Driven: Toyota Scion FR-S
At the end of last fall, I was lucky enough to get some seat time in one of those pokey little Toyotas everyone got so excited about when they arrived on the public stage twelve months ago.
Why didn’t I write it up then, like a real journalist? I think that question just answered itself.
At any rate being a real enthusiast at least, I was not short on excitement to have a go at the helm of an FR-S.
A Boston-based nightlife event operator named Ed had taken delivery of one of the few RWD Scions to be sold in New England, and was kind enough to show me around it one night outside his office.
Exterior
I’m going to make the claim that this car looks much nicer in person than it does in photos. Long nose (relatively speaking), squat rear fenders, and a sly expression in the headlights makes for a pretty appealing appearance on your screen here. In reality, all those great features are there… and the whole package looks a lot less cartoon-like. In a sedate color like a dark silver or blue, I could imagine one of these sneaking through the city relatively undetected.
The rear quarters and taillight section (not pictured, obviously) remind me a bit of a new Z4 hardtop, while the long-nose (keep in mind, I say that “relatively” speaking) I’d like to think pays homage to the Toyota 2000GT.
On second thought, that comparison feels like a reach. What kind of family resemblance are you seeing here?
Interior
The inside of this car is tiny. After getting used to the stateroom spaciousness of my TL’s interior, climbing into a coupe of any kind can feel a bit claustrophobic. But wedging oneself behind the little wheel of an FR-S would make a Civic feel like a flagship.
That’s not a bad thing, it’s all part of the experience. Some people like little.
I thought I did, and then I got into Land Rovers. But I digress.
It’s hard to argue with the gauge setup. From a performance-standpoint, centermount tach is huge (literally). The focus on engine speed with the speedo tucked below like an afterthought lets you pretend you’re playing Gran Turismo as soon as you crank the ignition.
Or, as many of my internet-using automotive accomplices would eloquently put it:
“Because racecar.”
The rest of the interior is typical Scion construction quality; you get what you pay for in this department.
And of course… The Drive
Now was the chance to figure out if all the drama insinuated by that full-moon tachometer was for real or if this was an xA in a Tiburon’s clothing.
Sort of.
Being on public roads, in somebody’s brand-new personal car, there was only so much “testing” I was able to accomplish. And I can’t contain the disappointment I experienced when I put my left foot down for a clutch, only to be met with a giant brake pedal.
Powering up and powering on the engine didn’t yield the kind of voracious roar I had been spoiled by spending a few summer days in a friend’s DB9, but it did remind me how fuel efficient this vehicle must be.
Nonetheless, I can report that the little machine can indeed go zero-to-the-speed-limit in fairly short order, and is delightfully willing to navigate between parking lot lampposts at significantly stronger clip than most cars over two meters in length.
Could this ATX four-banger catch my six-speed TL on an on-ramp merge? No. Could it beat me on a gymkhana course? Probably. Could it beat my full-size sedan in a race around the isles and obstacles of a Toys “R” Us store? For sure.
Then what’s the verdict on this little rascal? Clarkson loved it. The forum following is cult-like. I was almost able to get over my phobia of all-motors-modern enough to enjoy it. But like almost everything in the “affordable sport” market- I can’t really make the case for a new one of these over a well-used M3. And secondhand, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find one that hasn’t been thrashed.
But for the lucky few who are able to pick one up from a careful owner in the next couple years, this will be a reasonable motor. Perhaps even collectable, if anyone can keep theirs clean enough.
Aston Martin Vanquish: Revealed for 2013
Aston Martin has revived what may be one of the coolest pieces of nomenclature to exist in the world of automobilia.
Yes, the Vanquish has returned to AM’s lineup.
“Vanquish” …a word at once elegant and aggressive. Exactly what Aston’s team was going for when they slapped the badge on this coupe; a vehicle they’re billing as a “Super Grand Tourer”.
Hey, Aston Martin marketing department, I’ll give you that one for free. Lend me a car already?
Well, they wouldn’t. But they did let me sit in one.
Alright, fine, not even.
A friend who owns a DB9 is at Aston Martin New England all the time for repairs (haha, sorry couldn’t resist), and as a result is on their mailing list. He forwarded me his invitation to see one fo the first new Vanquishes here in the US which was being touted around highline dealerships all over the region.
Yeah… scraping the credibility barrel here. But when it comes to Astons, an anglophile like myself has no shame.
I stole away to the Waltham, MA Aston/Lotus store around lunchtime to have a look. Nestled in the center of the showroom, completely devoid of fanfare, sat the 2013 Vanquish.
My first impression? Nothing short of what I expected: It is a tremendously exquisite machine to behold.
Even with the engine disengaged the car lept off the pavement (floor?) and into my face. Swooping lines of white, bristling with chunks of exposed carbon fiber, encasing a crisp quilt-stitched interior the exact same red as a cherry-dipped-kiddy cone at Dairy Queen. So perfect you’d think you were watching TV.
Moving into the cockpit the interior didn’t blow me away as much as the bodywork, but I was a huge fan of the wacky flat-tire shaped steering wheel. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal in this state, but surely the gentleman scholar who will buy this car won’t concern himself with such things as “passing inspection”.
The rear seat, which is actually an option, is reserved for Hobbits. Since the likelyhood of one of them finding their way into an Aston Martin is low, my money’s on the back seats never getting used ever.
The car is powered by a 6 liter high-compression V12 that burps out 565 horsepower and just shy of 460 lb/ft of torque. That, mated to a six-speed “touchtronic” automatic, lets the car leave a light to 62 MPH in 4.1 seconds and top out at just over 180 MPH. Fuel economy is surprisingly reasonable at 19.6 in combined driving.
It breaks my heart to report that while the engine did indeed look glorious with imposing symmetrical intake manifolds ever so slightly eclipsed by a beastly swaybar, I was not permitted to start it. So my review of the Vanquish has to end… here.
There were many other exciting distractions at the Aston store though, including a Rapide (that funky four-door) which I learned has a terribly uncomfortable back seat, and an exceptionally tidy V12 Vantage. Finished in a glossy interpretation of British Racing Green with just enough carbon trim, suede headliner and a proper three-pedal six speed, this would have been my dance partner of choice.
The service bay, which was visible through a large glass internal window behind the Vanquish, was quite literally a treasure trove of many cars I lust after on a daily basis.
A near-perfect widebody 911 eclipsed a Mercedes 300SL and deep in the garage I spotted a Lamborghini Miura; the only one I can ever remember seeing… ever.
I made a note to come back the next time this dealership was on my way someplace. Maybe I’ll be able to sweet talk my way into a test drive after this favorable review.
