Toyota Aqua Hybrid by Kana Auto Works (special cars)

Toyota Aqua Hybrid

While in the business of producing and developing cars for Toyota for more than half a century, Kana Auto Works has generally stayed under the radar.

However, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company came out of its shell introducing several bespoke models.
Aside from the Toyota Century-based FS Hybrid, Kana Auto Works also displayed two prototypes of the newly presented Toyota Aqua hybrid, which will be marketed under the Prius C brand name outside of Japan.
The first Aqua Fun concept is finished in an orange hue and sports a subtle aero package and new alloy wheels.

The other Aqua Fun study is more extreme boasting a bright yellow finish and several cosmetic changes including new front and rear bumpers, different headlamps and tail lights, larger spoilers and bigger wheels while also riding on a lowered sports suspension.

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Abarth Punto Scorpione (Limited Edition)

Abarth Punto Scorpione

The Fiat Group's never-ending streak of special edition models continues with the new Abarth Punto Scorpione that will receive its world premiere alongside the 595 specials at the upcoming 2011 Bologna Motor Show in the beginning of December.

The Abarth Punto Scorpione is based on the esseesse model and is powered by the same 180HP 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.5 seconds and its top speed is 216 km/h (134 mph).

However, it comes with several unique cosmetic touches. These include the special exterior paint job with a two-tone Nero Scorpione livery enhanced by special matte black paintwork for the bonnet and roof that encompass glossy black stripes. The Italian hot hatch also gets black alloy wheels and yellow Brembo brake calipers.

Inside, Abart fitted the Punto Scorpione with a set of bucket seats partially trimmed in Alcantara and featuring red and yellow stitching from Sabelt, leather steering wheel, gearbox and instrument panel cover, plus aluminium kick plate, sport pedals and accent trim.

The Italian automaker has also developed a special "Abarth Nitro" winter kit for those who like skiing and which includes 17-inch alloys with winter tires, a snowboard rack with magnetic fastening and a snowboard from the "Nitro powered by Abarth" lineup.
The company said that production of the Abarth Punto Scorpione will be strictly limited to 99 units.

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Range Rover Evoque by Startech (special cars)

Range Rover Evoque by Startech

Making its European debut at this week's Essen Motor Show is the Startech tuning program for the new Range Rover Evoque. Startech, which is a sub-division of the Brabus brand, first revealed its take on the British crossover model at the Dubai International Motor Show earlier this month.

The product lineup includes a new front apron, a roof wing and a rear apron that houses a diffuser and the reshaped quad tail pipes. The crossover model's sportier stance is further enhanced with suspension kit that lowers the ride height by up to 30mm (1.2-inches) and custom-tailored alloy wheels offered in various color combos and 20- or 22-inch diameters.

There's a lot going on inside as Startech's comprehensive program comprises of a sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals, foot rest and shifter, leather upholstery for the seats and door panels, Alcantara trim for the headliner and wood or carbon-fiber trim sets.
Startech said that a performance kit for the 2.0-liter SI4 gasoline engine that normally produces 240-horses is in the final stages of development, while the tuner will introduce a power kit for the diesel engine as well.

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Porsche Cayman R1 by Delavilla (Special Cars)

Porsche Cayman R1 by Delavilla

Delavilla was established in 2007 and focuses exclusively on Porsche models currently offering complete programs for the Cayman and the 911 coupes. The company says that it is also working on tunes for the Speedster, the Cayenne SUV and the Panamera saloon, with more details to be released at a later date.

Back to the Cayman-based R1, the coupe model was revealed at the 2011 Lyon International Motor Show last month and it proposes a comprehensive exterior makeover along with a choice of power upgrades.
The obvious exterior changes start with a wide bodykit that includes front and rear bumpers and fenders along with side panels, which add 120mm (4.7-inches) to the Cayman's overall width up front and 180mm (7.1-inches) on the rear.

The car also gets a bespoke set of quad tail pipes, LED daytime running lights and larger multispoke alloy wheels in the same color as the body.
Delavilla notes that it offers a great number of options ranging from scissor-style doors with a fingerprint recognition system to a transparent engine cover.
Inside, the French tuning house adds a pair of bucket seats along with Alcantara trim on the steering wheel and gear lever.
Buyers can choose from three different power kits that lift output to 340HP, 385HP and 420HP, though the most powerful option is only for those than plan to use the car on the track for racing.

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Phoenix Roadster- The world’s first biodegradable car (Special Cars)

phoenix-concept-car

Filipino product designer Kenneth Cobonpue and Albrecht Birkner have devised a truly unique solution, introducing the world's first biodegradable car, the Phoenix, billed as the world’s first bamboo and rattan biodegradable car, dubbed the Phoenix.
The Phoenix was built in 10 days, comprised of bamboo, rattan, steel, and nylon. The length of the biodegradable car measures 153 inches long and is a small solution to a big problem; the waste created  by old cars that outlive their purpose. 

