 1 to 12. The Speedometer is what tells you what minute it is and the tachometer tells you the hour. To make sure there is no confusion on the minutes when the watch is between two increments, a gear position indicator below the speedometer has number 1 through 4 to tell you the precise minute. In the top left hand corner you have two gauges, one looks like a fuel gauge and it tells you if it is a.m. or p.m., and the other looks like another tachometer that tells you the day of the week, with Saturday and Sunday being in the redline. The idea of this watch is simply awesome, but the execution is pretty cheap. It would be much cooler and less cheap looking if the gauge needles actually moved, but instead just a blue LED light illuminates behind each numeral and the gauges remain fixed in one position. It screams "cheap" just like those watches that have 10 different faces on them but only the main watch face is actually operational. Also, a rubber watch band is just not something that you want to wear anywhere other than the gym or on a run. Oh well, maybe someday someone will create this style of watch with actual moving components. Until then, we can at least be humored by this one. Max Speed Speedometer Watch originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 2 June 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Chris Harris Drives His Unusual Dream Car: A 1986 BMW M5 Posted: 01 Jun 2012 11:00 PM PDT
As all of automotive enthusiasts got introduced to cars we began falling in love with certain makes, models, and types of cars. For most of us, this happened at an early age. I was primarily raised around muscle cars, so it is easy to understand why I have an absolute infatuation with them. It also had to do with the fact that I learned about cars in the `80s and there weren't many powerful cars to speak of in that era. Chris Harris also learned about his love for cars through the 1980s, but obviously had more exposure to German cars than the average American youngster in the `80s, as his childhood favorite was the car that spawned the performance sedan market way back in the `80s. This epic, but little-known, ride is the 1986 BMW M5. This car pumps out 286 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque from its 3.5-liter inline six cylinder and only 187 of them were ever imported into the U.K. with right-hand drive. While the 187 number is impressive by modern-day standards, the 286 ponies and 251 pound-feet are pretty average. Then again, the 1986 was chock-full of big V-8s that struggled to even push out 200 horsepower (see: 1986 Camaro Z/28, 1986 Mustang GT, and 1986 Corvette). You can obviously tell that Chris loves driving this car, as he drifts it around a few turns and really gets into it. He makes it clear that the car is far from flawless, as the rear bumper trim is falling off, it has some dents, and the interior is just a little above average for its age, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Check out the above video to have a look and listen to this impressive machine. You also get a chance to gain just a little more respect for Chris Harris, as he shows that he knows exactly what BMW built this car to do. Chris Harris Drives His Unusual Dream Car: A 1986 BMW M5 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 2 June 2012 06:00 EST.
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| Posted: 01 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT
The first generation Lexus ES has been unveiled in 1989 and 2013 model year marks both the introduction of the sixth generation, but also the first-ever hybrid model of the line-up: the ES 300h. The new ES 300h will be offered with the Lexus Hybrid Drive that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine with an electric motor for a total of 200 HP and an impressive fuel economy of 39 mpg combined. The car can hit a top speed of 112 mph and will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.1 seconds and the quarter mile in 16.8 seconds. "Since its introduction in 1989, the ES has been the benchmark luxury sedan for quality, reliability, ride comfort and value," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "The new ES 350 and the first ever ES hybrid raise the bar once again." Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Lexus ES 300h. Lexus ES 300h originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 2 June 2012 00:00 EST.
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| Toyota Working on PlayStation 3-Compatible Feature for the GT 86 Posted: 01 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT
  Our friends over at Autocar are reporting a nice tidbit of tech news on the new Toyota GT 86. According to GT 86 project engineer, Tetsuya Tada, Toyota is working on a black-box system for the GT 86 that will monitor all of the car's main functions (i.e. braking, accelerating, stability, acceleration, speed, etc.). In short, the black-box system is nothing new, but what Toyota plans to do with it is. Engineers are working on installing software on the black box that is compatible with the PlayStation 3. At the same time, Toyota is hard at work mapping out all of the major tracks and raceways around the world and uploading them into the black box. All the driver has to do is take the GT 86 to a mapped track on the black box and drive the hell out of his car. Once the driver has finished his track day, just hook up the black box to a PlayStation 3 and upload the data. After all of the data is uploaded, the driver can compare his data from the track with other GT 86 drivers that have run on the same track, making for some friendly racing, without the risks of swapping paint. This system will also provide pointers for performing better at the track and maximizing the GT 86’s potential. Seems like a pretty cool idea on paper, but the issue becomes the fact that some street racers may find a way to upload public streets, then you have GT 86 drivers driving like maniacs on busy roads trying to beat their buddy's time around the block. We hope that the engineers find a way to block this possibility prior to releasing it, if it ever becomes a reality. For those that snag up GT 86s before this system debuts can easily retro-fit it onto older GT 86 models. There is no word on whether this system will be offered for the Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ. Toyota Working on PlayStation 3-Compatible Feature for the GT 86 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 23:00 EST.