Eh?
Guys?
What We Missed at the Paris Auto Show
So I missed the Paris Auto Show this year. I totally got invited, but I was like, really busy. Besides, I had already scheduled a relaxing trip to New York that weekend.
But after seeing photos from around the blogosphere I bloody well wish I hadn’t, because there were some seriously epic reveals in the land of wine, and cheese, and Johnny Depp.
Look upon these photos screen-scraped from around the internet, bask in their glory, and join me in wishing I had caught this action live.
Lexus LF-CC
Production Status: Concept
A few years ago I would have called bullshit on this Lexus design coming anywhere near production. But since the LFA was built, powered, and sent down public roadways for all to see, I think elements of this concept car will very likely make their way into the next iteration of the IS. Obviously the lighting, grille and gigantic front airscoops will be dialed back… but Lexus is committing to that spindle-shaped grille, and that sculpted rear-quarter accentuating the rear wheels has apparently been green-lit by Toyota brass.
I could live without the fully-digital interior but I do hope the hood scoops make it to production; as well as the coupe bodystyle.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive
Production Status: Ready
Alright we all know what an SLS looks like and we’ve been hearing about the electric version for over a year, but Mercedes is now proud to report that this thing is ready to rock-and-roll (ever so silently) around a track near you. Or, as it will more likely be used, on “the scenic route” between very nice houses and even nicer office buildings downtown.
The 60kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack can go about 150 miles before returning to a power supply or Starbucks.
The strangely-colored beast (that’s Electricbeam Magno Matte-Metallic, if your daughter wants her bedroom painted) is now very real and can crush the 0-62 MPH sprint in under four seconds. Luckily it’s electronically limited to a top speed 155 MPH, so I can still scream past it on my Hayabusa and make the smug prick driving it smell my unfiltered exhaust.
What a beauty and a fantastic idea, I’ll go nuts if I see one of these things in person.
Jaguar F-Type
Production Status: Ready
Journalists are hailing the new F-Type like some kind of motoring godsend; a “return to roots” for the marque and a reprieve from the blandness of modern motor vehicles.
High praise indeed, and I won’t be the one to say otherwise. The design is truly lovely and as a automotive anglophile, I find the idea of Jaguar returning from its years of waywardness (XK8?) most agreeable indeed.
With a V6 variant for the midlife crisis guys and a supercharged V8 for the over-compensators, it looks like the F-Type will have something for everyone.
Personally, I’ll wait until Summer 2013 to hit the Jaguar shop… when the hardtop is released.
McLaren P1 Design Study
Production Status: Seriously?
McLaren has been bossing the racing car world quite some time… just shy of fifty years, to be less-than-exact. They’re celebrating by dropping another hypercar on us to coincide with the golden anniversary… and what a car.
Granted, this “design study” does not represent a full commitment to what the final car will look like, but who cares- we’ll probably never get to drive either of them anyway.
But whether your have to admire it from afar or are lucky enough to climb inside the cockpit, this concept vehicle is truly a thing of paralyzing beauty.
Living up to the ridiculously high standards McLaren has set with the F1 and MP4-12C, this promises to be a machine that will occupy that stratospheric realm of automobilia that just wouldn’t look right on a road, but rather would be more at home in the heavens. Or a race track (which of course, for a gearhead, would be the same place).
Good News Bad News: The Defender Returns
Since Land Rover’s announcement of a “Global Redesign” on the iconic Defender at the Paris Auto Show, forums have been alight with discussion on the vehicle’s return to the USDM.
But whoever’s running the show over there better be careful- because the 4×4 crowd is a conservative lot; it’s hardly uncommon to see leaf springs and carburators at on an off-road course. And most enthusiasts, including myself, are cynical and wary that this “re-imagining” of a classic will simply translate to “castrating” since nobody with the money to buy a 2012+ Land Rover is going anywhere they might get it dirty.
Jalopnik released this older photo of the Defender concept, to a nearly unanimous “boo” from its commentators.
“There will be a new Defender, and it will be tough as nails,” says Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern.
Hmm, galvanized burly-man city-building nails or the kind of nails that get done at a salon?
Frankly, I don’t much care what the new Defender looks like because when I buy my next Land Rover it’s going to be old enough to be my dad. Or an RRC.
But I do think this illustrative vehicle is pretty close to what we’ll see in the desert/Newbury Street when it gets dropped. Land Rover drew a wacky concept with the Evoque- then built it. So now… we wait.
Tested: Alpinestars FastLane Motorcycle Shoes
After a few months of begging industry-champion motorsport outfitter Alpinestars for some gear to test, they finally obliged us with a sweet pair of kicks from their street motorcycle apparel lineup.
It couldn’t have come at a better time, because the Pumas I had bought off the clearance rack at Marshall’s were looking even shabbier than my twenty-year-old sportbike.
I busted open the box and shot my usual impression video, including a road test review.
In collaboration with Bootleg Media Group we were able to up the production value from my usual one-camera operation, and I finally found an excuse to strap a GoPro to my Gixxer.
I yapped about the build quality, style and versatility of the FastLane shoes on camera, but in case you don’t want to take my word for it, examine the close-ups for yourself.
With the introduction of the FastLane shoe, Alpinestars has solved an age-old compromise between convenience and control in street motorcycle footwear.
A high-powered sportbike, even a geriatric one like mine, requires a little commitment on behalf of the rider in order to extract the machine’s full performance potential.
You wouldn’t take out a Ferrari with bald tires and no seat belt, right?
Put your hand down, Mr. Hattabaugh.
These shoes give you the a little racing boot rigidity without… well… being racing boots. The high-top style is less aggressive in appearance when worn with jeans (or any long pants), and the only thing hinting at the motorsport-orientation of your footwear will be the big A* emblazoned on the sides.
The black-on-white with red trim really is a classic race look, but the shoes can be had in black/yellow or black/white as well.
Here are the specs, straight from the horse’s mouth (what?):
Construction
- Sleek profile upper is constructed from lightweight, durable and abrasion resistant microfiber.
- Breathable mesh liner aids airflow within the shoe.
Safety
- External TPR protectors around the ankle and toe.
- Foam backed, double density ankle cups provide impact protection to both sides of the ankle.
- Internal toe and heel counter are layered under the microfiber for additional impact and crush protection.
- Reflective stripes on heel for improved visibility in dark conditions.
- Integrated metal shank in the sole helps reduce excessive foot deformation during impacts.
Comfort and convenience
- Plush 3D Mesh on the collar and tongue.