According to Mr. Cobonpue, “this project attempts to unveil the future of green vehicles using woven skins from organic fibers mates to composite materials and powered by green technology.”
On average, a person keeps a car for 5 years in industrialized countries, 10-20 elsewhere, and with that in the mind the Phoenix’s biodegradable skin is designed to meet those needs while not outliving its purpose. Interestingly, the skin of the vehicle can be replaced inexpensively if the owner wishes to keep their car longer, and the frame of the Phoenix can be easily customized to meet the needs of its customers. As of now there is no word on exactly what will power the Phoenix, but an all-electric setup would seemingly be small enough to power this little work of art.

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Caterham-Lola SP/300.R (Special Cars)

Caterham SP/300.R

With a rich history of racing excellence, British automakers Caterham are transplanting their racing pedigree from the track to the streets with the Caterham SP/300.R.

Specialist lightweight sports car manufacturer Caterham is bringing their Caterham SP/300.R stateside.
With a racing pedigree spanning over four decades, the latest from the British automaker would most certainly look more at home on the track than off it, but looks aren’t all the Caterham is packing into the 1,300 pound frame. Powering car will be 2.0-liter Ford Duratec engine tweaked to churn out 300 horsepower with estimated 0-60 sprint speeds taking a paltry 2.5 seconds to achieve. The engine will be mounted longitudinally and paired with a Hewland sequential transmission, but if that doesn’t satisfy your need for speed, the chassis has been designed to accommodate a range of powertrains at the buyers request.

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Mazda Develops i-ELOOP Capacitor-Based Regenerative System on Takeri Concept

Regenerative braking systems that store energy into batteries during braking are becoming increasingly common in new cars because they help reduce fuel consumption.
Today, Mazda presented what it claims to be the world’s first passenger vehicle regenerative system that uses a capacitor instead of a battery pack for storing energy, named i-ELOOP (“Intelligent Energy Loop”).
According to Mazda, a capacitor is superior to batteries because it does away with the need for an electric motor and can be charged and discharged rapidly while it also doesn't deteriorate after prolonged use.

The i-ELOOP system comprises a new 12-25V variable voltage alternator, a low-resistance electric double layer capacitor and a DC/DC converter. It captures energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat the moment the driver lifts his foot of the accelerator pedal and the vehicle starts to decelerate.
At that time, the alternator starts generating electricity up to 25V before sending it to the capacitor where it is stored in mere seconds. The DC/DC subsequently converts the electricity from 25V to 12V before powering the vehicle’s climate control and audio systems, various other electric systems and can even charge the battery if necessary.

Mazda Takeri concept

Mazda claims that the i-ELOOP, which will be combined with the firm's i-stop auto stop-start system, reduces fuel consumption by approximately 10% and will be available in production vehicles in 2012.
The i-ELOOP will make its public debut at next week’s Tokyo Motor Show in the Takeri concept car, which previews Mazda’s replacement for the mid-sized Mazda6 family saloon.

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Aston Martin Bulldog GT(Special Cars)

Aston-Martin-Bulldog-GT

Aston Martin Bulldog GT, a stylish and powerful rear mounted V12 engine supercar by Danish firm HBH.
Recently the proverbial well has run a little dry with traditional GT and super cars entering the fray — what with the Tokyo Motor Show just around the corner and all the quirky pint-sized EV’s and plug-ins that the far-east show has become known for gearing up to take center stage. Who better than Aston Martin to get our engines revving again as talk of miles per gallon and charging times gives way to horsepower and lb-ft of torque? Where the number next to the V in cars specs refers to the arrangement of cylinders and not the voltage needed to charge the car.

Danish firm HBH latest project the Aston Martin Bulldog GT is  beautiful car that any auto-enthusiast would love to have parked comfortably in their garage. Adorned with two superchargers and a 6.0-liter V12 lifted from the Aston Martin Vantage. The Bulldog GT is capable of outputting a devilish 666 horsepower and 548 lb-ft of torque that enables sprint speeds of 0-62 in 3.9 seconds and top speed of 186 mph. The body style of the Aston Martin Bulldog GT is a unique aluminum and helps ensure the engine sits comfortable behind the sporty cabin.

The Aston Martin Bulldog GT hasn’t been made official yet, but test drives are tentatively scheduled for 2013 with pricing estimated to exceed $181k, the cost of stock V12 Vantage.

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CCrab (Cuba Crab) concept electric car (Future Cars

Juha-Pekka Rautio’s Citroen CCrab

Juha-Pekka Rautio’s Citroen CCrab concept takes inspiration from the animal kingdom and its small Cuba Crab.

