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Video: World’s Most Expensive Motorcycle has frame made from gold

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, Design/Style

World's most expensive motorcycle?

This motorcycle embraces two very different dynamics. On the one hand, it’s quite possibly the most expensive motorcycle ever built, with some experts speculating that the frame alone is worth $1 million. On the other hand, it looks old and beaten up, like a steampunk MadMax.

Designed by an extremely wealthy Turkish motorcycle fan, Tarhan Telli, the basics are include an 1801cc V-Twin with 125 horsepower, a six-speed transmission and a 700-pound curb weight. But what makes it special, aside from the frame that’s made entirely from gold, is the artistry. As Motorcycle explains, Telli wanted high-end materials, like the gold, but wasn’t looking for something shouty, opting for worn materials with interesting patinas. So, basically, he commissioned a bike with a frame made from gold, but didn’t want it to be too loud, so he went to further lengths to obscure the gold finish. This may be the world’s biggest humblebrag.

Telli has approached the Guinness Book of World Records to get his one-off creation certified as the world’s most expensive motorcycle. He isn’t revealing what it cost him to build, but if he spent a million bucks on the frame, we’d expect the entire bike might be a few times that. Scroll down for the video.

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World’s Most Expensive Motorcycle has frame made from gold originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 BMW X5 configurator goes live

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, BMW

2014 BMW X5 configurator

BMW won’t begin selling the 2014 X5 for another few months, but the German manufacturer has brought the third-generation SAV’s configurator online, allowing interested customers to poke around and look at the X5’s optional goodies.

Like the 3 Series, the X5 is available in a number of lines that load up extras automatically. There’s also a do-it-yourself truck that allows owners to pick and choose if they’re not enamored with the styling or trim of one of the dedicated packages. As usual, the options list is quite vast, regardless of which line is chosen. We were able to easily take the new, rear-drive X5 sDrive35i, which started at $52,800, and bring the total price up past $80,000.

The new X5 carries over its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 from the current model, as well as BMW’s excellent 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six. The X5 xDrive35d, with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel will also be available on the third-generation SUV, but won’t hit dealers until early 2014. BMW is stepping outside of the X5’s usual bounds, offering a dedicated rear-drive model, available with all the same trimmings as the xDrive vehicles. Head over to BMW’s US consumer page and have a go.

2014 BMW X5 configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: Mini pokes fun at Anthony Weiner using fake Twitter account

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Mini, Humor

Mini, never one to pass on a marketing opportunity, has pounced on the plight of embattled New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, who seems to have an issue with sending pictures of his genitals to young women. Observers will notice that this is the second time the unfortunately named Mr. Weiner has been in the spotlight for his picture messages.

Capitalizing on Weiner’s alias, Carlos Danger, Mini has created an account on Twitter – @CarlosDMotor. With a note on the profile page listing “Danger” as the account’s middle name, it’s sent out just one tweet, containing the message, “Wanna get your hands on my stick?” Attached to the Tweet is a scantily clad Mini Cooper S, with a towel around its “waist” snapping a picture. Too soon? To borrow the brilliant pun from AdWeek, the “auto erotica” was the idea of Mini’s marketing agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners. Click below for the full tweet.

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Mini pokes fun at Anthony Weiner using fake Twitter account originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hot lap the Hungaroring with Codemasters’ F1 2013 and Anthony Davidson

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toys/Games

Au courant with the Hungarian Grand Prix running this weekend, Codemasters has released in-game footage from F1 2013 of a hot lap video of the Hungaroring driven by Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo and narrated by ex-Formula One driver and current Sky F1 commentator and sportscar racer Anthony Davidson. The graphics have improved over F1 2012, Davidson’s commentary is just as good as it was last year, and the rear-view mirrors are still huge.

There are also hot lap vids of the Nürburgring driven by Kimi Räikkönen in his Lotus and Silverstone piloted by Jenson Button in his McLaren. The game hits shelves October 8, but you can watch the hot lap videos below right now.

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Hot lap the Hungaroring with Codemasters’ F1 2013 and Anthony Davidson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Toyota investing $30 million in Indiana for more Highlander production

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

2014 Toyota Highlander front three-quarter

Indiana seems like the place to be if you’re looking for work in a car factory. In May, Subaru announced plans to invest $400 million in its Lafayette, Indiana plant, creating 900 new jobs in the process and increasing capacity to 300,000 units per year. Now, Toyota has announced plans to invest $30 million in its Princeton, Indiana plant, 170 miles south of the Subaru factory, which also builds the Camry.

Toyota’s investment will create an additional 200 jobs and increase the factory’s volume by 15,000 units. Toyota announced an investment in the plant in February of 2012 that bumped volume up from 300,000 to 350,000 units. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, as the Princeton facility is officially known, produces the recently revised Toyota Highlander, the Sequoia and the Sienna. It employs 4,500 people, and this announcement represents Toyota’s tenth production increase in under two years.

Scroll down below for the official announcement.

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Toyota investing $30 million in Indiana for more Highlander production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: Ford EcoBoost successful because of Soviet laser weapons system expert?

