CARPHOTO-4074

We come across well-sorted Mk5 Rabbits every so often. And although most of the tuning world pick the GTI, budget conscious tuners often jump into the Rabbit. So, as soon as the Mk5 Golf reintroduced the Rabbit nameplate at an attractive price point, VW fans flocked to dealerships planning to cash in on the fresh design and spread some modifying love into the new chassis. Janie Laporte Boule from Montreal, Canada was one such customer. Her gleaming red Rabbit is not only an autoby using a Mk3 Golf VR6 turbo had introduced Janie for the VW tuning culture, so she has wanted to prove she had what it took to create a head-turning build. Her approach wouldn’t be flashy but will come down to the specifics.

This 2007 Rabbit was four years in the making. Janie started the majority of us do, purchasing her dream pair of wheels. In this case it was a pair of 17×8 (f) and 17×9 (r) BBS RS with gold bolts.

You’ll know these wheels are some of the most coveted and restored wheels on the market when you know anything about the stance movement. So, saying Janie was away and off to a good start would be an understatement.

04 2007 volkswagen rabbit precision engineering 5454E turbo

03 2007 volkswagen rabbit custom intake manifold

07 2007 volkswagen rabbit air tank

When she attacked the stance, Janie selected a tried and test set-up – Air Lift analog suspension. Gave her the chance to drop the bags when she felt the desire to show off just a little, even though this ensured fewer gremlins would affect daily driving.

Under the hood received as much attention to create the Rabbit perform at its best because Janie had decided the 2.5L motor wouldn’t satisfy her lust for speed. So she turned to GAB Eurosport (gabeurosport.com) in Montreal, who in turn traveled to Precision Turbo (precisionturbo.net) for an upgrade – a 5454E turbo to be exact. Mounted on its new exhaust manifold, and fed by a custom intake manifold, the engine received bigger injectors, C2 Motorsports chip, Forge 004 blow-off valve and ain addition to a pair of Mk5 GTI front seats. The second spread some confusion because looking both inside and outside, so many people are hard pressed to imagine it isn’t a GTI of course.

It’s great to find out women by using a eurotuner state of mind. Even the women we hang out with, although it ensures our passions are not only infecting our male peers and friends. And Janie has built an automobile that anybody would be happy with, regardless of gender.

09 2007 volkswagen rabbit GTI front bumper

05 2007 volkswagen rabbit GTI front bumper

01 2007 volkswagen rabbit GTI side skirts

Tech Spec

2007 VW Rabbit

Janie Laporte Boule

, CanadaQuebec and Montrealside and bumper skirts, black headlight housings, deleted rear wiper

Interior

GTI seats

Future plans

Shaved engine bay

Best road trip?

Montreal to Maryland, for H2O – 12 hours of driving to find outswitched offin 5numerous variants could spin off from the SLS AMG? Just three years down the line from its launch, the SLS family has five models to choose from.

The Electrical Drive is its green conscience if the new Black Series will be the Evil Twin. The first and fastest all-electric supercar will go into production in May, hitting European showrooms in July however with a whopping 416,000-euro (about $540,000) price tag.

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive status display

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive display

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive battery meter

Till you acquaint yourself with the terminology of electric cars, the specification could be baffling – battery content of 60kwh and a maximum charging load of 600kw sounds like the specification of your respective local power station as opposed to transportation.

Carry out the math, however, and you discover this battery capacity equates to the same in principle as 738 and 730hp lb-ft to all of four wheels. Thus, despite its hefty 4850 lb curb weight, the Electric Drive launches to 60mph in 3.9sec, just .2sec behind the 563bhp gasoline-powered Mercedes-Benz SLS.

, though it’s its not all blood and guts In Comfort mode, the Electric Drive is fixed to a mere 590hp for city driving, which limits the top speed to 125mph. It extends the range to about 155 miles which is said to be good for most daily driving, however.Of course, we spent much of our time in Sport mode, which selects some other map to the electric steering to sharpen the helm, while torque vectoring is used to sharpen throttle response and agility. Whether braking or accelerating, each electric motor on the individual wheels can alter the car’s handling responses and cornering attitude.

