... and we're back!

It's been a wee while since I've posted anything what with exams and everything but I'm officially into my holidays! Typically as soon as holidays begin the winter weather manages to creep up on me and make me sick but apart from that I'm doing just fine. I have been out and about with my 600D snapping everything I see and trying to improve my technique. Here are some shots of my Silvia as well as a few other pictures.

I hope you like them!

A change may be on it's way on my current car ownership.. stay tuned!

Enjoy, Peace.

My First DSLR

So I got my first DSLR yesterday; A Canon EOS 600D.

Unfortunately due to weather and a dirty car, I haven't managed to snap any pictures of my car yet! I did get a couple in it's parking spot but they are more artsy than anything else. I will definitely get some pictures soon!

I won't be able to make any significant posts for the next two weeks as I have a lot of study to undertake then a few exams but I will definitely get back into it once I'm on Holiday! Here is a snap of my car I took this morning.

- Enjoy, Peace.

- Chris V

Super S2K

S2000s have been making a huge splash in the tuner scene ever since their release in 2000 (ha). From factory they are an amazing looking machine, with beautiful lines and a brilliant high-revving Honda VTEC engine. These cars make around 245HP out of the box which is quite sufficient for a street car, but to some, it just isn't enough.

Owner Mike Wasser decided he wanted more power and decided to fit a supercharger kit from Vortech Engineering.The supercharger kit brings engine output up to around 358HP, impressive! Fortunately this still was not enough for the owner so a 5lb. nitrous kit was installed with 35HP and 50HP shot options. All these upgrades caused a lot of heat so the engine had the cooling system upgraded to keep the power flowing smoothly.

 Style-wise this S2000 looks the part. Rolling on Racing Hart CPF Tuner-Rs in a 18x7.5 front and 18x8.5 rear stagger. Holding the car up are a set of Tein CS coilovers, and a spoon X-brace stiffening up the whole chassis. A KAAZ LSD and an uprated Clutch were also in order to keep the car (and owner) happy.

Body styling is courtesy of a C-West bodykit and Carbon Fibre vented hood and OEM molded boot. The S2000 also sports an OEM hardtop which is a perfect addition. All around this S2000 is an amazing piece of machine and I would love to own something this this one day - oh to dream. Until next time!

 - Enjoy, Peace.

Photo's courtesy of Andy Bui, Cheers!


- Chris V

Tokyo Auto Salon 2011 Pt. 1

Tokyo Auto Salon has brought through some amazing looking cars over years, from the more elegant to the far out weird and wild and this year is no exception. The event was held in January so I'm a little late to the occasion but as they say better late then never.

Here are a few favourites of mine as well as some must-see's.
-Enjoy

Kicking us off was this amazing Datsun pickup slammed on Work Equips but instead of housing a petrol slurping engine in the bay, it had a Toyota Prius Hybrid motor! I absolutely love this ute, it has an amazing stance that is to die for.

As you can see a lot of work went into this old Datsun, with custom fabrication spewing from the seams. The simple colour and perfect wheels combination with ridiculous camber make this car a real show winner for me. Style and economy all wrapped into one.

Next up was this Anime-clad Nissan Silvia S13. Now what I really like about this S13 is the fact that it is relatively stock standard with the exception of a subtle bodykit and fluro pink Gram lights.

The S13 chassis has fantastic lines from factory and the kit of this particular example really compliments them. That and the fluro wheels makes this one a cool ride in my books.

Another sure fire winner for me was this immaculate Toyota Trueno AE86 with the brilliant white paint with black accents, another simple yet stunning japanese favourite among so many others. This particular 86 looked to be sporting a 20V blacktop 4A-GE with ITB's, although I'm not positive on this.

The wheels on this car were stunning, the perfect sizing, offset and dish for the 86, the finishing touch on a perfect example.

 Datsun 240z

Here are a few more rides from the enormous turnout, unfortunately I can't include everything! I may do another feature to include more later!

-Enjoy!

Unknown 

 Toyota Celsior

Nissan Fuga 

Audi Sedan 

Honda NSX 

Honda EG Civic Hatch

Photo's courtesy of Car Scoop, Cheers!

- Chris V

Supercar Status

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640

Pagani Zonda R

We all have a favourite supercar, one we would buy first if we won a heck of a lot of money. I have a few favourites such as the Lamborghini Murcielago LP-640 and the Pagani Zonda R but one car sits above the others; it may not be as fast but it's all I'd ever want in a car; The Lexus LFA.

Lexus LFA

Now you may be thinking 'A Lexus over a Lamborghini or a Ferrari or a Pagani??, why?'. Well that's hard to explain, there is just something about the LFA that appeals to me so much more than the rest. It could be the high revving 4.8-litre V10 engine equipped with dual VVT-i, pushing 412kW at 8,700 RPM and 480 N.m of torque at 6,800 RPM, an engine that can rev from idle to redline in 0.6 seconds. Or it could be the lightweight chassis consisting of a carbon fibre-reinforced polymer center monocoque with aluminum front and rear subframes, saving 100kg over an equivalent aluminium design. 

