When you think of modified Honda outside America, you’re almost programmed to think about Japan – but what about other cultures and regions? The auto you see pictured is an eighth-gen Civic sedan rom Quezon City, Philippines. Owner Jay DeGuzman has transformed his FD1 using a number of OEM Civic Type R plenty and parts of aftermarket goods, with an emphasis on Spoon parts.

Quezon City – based in Manila Metro – houses thousands of Civic sedans, and rather than fly under the radar Jay planned to build something which would stay ahead of the crowd. To this end, he started with OEM Honda Civic Type R fenders, sideskirts, and rear bumper-diffuser combo. In advance, he skipped the FD2 bumper conversion and instead chose Spoon’s aggressive S-Tai cover and Spoon carbon hood. A Spoon carbon fiber trunk and rear S-Tai GT wing end up the rear, and also to top all this off, quite literally, he added a Spoon carbon fiber roof cap. Completing the exterior of the Honda FD1 Civic are 18-inch Volk RE30s over Endless rotors/Spoon calipers at the start, and Tein Super Street coilovers all-around to aid in handling and to bring the car right down tomoney OEM parts when you’re essentially replacing factory pieces with other ordinary factory pieces, albeit from another country. The truth is, these parts could be incredibly pricey but they’re far from ordinary. The upper echelon of Honda factory performance pieces born on the track and suitable for street cars, they can completely change the direction and feel of a build and Jay spared no expense, even inside the cabin. The original Honda FD1 Civic cluster was swapped by helping cover their a CTR version, as was the factory steering wheel, pedals, and rear seats. Though the Civic Type R seats are functional and trendy, Jay opted for a set of Bride Low Max Gias seats ultimately.

With so much done to the interior and exterior of his Honda FD1 Civic, Jay couldn’t leave the power plant untouched. A K20Z3 is found under-hood plus a Toda header, ported intake manifold, CTR exhaust Spoon and piping N1 muffler join a Gruppe M intake. Though mild, the mods should equate to around 200whp – more than enough to take pleasure from through the streets of QC.

Regardless of what region of the world you’re in or what parts your country’s domestic market offers, it appears the grass is always greener on the other side. The quest for foreign market parts is not justpedals and wheel, push start; Mugen shift knob and boot; carbon fiber gauge panel

As the calendar moves along and you see that 3-day weekend coming up, you’re not going to want to just sit around a wait for it and have that loathsome “staycation” that seems to somehow be acceptable for some. I mean, really – what’s more boring than turing your vacation into just wasting time at your own home. That’s true laziness. here you’re afforded an opportunity to live a little, to turn your boring life around into something interesting and memorable, and instead you’re going to just do what you always do, wasting time in the back yard or in front of the TV, and you justify it by giving it a cute little name like “staycation.” Well, don’t be that kind of loser. You gotta prepare and make that 3-day weekend the time of your life. Here’s some ideas!

First and foremost, you gotta get out of town. You can’t stay-cation. That’s the worst. One thing to really make it memorable is to finally get the new car you’ve been wanting to get. Head to Nissan Riverside and check out their awesome deals on great rides. Once you get a new car you can invite your buddies to go with you and you can really hit the weekend and make it amazing. What you do is you find a great destination, like a National Park – Joshua Tree for example, or maybe Zion in Utah, and get into that new Nissan and drive to this great place. Then when you’re stuck in that traffic because everyone and their mother has decided to take a road trip this weekend because they followed my advice, you at least are in your brand new car and loving life. You’re almost thankful for the traffic to maximize your time in your new car! Start picturing yourself in traffic in some sweet ride from here: http://metronissanredlands.com.

If that doesn’t sound appealing because you have no sense of adventure, then you can maximize your fun in other ways. You can still do something special on this special weekend, even if you don’t want to drive somewhere awesome. Come up with a great menu idea and make a special meal. Maybe BBQ some shrimp? Or make some great steaks? Sometimes we can come up with a meal idea that really stands above and beyond all other meals such that we remember it for years to come. I once had a ton of oysters and i’ll always remember that amazing meal.

You can also take the time to do a movie marathon of something like the original Star Wars trilogy, or a James Bond marathon. Of course you can do Lord of the Rings too. Something that takes a long time to watch and you need a great long time to do it. Most of us never get a chance to watch all of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in one setting, so why not do it on a 3-day weekend, and you’ll always remember having done it and isn’t that something worth doing?