The CCrab concept was designed in conjunction with French automaker Citroen as part of a program that takes designers and provides them with feedback and access to various resources for their design concepts. For its part, Citroen is able to work closely with designers to help create and foster new designs for electric vehicles.

Although very much a concept, the idea behind the Crab was to create a vehicle that could move omni-directionally in and around the city, weaving effortlessly through traffic and in and out of tight spaces.
It might be a long way to go before we see anything like the CCrab on the production line, but with innovative designers and more automakers like Citroen stepping up to introduce new and exciting designs, it may only be a matter of time before we see a vehicle like the CCrab on the roads

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Special Edition/SSC Tuatara

SSC-Tuatura

Shelby’s latest supercar is reported to have a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8, has the potential to spit out an astonishing 1350 horsepower, and achieve an estimated top-speed of 275 mph, as well as an astonishing 0-62 mph in less than 3 seconds.

It will be fast, powerful, and really expensive (just under a million dollars).  Some recently released pictures of the interior of the SSC Tuatara for you to excitedly drool over

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2011 Ferrari 599 GTO /Review

Ferrari’s 599 GTO

Ferrari has finally taken the wraps of its high-performance 599 GTO. Billed as Ferrari’s fastest ever road car topping even the mighty Ferrari Enzo — the production version of the 599 GTO is largely based on the 599XX concept.

Using the already potent 599 GTB HGTE as a jumping point, the 599 GTO kicks it up a notch with a number of performance improvements. The 599 GTO cranks out 670 horsepower, up from the standard car’s 612 horsepower. The 599 GTO’s V12 engine is capable of revving to 9,000 rpm. Power is routed through an F1-style six-speed gearbox.

Thanks to that added power, the 599 GTO makes the sprint from 0-62 in just 3.35 seconds, continuing to a top speed of 208mph.

The 599's chassis has been thoroughly reworked for the GTO treatment, and Ferrari says the improvements completely eliminated any understeer.

Of course, with it being well known that weight is the number one enemy of performance, Ferrari also took several actions to shave off unnecessary weight. The areas involved include the bodywork and greenhouse (with thinner gauge aluminum and thinner glass), the brakes, transmission and exhaust system.

The result is a dry weight of 1,495 kg and a weight-to-power ratio of just 2.23 kg/hp, a very significant figure that underlines the GTO's performance potential.

The 599 GTO features Ferrari’s Magnetorheological Supension Control system, as well as carbon ceramic disc brakes measuring 15.7x1.5 inches in the front, and 14.2x1.5 inches in the rear.

The 599 GTO gets its power to the ground thanks to high-performance Michelin tires, size 285/30/20 up front and 315/35/20 in the rear.

The car-driver interface was designed to maximize car and driver performance with a layout of the main commands that ensures absolute efficiency and minimum distraction. The Racing manettino also puts the emphasis firmly on sporty, track-specific driving settings by offering the driver full choice with regard to the electronic control parameters.

The ICE position on the 599 GTB Fiorano has been replaced by CT-Off (traction control off). The GTO is also fitted with bespoke, longer carbon-fibre F1 paddles for easier use in high-speed driving. In addition the GTO also features the Virtual Race Engineer, a system that monitors the status of the car and gives the driver immediate visibility of vehicle performance.

Ferrari will produce just 599 examples of the 599 GTO, with a price tag expected to fit that exclusivity with reports suggesting the 599 GTO will retail from $426,000.

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Basic Specs

Base Price     TBA
Drivetrain     Rear Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs)     3538
City (MPG)     TBD
Hwy (MPG)     TBD
Horsepower     670@8250
Torque (lb-ft)     457@6500
Wheelbase     108.3
Length (in.)     185.4
Width (in.)     77.2
Height (in.)     52.2

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WATCH VIDEO REVIEW

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Special Cars/SchwabenFolia's Weismann Roadster MF5 V10 Black Bat

Weismann Roadster MF5 V10 Black Bat

SchwabenFolia and Dähler are co-partners in the creation of the Wiesmann Roadster MF5 V10 Black Bat.
SchwabenFolia is a car wrapping company based in Korntal-Münchingen, Germany, and is responsible for the Roadster MF5's dark looks.
The company dressed the outer body panels as well as bits from the interior plus the door sills, trunk and engine room in a matte black skin. To showcase its craftsmanship, SchwabenFolia even wrapped the 20-inch BBS alloy wheels in the same shade.
A foiled “imprint” of the Nürburgring's northern loop on the driver's side and the chrome emblems round out the makeover.