- Shift area with debossed texture detail.
- Extremely lightweight rubber sole features laser-ablated textured grip for sure footing on all surfaces.
- PU midsole on the heel for added walking comfort.
- Anatomically profiled EVA foam footbed grants the foot a more natural posture both on and off the bike.
- Lace closure system with adjustable Velcro strap affords quick and easy fastening.
Head over to Alpinestars’ dedicated page for the shoes here to see them up close and get a pair of your own.
Secret Supercar: Marussia Motors
Are these guys^ sharing an arm?
The only reason you might have heard of MaRussia’s supercar efforts would be in F1 news… when they bought out Richard Branson for control of Virgin’s F1 racing team.
That in itself gives them some credibility, and it doesn’t hurt that racing driver Nikolay Fomenko helped found the company in 2007 (along with brand strategist Efim Ostrovsky and tech entrepreneur Andrey Cheglakov).
These wildmen got together with supercar dreams like so many others- wanting to build the baddest, bestest, beastest supercar experience for a select few buyers with very deep pockets.
Production limited to 2999 units, MaRussia’s two models (the B1 and B2) can be powered by either an N/A 3.5 liter V6 or a boosted 2.8 liter six, the latter developed by Cosworth.
Either way, power output is conservative by supercar standards in the neighborhood of 400 horses.
The styling however, is quite interesting. Especially on the B2, pictured here in blue. I see some hints of Gumpert Apollo influence. The B1 (purple) has me thinking “Lotus Evora meets Pagani”.
Check out the company’s site if you’d like to study the cars further, and scroll down for a few images.
Dual GPS in case… your passenger wants to go somewhere else?
The Auto Auction Experience
Having been contracted to pick up vehicles for a few Massachusetts car dealers, I’ve been given the opportunity (or “charge” depending on who you ask) to attend dealer-only vehicle remarketing auctions.
I was pretty stoked at the prospect of being paid to wander around a car show, even if I’d be looking at Muranos and Civics instead of E-Type Jags. And what auto-industry enthusiast wouldn’t be interested in seeing how the proverbial sausage of the car remarketing business was made?
Well, as soon as I strode in to my first warehouse auto auction I remembered why that “origin-of-sausage” saying was meant to have rather negative connotations.
As I stepped out of the summer heat into the city-sized facility I was met with a wicked amalgamation of exhaust, cigarettes and bad cologne launching a full-blow assault on my olfactory senses.
I could feel years falling off the back end of my life with each breath I took in, and another saying altogether came to mind- Obi-Wan Kenobi’s righteous line to Luke Skywalker as they enter that sketchy desert neighborhood in a galaxy far, far away…
“You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.”
So it would seem.
No more than two paces deeper into the building I’m met with a second barrage, this time on the ears.
_
The cacophony of a hundred engines revving, weezing, and coughing their way around a metal-walled building makes listening to Gilbert Gottfried sing “Call Me Maybe” through a fan sound like a solid alternative.
_
The auctioneers, masters in their craft of attention-getting, yell over each other in an attempt to drive up prices and generate excitement.
As for the bidders, they span the range of ethnic minorities, but one thing they seem to share is a disagreeable attitude and a penchant for Ed Hardy t-shirts.
I was… right at home?
I gave up trying to make my friends after being told to fuck off for the third time and focused my attention on the cars.
The cars drive, limp, and sometimes are pushed around the facility in front of the various auction blocks- dragging their feet (tires) like they’re heading to interment camps.
The auction sells about ten vehicles simultaneously, every ninety seconds or so, with each lane having a per-determined order so buyers can theoretically time when to be where to scope out their targets. Reality is that the times and order answer to no one, including basic numerical logic. Getting in front of a car you read about on the pre-sale runlist is as much a game of luck as one of being able to read a schedule.
This ceaseless stream of cars marches through the warehouse like a torpid caterpillar of steel and plastic.
And what an assortment of cars.
Literally everything from 200,000 mile Honda Odysseys to Nissan GT-Rs to telephone-pole reaching crane trucks are trotted out for an audience of hundreds of car dealers vying for deals in a seemingly endless contest of machismo and wits… such as they are.
Since car values proclaimed by sanctioning bodies like NADA and Manheim are accepted across the industry, one would think auction prices would be easy to predict. But they aren’t.
Sometimes a great car can roll across the block when everyone who can afford it is off eating soup (which is sold from a vendor within the facility and is surprisingly popular). Conversely, two bidders can get caught up in egos and send the price of a Pontiac Aztek through the roof.
When a buyer and seller can’t agree on a price, an auction official might even step in and reduce their fees to expedite a transaction.
The business is run on turn, not margin. A given auction house will hustle 2,000 cars across its blocks in a day, and in the scheme of their operation $100, even $1,000, is hardly a blip in their ledger.
If I thought the auction environment was calamitous, the bidding process is literally unbelievable.
You probably have an idea in your head of what an auctioneer sounds like from cartoons or movies. That rapid-fire “Foghorn Leghorn” voice is exactly what you think it is. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, let’s just say it’s nothing like the creepily-deliberate voice from the auction at end of Taken.
The abstract and disorganized nature of the world’s largest retail market is enough to make an MBA shake his head, but I find it hilariously endearing.
Wrought with corruption, underhandedness, bad manners, and worse smells it takes a stalwart stomach indeed to wheel and deal in the auction environment. That, or somebody who loves cars and can tune out the anger of a thousand anxious immigrants. Such as myself.
Now if only my employers would pay me enough to take advantage of a great deal on a third-gen RX-7, I’d be the happiest guy in the place.
In the meantime, next time you buy a used car from your neighborhood dealer… however it ended up on their lot, you can rest assured that it had quite an adventure getting there.
Show Up For The Champagne, Stay For The Supercars
Herb Chambers is a legend in the Boston business world. Originally hailing from the notorious D-O-T (Dorchester, MA) he built one empire after another and is now best known for running one what might be the largest network of car dealers in the region.
His personal vehicle collection includes a McLaren F1 and a helicopter, so when he wanted to amend his Bentley/Rolls-Royce shop in Wayland by adding a full-fledged Lamborghini dealership- he picked up the phone and made it happen. Recession be damned, Bostonians need access to $100,000+ supercars.
To smash a proverbial bottle over the bow of the building, Herb and Lamborghini’s PR company Centigrade threw a semi-formal gala on location where enthusiasts, members of the press and the not-so-general public could rub shoulders and taken in the cars. I managed to score an invite and wedged the cute-ute I borrowed from mum between a Ferrari 458 Italia and a DeTomaso Pantera in the parking lot.
