By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Catriona and Mario Colalillo have spent the last six years building this insane Cadillac show car, equipped with a 454 big block and 9 inch rear end along with a custom-fabbed chassis and airbagged suspension. Mario figures that about $200,000 has gone into paint alone, and here’s one possible reason why: the couple somehow managed to get Gene Winfield to fly out to Australia to spray it. Gene friggin’ Winfield–look, there he is! The car is currently en route by boat from Australia to California, where it’s set to appear at Long Beach Motorama next month, then the SEMA Show at the beginning of November. I can’t wait to get a close-up look at this spectacular ride. More pics below the jump–don’t miss the wild custom interior with bonus tailfin–from the Macarthur Chronicle, via BornRich.

Continue reading "Australian Couple’s WildCad On Its Way To Motorama, Then SEMA" »

By John Naderi

StreetFire.net

SpoCom just released its 2010 schedule and we can already tell that it’s going to be three times as good as last year. That’s because SpoCom added two new venues in Nor Cal’s San Mateo and super sexy Honolulu, Hawaii in addition to Long Beach Convention Center that’s coming back to host this show for a third straight year.

We’re big fans of this show as it’s a mix of Hot Import Nights hype, old school Import Showoff substance and SEMA tradeshow info. We haven’t seen a more pleasing blend since the Reese’s people got peanut butter in their chocolate or perhaps since Donny and Marie mashed up a little bit of country with some rock and roll (silly Mormons!).

Hit the jump to see our StreetFire original video from last year’s show as well as the press release from SpoCom showing the times and dates. You can also visit SpoCom USA for more info.

Continue reading "SpoCom Announces 2010 Dates, Our Shorts Tighten a Bit" »

By John Coyle

Deputy Editor

While it was on the floor at SEMA, all this lifted 4×4 had to do was look burly, which is good. Because when it tried to tackle a tiny little jump, the suspension on the passenger side collapsed completely. What the hell happened here? Did the builders assign that half of the job to their resident stoner? It cracks me up how all the guys kind of meander over with their hands in their pockets—that body language just screams “not my fault.”

By John Naderi

StreetFire.net

The SpoCom show took place this past weekend in Long Beach. Our complete coverage is posted over on StreetFire, but I wanted to share a few pictures of the cars on display. Check out the best of show: Lyle Engleson’s Auto Concept Elite 1975 Mini Cooper. The craftsmanship on this old Mini is remarkable with a custom widebody and a rear-mounted 408hp Borg Warner S362 turbocharged Honda K20Z1 driving the rear wheels. As much as I love the ACE crew and I appreciate the work that Lyle has put into his Mini this car just doesn’t do it for me. Do you agree with me or not? Hit the jump to see some other cars from the show.

Continue reading "What Show Car Style Do You Prefer?" »

When it makes its debut at SEMA in November, Street Concepts’ Genesis Coupe will be sporting 19-inch Volk wheels, burly Brembo brakes and a Magnaflow cat-back system, but it’s the matte-camo paint scheme which got my attention. Well, that and the car’s burning, angry eyes. Don’t they remind you of the ones on the Chevy Tantrum? We’ll make sure to get plenty of shots of this baby when we’ve in Vegas. Stay tuned! Three more pics after the jump.

Continue reading "SEMA Bound: Street Concepts' Genesis Coupe" »

Today during my lunch break I got to swing by my favorite rebuild shop, Autosport Seattle, to see about a throttle-cable bracket that they’re engineering for my Escort’s new Weber carb setup—and boy did I get an eyeful of hot cars! What’s awesome is that all of the rides you see in the pics belong to Autosport staff (except that tough AMC, of course—that’s mine). The Ferrari 308 belongs to John, who also owns the Shelby GT 350 that’s currently up on the lift with a broken axle. And Terry just finished a total restoration on this perfectly gorgeous ’67 MGB. He’s running the original motor bored out to 1950CC, dual motorcycle-style single-barrel carbs, a 5-speed trans from a 280 ZX, and custom-made 16" 72-spoke wire wheels. You’d think that with rides like these, the Autosport guys wouldn’t even give the time of day to my eccentric collection of domestic junkers. But you won’t find a more helpful and unpretentious bunch of gearheads anywhere—they’ve been absolutely awesome in helping me troubleshoot my way through my numerous weird automotive schemes, they’ve uncomplainingly taken on some of the head work for my diesel Escort, and they even put up with me muddling around their awesome shop. And with their own rides in this kind of immaculate shape, you’ve gotta know that they know what they’re doing. You see so many people in the automotive service industry embittered toward cars and their owners that it’s a total gas to see some guys whose shop is like a car show every day. More pics below the jump.