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Ford

Mike Kluzner is a man of many talents. Not only is he the software engineer responsible for fuel system diagnostics for Ford globally, he “got his start designing laser weapon systems capable of disabling the navigation systems of enemy satellites” for the former Soviet Union. Quite a résumé, wouldn’t you say?

You may be asking yourself the same question that popped into our minds upon reading about Mr. Kluzner: What do laser weapon systems have to do with Ford and its EcoBoost engines? We’ll let the man answer himself. “The same process for analyzing key physical relationships works for what we do today in engine combustion, catalyst chemistry and mechanics,” says Kluzner. “These are all part of Ford’s software engineering expertise.” Who are we to argue?

Ford also employs an engineer who previously designed software to detect damage to the heat tiles on the International Space Station, as well as one who’s past work involved particle physics, says the automaker in the press release below. David Bell (pictured above right), global boost system controls engineer for Ford, describes the software running EcoBoost as “the secret sauce” that makes the technology work as the driver intends and demands.

Scroll down below to find out more, and to learn how Ford’s 125 (and growing, it says) patents related to EcoBoost help keep the automaker at the forefront of engine technology.

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Ford EcoBoost successful because of Soviet laser weapons system expert? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Brabus’ 730-hp 2014 Mercedes S-Class is for those who can’t wait for AMG

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

You can’t even buy the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class yet, but Brabus is ready to help you prepare for it. The German tuning house has engineered a suite of upgrades for the sedan that does just about everything but provide a button for its own aftermarket tune. The heart of any Brabus is the engine, and there are three heart transplants to choose from: there’s the B50S for the S550 that adds 65 horsepower, for a total of 520 hp and 604 pound-feet of torque; the B63 takes the S63 AMG up to 650 hp and 737 lb-ft; and the B63S rings the bell with 730 hp and 785 lb-ft. A top-speed limiter allows the option of capping velocity at either 155 mph, 168 mph or 186 mph.

As if the rock-crushing power and eye-watering speed weren’t enough to set the barge apart from others, an aero kit, two styles of monoblock wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches, a lowered suspension and a sport exhaust will add the florid plumage to your shiny new peacock. Brabus can tell you even more about it in the press release below.

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Brabus’ 730-hp 2014 Mercedes S-Class is for those who can’t wait for AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Volkswagen Passat turns 40

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Seven generations of Passat have graced streets around the world, and today is the long-running Volkswagen’s 40th birthday. Looking at the car today, it’s hard to imagine that it was offered as a hatchback in its first and second generations, in addition to the sedan and wagon body styles. But there’s no question Volkswagen has sold a lot of Passats over the years, with over 20 million produced.

VW started delivering the B1-generation Passat on July 25, 1973, and sold it until 1980, when the second generation came out. The B2, which went by many names in different markets, was produced from 1980-87 (longer in some markets, such as China, where it was produced until 2012) and featured technology you might recognize in many of today’s VWs, such as a turbo-diesel engine option. The B3 generation was produced from 1987-93 and, styled with aerodynamics in mind, starts looking more like a Passat in this writers opinion. The B4, produced from 1993-97, was safer and had a stiffer body but followed the same formula as the previous generation.

The B5 Passat stepped up the quality quite a bit from the previous model, and it came with a wide range of four-, five-, six- and eight-cylinder engines. It was produced from 1996-2005. The sixth-gen Passat was produced from 2006-09 and could be had with a double-clutch transmission for the first time. It even spawned the good-looking Passat CC, which became its own model in 2010, when the current B7 Passat was released.

The B7 is a curious model. While Rest of World markets all get the same car, the US produces a unique Passat for its own market, and China makes a derivative that VW sells there called the New Midsize Sedan.

Give in to nostalgia and check out the gallery we’ve included to see how the Passat has evolved over the years.

Volkswagen Passat turns 40 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctions: Ferrari 458 with $1M wheels still hasn’t found a buyer [w/video]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Videos, Ferrari

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia with Vossen Wheels front three-quarter

Rule number one of modifying a car: When it comes time to sell, people want to pay for the car, and could care less how much you spent in the aftermarket. This is a lesson that the guys at Latitude Wheels in Miami are currently learning.

The wheel company’s “flagship show car,” a 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia was put up for sale on eBay weeks ago, as reported by Jalopnik. The price? Just a shade under $1.3 million. For a 458 Italia. That normally starts around $230,000. Yeah.

Latitude justifies the car’s price based on a very expensive set of wheels. To be exact, the 21-inch fronts and 22-inch rears are forged Vossen Precision Series wheels. Mounted on Pirelli rubber, Latitude claims the package is worth over $1 million. Add onto that the $20,000 in Novitec Rosso carbon fiber pieces – none of the fun, performance stuff Novitec is known for – and you come to an eBay starting price of $1,290,000.

The auction closed on Wednesday night, without so much as a bid. Check out the promotional video Vossen put together below.

Continue reading Ferrari 458 with $1M wheels still hasn’t found a buyer [w/video]

Ferrari 458 with $1M wheels still hasn’t found a buyer [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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