As soon as I rolled up I was reminded of how much old money Bostonians love to dress like easter eggs. I’d never seen as many suits with pink, lime green, and powder blue utilized as the primary color. If The Hunger Games was set in a dystopian New England this is how the freaky rich people would have looked.
The automotive celebrities in attendance- Michael Lock of Lamborghini, the head men of Bentley and Rolls Royce as well as Herb Chambers himself, were easy to spot in more traditional business attire.
But naturally it was the machines on display that I was here to see. The showroom housed two Bentley Mulsannes, a Continental GT, three Lamborghini Gallardos, an Aventador, an three Rolls Royces- a Ghost, a massive drophead (convertible) and the their newest version of the flagship Phantom which was unveiled at the event by the one of the company’s top men himself.
The parking lot was looking lively as well where a few Ferraris, two Murciélagos, and an ancient Rolls Royce Ghost were hanging out with Herb’s surplus of Bentleys waiting to be collected by their future owners. Of particular interest was a Jaguar XKR-S in that “French Racing Blue” paintwork it’s always wearing in the commercial.
I made my way over to the service area which was just as immaculate as the show floor- complete with red velvet rope. A far cry from the shack my bike shares with a family of squirrels, but I’m still confident I could beat any of these preps in a race from the beach to the polo field on my Gixxer.
The car I wanted to see most was Lamborghini’s new 700 horsepower animal- the Aventador. They had one plopped square in the middle of the new room in a fittingly-ostentatious orange color.
Although they declined my request to fire it up, the car’s presence was still impossible to ignore.
The first thing I noticed was its size. Those who have only seen Lamborghinis in pictures and video games don’t realize how massive they are. Despite only having room for two people and a briefcase I’m pretty sure the Aventador was about twice as wide and a third as long as my sister’s ML320.
The car’s drama continues with crisp chiseled lines- even the taillights look sharp enough to cut yourself on- and the side air intakes behind the door could swallow a condor.
But just in case you manage to see all this, open the car’s signature scissor door, and climb in the fighter jet cockpit without realizing the machine’s intensity, the start button is covered by a red flap like- well, like a fighter jet. That’s some Tony Stark shit right there.
The Gallardos looked rather tame in comparison, so I guess the band set up between them?
I had seen and sampled just about everything by the time Mr. Chambers made his speech, singing his praises of the impressive vehicular designs and hor d’vours we had all been enjoying. But the most interesting comment he made was that every car we were looking at had already been sold.
Wow, either new money is starting to gain traction around here or god had been answering a whole lot of Janis Joplin-esque prayers. Because I did not see too many people in this room that would have looked comfortable strapped in to an asphalt-eating Aventador for their commute to the office or weekend ride to Cape Cod.
Next up was the new Phantom unveiling. After the cover had been lifted, the Rolls representative watched nervously as old ladies plopped themselves on the crisp-white passenger seats with glasses of merlot shaking in their hands.
Once I had seen everything a couple times I caught site of Lamborghini COO Michael Lock making a phone call outside. When he finished and made his way to the champagne table, I bellied up next to him and asked for a brief interview.
He was kind enough to oblige, and I hustled through my mind-gears to think of something halfway articulate to ask him as we made our way to a couch next to a dark blue Gallardo.
Mr. Lock is an adept businessman and motor vehicle enthusiast from London. Before working at Lamborghini he was in charge of marketing at THINK Electric Vehicles and had spent time as Ducati’s North America CEO. He was very well spoken and I must say, easier to understand than most Londoners I’d met. I couldn’t help but notice how well he connected quick bursts of thoughts with pauses for accentuation, he was a great conversationalist.
Here’s an excerpt of our meeting and yes, he knew he was being recorded.
[RoadRoving] So how long in the making has Lamborghini coming to Boston been for you guys?
[Michael Lock] Well we’ve been with Herb Chambers for, must have been around eighteen months but, this is the launch of our own dedicated showroom. And this project has taken about twelve months.
We have quite exacting standards when it comes to the fit-out and the floor tiles, and the whole décor- all up it’s been about a twelve month project.
[RR] …Now, you’ve worked for Ducati as well haven’t you?
[ML] Yes.
[RR] So, if you can speak candidly- four wheels or two?
[ML] Ah, well it depends what mood you’re in! I can tell you if I lived up here in Boston I would have to have four and two. I lived in California for ten years where two wheels was just fine.
…the thing about Italian brands, whether it’s Ducati or Lamborghini, is there’s this kind of mechanical adrenaline flowing through them that’s really unique… I think if you like Ducati you’ll like Lamborghini and vice versa. I can’t imagine that you’d love the cars and not love the bikes. Really.
[RR] Sure. Is there a favorite feature you have on any of the vehicles in Lamborghini’s latest lineup?
[ML] You know, the thing I’m reminded of every time I drive them is- that it looks exotic, it sounds exotic, it’s superfast, and yet, you could drive it all day.
…I think that’s the big thing about the latest line of our cars. With the partnership [between] Audi and Lamborghini- Audi’s a name you can trust for quality, fit and finish, and for ease of use- they’re kind of a household name for all of that. For them to be able to assist and advise and consult for Lamborghini, to make what we do something that’s not intimidating anymore…
…You go back to the big hairy-chested Lamborghinis of two years ago, and they were extraordinary, but you had to relearn everything you knew about driving.
You really did, and the cars were scary. The cars were fantastic, but they were scary. The cars were for professionals only. The beauty of what we produce now, whether it’s a Gallardo… or even an Aventador, a 700 horsepower carbon fiber car, you could drive it to the grocery store and park it in the parking lot!
And that’s a big deal about modern Lamborghinis- you can drive them.
[RR] …Eloquent indeed, now if you could answer one thing without thinking, and I can never resist asking anybody this; your favorite car?
[ML] Of all time?
[RR] All time.
[ML] A couple different Alfa Romeos, a couple Lancias, the original Porsche 911, I can think of a lot cars I like. A lot.
[RR] Well thanks so much for speaking with me, I really appreciate you time and have a good night!
After Mr. Lock and I parted ways I took one last lap around the show floor, hoping to spot a moneyed older woman who might buy me a car… but alas, the only people who would talk to me wanted to tell me about how well their lime green pants matched their wives enormous hats.
Maybe next time I’ll bring my bike to one of these and see if I can stir anybody up for a race.
Exclusive Interview with Mate Rimac- Creator of Croatian Electric Supercar “Concept One”
You’ve always trusted RoadRoving.com to deliver timely and accurate news from the world of motorsport and our beloved auto industry.
Hah, did I getcha?
