Video: Environmentalists Beware: Ring A Ding Ding celebrates the vintage two-stroke

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle

Two-stroke porn of the motorcycle engine variety, that’s all this is. Deus Customs, a place that styles itself an “Emporium of Postmodern Activities,” held a confab over the Fourth of July for a group of those loud, buzzy little engines that make all kinds of power for their size and weight, and a lot of smoke to go with it.

There were more then fifty motos on the scene, from some classic Italian gear to Japanese motocrossers to mopeds. If clouds of burnt oil make you queasy, you’ll want to turn away. If you just can’t resist the sound of a swarm of gnats the size of motorcycles, then check out the video below, and go to the Deus Customs site for pics from the day.

Continue reading Environmentalists Beware: Ring A Ding Ding celebrates the vintage two-stroke

Environmentalists Beware: Ring A Ding Ding celebrates the vintage two-stroke originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Jul 2013 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Buick, Design/Style

1963 Buick Riviera

In May of 1903, Buick began work on its first vehicle, the 1904 Model B, the first example of which was sold to a doctor in Flint, Michigan. That first sale was appropriate since later on, Buick became known as a “doctor’s car.” The Model B is the first of 11 cars chosen by Buick to highlight each decade of the company’s 110-year history.

The 1916 D-45 Touring with a six-cylinder engine was Buick’s highest seller that year, and helped push overall sales past six figures for the first time, making Buick the top-selling automotive brand. In 1931, Series 50 got an eight-cylinder engine, which helped the company survive the Great Depression. The 1936 Century was the first Buick that could hit 100 miles per hour, the 1949 Roadmaster had a supporting role in Rain Man, the 1953 Skylark had Italian wire wheels and the owner’s name engraved on its steering wheel.

Then we have the iconic 1963 Riviera, the V6-powered 1975 Regal, and in 1987, the legendary GNX. With a turbocharged, intercooled V6 pumping out 276-horsepower it could hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. In 1999 Buick built the first car in China, the Century, and that country remains the brand’s largest market.

To represent the current decade, Buick chose the 2008 Enclave because it introduced the company’s current design language and brand focus to the market. You can see photos of all these memorable Buicks in the gallery and read more of the brand’s history in the press release below.

Continue reading Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade

Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche celebrates 10 years in China with special edition 911 Turbo S

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, China, Porsche, Design/Style, Luxury

2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S China Edition

2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S China Edition – Click above to enlarge image

To celebrate its tenth anniversary in the ever-hungry, ever-growing Chinese market, Porsche is unleashing a special edition version of its 911 Turbo S. The car comes with the Turbo S’ 530-horsepower, twin-turbo flat-six, mated to Porsche’s PDK sequential gearbox.

Rather than go crazy with mechanical mods, Porsche is sticking with an appearance package for the commemorative 911. Outside, there’s special Gold Bronze Metallic paint set off with flat black and carbon fiber accents. The car rides on sexy black 19-inch Fuchs-style alloys borrowed from the 911 Sport Classic.

Inside, customers get a gold commemorative plaque, and all the Alcantara you could ever want. Porsche sets off the acres of black fabric with contrasting gold stitching.

If you want one, you’re pretty much out of luck. Porsche is only going to build 10 examples, and they’re all going to China.

Porsche celebrates 10 years in China with special edition 911 Turbo S originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, UK

Nissan 370Z GT

Nissan 370Z GT Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s no refuting that Nissan has a rich motor racing heritage, one which it continues to build in series around the globe. And to celebrate its racing prowess, the Japanese automaker is launching a special 370Z GT Edition.

The special model features retro stripes running down the rocker panel over either black or white paint options (including a unique shade of black exclusive to the GT edition), anthracite-finish 19-inch Rays forged alloys and some suspension enhancements. The chassis in particular has been recalibrated at Nissan’s European technical center for high-speed driving, further facilitated by extra underbody sound insulation.

Nissan’s also thrown in the Premium Connect sat-nav system and rear-view parking camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a new snow mode on the optional seven-speed automatic that starts the car in second gear to minimize the potential for wheelspin. Unfortunately, there’s no indication as yet of plans to offer the 370Z GT on these shores, so for a closer look you’ll have to scope out the images in the high-resolution gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition

Nissan celebrates racing tradition with special overseas 370Z GT Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch’s anniversary with special tuner pack

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTI35.com

Volkswagen Golf GTI35.com – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not unusual for an automaker to roll out a special anniversary model when the brand or a specific model celebrates a milestone. This Volkswagen doesn’t come from Wolfsburg itself, though. Instead, an independent outfit bent on marking the 35th birthday of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is behind the effort.

Partnering with German tuning house Wunschel Sport, the website GTI35.com has outfitted the hopped-up Golf with a 50-horse boost to 260 hp, a body kit, lowered suspension, and 19-inch OZ Quaranta wheels on low-profile rubber. The result is a claimed half-second off the 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint, now down to 6.4 seconds (as equipped with the DSG) and a top speed of 255 km/h (158 mph).

The titanium-colored aftermarket special also wears decals emulating a racing number, which is repeated on the keychain, parking sign and t-shirt that come along with the €32,800 package, which is also available as individual components. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf GTI35.com

[Source: GTI35.com]

Continue reading GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch’s anniversary with special tuner pack

GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch’s anniversary with special tuner pack originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Royal Enfield celebrates Indian heritage

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, India

Royal Enfield Bullet

Royal Enfield Bullet – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Royal Enfield started out as a English motorcycle builder way back in the late 1800s. The company soldiered on well into the second half of the 20th Century in England, before finally succumbing to financial woes and closing up shop.