Maybe it's just the fact that this machine is amazing, mixing lightweight design, high revving V10 power and excellent exterior aerodynamics and interior styling to create what I think is the most exciting addition to the Supercar world for a while. Whatever the reason, all I know is that I want one.

Lexus made a Nürburgring Edition of their LFA, featuring an extra 10 horsepower from its V10 engine, bringing total horsepower to 562, a re-calibrated transmission with gear shifts made faster by 0.05 seconds, a front splitter, stiffer and more adjustable suspension, lightweight alloy wheels coated in track rubber, aerodynamic canards at the sides of the front bumper, and a large fixed rear wing; what a package indeed.

The only unfortunate part of this car is the price, at US$375,000 ($460,000 NZD) 
for the base model before fee's, it's an expensive buy. For an extra US$70,000 you can have the 
Nürburgring Edition.. ouch. Either way If I had the money (plus a heck of a lot more) I'd jump at the chance to own this modern marvel.

- Enjoy, Peace.

- Photo's courtesy of Lexus and Nick Schultz, Cheers.

- Chris V

 

A drop of VW love..

Today I feel like something a little different, and while Golf GTI's aren't exactly a subtle addition to the current trends in the auto world, the older models don't tend to show through as much as they deserve. This MKII Golf GTi looks amazing slammed with Weitec XS coilovers on BBS RM rims, 15x8 ET14 front, 15x8.5 ET-8 rear. The GTi is another car where simplicity makes the look, and this GTi proves it.

Oettinger is a performance company from Germany who specialize in Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda. This Scirocco has had the full Oettinger treatment with uprated suspension, bigger brakes and of course, more power. Power output increased 30HP over the standard 2.0 TSI model to 240HP, giving this hot hatch a huge punch. I personally dig the Scirocco over the MKV Golf, the shape is a little 'fresher' and it has a nice wide body, lots of room for wide wheels! Once they become a little more affordable I hope to see a lot more getting the performance treatment as well as lowww..

Here's a few more VW's I thought were pretty damn cool..

You gotta love the Volkswagen.

- Enjoy, Peace.

- Photo's courtesy of Speedhunters and Autoblog, Cheers.

- Chris V

Car's I'd kill to own.. Pt.1

Whether you adore it or despise it, Mike Burroughs' E28 BMW is a work of art. This car has had a rough life but the latest news is that he's making a come back. When I first heard about this car I fell in love; the rough exterior with the 'shark nose' graphics along with the enormous drop makes this BMW one amazing ride.

Rusty is rolling on 17x9 -10 and 17x11 -10 24k Gold Plated magnesium Ronal Racing splits.. and they are GORGEOUS. For these reasons and more, Rusty Slammington makes it into the list of car's I'd kill to own.

Next on the list is Yuta Akaishi's slammed 240z. Just like Rusty, Yuta's 240z sports the rusted 'rough-house' exterior that is just so damn appealing. Everything about this car makes my brain explode; it's amazing. The 240z is lowered on Honda Integra adjustable suspension allowing it to be slammed this low. The wheels on this 240 are Hayashi Racing 505s with 15x11 -30 in the rear and 15x10 -10 on the front, giving it a very aggressive stance when paired with the roughly installed flares.





Yuta's 240 has since had a makeover and now replicates a japanese fighter plane, badass. The cars essence still exists thankfully as it still sports the rough exterior, super low stance and very deep dish wheels, this time in gold over the black. Flawless style, I crave this car.

AE86's are on almost everyones want list, but this 86 is hiding a little secret; a secret to the tune of 360kW+. This AE86 in particular is owned by Hugo Mclean, a quite successful drifter here in NZ. The car is fitted with a BN sports kit as well as DMAX wide body front and J-Blood wide body rear guards. This hachi is rolling on my all time favourite wheel, the Work Meister S1 in 16x8.5 -6 and 16x9.5 -16. 

The power behind this awesome drifter is an F20C from an S2000, strapped with a GT3076r turbo! This is an awesome engine, running all this power on stock internals with uprated 1000cc injectors. The power is put through a stock S2000 6 speed box right down to the rears. This AE86 is one amazing machine, although unfortunately it is being parted out at the moment (but the whole lot if available with the right offer), If only I had the money!

Lastly in this stint of killer wants is the Fatlace S14 240sx owned by Mark Arcenal himself. I absolutely adore this S14 and one day hope that my own S14 will somewhat resemble this awesome machine. The car runs a fully built 450hp SR20DET which tickles me in all the right ways. The sharp looks are thanks to a combination of Rocket Bunny and Supermade bodykits, two of my favourites, especially the Rocket Bunny 

spoiler. 

HKS Hipermax D coil overs give this ride the edge on the drift course, they are set up perfectly making sliding an easy task. Power is put down through J Line SDMSL2 in 18x9.5 -10 front and 18x9.5 -35 rear, giving this S14 the perfect stance. I can only wish to own such an amazing Silvia but it's early days for me, who knows what the future holds.

This car has had a renovation too and now sports black Work Meisters (18x10 -7f / 18x11.5 -13r) and a BN sports kit. Thankfully it still has that amazing Rocket Bunny spoiler! Still the pinnacle of cool in my books.

Photo's courtesy of Speedhunters and StanceWorks.

- Enjoy, Peace.

-Chris V