Seriously though, one new vehicle that we’re watching develop with particular interest is the “Concept One” from Rimac Automobili.
If that name doesn’t sound familiar, don’t worry… we’re putting it on blast in our next installment of the Secret Supercars Series.
For now I’ll just give you the essentials- it’s an unbelievably sexy full-electric supercar designed and built in Croatia. If there aren’t enough kickers in there already, at the helm of the company is 23-year-old visionary entrepreneur Mate Rimac with swagger in spades, great taste in sunglasses and a penchant for car racing.
When I saw this image of him lighting up the tarmac in an E30 on slicks, I was impressed… but once I realized that this car had been retrofitted by Rimac and his engineers to be a test mule for their electric propulsion technology, I knew I had to talk to him.
Rimac Automobili’s PR department was kind enough to get me in touch with the Mr. Rimac last week, here’s the exchange.
[ROADROVING] I’ve watched some videos of you drifting your e-M3 test mule, and it’s pretty clear you’ve got great driving skills. How long have you been participating in motorsports?
[RIMAC] Thanks. I have never driven in any professional motorsport competition but I have used every opportunity to participate in drift and drag races and track-day events. Those races are not really professional – in my country it is more on an amateur level. Unfortunately my family couldn’t give me the opportunity to start a motorsport career when I was a kid (you have to start very young).
[RIMAC] I own an 2007 BMW M6 for 5 years and I’m very pleased with it. It’s very fast, comfortable but it still not screaming “look at me” like Lamborghinis or Ferraris do – that’s one of the things I like most about it. For most people it’s just another BMW so it doesn’t draw too much attention. I like the Veyron from an engineering standpoint and the Paganis for their attention to details. I believe that the Tesla S will be a pretty good car too.
[RIMAC] I was always into electronics, technology and fast cars. A fast EV combines all of my interests into one package. As most little boys, I dreamed of making my own car. When I really started to do it, the decision to make an electric car was pretty easy since I believe that electric motors are simply much better machines compared to internal combustion engines, especially for a sports car.
[RIMAC] Hmm, where to start? Almost anyone can make a car. What I wanted to do is something completely new so we had to develop the entire car and thousands of parts from scratch. I have set the quality and performance standards very high so the project was far from a garage project from the very beginning. We have developed the powertrain and the car with the latest technology and tools, in the same way big car manufacturers develop their vehicles. The difference is that we had a tiny budget and team compared to the big OEMs. We didn’t have any kind of government support (unlike GM, Tesla, Fisker and many others) so funding was and still is the biggest problem. It is also hard to make a high-end vehicle in a country where no automotive industry ever existed so we had no access to suppliers and we had to build the know-how how to produce a car from the ground up. But hey, if it was easy, everyone would do it…
[RIMAC] The adjustable Torque Vectoring system is my favorite feature. When it is in “oversteer” mode and the other systems are in “race” mode, it is a blast to drive – in this mode the car helps the driver to drift through the corners. The R-AWTV system, combined with the enormous torque available from 0 RPM and instantaneous throttle response is a completely new experience.
[RIMAC] We do plan to homologate the Concept_One in the US but after we have started to sell it in Europe.
[RIMAC] Besides the production of vehicles for end-customers, Rimac Automobili provides engineering services and prototyping for other companies. Our technology will be used in a much wider vehicle range, not only in high-performance cars. We have currently no plans to produce mass-market cars under the Rimac Automobili brand, but you never know… “
•••
Thanks so much for rapping with us Mr. Rimac, RoadRoving.com wishes you and the Concept One the best of luck. For our readers, here’s one more glory shot of that electric M3 tearing up tarmac. For images of the Concept One, you’ll just have to stay tuned…
Three Favorites, From The Late Great Carroll Shelby
![[1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe (CSX2601)]](http://roadroving.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1965-shelby-daytona-cobra-coupe-csx2601.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1)
By now the news of Carroll Shelby’s passing has reached everyone in the automotive community. As an icon on the track as well as in the engineering lab, Shelby had a huge impact on the sports car world- his work and accomplishments will live on as the stuff of legend. In honor of Mr. Shelby, here’s a quick rundown of our three favorite automotive creations that will help immortalize him.
Shelby began his professional life as a chicken farmer, selling cars on the side. Like many of us, he had dream for a little-car big-engine combination that would blow the doors off the supercars of Italy.
Those dreams started to materialize when Shelby found the failing British sports car company “AC”- which was willing to unload their “Ace” roadster, as long as somebody could find a suitable engine to pair with the body.
Enter Ford, a big-budget automaker with a surplus of V8s kicking around.
Hands were shaken, papers were signed and in 1962 the AC Ace was impregnated with a massive V8 engine; effectively giving birth to the now-iconic Shelby Cobra.
Original Cobras from this era now carry stratospheric values, with one example known to have sold for $5.5M a few years ago. But fans of the concept needn’t lament, because there are a few companies building reproductions for much, much less money. Replicas might not have the same historic value, wouldn’t you feel just a little guilty ripping donuts in a seven-figure investment?
[1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster (CSX2557)]
Only six renditions of the original Daytona coupe were ever produced, five in Italy and one in California. There’s quite a dramatic tale on Wikipedia about that sixth car involving a horrific suicide and the band “The Monkeess”, but I’ll let you follow the link and decide the truth of that one for yourself.
[1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe (CSX2601)]
In 1984 Dodge teamed up with him to create the “GLH” version of their supermini, the quintessentially-80′s Omni. Two years later, the further-improved GLH-S was released representing America’s real contender in the supermini segment at the time. The nomenclature allegedly stood for “Goes Like Hell”, which would make sense because the dorky little hatchback was boosted to 175 horsepower and sitting on Koni adjustable shocks.
Novel, if not competitive. It was quicker than the Volkswagen GTI of the day; basically the only competitor. Though it was a few years ahead of its time it’s just a little too ugly for anyone to pay what it’s worth, so you’ll be hard pressed to see one in the wild these days.
[1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S [L-Body])
Share your favorite Shelby car with us on Tumblr and help immortalize a legend.
Secret Supercar: GTA Spano
For those who haven’t discovered Tumblr yet- you gotta get on that.
Once you set “supercars”, “suicide girls”, “military vehicles” and “bell & ross” as the tags you want to track you’ve got yourself a steady stream of sweet stuff to scroll through… forever. The picture supply of our ever-expanding internet is quite literally endless, and Tumblr has effectively established itself as the go-to procrastination station for those who don’t want to be bothered with status updates or promotional Tweets.