Continue reading "Daily Drivers At The Neighborhood Head Shop" »

When the sun starts to set, Spring Break Nationals really starts to shine. The NiteGlow Competition is a cool twist to the car show scene and offers a truly unique view of competitors’ show cars not usually available at your typical car show. This MKII Supra was one of the more subtle examples we shot, sporting a multicolor LED underbody kit that transitioned between purple, blue, and red. The collection of show cars on display were dressed in LEDs, Neon, strobes – even a full police lite bar on Crown Vic cruiser! Check out CarDomain events section for full coverage.

While checking out the cars at the Tuner Jam portion of SBN, I noticed a hot little Mazda 3 with a CarDomain sticker in the rear window. Turns out the car is part of a "little" show car group that’s no stranger to the pages of CarDomain, the International AllStars. A red-on-black color theme is featured both inside and out with a carbon hood and black wheels on red paint that perfectly compliment the black interior with red accents. A 6.5" LCD is molded into center of the dash, and the hatch was filled with Eclipse amps and subs trimmed in glossy red fiberglass. Here’s a teaser shot for now. Want to see rest? Stay tuned for the SBN coverage later this week!

Spring Break Nationals brings out some of the best show cars the mobile electronics industry has to offer. I don’t know as much about donks as John, but I do know a good thing when I see it! Visitors to the show were greeted by a slew of very impressive high risers at the entrance to show grounds. The blown high-riser you see below is my particular favorite, but make sure to click on the jump to see a few other examples, including video of a solidly executed Miami Hurricanes-themed donk. Stay tuned for complete coverage from Spring Break Nationals, including more photos of these rides, shortly on CarDomain.

Continue reading "Spring Break Nationals Preview: Donkalicious!" »

Unveiled at Geneva this week, the Renault Megane is one of those concepts that makes us wish that the more whizz-bang features of show cars would make it into their respective production versions. I mean, just look at those double gull-wing doors! How much trouble could it possibly be to keep those? The Megane’s powerplant will be a turbocharged 2.0L gas engine, capable of both 200hp and 36 mpg. The concept will definitely be the inspiration for a car that’ll be in production, but don’t expect it to be nearly as cool-looking as this. Drat.

Check out more pics and the press release after the jump!

Source: CarScoop

PRESS RELEASE

MGANE COUP CONCEPT:

AN EXTREME EXPRESSION OF CHARACTER AND DYNAMISM

Renault has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to take the wraps off its Mgane Coup Concept show car which foreshadows a compact production coupe to be released at a later date. Like NewLaguna, it points to an evolution towards more fluid, sportier styling from Renault. Mgane CoupConcept targets drivers who are not only drawn by the notion of driving pleasure but who also seek to express their personality through their vehicle. Mgane Coup Concept symbolizes Renault’s vision of what a genuine compact sports coupe should deliver, namely character and dynamism, two traits epitomized by the show car’s unprecedented door-opening kinematics. Distinctive looks that exude personality and dynamism

Mgane Coup Concept provides a foretaste of the forthcoming Mgane Coupe. "This show car emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver’s senses; they say ‘driving pleasure’. The spectacular, unprecedented door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated with the automobile," explains Renault’s Patrick Le Qument, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design.

Of a total length of 4.51 metres, Mgane Coup Concept features a modern, dynamic silhouette with tautlines that seem to suggest perpetual movement, while its alert, expressive front-end looks point at once to a truly dynamic personality.

The juxtaposition of headlamp modules with aluminium-finish air-intakes also conveys an impression of fluidity and movement. The two rows of main and dipped beam lights sit on a crystal-like striated strip which fills the sidelight and daytime running light functions. The headlamps use high-performance light-emitting diodes which are both long-lasting and extremely efficient.

The foglamps also employ LED technology and blend harmoniously with the dynamic, front-end styling. The shoulder-lines flow along the curvaceous sides before culminating in a squat rear-end which expresses power and movement. The four independent tubes that make up the modern rear lights are housed in the bodywork and serve as a further illustration of the dynamic, technological spirit behind Mgane Coup Concept. Day or night, they form a highly distinctive signature. The boot, which pulls open and then lifts to minimize vertical travel, echoes the kinematics of the doors which are divided into two sections.

The panelled door itself is topped by a separate glazed area and, as they open, the two parts deploy gracefully and elegantly in an independent movement redolent of dragonfly wings. A carbon arm at the rear of the doors connects them to the body structure and the system ensures particularly easy access for passengers. In addition to its practical aspect, this technological feature reveals a cabin that blends effortlessly with the elegance and energy expressed by the exterior.

The cabin: a compelling extension of the exterior’s dynamic voluptuousness

The interior is redolent of the world of contemporary furniture. The independent, asymmetric front seats, which rise up from the sills, seem to float in midair. Their wafer-like forms express an airy lightness, while their enveloping design is a pledge of comfort and holds the occupants firmly in place. The aperture revealed by the open doors carries over to the front seat shells and the upper part of the two rear seats. This sculptural, one-piece structure, which is finished in fire red lacquer, ensures a seamless link between the exterior and the cabin.