As we get older and progress in life, our horizons broaden ever more. You start out to see things in a different perspective and if all goes well, you also begin to benefit from the finer things in life. If you return back and look at your high school yearbook to see just what the girl/guy you experienced a crush on looked like, you’d probably laugh at yourself. You probably think about what you were thinking and after that come to the realization that you simply grew up and got to see more of the world. The people or things you have an attraction to check different on account of your horizons grow exponentially with the age. You grew up just wanting to have your own room away from your siblings and when you reach your 20s, you see yourself seeking to one day own your own home. The requirement and want to get more just comes with theUsing this automotive hobby of ours, things are significantly the same. You start off with a vehicle that you think is the best car then and ever it becomes clear that there is more out there than merely your first ride. Some will keep with their first vehicles, but, in those cases, you’re probably keeping them more for sentimental value than holding onto the idea that it will be the sole car you own. Many begin with a hand-me-down car to create and then you later buy the car that you really wanted. After that, you discover yourself with the adequate funds to move onto your next build. You also learn more about the technical side of modding cars and are unveiled in new parts that you couldn’t afford if you were a younger kid. Like the rest in life (hopefully), your ability to modifyNo matter how old you get, there is certainly one car that will definitely be a dream for the growing majority, as Honda enthusiasts: Honda’s supercar, the NSX. Inside our adolescence, it was actually the impossible dream and even today, due to their value, becoming an NSX owner is still not within the grasps of many. It’s crazy to think that the NSX was first introduced in 1992, and two decades later, people still marvel at them. Some are lucky enough to have owned one in their lifetime yet your average Honda enthusiast is only able to stand there and drool as one cruises by in a local event or show. Guys like Sean Der are the fortunate few who are able to say they may have owned an NSX with their lifetime. Actually, Sean has owned three. Yes, you read that correctly, Sean is now on his third NSX chassis. Before you cry the overused cliche, needs to be nice, permit us to tell you a little bit more about Sean. Sure, he has worked very hard to acquire them, even though he has been rich with NSXs. He is an excellent real estate agent and co-owner of a brokerage in his mid 40s who not just has owned a trio of NSXs, but also almost every other car you may have dreamed of. RX-7, M3, Audi S5, Nissan GT-R, et cetera, et cetera, take your pick, he’s probably stuffed one into his garage at one time or another.

1992 acura NSX custom red stitched interior 26

1992 acura NSX VIP modular VX410 wheel 12

1992 acura NSX TiAL q blow off valve 20

The NSX is a chassis that he’s always get back to, however. He has always had a passion for cars, but he tells us that this NSX is forever a popular. After owning and modifying the other two, he set out to build his NSX coup de grace-one that defines his vision of the things the ultimate NSX would be. I really wanted my NSX to be different and stand out in a vehicle show scene, Sean explains. When I found this chassis, it was an ideal one to build because it was incredibly clean and well-maintained. I knew this would be the car that I would set out to dominate the car show scene with. To say that he was financially stable would probably be an understatement so finding this NSX wasn’t terribly difficult. It just needed to meet his high standards. The people he had associated with his build also was required tomotor and kit was built with a reputable Acura service technician who was also the original owner of this NSX. He was extremely meticulous and documented every step of the motor build so I trusted him. The type of turbo he used was even safer because it is able to achieve a decent amount of power at lower boost than other turbochargers of the size, Sean says.