Now that I’ve dialed in my account to pretty well reflect whatever’s cruising through my mind at any given moment, I’ve been shamelessly enjoying all the visual distractions the site has to offer every time I’m waiting for a Workaholics episode to buffer.
All the pictures of awesome watches and drifting E30′s are great, but I never realized the endless scroll of sexiness Tumblr delivers could also be educational.
Just the other day I was mindlessly pawing through the site when I had my first digital encounter with the GTA Spano.
Wedged between a wide-angle of two Ferraris street racing in Dubai and a black-and-white of Kate Upton was a high-res snapshot at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix of a spectacular modern sports car that I had never seen.
And what a sports car. The face is big; less-angular than a Murciélago but tougher than an MP4-12C. Tracing the body back reveals sweeping, but subtle lines- like a more tasteful rendition of a Saleen S7. Think Daisy Duke in a dinner gown instead of jean cutoffs. (How many comparative metaphors are you trying to stack here? -Ed.)
On top of all that the Spano features a panoramic sunroof that blends the windshield with the roof to complete the beautiful-simplicity vibe that the car commands. Hell, even the GTA Motor badge is tight.
Why had I never heard of this car? I thought I was on top of the scene, and yet here was unbelievable machine that I didn’t even recognize.
So how many great new microbrew automakers are out there that you haven’t heard of?
There’s a massive treasure-trove of sports cars, SUVs, and luxury vehicles built in super-limited quantities that most of us will never see and some we’ll never even here of. And that just ain’t right. These cars need to be experienced by the masses, if not in person then at least online. Like full speed on an SS1000R or Sasha Grey.
In an effort to educate the masses on the exceptional machines of obscurity, I’m taking it upon myself to seek out the cars and motorcycles that even us auto enthusiasts might not have heard of- then and bring them to you with stats and a healthy dose of high res photos.
I’m not talking about the Paganis or Koenigseggs you can drive in Need For Speed. I’ll be shining light on cars from companies like the Zenvo, Oullim, and Rimac that are unbelievably cool and you will probably never, ever see in real life in our new “Secret Supercars” series.
You’re welcome.
For now, back to the first vehicle in the series- the Spano.
Spanish F1 R&D lab GTA Motor has decided to bless the world with 99 examples of the supercar I started to describe in the top of this story. You can see how sexy it is easily enough, but how well does it go?
Oh, don’t worry. It goes.
Powered by a house-made 8.3 liter supercharged monster of a V10, the Spano belches out 820 horsepower that propels the 1350 kilogram car to 100 KPH (62 MPH) in less than three seconds and on top a top speed of over 217 MPH.
Those numbers will leave the pilots of Ferraris, Porsches and even plenty of motorcycles in the Spano’s rearview, scratching their helmets and wondering “since when the hell does Spain make supercars?”
Actually, that’s a pretty good question.
The Spano project began three years ago, when GTA Motor team manager Domingo Ochoa had a dream of his F1 team putting their design and development skills to work on a road car. I mean, yeah. Obviously that’s an awesome idea.
Apparently I’m not the only one who agreed, because the car’s launch in 2009 was a cosmopolitan affair in the city of Valencia attended by the region’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Innovation (how’s that for a title?) along with a some local motorsport celebs.
“I think we are before an automobile that will mark a ‘before and an after’ in the Spanish automobile history” said Ochoa, in a statement that I’m sure sounded sexier en Español.
Though not everyone left of the Atlantic knows this Spain actually does make quite a few cars, mostly sporty compacts that are popular in Europe but they have cooked up their share of sweet sports cars as well. But that of course, is a story for another time.
GTA Motor has been in the racing game for about fifteen years, and pondering a road car for five. With the finished product finally fired up and rolling out it’s pretty clear that they’ve taken the time to build something that will do their nation proud, and sure poses well for photos.
Scrape No’ Mo’
With the “Fast & Furious” bodykit craze pretty well receded into the depths of dead automotive style trends, The “Stance” scene has moved in to take its place.
For the uninitiated, “stanced” cars are fitted with wheels so gigantic that the camber has to be adjusted, usually to quite a dramatic degree, making the bottom of the wheels appear to poke out.
The result is vehicles that ride so low to the ground you’d be hard pressed to slide a credit card under them, let alone a jack. Good luck changing the oil.
That splayed-out camber setup first made an appearance in drifting, because it forces weird traction properties on the drive wheels. For that reason you’ll primarily see Japanese imports used as stanced cars, though older BMWs and Volkswagens seem popular candidates as well.
The setup is not ideal for handling, acceleration or fuel economy but it sure does look funky.
Now, American roads aren’t all perfect strips of glass-smooth concrete so this low clearance setup errs on the side of impractical.
Until now(?). Enter “SlammedNavigator.com” …a by-enthusiasts for-enthusiasts website designed to allow people with insanely low cars to get around without scraping their undercarriage components and custom front bumpers.
The concept will be hilarious to some, unbelievably useful to others.
Either way the site has a ton of sponsors, so the scene is obviously gaining traction (ha, get it?). Makes me wish mum still had her four-door Odyssey minivan… I could see that thing toddling around from one drive-thru to another with the help of Slammed Navigator.
In case the Urban Dictionary definition wasn’t clear, this chick seems to have the right idea-
Self-Driving Cars Licensed In Nevada
Ah, Sin City. Famous for gambling, hookers, and now of course, Google’s fleet of self-driving Pruii.
Google’s autonomus vehicle program has been in the news for awhile, but until now was confined to closed airports and other test locations removed from the public. But after today they’ll be at large in traffic, possibly including the Vegas Strip.
So far Nevada is the only state authorizing Google (and reportedly, “a number” of other companies looking to follow suit) to interject these autonomous-autos into the wild.
From PCWorld-
“To be approved for road travel, autonomous cars must have a combined minimum driving time of 10,000 miles. Nevada also requires autonomous car operators to submit a complete description of their self-driving technology, a detailed safety plan, and a plan for hiring and training test drivers. The state requires a $100 licensing fee plus $13 for each set of license plates, but companies must also purchase a surety bond of $1 million to put up to 5 vehicles on the road. Nevada says a number of other unnamed companies are looking to follow Google and test self-driving cars on the state’s public roads.”
Even in its fledgling state, such technology is pretty fascinating.
The Pros? Well, a serious reduction of drunk driving incidents that’s for sure. And honestly, I’d bet my safety on a robot driving over most of the motorists with licenses in this country.
But in twenty years, will this mean I’ll have to race through autonomic traffic to uncover a secret robot conspiracy as the only one left on a motorcycle?
Awesome.
