FullFatGear » Wheels

BMW Concept 6

martin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:49:59 +0000

BMW is revered for its inline 6 engines that feature throughout their cars and have won a multitude of awards and plaudits. They’re extending the inline 6 engines to their motorcycle range next year and have built the Concept 6 to show off the new engine.

With a redline over 9,000 RPM, 96 lb.ft. of torque available from a low 2,000 RPM and over 150hp this engine is going to be pretty rapid – and for the concept they’ve clothed it in a frame to match. Looking like a cafe racer from the future the rakish lines and chopped side exhausts give this bike real presence.

While the production six will most likely feature in a refresh of BMW’s excellent touring bikes, it would be great if they built this cafe racer variant too… Here’s hoping…

CR&S Duu

martin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:32:17 +0000

If you ever wondered what would happen if you crossed a Harley with a Ducati Monster, CR&S have built the bike for you. The CR&S Duu takes a thumping American 117cu.in. (1.9 litre) v-twin and wraps a hand made custom Italian streetfighter frame around it. Add in a lashing of futuristic detailing and you get one sexy bike.

Ford SVT Raptor

martin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:33 +0000

Ford’s special vehicle team are known for some mad conversions, and the old F-150 Lightning with its bonkers supercharged V8 and street aspirations is a case in point. But now they have realised that trucks are meant to stay off road and married that bonkers engine mentality with some really off-road kit to make the Ford SVT Raptor. Recently released with an even bigger engine, this beast sports a 6.2l V8 putting out 414hp. While this doesn’t make performance comparable to on-road speed demons, 0-62 in 7 seconds and as much torque as a 911 turbo makes it one of the fastest things you can take through a desert without bothering too much about being broken by the scenery.

Fitted with Fox racing shocks all round with 11 inch travel in front and 14 inches out back, electronically switchable four wheel drive, 35″ all terrain tyres, and that engine this is a truck you can enter almost unmodified in any desert race. And that gives it the cool the Lightning lacked and a firm place in my dream garage.

BMW M3 GTS

martin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:29:01 +0000

Ever since the current BMW M3 came out in 2007 the fans of Bavaria’s finest have been waiting with baited breath for a CSL version to surpass that of the previous generation. Well that wait may well be over, as BMW today announced the BMW M3 GTS – a production version of the FIA spec GT race car unveiled earlier this year.

The eye-searing orange paintjob is a throwback to BMW’s racing history, but once you get past the colour (and the white one in the gallery caught testing at the Nürburgring looks much more palatable) you realise there are a myriad of changes to the car. There are new carbon fibre splitters front and rear, an all new titanium exhaust system, a giant adjustable wing at the rear, massive 6 pot brakes up front and 4 pot brakes out back – in itself a massive departure for the M team – and an interior stripped of almost every luxury and fitted with a roll cage and racing seats. The weight loss program brings results – even with all the racing trimmings the GTS weighs in at over 200kgs less than the standard car.

Performance hasn’t been released yet but it seems fair to surmise that the already excellent V8 will be enlarged to 4.4 litres and massaged to produce around 450hp, delivered through the 7-speed dual clutch box.

This car should take any pre conceived notion of what a M3 is and toss them out the window – any slurs about softening over the years will be lost on the razor sharp purpose of this car. I will make it my mission to one day try one on the Nordschleife.

Zenvo ST1

martin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:08:41 +0000

Proving that Danish design doesn’t just extend to your next piece of furniture, Zenvo Automotive have brought out the ST1 – Denmark’s first supercar. And what a debut – with turbo and supercharged 7.0 litre V8 the ST1 has powered itself firmly into supercar territory with an incredible 1,104hp and 1,430NM of torque. First performance tested last year, this powerhouse makes 0-62mph in a tyre melting 3.2s on its way to a top speed of 233mph.

The design is the real star though, and enough to sell the car on its own merits – with a really aggressive and angular look giving the car real purpose, and fantastic attention to detail. You would certainly move over if one of these bore down on you!

Started way back in 2004, Zenvo are planning to deliver its first cars in the coming months, the production run will be limited to 15 per year, and they are all hand built entirely in Denmark.