The PTE T4/T67 turbine finds a home in the rear half of the NA1 using a C30A engine that has been completely blueprinted and balanced. The whole motor continues to be refreshed inside and out with forged Wiseco pistons inserted into the block to handle boost pressure. Both cylinder heads have been resealed with new parts and inside sits nitrate-coated intake valves combined with Inconel exhaust valves to better sustain heat. Comptech exhaust manifolds replace the dated factory headers and from the water pump to the standard of seals has also been renewed. Fuel delivery to the new beefy boost setup comes via 630cc Siemens injectors delivered via a Walbro pump. The five-speed transmission that helps deliver power to the wheels is a-new assembly featuring an Exedy Hyper Single clutch and Sciencecontinues to be completely reimagined. The factory lines still exist nevertheless the entire body is bulked up with aerodynamic steroids in the form of a FX Motor Development eight-piece widebody kit. The added room in the wheelwells from the FX kit allows Sean to house double-staggered VIP Modular VX410 wheels. The front is an 18×9.5 wheel, and the rear is a staggering (no pun intended) 12.5 inches wide! To give it a nonconventional appearance and touch, the complete car continues to be wrapped in 3M Satin Pearl White. The satin finish gives the deep red coating on the VIP Modular wheels that perfect contrast. The red hue also transfers over to the interior where the seats, door panels, and adjoining pieces supplynot to be jealous of Sean. The guy has probably owned more cars than many people ever will and has assembled a pretty remarkable NSX. We should all keep in mind that he worked very hard to reach where he is today, and he is also one of many rare few who is still very much into modding Hondas in his 40s. He is a superb example of exactly what is to come inside our future years, though he doesn’t exactly fit into the demographic of import enthusiasts. We can all hope to be into this hobby of ours when we get older, and who knows, maybe some of us can finally get an NSX of the own. No less than we can continue to dream, right?

Highlights

All-new model

Looks the part

4WD and 585hp

Class Flagship Mercedes Coupe

5.5 litre V8, bi-turbo engine

664 ft lb and estimated 22.8 mpg

A brand newA realthe category benchmark in technical innovation

– Cons This much power might be disastrous into a clean driving recordsuch as the new Mercedes S-Class Coupe is akin to a sports jacket from an haute couture tailor who works jointly with the finest cloth. It must exude gravitas and type in addition to a relaxed chic. The Italians have the perfect word with this: sprezzatura, the art of effortless superiority.

In design terms, Mercedes is the only player in this particular segment who may have truly succeeded in bringing luxury car design to the 21st century. And this is not purely a cosmetic exercise. Regarding onboard technology, the company also has left its rivals half a generation behind.

Thus, the new Mercedes S-Class Coupe exudes a dynamism that catches your eye in ways that charges your brain with the notion that the car is moving or is about to move even when it’s standing still.

The new coupe’s low roofline features the traditionalThe large front grille with its huge three-pointed star and single horizontal bar is the epitome of the Mercedes sport grille. But where grille was flush together with the bodywork about the coupe’s less sculpted C215 predecessor, it is actually now a 3-dimensional element, thrusting forward into the airstream as part of an organically shaped nose cone that extends downward into a curvaceous front spoiler, flanked by LED headlamps featuring 47 Swarovski crystals in each unit.

Inside, the refreshing approach to cabin design shows an appropriately forward-looking touch underpinned by unimpeachable build quality, and top-quality materials are as pleasing to the fingertips as they are to the eyes. The widescreen electronic displays that sit cheek-by-jowl in the new dashboard are identical to the S-Class limos, and that is no bad thing because they are the class of your industry. To maximize the feeling of space and light, a glass Panorama roof is set into an outside roofline dropped by .3 inch for any sleeker look. The lack of a sliding sunroof led to a gain of 1.34 inches of extra headroom.

Wind noise at speed is impressively low, along with the coupe is even quieter in this respect compared to the S-Class sedan and the now-defunct Maybach uber-limousine, and 30 percent quieter than the CL. While the S500 Coupe offers theThe Game mode is the one that impresses more since it manages to maintain most of the suppleness of the Comfort setting in its secondary ride, whilst delivering iron-fisted control over the car’s not insubstantial bulk when pressing on if anything. Rear-wheel-drive coupes are fitted with ABC suspension featuring Magic Body Control, while 4Matic versions have Airmatic suspension with ZF’s electronic Continuous Damper Control (CDC). The new Curve Tilt Function that leans the car into bends like a motorcycle is an extra option for ABC-equipped RWD models.

We benefitted from the complete sea improvement in the philosophy of the S-Class Coupe when compared to the outgoing CL, explained AMG’s product planning manager, Oliver Weich. Where the CL was more or less a quick wheelbase two-door S-Class, the physically smaller and lighter C217 S-Class Coupe was built to be a sportier car from day one.