Sport Plus produces the biggest changes to the car. In fact, it’s a paradigm shift, as both the character and performance are altered to this kind of extent that you’re essentially driving another car. The steering response, handling balance and thrust moves significantly above Sport mode and will change your perception of electric cars forever.

Imagine leaving four black lines on dry tarmac, and power sliding through tight bends within an electric car. It’s difficult to fathom. But the eeriest experience was exiting a bend with countersteer dialed-in but without the brutal roar of the V8. Instead, the overwhelming sound filtering from the cabin was of the tortured rubber protesting at the slip angles.

traction and Torque define the SLS Electric Drive experience, while its electronics and 4WD mean its equally at home on the racetrack as any other AMG product.

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive driver side front view

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive front fascia

2014 mercedes benz SLS AMG electric drive passenger side rear view

Black Series

What about the SLS AMG Black Series if new-tech doesn’t push your buttons? Within both looks and intent, it falls in between the basic SLS and the GT3 racecar that’s been claiming victories from theThis Black Series is a suitcase nuke in the event the regular SLS is dynamite. And it isn’t one of those dubious marketing exercises with a few components of carbon fiber and shiny wheels. Actually, it has 622hp at 7400rpm and 468 lb-ft at 5500rpm. That’s an extra 60hp, and with 154 lb less weight it can blast to 62mph in 3.6sec and on to 196mph.

In which the Electric Drive goes about its business in virtual silence, the Black Series shakes the planet earth it stands on in the instant you press the beginning button. It provides noticeably better throttle thrust and response with the gears than the SLS AMG and requires a rather different approach on the track.

Its set-up is tuned to work with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, so you need to treat it such as a racecar. What this means is you have to be aggressive but smooth, trail-braking into thethe electrical Black and Drive Series was unintended, and born through the innocent concept of using the Electric Drive as a camera car to shoot the Black Series for a couple fast laps. Yet what transpired was actually a huge surprise: I found the ‘camera car’ simply driving away with its superior torque and traction, without a hint of drama, as I had the Black Series on the limit of adhesion exiting a bend.

At the end of the day, the Electric Drive was truly impressive, but rather too Xbox 360 System. It impresses as an alternative to engages, and appeals to the top rather than the heart.

The SLS Black Series is the polar opposite. It’s the very best drivers’ car AMG has ever made, and is also a drive of heroic proportions, though seldom should i punch the environment after getting out of a car.and large trunk-mounted wing, you know the ‘B’ in Black Series stands for Business.

There aren’t many cars that can accomplish this look, especially when it’s a six-figure piggy-bank destroyer – nevertheless ithands down. Unfortunately, only 800 were produced and each and every is already spoken for. Therefore if you’re drooling for one, you can scour the web based classifieds for any car you seriously have to own.

Despite the trend of special models and cosmetic-only alterations, the C63 is upgraded in every area. It has every intention of matching its looks with brutal power, face-deforming grip, organ-failing brakes as well as a satanic spit from the quad-tipped exhaust. The C63 Black is Germany’s true musclecar.

Over its weaker C63 AMG sibling, the Black gets a 59hp bump (now 510) and 14 lb-ft (now 457). These numbers are enough to rocket the unattainable Coupe to 60mph in 3.7sec. With some wider rear rubber it’d be even quicker, but batshit wheelspin and rev-limiter banging are a necessary part of the experience.

It’s as if the gas pedal is connected straight to your adrenal glands: the noise, the power; it’s a tantalizing battle between sanity and fun, simply to reward you with endless ability. When you behave, whilst you could probably show to a Formula Drift event and stay competitive from the Black Series, we should mention it can grip like Velcro on a wool sweater. This impressive traction is attributed to many things, but as whole, the Black Series was simply made to perform well in just about every area except fuel economy.that comes with adjustable coilover suspension, I dare you. You can laugh at your friend who modified his M3 with aftermarket parts on account of your Black Series came with everything he yearns for. There’s no modification wish list here; the car is everything required. It’s a pitbull, from fenders to tires.