Linus Roadster Classic

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:46:45 +0000

The current craze in bicycling is the form over function aesthetic of single-speed and fixie bikes, harking back to a simpler age and a simpler bicycle. With no gears and the simplest of brakes the design gets more room to stand out. If you want a single speed and want a dose of elegant chic to go with it, it’s hard to beat the Linus range of bikes – and especially the Roadster Classic. Inspired by classic French and Italian cinema this stunningly simple bike would work equally well in Shoreditch as in Manhattan.

Featuring a steel frame, leather grips and saddle and a back pedal brake the Roadster Classic is not just a refreshingly simple and clean design – its refreshingly reasonably priced too – at $359.

Saleen S281

martin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:12 +0000

SEMA season is almost upon us – that time of year when all the customisation nuts make their annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the Special Equipment Marketing Association show where all the aftermarket tuners and customisers show off their skills – and their products.

Saleen is one of the few to have had full OEM status, not just tuning cars but rebuilding them as new cars, so it’s always interesting to see what they come up with. And this year their star is the 2010 Mustang based S281. This heavily modified Ford takes the best of Saleen’s styling cues and legacy and applies it to the latest incarnation of the Mustang – and the combination is explosive. With a really clean and flowing look, this car looks like to no other aftermarket special, and brings a while new level of class and style to the Mustang shape.

Honda CB1100

martin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:03 +0000

Although there aren’t many details available about the new Honda CB1100 it has just been confirmed that it’s making it into production. Based on the CB1100 concept from 2007 this no-nonsense bike is sure to bring a thrill to any cafe-racer’s heart. It should also prove to be an excellent base for customisation – as evidenced by the red custom concept in the photos.

The CB1100 is a welcome return to a time when well specced, high quality bikes were built to do everything instead of just fitting one style of riding like today’s sportsbikes, tourers, etc. It’s great to see retro done so well – and this bike promises to be a future classic in its own right.

911 Sport Classic

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:33:21 +0000

Although the ubiquitous Porsche 911 doesn’t usually get me excited, this special edition stunner has got me all aflutter. Finally Porsche have produced a car that marries their legendary build quality and drive with some real sex appeal.

Inspired by the classic 1972 Carrera 2.7 RS, and built to show off Stuttgart’s customisation division, the 911 Sport Classic takes the formulaic look of the 911 to the next level. Porsche have added a double-bubble roof, fuchs-style wheels, wider rear fenders and the iconic ducktail spoiler to complete that classic look, fettled with the engine to coax a little more power out of the otherwise standard 3.8 Carrera S engine, lowered the suspension and fitted the sports pack, and included the excellent carbon ceramic brakes as standard. But the changes haven’t stopped there – the interior gets a dash of pixie dust too with espresso leather and innovative woven leather/yarn on the seats.

Thus the Sport Classic has taken the best 911 – the carrera S – and improved on it in every way. This is the only Porsche I’ve ever actually wanted.

Veritas RS III

martin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:13 +0000

Founded in 1947, Veritas was for a brief period a legend in motorsports, but folded in 1952 after only 3 years production of road cars. After a hiatus of over 50 years it is being resurrected – and how. First spotted secretly testing on the Nürburgring in 2008, and launched at this year’s Salon Privé in London the Veritas RS III looks set to be one of the best supercars this side of the Bugatti Veyron.

Starting with a tubular steel chassis clothed in absolutely stunning carbon/kevlar body work, Ohlins suspension, six-piston race spec brakes in front and four piston stoppers out back the Veritas comes with a choice of BMW engines – just like the originals. The basic engine is a 480hp V8, capable of propelling this lightweight car to 62mph in 3.6 seconds before topping out at 204mph. The bonkers option is a modified 5 litre V10 from the M5 – producing 600hp and capable of powering to 62mph in a staggering 3.2 seconds before storming off towards the horizon and 215mph. This may be when you start realising that the achingly beautiful car doesn’t have a windshield.

The new Veritas will be campaigning in 24-hour endurance races and will most likely find its home as an ultra exclusive track day special – only 30 will be made in a year.

Click any thumbnail to view the full image