Actually be capable of follow through within its driving dynamics as well.””, although It was an purpose of both the Mercedes and AMG teams the S-Class Coupe would not merely promise a sporty drive with its sleek design””the amount of the S500’s ride comfort is retained by the S63 AMG in spite of the substantial suspension uprating work. The AMG suspension bushes are between 200 and 700 percent stiffer than the ones on the S500 Coupe based on application and location, along with the front axle has different kinematics for better control and response. The suspension settings are also quite different. The first giveaway is the 1.6-degree negative camber setting to the front wheels, a significant 1.1 degree more than on the S500 Coupe. This gives the S63 AMG better turn-responding, while not being enough to adversely affect the wear rate on the inside of the tires.

The exhaust technique is unique to the car and it has the obligatory electronically operated flaps to supply a louder soundtrack in Sport and Manual modes. With all the latest electronic control maps for the exhaust, we have considering the system more spread beyond the old open or closed option, Oliver explained. We could now provide different flap angles according to engine torque and speed output. In fact, we certainly have six settings related to engine speed and another six associated with torque output. So even if you are in Comfort mode, the flaps will open if you hit peak torque and peak revs, he said. The system starts toAs on the S63 AMG sedan, the old idea of standard and Performance Package has been scrapped to the S-Class Coupe. Thus, the S63 AMG Coupe also has the full fat version of AMG’s M157 direct-injection, twin-turbo V8, with 585 hp at 5,500 rpm and 664 ft-lb of torque between 2,250 and 3,750 rpm. Perfect traction enables the S63 AMG 4Matic to launch itself to 62 mph in a very rapid 3.9 seconds, compared to 4.3 seconds for the rear-wheel-drive-only version. Top speed of both may be the usual electronically limited 155 mph having an 186-mph limit as a cost option.

The S63 AMG Coupe is so well damped that I was not sure initially if the small measure of extra firmness over the S500 Coupe was as a result of the uprated suspension or the optional 20-inch forged alloys shod with 255/285 and 40ZR20/35ZR20 Continental Sport Contact 5P rubber in my test car. And So I could not tell how the car I drove was 4WD, so the new front suspension setup obviously works.

With its AMG aero kit and 20-inch forged wheels and an even richer interior with carbon-fiber inserts in thedash and doors, and console, the S63 Coupe looks the part. My test car also had the optional matte paintwork that made it look even more aggressive. The S63 AMG Coupe is a quite different animal from the S500. Aggressive and alive when prodded, it still retains a higher level of refinement when you throttle back. In 4Matic guise especially, it is really a practical sports coupe for all seasons.

As the calendar moves along and you see that 3-day weekend coming up, you’re not going to want to just sit around a wait for it and have that loathsome “staycation” that seems to somehow be acceptable for some. I mean, really – what’s more boring than turing your vacation into just wasting time at your own home. That’s true laziness. here you’re afforded an opportunity to live a little, to turn your boring life around into something interesting and memorable, and instead you’re going to just do what you always do, wasting time in the back yard or in front of the TV, and you justify it by giving it a cute little name like “staycation.” Well, don’t be that kind of loser. You gotta prepare and make that 3-day weekend the time of your life. Here’s some ideas!

First and foremost, you gotta get out of town. You can’t stay-cation. That’s the worst. One thing to really make it memorable is to finally get the new car you’ve been wanting to get. Head to Nissan Riverside and check out their awesome deals on great rides. Once you get a new car you can invite your buddies to go with you and you can really hit the weekend and make it amazing. What you do is you find a great destination, like a National Park – Joshua Tree for example, or maybe Zion in Utah, and get into that new Nissan and drive to this great place. Then when you’re stuck in that traffic because everyone and their mother has decided to take a road trip this weekend because they followed my advice, you at least are in your brand new car and loving life. You’re almost thankful for the traffic to maximize your time in your new car! Start picturing yourself in traffic in some sweet ride from here: http://metronissanredlands.com.

If that doesn’t sound appealing because you have no sense of adventure, then you can maximize your fun in other ways. You can still do something special on this special weekend, even if you don’t want to drive somewhere awesome. Come up with a great menu idea and make a special meal. Maybe BBQ some shrimp? Or make some great steaks? Sometimes we can come up with a meal idea that really stands above and beyond all other meals such that we remember it for years to come. I once had a ton of oysters and i’ll always remember that amazing meal.