The centre console extends through to the rear seats and its layered design recalls the striated bar of the headlamp modules. The futuristic, ethereal dashboard features expressive, flowing lines and can be divided into two distinct sections: the red lacquered main structure and black nubuck inserts which can hold small items.

This embedded zone houses the sophisticated instrumentation which takes its inspiration from aviator-style watches, including a speedometer which displays the speed in analogue form on the periphery and in digital form in the centre, plus an analogue rev-counter. Both feature black metallic backgrounds with white graphics and red backlighting.

The choice of colours and materials is another means by which the exterior and interior have been harmonized to highlight Mgane Coup Concept’s volumes and magic. The iridescent Dragon Grey body-colour goes well with the dragonfly-like door-opening mechanism and the paintwork’s rainbow finish gives a fresh vision of the car every time the light changes: even at a standstill, it appears to be in movement.

Meanwhile, the interior’s contrasting colour-scheme underpins the dynamic exterior thanks to the blend of fire red lacquer (dashboard, upper part of the centre console, front seatbacks, etc.) and softer black leather or nubuck for the door panels, seat cushions and centre console).

The door panels themselves incorporate supple, slide-locking stowage, while the floor is protected by a black, modern, graphic mesh. Carrying over the red of the interior, there are hints of red outside, too, including the roofline, foglamp surrounds, wheel spokes and exhaust tailpipes.

The cabin equipment is modern and intuitive

The different controls have been inspired by the Renault-pioneered Touch Design approach and are both simple and practical. The central multimedia control is coupled with a display divided into three zones. The central part displays all journey-related information (navigation, radio, music, video, Bluetooth telephone), while the screens either side show the images relayed by cameras incorporated in the exterior mirrors.

Mgane Coup Concept is locked and unlocked using a Samsung F700 mobile phone which serves as a hands-free card and connects to the centre console. Both rear passengers benefit from a portable Samsung P2 audio/video multimedia player with touch screen which they can use to swap files using the mp3/video Bluetooth controls.

The four-zone climate control system allows each passenger to select the temperature they prefer using controls housed either side of the dashboard in the case of the front passengers or on the front seatbacks for rear occupants

Special care has also gone into ensuring that the cabin is brightly lit. The red backlighting of the instruments contrasts with the surrounding black backgrounds. Meanwhile, the panoramic windscreen extends over the roof to provide additional clarity during the day and blue-hued cabin lighting at night.

A show car dedicated to passion and driving pleasure

Mgane Coup Concept’s generous bumper, wide, low grille and alveolar air-intake point to the presence of a high-performance powerplant under the bonnet. Indeed, Mgane Coup Concept is powered by a 200hp (147kW) 2.0 Turbo petrol engine which delivers torque of 280Nm at 2,600rpm and peak power of 200hp at 5,800rpm to ensure punch and flexibility at all engine speeds for everyday motoring pleasure.

Mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, the 2-litreturbocharged unit drives Mgane Coup Concept from a standstill to 100kph in just 7.2 seconds, yet it returns economical fuel consumption of just 6.5 litres/100km (154g of CO2/km).In order to exploit this engine to the full, Mgane Coup Concept features a sport chassis, plus suspension and steering engineered to guarantee precise, responsive handling.

This promise is compounded by the 21-inch aluminium alloy, seven-spoke, satin-finish Dragon Grey wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (245/35) which provide outstanding grip for even greater driving pleasure.

Mgane Coup Concept is a compact, stylish, dynamic coupe which delivers undeniable driving pleasure, while its sporty calling is also expressed by its modern, elegant cabin. This show car, which builds on the trend established by Laguna Coup Concept, sees Renault take its will to dial genuine passion into its cars yet another step forward.

Dimensions

Length (mm) 4,514

Width (mm) 1,908

Height (mm) 1,371

Height with doors open (mm) 2,085

Wheelbase (mm) 2,749

Front track (mm) 1,658

Rear track (mm) 1,648

Front overhang (mm) 950

Rear overhang (mm) 815

Unladen weight (kg) 1,310

Boot volume (litres) 290

Technical data

Engine 2.0 T petrol (200hp)

Power (hp) 200hp (147kW)

Maximum torque (Nm) 280Nm at 2,600rpm

Acceleration from standstill to 100kph (s) 7.2

Standard cycle CO2 emissions / fuel consumption 154g/km / 6.5 litres/100km

Gearbox Six-speed manual gearboxwith ‘stop and start’ system

Transmission Front-wheel drive

Tyres 245/35 ZR21Wheels 21-inch