The front side track is all about 1.6 wider, hiding 255/35 R19 tires under 1.1 wider fenders, while the rear has a 3 wider track and 1.6 wide fenders hugging 285/30 R19 tires. Oh, and the brakes… they’re unbelievable. Actually, they’re so good; they feel better than the new SLS GT.

There’s no fade, not really a hint of it. As well as the pedal feel is anywhere between ideal and perfector perhaps open stretch of closed road where one can attempt the 186mph top speed (electronically limited, of course) because the C63 Black Series feels ferocious enough to catapult you into the 200s. Granted, 510hp isn’t all of that much nowadays, but this car uses every inch of every hoof on all 510 horses.

Are you concerned this German beauty is way too intense for road use and strictly geared for the track? Don’t be; it’s still a Benz. The seats are 14-way power adjustable, there are cupholders and rain-sensing wipers, an integrated garage door opener and cruise control. It’s a well-equipped road car with weekend warrior intentions.

If there’s just one car you could own, the answer is now pretty clear, when somebody asks. Sell an organ, tell your wife she needs an old Civic, the kitchen extension is overrated, and consumer credit card debt is awesome. It deserves every letter, even though the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series has a long name.arms and hubyour search is over. BMW revealed its most practical 3 Series ever, and no, it’s not the brand new Wagon. By adding the all-new Gran Turismo on the line-up, bMW has expanded the 3 Series range in every feeling of the word.

Referred to as a more spacious and practical 3 Series, it features aas big as it feels. The 3 GT’s swollen dimensions add gravitas along with awkwardness to the lines. It’s a fastback that looks SUV-lite in its stance.

Best observed in the M Sport trim, it has more aggressive front intakes, larger 19 wheels and a revised rear bumper. Is claimed to smooth turbulent airflow over the front wheels to help economy, though the flanks offer an additional feature line to destroy up what might otherwise be slab sides, as well as the boomerang-shaped ‘breather’ behind the leading wheel isn’t just a visual trick.

Answer to the increased scale is the wheelbase stretch that adds a whopping 4.3 over the sedan, causing rear legroom to rival its big brother, the 7 Series.

The trunk can swallow more than the 3 Series Wagon, even though tapering roofline might be a hindrance. Yet it’s undeniably capacious, and it feels big; the cabin is comparable towith no loss in driving dynamics. At least, that’s what it says publicly. Privately they admitted its extra usefulness brings a softer side however the M Sport version we drove surely could mask it. The 19 wheels, M Sport adaptive suspension and stiffer anti-roll bars managed to get feel decidedly sporty. The vehicle also sat 10mm less than a regular GT, which normally sits 25mm higher than the sedan…

No amount of suspension could disguise the GT’s additional bulk, and the stretched wheelbase slowed its cornering turn-in response. However, the 335i’s familiar N55 3.-litre turbo engine countered our misgivings. The smooth yet ferocious delivery was addictive, and loosening the electronic safety net allowed the rear wheels to assist the fronts find their cornering angle.

It’s best enjoyed as the name suggests – being a grand tourer, although we had been almost surprised that you can drive the GT in extremis. The refinement and extra interior space produces aActive families who are looking for versatility, comfort and performance might choose to consider the GT over several of the crossover competitors, although whether there’s a gap in the marketplace between the 3 Series Wagon and Sedan remains to be seen.

The 3 Series Gran Turismo arrives this season as both a 328i and 335ithe luxurious sedan a rung higher on the automotive ladder. Together with a new face and slightly revised tail, the 2014 E offers cutting-edge security features scheduled for the next generation of S-Class.