You can also take the time to do a movie marathon of something like the original Star Wars trilogy, or a James Bond marathon. Of course you can do Lord of the Rings too. Something that takes a long time to watch and you need a great long time to do it. Most of us never get a chance to watch all of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in one setting, so why not do it on a 3-day weekend, and you’ll always remember having done it and isn’t that something worth doing?

For several years, the small island in the Pacific Ocean referred to as Japan has pumped out legendary car after legendary car, fueling automotive fantasies around the world. Manufacturers and small tuning shops continue to build demo cars, many piecing together at least one full build a year. Companies rely heavily on these cars to showcase new products in trade and catalogs shows more so than anywhere else in the world. The use of Photoshop and social media from the Japanese automotive industry isn’t as developed of an idea. When a new product is developed, the only way to ensure exposure would be toWhat happens to the demo cars once their mission is done? Some are kept for further demonstration, some are literally destroyed and crushed into a cube, while others are parked and forgotten. We have seen T&E Vertex’s graveyard personally, an abandoned gravel lot containing far too many familiar cars-projects we’ve seen in print and drawn inspiration from, even a D1 contender or two. The sad the fact is that in Japan, the normal lifespan of cars is far shorter compared to what we’re used to here in the States. The, humid summers and freezing cold winters take their toll on every machine that’s not stored inside as well as in a country where parking space comes with a premium, garages are scarce. A demo car is normally sent to a junkyard being put down and live another life as a soda can, or simply even become part of another car. But occasionally, the fate of a demo car is not limited to these options. Although rare, there are actually instances of a personal party investing in a shop car. Rather to showcase the fabrication skill and styling fortitude of 326 Power, even if this Nissan Silvia was blessed by the existence of a man who recognized its worth-a man who had been not concerned by the fact that he would own a car that was not built by him.

326 power nissan S14 silvia front fascia 01

326 power nissan S14 silvia BBS LM wheels 06

326 power nissan S14 silvia rear view 02

Located in Hiroshima, 326 Power is responsible for some of the most recognized cars in not only Japan but also the world. The owner, Mitsuru Haruguchi, is revered for his styling sense. The cars that leave his shop look almost cartoonish usually fitted with huge aero components that sit millimeters from the ground suspended by enormous wheels and tiny tires. This particular Silvia was a longtime demonstration mule for 326 Power, having made its rounds at car shows, featured in Option and played a part within a rather famous YouTube video. When new owner Masa Ishi purchased the car, there werethe point that his beloved S14 was built by 326 Power and celebrates their styling that matched his taste perfectly. He’s preserved its design that he initially fell in love with, changing only the wheels from Work XD9s to rebuilt BBS LMs. The completefor the immaculate interior.

While Ishi-san’s adoption of the legendary S14 is a rare case in Japan, we are able to easily see where he’s coming from and why he’s left the vehicle unmolested. He found just what he was searching for, as well as this day, this Silvia looks pristine and grabs all the attention since it did if itawesome, they actually have two very different meanings. These two terms are employed to describe a generation of a car. Zenki is used to clarify an earlier period or first generation, while the Kouki is the final period or last generation. This is a very common practice that nerds dubbed tick-tock model. After every tick comes technological improvements and ending with a tock. Think of it as an iPhone. For example, Apple comes out with an iPhone 5. A few months later, it comes by helping cover their an improved version and instead of naming it iPhone 6, the business simply calls it iPhone 5S. A similar can be said about cars. In terms of theProbably the most noticeable distinction between the two is definitely the exterior renovation. The Zenki oval-like headlights were mostly made out of plastic with the exception of its glass corner pieces, as the Kouki headlights were more rectangular and made completely out of glass. With new headlights came a different frontbumper and fenders, and hood. The taillights have an aesthetic upgrade at the same time; the most distinguished are the lines running over the Kouki lights. However, unlike the front changes, the rear taillights are completely interchangeable. Additionally, a few minor changes were made in the engine, including the harness and ECU-Zenki used OBD1 and the Kouki used an OBD2. Inside of the interior, you’ll find the gauge bezels possessed a small change from three full circles plus a Pac-Man shape for the rpm meter. The Kouki, however, had four separate circles for temperature, gas, rpm and speedometer.