The name, however, survived through Indian-built versions of their bikes. A factory in Indian began churning out Royal Enfield Bullets in 1956, using parts sourced from the factory in England. By 1962, nine years before the English shop closed down, Enfield of India was building bikes from scratch using the original English design.

The Indian brand soldiered on after Royal Enfield officially died, and, in 1995, bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name. Royal Enfiled Bullet 350s and 500s are still produced en masse in India, making Royal Enfield the oldest motorcycle brand still in production. Now, the Indian bike maker offers fully modern machines that only add to the brand’s desirability.

To celebrate its history and the perseverance of the Indian arm of the company, Royal Enfield released a video touting its Indian heritage. Check it out after the break.

Gallery: Review: Royal Enfield Bullet G5 Classic

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

[Source: YouTube via Faster and Faster]

Continue reading Video: Royal Enfield celebrates Indian heritage

Video: Royal Enfield celebrates Indian heritage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 by Gucci celebrates Italian style

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Design/Style, Luxury, Fiat

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Fiat 500 by Gucci – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chic, stylish and Italian, a car like the Fiat 500 is a natural fit for the Gucci set. But in case that wasn’t obvious enough, the two Italian firms have teamed up on a special line. Spearheaded by Lapo Elkann – the rakish playboy brother of Fiat chairman John Elkann and grandson of his late predecessor Gianni Agnelli – the Fiat 500 by Gucci is a joint effort between Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and Fiat’s Centro Stile in this, Italy’s 150th year of ndependence.

The car itself follows in the footsteps of the Diesel edition – not to mention the myriad of similar initiatives involving the Citroën DS3 and the Mini – and is available in either black or white. Gucci’s signature red and green stripe runs down the flank, with the Double-G logo on the wheel hubs and in the pattern on the leather seats.

Naturally, Gucci has also introduced a range of clothing and accessories to mark the occasion. The car and collection were launched by Milan Fashion Week and will be displayed at a dedicated stand at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Trend-setters needn’t wait to check out the details in the press release after the jump and the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Fiat 500 by Gucci

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Fiat 500 by Gucci celebrates Italian style

Fiat 500 by Gucci celebrates Italian style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Porsche, Racing

Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche is celebrating a unique social media milestone with a custom 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The company recently surpassed 1 million fans on Facebook, and to mark the occasion, designers have churned out the hybrid 911 racer with the signatures of over 27,000 Porsche fans. The vehicle is set to be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart for all to see.

The German automaker says that it chose the 911 GT3 R Hybrid for the Facebook celebration because Porsche believes that the car is the future of racing. The machine packs 480 horsepower from a 4.0-liter flat six-cylinder engine and two electric motors capable of 80 horsepower each. Unlike most hybrids, Porsche has opted to store the vehicle’s energy in a flywheel accumulator that gets a boost during braking instead of a traditional battery pack. The technology recently proved itself as competition-capable during last year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche celebrates millionth Facebook fan with special 911 GT3 R Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Man celebrates Lexus LFA arrival with donuts

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Lexus

Lexus LFA donuts

Javier Quirós takes his new Lexus LFA for a spin – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Lucky Lexus owners across the globe are eager to receive their new LFA supercars. Javier Quirós of Costa Rica is one such person, and decided to celebrate the delivery of his red LFA in a manner befitting such a vehicle… by doing a few donuts.

Don’t worry about Javier losing control of the 552-horsepower, 10-cylinder two-door. Quirós is a race driver with Gazoo Racing and president of Purdy Motor, the Costa Rican distributor for Toyota products. Javier has competed around the globe at tracks like Daytona and the Nürburgring.

You can’t see it in the video but we imagine Mr. Quirós’ smile is wider than the grille on the front of his new LFA. This is LFA #0014, which Quirós specially requested from Akio Toyoda because 14 is his usual racing number. Click past the jump for the clip.

[Source: YouTube via LexusEnthusiast]

Continue reading Video: Man celebrates Lexus LFA arrival with donuts

Video: Man celebrates Lexus LFA arrival with donuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

Aesthetics 125 and 1886 Benz Patent-MotorWagen

Daimler celebrates 125 years since Carl Benz’s Patent-MotorWagen – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back on January 29th of 1886, Karl Benz filed the patent for his “vehicle with gas-engine drive.” It’s an important date in the history of the automobile, and Daimler is looking back at that special day that occurred 125 years ago and also using the anniversary of that day to look towards the future.

Daimler is embarking on a world tour to show off its Mercedes-Benz vehicles powered by fuel-cells. Over the course of 125 days, B-Class vehicles fitted with fuel cells will be touted all over the globe. As a nod to the past, the automaker received a new patent 125 years to the day that the original one was created. The bi-polar flat-cell frame is a brand-new technological development that will aid in the creation of lithium-ion batteries.

Mercedes-Benz took advantage of the 125th-anniversary celebrations to use art as a means of highlighting its own future. Thanks to rapid-prototyping technology, engineers were quickly able to produce a sculpture that started life as data in a computer. Called Aesthetics 125, the piece shows the level of technological sophistication available today while hinting at the design language of tomorrow.

Daimler is excited for the 125th anniversary of Mr. Benz’s wagon, and 2011 is chock full of milestones and further reasons to celebrate. Read all about them in the full press-release posted after the jump.

Gallery: Daimler celebrates the 125th anniversary of Carl Benz’s Patent-MotorWagen

Aesthetics 125 and the Benz Patent-MotorWagenAesthetics 125Aesthetics 125Aesthetics 125Aesthetics 125

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent

Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 125 years with sculpture, battery patent originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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