Dual cameras positioned near the rearview mirror function in harmony with radar and sound sensors to produce a multi-dimensional image of what’s occurring around the car in a 360? sweep. It might measure the direction and speed of moving objects while assessing the potential risks. The central brain can then apply the brakes or steering to protect yourself fromIf oncoming traffic is sensed, this technology is used on items like Active Lane Keeping, that can gently brake the wheels in one side in the car to come back you to your lane: By moving the steering would apparently spook the driver a lot of, doing so. And there’s the option of full parking assistance that only requires you to identify a space and select gears.

The captain of the nuclear submarine would love this sort of technology. And the great thing is, it never gets drowsy or distracted. In fact, the E-Class can also keep the driver alert with its improved Attention Assist that now works across a wider speed range, using its sensitivity adjusted by the user.

The product range and permutations allow an almost made-to-measure car, even though for the US market, the 2014 E-Class will likely be offered in a choice of Luxury or Sport trim.

Luxury brings a traditional grille and hood ornament; Sport puts a large three-pointed star in the middle of the grille.

In the interests of family resemblance, the previous four-eyed appearance was jettisoned for larger headlights with LED DRL strips. Unfortunately, we won’t see one of several cars neatest updates: The feds are behind the curve on allowing anti-dazzle technology. The Euro-spec headlamps can see vehicle lights and adjust the beam accordingly. So, a driver can stay on high beam, enjoying better visibility, and let the tech do the rest.

In the bright side (excuse the pun), American lights continue to switch to low beam if an oncoming vehicle’s lights are detected. And definately will still illuminate turns together with the steering angle.

The updated E-Class portfolio also sees changes in the engine bay. The entry-level car will be diesel-powered: The 2.-liter, four-cylinder develops 204hp and 369 lb-ft due to a twin-turbo set-up, even though the 2014 E250 Bluetec is rather surprising, given American potential to deal with oil-burners.and also for overtaking. Highway consumption expected to remain the high 30s will remind you in the pumps, even though you might also forget it’s diesel thanks to the quiet cabin.

Gasoline is combusted by the E400. The new engine is a 3.-liter V6, aided by two turbos, offering 333hp and 354 lb-ft. It fits into the E-Class aura of effortless ability but we must hold back until 2014 just for this model.

An exterior revamp is matched by a new-ish interior. Still recognizably Benz-like, just some cleaner lines and an extra air of class courtesy of the center console’s square-faced analog clock.

Since not bothering to read any manual will be the default position for nearly everyone, it could take some time to get an iPhone integrated with the infotainment system. Once that’s done, however, the menus are simple enough to navigate. There’s also the option of a Bang & Olufsen high-end audio system, which happens to be beautifully clear and detailed.

For someone who’s seriously considering an E-Class, there’s really no argument against it. Nobody could cite rear legroom or possibly a miserly trunk as reasons not to buy since they are both generous. Everything it needs to do right, from engineering and aesthetics to performance and protection, it doesCommentsin a rather crowded arena.

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BY MAKE/MODE, SEARCH ARTICLESLswitched offin 5among the busiest seasons I’ve ever endured as a writer and photographer. I got to travel around quite a bit and shoot a fantastic variety of cars, and I even found time to throw in a few personal projects. As the summer drew into a close, I headed to Portland, Oregon, (my hometown) for a friend’s wedding, and also at the last minute, I was asked if I could squeeze inside a feature photo shoot as i was there. I jumped at the opportunity because although I had barely any extra time, I had always wanted the chance to shoot a Portland car on the city streets. And as it turned out, this 240Z shoot on an uncharacteristically hot late-August day was one of the most rewarding I have had the pleasure of executing.