While these terms are normally used for the Nissan S-chassis, they are also useful for other cars such as the Toyota AE86s along with the Mazda RX-7 FCs.

Scion is doubling up on its debuts for the New York City auto show in April, showing a couple of three new cars that may reportedly hit dealer lots over the next three years. Basically we already know the initial debut will be a production version of the iM concept we first saw in L.A., another debut continues to be somewhat of your mystery. Now, the automaker has revealed it will show off a new sedan, a first to thenothing else was revealed about the upcoming sedan, rumors have swirled that the new model is one of two new subcompacts set to begin production at Mazda’s Salamanca, Mexico plant alongside the new Mazda2. One of those cars is the next-gen Toyota Yaris, while the other is likely a Scion-branded model depending on the Yaris to switch the outgoing xD. Since it will be built by Mazda, it’s also likely it is going to use a Mazda Skyactiv powertrain, possibly the 1.5-liter four-cylinder that’s slated for the United states-spec 2016 Mazda2. We won’t know for sure until the sedan is revealed in New York in April.

Scion iM Concept front top view

Scion iM Concept rear end

Scion iM Concept rear three quarters 02

Scion also confirmed that the iM name of their L.A. show concept will carry over to the development model. We don’t expect that car to change much from the hatchback we saw late last year, since Scion claims the production iM will carry forward some of the sporty looks and versatility displayed in the concept version. The iM concept looked just like the Euro-market Toyota Auris in the event it first debuted in the Town of Angels, emphasizing its sportiness with a low and wide stance, deep air intakes, and geometric grille inserts. The concept was also equipped with a changeable-height racing suspension, with Scion boasting the iM will have excellent fuel efficiency, sporty handling, and a low cost of entry — under $20,000, as outlined by Scion.

Does the color of the car you drive say something about you as a person? We’re all pretty much accustomed to equating the type of car with the personality of the driver, but the color may be giving away more than you bargained for too. According to psychologists and other scientific types in white coats, the color of your car may act as an expression of how you want the world to perceive you.
Car colors are influenced by age and gender, as well as the colors which are actually available on the car lot when we go to make our purchase. Incidentally, check out the great range of car models and colors at fiat dealer Los Angeles after you’ve read this article just to be sure that you choose the right color for your personality.
Of course there’s a lot more to it than that when it comes to choosing the color of your car. Popular colors vary in different vehicle types – luxury sedans are most popular in white or black colors with only a small number of colorful characters choosing one in a more colorful shade for example.
Here are a few tips about what the color of your car says about you, it’s up to you whether you believe them or think that it is actually close to the truth:
White – has a suggestion of elegance and taste, people who are drawn to white vehicles like to present themselves as young, fresh faced and modern. On the flip side it might just be that you live in the desert and prefer to drive a white car which doesn’t absorb quite so much heat as a black one. White as a color is difficult to keep clean which makes it high maintenance, just like the average white car driver perhaps?

Black – is the most popular color for luxury motors. Black is the color of sophistication. Royalty, Diplomats and other VIP’s are driven around in luxurious black vehicles – the color of power. Those who choose to drive a black car are making a declaration that they are important and in control.
Silver – silver shines with innovation. If you think about things like stainless steel and silver technology this is the color which represents style and security. Silver cars indicate high class ladies and gentlemen who have a high status in the world and aren’t scared to show it off. Silver cars don’t get quite as dirty as white cars or quite as hot as black ones. Silver is the perfect fall back color.

Gray – there is a subtle difference between silver and gray car drivers. Silver car drivers want to stand out from the crowd whereas gray car drivers prefer to blend in unnoticed. They care less about their perceived status and more about getting on with life. Gray is one of the most popular car colors around.
Red – people who choose to drive cars are screaming out “look at me, me, me”. The red car is for the exhibitionist although women may choose to drive a red car for no other reason than they think it is fun.
Blue – is a happy color when it comes to cars. The color is practical and projects a personality which is truthful, stable and serene. That’s why blue is such a popular color with mini vans – the minivan is usually the vehicle for a family.

So what color car do you drive and what does it say about you?
Take a look at http://www.ocfiat.com and see their terrific selection of new and used vehicles – they’ve got motors of all different sizes in all different colors.