High-Performance Variant Of Juke Crossover Looks Like Deadmau5, Runs Like A Bau5
Today Jalopnik broke the story of Nissan’s latest contribution to their rapidly expanding lineup of wacky crossovers (have you seen the Murano CrossCabriolet?).
A couple copies of The Juke R, a high-performance variant of their decidedly unique looking Juke SUV-ish thing, have been brought online and will soon be released into the wild.
By a couple I mean, literally two- one right-hand-drive and one correct-hand-drive. So far.
Besides the wild widebody kit and steamroller wheels, the Juke R packs the already-legendary powerplant and drivetrain of the GT-R supercoupe to give it supercar performance to back up the polarizing style.
Due to the slightly (ahem, substantially) different weight/size layout the Juke has to the GT-R (it’s almost a foot shorter and yeah, a lot taller) I’m told the driving experience is a bit more unwieldy.
Effectively rendering it- a bit more awesome.
Appropriately, Nissan trotted this thing out in Dubai- that glimmering diamond of redundancy that has effectively established itself as the flamboyance capital of the world, where it mixed it up with a Ferrari, Lambo and SLS Merc.
Check out this dramatic clip for glimpse of how it went down:
Until this moment the Juke was a car I was on the fence about… is it awesome or wicked awesome?
Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks so, because sources are claiming the Arabs who saw the Juke R in action were so stoked on it some were offering crazy money to buy it on the spot.
Of course they did. Have you seen what those Dubaians get up to with cars?
Exactly.
Ten points to any American who can correctly identify that Nissan in the picture, by the way.
It looks like Nissan is inclined to oblige the acquiesce of the Arabian enthusiasts because hey- you throw enough dirhams at something and it just might happen.
For us mere mortals, Nissan is considering a Nismo version of the Juke to provide a lively alternative to the fun-but-not-fast crossover.
Personally I hope they just run with the Juke R so I can pick one up and run circles around all those ML63′s my mums friends drive to yoga.
Do yourself a favor and check out the Jalopnik photo gallery of this beast, then start pawing through the YouTube clips (of which there are many) and start working on your “please” letter to Nissan.
Rambo’s Lambo Back With A Vengeance
In a Beijing Auto Show press conference, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann (I know, I was expecting a name like Alessandro Botticelli or Domenico Ghirlandaio myself) announced that the brand’s buyer demographic is projected to diminish in the coming years.
Apparently the market just ain’t what it used to be for two-seat cars that look awesome getting less than 10 MPG in stop-and-go Beverly Hills traffic.
Fear not Lambo/Audi/VW shareholders, Winkie’s got the solution.
They will bring you… a second shrubbery SUV!
The powers that run Lamborghini are under the lordship of Audi in the kingdom of Volkswagen (you’ve noticed the same switches in your Gallardo that your mum has in her A4 and your sister has in her Jetta, haven’t you?)
At Beijing this year those powers announced plans to bring you the Urus (say “Ooo-ros”). A slat-styled ass-hauling mall crawler poised to dominate what enthusiasts generally consider the weirdest market segment of all motoring: fast SUVs.
Reportedly longer, lower and wider than the competition (Mercedes ML 63, Porsche Cayenne and BMW X6 M) the Urus will leapfrog the Touareg and Q7 in every aspect of awesome to claim the throne of least practical grocery getter on Earth.
“The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea; it is the Lamborghini of the SUVs,” said Winkelmann.
Ha. Ha. “The Lamborgini of SUVs” you’re a rascal you know that, Stephan?
Production plans, and word on the wire is that Lambo’s determined to go through with this, are slated for 2015/2017 depending on who you talk to. Powertrain details are just as speculative, but the output claim is just under 600 (!). A version of the Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V10, along with a hybrid variant seem like the most likely powerplants with, sadly, not much hope for a beastly diesel.
What I want to know; will it have scissor doors!? (Probably not).
As for the name “Urus” is an ancient breed of bovine creatures also known as “aurochs”. Specifically, the term refers to bulls between fighting size and hauling size. What?
Ever since Maserati christened their super sedan “Quattroporte” and somebody named “The Situation” became famous those Italians think they can get away with anything in the name department.
But I suppose it’s no worse than Lamborgini’s last 4×4- the “LM 002“
You’ve probably never seen an LM 002 in real life, because for its ’86 to ’93 production life only around 300 were made.
If Google Images doesn’t satisfy your interest in the Rambo Lambo, check it out as the bad guy’s motorcade car in the fourth Fast & Furious movie.
In any case, the Urus looks nothing like it. See for yourself and let us know what you think.
740 Horses Prance Out of Maranello
Ferrari has just announced its latest contribution to the world’s selection of supercars; the “F12 Berlinetta”.
Since Ferrari saves the “F-followed-by-two-digits” nomenclature for its most extreme machines, I knew this was going to be big. Berlinetta, of course, stands for “two seats, enclosed cockpit (hardtop)”.
And as it’s possibly the prettiest pony to prance out of Ferrari’s Maranello facility since the 550, I figured it was worth putting on blast for you to enjoy.
Ferrari builds amazing machines in a variety of powertrain configurations and sizes, but the front-engined V12′s have always set the pace that keeps the Black Horse relevant in the supercar business.
With a beautifully sculpted shape that melds the drama of modern angles with the classic sexiness of a svelte señorita, the Berlinetta is a spectacle to behold.
But the real magic is happening under hood. You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?
With a ridiculous 13.5:1 compression ratio trapped inside it’s 6.2 liter twelve-banger, the F12′s engine cranks out a blistering 740 horsepower near the 8,700 RPM redline- making it the most powerful roadgoing Ferrari yet.
That engine is also one of the smoothest, thanks to lightweight engine components keeping physical inertia to a minimum.
0-100 K’s in 3.1, top speed claimed to be “over 340 KPH/211 MPH”.
For some more Italian Stallion eye-candy check out the F12′s own website which packs more drama than an episode of Jersey Shore.
Beautiful New Independent From A Soggy Island
News from the wild world of independent automobile manufacturers- the Vizualtech Growler E concept, a wild one-off tribute to the Jaguar XKE developed last year by Robert Palm at his “Classic Factory” facility, will be tweaked and released to the tune of fifty examples based on the current Jaguar XKR.
It’s getting a weight reduction, more dramatic lines, some mean squinty-eye headlamps and a way cooler name; “Lyonheart K“
Why “K”? Who cares, “Lyonheart” looks and sounds bloody righteous. Way sexier than “Vizualtech”, which sounds like a company that made three-ring binders in the 90′s (sorry Bobby).