What made everything figure out so well on that day wasn’t necessarily the car, although it is a beautifully built machine. No, what made the shoot so enjoyable was the man who built it. Timothy Desper is not your run-of-the-mill car builder but rather a true grassroots enthusiast along with a strong believer in the strength of hard work. Tim also has a job that is much different from the jobs of someone else I’ve written about through the years at Modified. Tim is director of operations for the Portland Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization that provides meals and shelter as well as other valuable services towards the homeless. Tim doesn’t make a ton of money, so he didn’t send this car into a shop to be built top to bottom. He doesn’t down again from a challenge, either, while he is a patient and understanding person who has faith in the prospect of change.dealt with] spanning a quarter million individuals through free dinners, helped house thousands of men, and kept the services with the Portland Rescue Mission running for over six years now,” Tim tells me. “I’ve gotten efficient at using a tiny amount of resources and a large amount of passion to help make change happen. I don’t just see potential in old cars, Also i see the great potential inside the men and women I work with in partnering along with them to help build new, totally different lives. After tough days or nights working through the tragedy that is common in the lives of those who live on the streets, focusing on an old car is a good way to redirect my mind and relax.”

Having grown up in Portland myself, I knew that you will discover a very large homeless population from the city. As Tim and that i were driving around finding places to shoot, it seemed like nearly every one of these people we came across knew Tim, and Tim knew them as well, most on the first-name basis. It blew my mind how kind and thoughtful Tim was toward every one of these people, and it really exemplified the importance of the role he plays in these people’s lives. Throughout the day, I had to remind myself that people were here to work, and it also was easy to forget due to how much fun we were having. Tim’s Z is an incredibly cool machine. You know they grab attention wherever they go if you’ve ever spent time around an old Datsun. Many of the people Tim works with and helps every day had not a clue he owned this car, and seeing a grin form around the face of a person who struggles day in and day out just to survive was really cool. Cars use a way of bringing people together, especially a traditional car similar to thisThis particular Z gets even more attention than most because of its bright-blue Laguna Seca Blue paint and black Diamond Racing wheels. Tim has installed a few subtle but very choice exterior mods, including a custom front splitter, a Xenon front valance, JDM ZG fender flares, and a set of vortex generators on the rear roof line. It still maintains a very stocklike feel, even though the body has also been shaved and cleaned up. Tim has done a fantastic job with a resto-mod style about this build; it seems like it may have rolled straight out of the Nissan racing division back in the early ’70s.

The inside of the Z has been upgraded in many aspects, although I noticed that (unsurprisingly, but still to my dismay) there was no air conditioning. As we drove with the upscale shopping district of N.W. 23rd Avenue, the fact that it was easily 120 degrees in the car didn’t bother me much. I used to be sitting in a surprisingly comfortable Corbeau bucket seat, and the ride quality from Tim’s customized S13 coilovers was not bad whatsoever. In addition to that, the interior is minimalistic, though tim has added quite an array of gauges to the car. The original steering wheel is still set up, a nice touch that I appreciated for its retro charm. Everything inby way of a modest SR20DET swap using the usual supporting mods. The GT28RS is a great-sized turbo for this particular application. It’s not too crazy, but just a good way to get good quality power for a fun street car. Tim has additionally utilized custom-fabricated fittings and lines, as well as a custom fuel cell with a 255-lph Walbro electronic fuel pump. I decided to put on my art-fart hat and strive to shoot Tim’s car through passing traffic. I wanted to indicate this car in an accurate way; Tim drives his Z at all times and is not afraid to park it and allow it be seen. He likes to use his car rather than let it sit and waste away.

As the day drew into a close, Tim asked me basically if i would like to come inside and take a tour of the Rescue Mission. I, of course, accepted his offer, and I’m really glad I have done. After we have been outside from the muggy summer heat for hours on end, Tim was still in perfectly high spirits since we walked round the facility. He told me regarding how he left a corporate job several years ago and took this job for about half his previous salary-and that he wouldn’t change that for anything. Tim loves what he does, as well as the people he helps love him consequently. This car is one way that Tim has been able to channel his helping and hopeful spirit into another venue, and I’m incredibly satisfied that I got the opportunity to photograph his Z and go on a peek into his inspiring and unique world for just one day. Go say hello to Tim if you’re ever in Portland and see a bright-blue 240Z rolling around. You’ll be glad you didvents, door and locksDarrell, skills and Dennis Desper, my supercool wife, Janine, for letting me have car time, and all sorts of the guys who supported DIY builds.

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