In factory spec, the limited production roadster mode is powered by the previous BMW M5's 5.0-liter V10 engine with 507HP. This is where Swiss company Dähler steps in adding a new sportier exhaust system and modified electronics to boost output to 600-horses.
The tuner says that the Black Bat can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.5 seconds, to 200km/j (124mph) in less than 10 seconds and top out at 321km/h (200mph).
To improve braking, Dähler added Brembo 6-piston fixed calipers with 308x32mm discs up front and 4 piston fixed calipers with 380 x 28 discs at the back.
No pricing information has been released yet.
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Nissan's 480HP Juke-R details Finally Fully Revealed

Nissan's 480HP Juke-R

It's been far too long in the making –let alone the endless teasing- but here it is in the flesh: Nissan's outrageous Juke-R project car that blends the eccentrically styled body of its small crossover with the proven mechanical hardware of the almighty GT-R sports car.

The result is a vehicle that defies logic and proves once again that Nissan has the guts and the will to experiment with crazy ideas. And judging by the Murano Convertible, we wouldn't be one bit surprised if someone at Nissan gave the green light for a limited production version down the road.

However, for the time being, Nissan Europe and its technical partner RML, are saying that the Juke-R is a special, road legal concept car, of which only two examples will be built, one in left-hand-drive and the other in right-hand-drive.

The new images and videos give us our first detailed look at the Juke R. On the outside, Nissan's designers applied a matte black finish to the small crossover before adding a host of aero components, the styling of which was inspired of course by the GT-R.

The car's bad-boy looks with the flared wheel arches that cover the GT-R-sourced 20-inch RAYS forged alloy wheels, widened front bumper with large air vents, sculpted side skirts, prominent rear bumper with a diffuser and the split rear wing, leave little doubt that this ain't your ordinary Juke.

Same goes for the interior where Nissan's engineers ditched the rear seat bench and added a race-spec roll cage. The crossover also gained a pair of race seats up front along with GT-R-sourced steering wheel, pedals, dials and 7-inch touch-screen display.

But the most amazing changes take place under the skin where the Juke adopts the GT-R's 3.8-liter bi-turbocharged V6 engine with 480-horses as well as its all-wheel drive system, gearbox and suspension, all of which were modified appropriately. Nissan has not yet announced performance figures.

The company said that the project cars will enter testing in late November before "they are unleashed on the world to take on the urban playground".

Until then, hop over the jump to check out the pictures and watch the three videos on the Juke-R.

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Porsche Cayster GT670 designed by Hofele/ A Look

Porsche Cayster GT670

Next up on our motor show calendar is the largest tuning event in Europe, the 2011 Essen show in Germany, where Hofele-Design will introduce its own bespoke take on the Porsche Cayenne called the Cayster GT 670.

The package bundles a new aero body kit that includes wheel arch extensions, a rear apron with a diffuser, a front apron with a skid plate, side skirts, a roof spoiler and real carbon fiber trim bits for the body.
An electronic lowering module can drop the Cayenne's air suspension 40mm (~1.6-inches) but only at speeds of up to 80km/h (50mph), while Hofele-Design also offers a selection of alloy wheels, in diameters from 20 to 22 inches.
On the engine front, there are two available performance kits, one for the Cayenne Diesel that boosts the 3.0 TDI V6's output from 245PS and 550Nm to 315PS and 650Nm (479.4 lb-ft), and the other for the Cayenne S Hybrid that increases power from 380-horses to 481-horses and peak torque from 580 Nm to 737 Nm (543.6 lb-ft).
For the interior of the Cayenne, Hofele-Design offers bespoke leather upholstery and a set of carbon panels for the centre console, dashboard and door panels.
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Subaru's Advanced Tourer Concept ready for Tokyo Motor Show

Subaru's Advanced Tourer Concept

Subaru's biggest announcement for next month's Tokyo Motor Show was expected to be the BRZ sports car, but now news has arrived that it will also show an "Advanced Tourer Concept" powered by its trademark horizontally-opposed engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), but with turbocharging and direct fuel injection, plus a single-motor hybrid system, all driving through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Paradoxically Subaru has fitted the car with its EyeSight driver assist system, and a steering wheel which incorporates a "large monitor" for access to "maps, television and internet services." Perhaps news about the carnage resulting from distracted driving hasn't reached Japan yet.

Subaru's Advanced Tourer Concept-ii

Subaru says the direct fuel injection turbo engine is "one of the main technologies that will guide Subaru's future engine strategy", noting its quick, smooth acceleration and environmental friendliness.
The turbocharged 1600cc engine and single electric motor are combined into a hybrid system that offers continuous all-wheel-drive even when it is in electric-only mode and manages to use all four wheels to regenerate electricity during deceleration.
Subaru's proprietary EyeSight™ driver assist system will be showcased on the vehicle, with the system now offering greater range and width. The steering wheel monitor will also be interesting to see. Distracted driving is one of the major trends associated with new technology, and putting it on the steering wheel seems like a recipe for encouraging taking your eyes off the road, but we don't know the full story just yet.

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