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| Free BMW 1M poster from H&R Posted: 01 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT
Lets face it: all of you have at least one huge car poster in your room. But finding the right resolution can be difficult sometime and usually costs. But now, the German tuner H&R is offering you a free poster featuring the nicely tuned H&R BMW 1M Coupe on a double sided, 24x36" full color image. For those of you who have forgotten, the BMW 1M Coupe by H&R is equipped with a sport suspension set-up that lowered the car by 1.2" on the front and 0.6" on the rear, a new set of 19" wheels from BBS combined with Brembo brakes. H&R opted to let everything under the hood unchanged. And we perfectly agree! After all the BMW 1-Series M Coupe is the perfect car: it is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 340 horsepower and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. All you have to do is go on the H&R page and ask for your awesome free poster. Free BMW 1M poster from H&R originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 21:00 EST.
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| Carlsson C25 China Limited Edition Posted: 01 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT
Of course most of you remember the Super GT Carlsson C25 Royale unveiled last year at the Geneva Motor Show. At the launch Carlsson announced that only 25 units will be built. And now the tuner announced that from the 25 units, 7 will be built exclusive for the Chinese market and will be sold as the Carlsson C25 China Limited Edition. All units will be built individually according to the owners’ wishes. The new C25 China Edition has been built entirely in carbon fiber so that the car is now 396 lbs lighter that the standard C25. Next to this impressive weight reduction the car gets composite braking system, a C-Tronic Suspension chassis with iPhone control, 450 HP V8 engine and a very impressive exhaust system with two massive, all-aluminum tailpipes. Each customer will have the possibility to choose any possible colo combination so that none of the seven vehicles will be alike. Each unit will be priced at about $627.000 and only the C25 Limited Edition No. 1 will be transferred by air to Shanghai, all the rest will be hand-manufactured over the next twelve months at Gut Wiesenhof in Merzig. Carlsson C25 China Limited Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 20:00 EST.
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| Video: Porsche Cayman caught on the road Posted: 01 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT
The new generation Porsche Boxster already made its world debut, but it seems we will still have to wait to see its coupe sibling: the new Cayman. But, until we will get the final specifications on the Cayman one lucky guy has caught the car in action in a district of Stuttgart, Germany. On the exterior the new Cayman will get the same exterior design language as the Boxster, so do not expect big changes in here. Under the hood there will be the same flat-six engine with direct petrol injection as the Boxster. In the base version the engine has a displacement of 2.7 liters and delivers a total of 265 HP, while the S version will get a 3.4 liter version with 315 HP. The new generation Cayman will make its world debut in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Video: Porsche Cayman caught on the road originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 19:00 EST.
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| Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by Vath Posted: 01 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT
With 510 HP under the hood, the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series looks like a car that needs no updates. But the German tuner Vath did the impossible: they managed to update the car’s engine to an impressive 756 HP! So how can you get the extra 246 HP? Simple: first you need an extra 38,500 € ($47,800) and then you need to take your car the the Vath shop. In here your car will get lots of high performance engine modification with compressor system, individual precise tuning of the engine electronics and an in-house manufactured water-charging air cooling system. As a result the engine delivers a total of 756 HP and a peak torque of 59 lbs-ft. Top speed limiter will also be removed so that you can enjoy an impressive top speed of 217 mph. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph will be made in just 3.6 seconds. And if you have a few more thousands to spend, you can also get a stainless steel exhaust-manifold system, a sport rear silencer, a new suspension system that lowers the car’s ride by 20 – 65 mm and a new set of 20" wheels. Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by Vath originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 18:00 EST.
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| Porsche Boxster 981 SP81-R by SpeedART Posted: 01 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT
Porsche has just unveiled their new generation Boxster and it seems that the German tuner has been pretty impressed about the little sports roadster as they have already unveiled a pretty impressive tuning package for it. Called SP81-R the package adds a pretty cool exterior kit, but also the addition of an extra 20 HP. The exterior changes include a new rear wing, rear diffuser, side skirts and a front chin spoiler. The package can be completed with a new set of super light forged 20" or 21" wheels, available in different colors. And the final touch has been given by the car’s new exterior paint job: a very cool combination of green and black. For the interior the only changes will include unique variations of leather and Alcantara. In order to obtain the extra power the tuner has added a complete modified sport exhaust system with sport-catalysts and manifolds and perfect calibration of the ECU map. The sport exhaust could be combined with several different tailpipe versions for maximum individuality and singularity. Porsche Boxster 981 SP81-R by SpeedART originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 17:00 EST.
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| Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition Posted: 01 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Late last year we announced that Volkswagen was displaying a new concept car, the Beetle Fender Edition, and they were working toward possibly putting the model into production. Well, the "possibly " part can be eliminated, as the production model 2013 Beetle Fender Edition has been put on display at the Leipzig Auto Show for all to see. While the 2013 VW Beetle Fender Edition may not boast any significant performance upgrades, it certainly does feature a ton of audio and visual upgrades, which is exactly what you would expect of a Fender Edition car. Volkswagen was kind enough to provide us with a press release that lays out all of the specs and features that this special edition bug boasts, as well as a good amount of high-quality images. The rear test is to see how this special edition stacks up to its competition and if it is really worth sinking the extra money into. All of these answers and more are addressed in our full review after the jump. Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 1 June 2012 16:00 EST.
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