The Lyonheart’s heart (hehe) will be a five-liter V8, which pumps out 405kW and will reportedly blast the rolling sex bomb to 60 in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of around 180 MPH.
The car’s not going to be shipped to the US of A, but delivery is included in the half-million Euro price tag if you want it dropped off in the EU or Switzerland.
To keep with the company’s complete “Made In England” concept, the machine is being developed, engineered and hand-built in Coventry. Yep, that’s also where Jags are (were?) born.
England being a nation known for developing, engineering and hand-building beautiful but tragically unreliable machinery, I’d be sure to go for the extended warranty if the Lyonheart K is on your shopping list.
Enough nonsense, let’s have a look!
If you want to know more or maybe place an order, head to Lyonheart’s very sleek website here.
Ass Armor Of The Future… Prepare To Crash In Comfort
Having taken delivery on a pair of Flex-Force Pro Armored Shorts from Demon United last week, I’ve finally had a chance to properly evaluate them after a few runs in varied conditions and a few falls flat on my ass.
Before reading, you should really check out the Open Box Impression video below, to get an idea of the product itself and how it’s presented by Demon.
As you saw, I found the build quality, fitment and style to be most agreeable straight away. Solid stitching, great elasticity and a high level of comfort that you need in an undergarment.
Protective pads cover the hips, thighs, tailbone, and the gluteus maximus that surrounds it for full protection of all your lower-body parts most likely to hit the ground first.
The pads are light enough to keep on all day but beefy enough to remind you of their presence thanks to utilization of a material called “D3O”. For those of you who don’t usually ski or board in body armor it is an inspiring experience- even if you don’t crash.
Confidence burbles from the pads up your spine and into your brain, making you feel like some kind of snowboarding superhero.
This of course is not the goal of armor manufacturers and is in fact an extremely dangerous phenomenon.
Wearing armor is not an excuse to be an idiot. But let’s face it- how do you get better? You go bigger, that’s how. And although it doesn’t make you invincible, light armor like the Flex-Force Pro shorts allow you to walk away from bigger falls without injury.
And that, I can attest to.
While butt-region injuries are relatively infrequent on skis, thwacks to the tailbone are all too common when riding a snowboard. Especially if you’re new to the sport like myself.
In order to truly test the Flex-Force shorts, I had to have a go on a board. I rented a basic Burton 160 from the demo shop at Mammoth Mountain and set out for some intermediate trails.
As I rode the chairlift I thought about my career as a crash-test dummy. Would I really be able to throw myself into the snow on purpose for the sake of science?
Who was I kidding- I’m not a good enough snowboarder to go a whole day without falling on my keister.
It only took four runs before I had my chance to properly evaluate the shorts.
Coming down Stump Alley, a moderately steep but surprisingly fast run under Mammoth Mountain’s Chair Two, I built up way more speed than I knew what to do with an overconfidently tried to initiate a heel-edge turn to scrub down.
In less time than I could yell my butt was barreling into the snow, making contact with enough force to toss me around and cream the left thigh as well.
I looked up to make sure my board and body were visible to descending traffic and began to assess my injuries.
I’m not gonna lie- the crash was not a painless experience. I felt some undeniably tenderness where the impact had first taken place, but the sensation secondary impact had already faded.
I righted myself and headed for the lift, half speed this time, and compared this crash to my last nasty tailbone tag.
My first day on a snowboard had only taken place a few weeks ago, but the pain in my tailbone from one low-speed direct hit had lingered like the last party guest still desperate to bring someone to bed.
I estimate the crash I just had in the shorts was roughly equal to that which had haunted me for so many days, and I’m delighted to report that the pain from the former had faded almost completely by the time I reached the bottom of the run.
These things saved my ass from a week’s worth of pain and hampered performance; you can’t put a price on that.
Actually, you can. The Demon Flex-Force Pro Shorts retail for about $70, and can be purchased directly from their website or through any major online sports gear retailer.
The only caveats I’d send you to the store with is that the shorts do get quite hot, even on cooler days. Makes me think they’d be pretty tough to spring ski in, and nearly unbearable on jungle mountain biking runs.
•••
What’s this “D3O” business anyway? It’s not a Star Wars character (I know, that’s what I thought at first too). D3O is actually a synthetic polymer that’s coming up as the new word in sports body protection.
Why?
The geniuses over at the D3O Lab in England have finally put down the teakettle and developed a material that’s lightweight like foam when moved slowly, but hardens instantly on impact to disperse the blow over a larger area of your body and reduce the risk of injury.
This material is ideal for sports protection applications where low weight and high maneuverability are critical features.
This material is tough, that fact made itself apparent right away to me when they absorbed most of the ouch from my spill. But don’t take my word for it, watch the maniacs at GizMag.com beat the crap out of each other to prove my point.
As you can see, D3O may not withstand repeated trauma as well as thick foam CE armor. But when’s the last time you didn’t take a few second breather after a nasty impact? In all but the highest-speed crashes you might wrap yourself up in on a motorcycle, snowmobile or quad, the lightweight and malleability of D3O renders it the superior tool for personal sports protection.
Wanna get a little more nerdy with it?
Visit the D3O Labs official website, this surprisingly informative Wikipedia article or watch this Discovery Channel clip featuring a D3O-equipped beanie.
Now “Fashionability” Late
Despite being a few decades behind in moto-fashion (those blue laser graphics on my Gixxer are still cool in somebody’s time machine) I’ve been given the privilege to contribute to one of those sexy new fashion blogs that uses cool fonts and really smooth graphical transitions. Jeez… why doesn’t somebody do that to my website?
Woven Society is establishing itself as an authority in all things awesome @men’s fashion. Beyond a gorgeous interface, the WS site features rare items in clothing and equipment that the modern gentlemen shouldn’t be without.
They say; “Simplify your life, one product at a time.”
Reading that I couldn’t help but think of the Team OAT base camp, with its pile dead of BMWs that we really ought to turn into one or two running vehicles… although I don’t think that’s what the WS marketing team had in mind.
Regardless… if want to impress the ladies and convince your grandmother you do in fact have a job, head over to WovenSociety.com to upgrade your wardrobe.
If you don’t need new clothes, or you’re like me (poor) then skip the shopping cart and check out my contributions to the site here.
• My usual tales of triumph and near-death motorcycling; Woven Society Journal: “Dude, Where’s My Torque Wrench”
• And my expertise in action; Essential Backcountry Gear with Off-Roader Andrew Collins
Check back with Woven’s journal often. It’s full of cool stories, photos and other procrastination tools I know are all-too invaluable in the modern workplace.
