Author: Tabitha
When it comes to headlights, what was once unimaginable is about to become reality. The Sleuth hears that a special Audi R8 V10 Plus Exclusive Edition (limited to 25 examples) will use lasers for high beams, while LEDs will be used for low beams. Along with lower energy consumption, the laser beams can project nearly an eighth of a mile (about 650 yards), which is double the range of LEDs. As with most new technologies, laser headlights are likely to join a range of active-safety technologies first introduced to high-end vehicles (in this case a $230,000 sports car). Eventually, laser…
From what The Sleuth has been told, VW’s plans for electrification is a genuine commitment and not empty rhetoric. Apparently, concept drawings produced by the automaker indicate more than just a major design shift that goes beyond the Volkswagen I.D electric concept model displayed at the recent Paris Auto Show. They indicate that an entirely new vehicle division could be in the works that will take form (beginning in 2020) that will eventually include passenger cars, sports cars, tall wagons and commercial models. It’s also likely that these future products will include self-driving capabilities, which is technology that will unquestionably…
Forget about what you might have seen in the flesh concerning the Honda Civic Type R. The Sleuth’s sources claim that the hot hatchback that was launched in Europe and Japan in 2015 is far from the version that will be arriving in North America by the third quarter of 2017. That Type R, which will be based on the current Civic that’s built at Honda’s plant in Canada, is still undergoing final evaluation, including the suspension tuning and final engine output. That Spy Guy interprets that to mean that the estimated 305 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque could…
BedRug, the maker of some of more popular pickup bed liners on the market, has a simple solution for working beneath your vehicle. The foldable four-by-two-foot TrackMat resists stains, oil and other chemicals, while providing plenty of cushioned comfort for your knees and back. The product is also made with the same kind of material used in life jackets so it will repel water and mildew. TrackMat folds in half for storage. You can get the full details, including a full list of retail outlets, at www.bedrug.com. You can also purchase TrackMat for $40 through a number of online resellers,…
Josh Welton calls himself as a welder, but he’s really an accomplished sculptor whose primary medium is metal. Among his many subjects are motorcycles and automobiles, including hot rods and classic cars. Some of his pieces are exaggerated caricatures that appear to have been inspired by the late Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth’s Rat Fink, while others are somewhat tamer and more to scale. All are cool to admire and would be an excellent addition to any car buff’s art collection. Prices vary depending on the subject and the amount of work involved. Check out the gallery at www.browndogwelding.com.
This new full-size tall wagon from Volkswagen will go on sale by mid-2017. The Atlas name was apparently picked because it’s short and obviously easy to pronounce, unlike the Tiguan and Touareg names that belong to the other wagons in the VW lineup. The new seven-passenger model that will be built at VW’s Tennessee plant will be available with an all-new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, or optional 280-horsepower V-6. That’s right, there will be no diesel for this model or any other VW vehicle for the 2017 model year. A hybrid version might be in the works, however. The new Volkswagen…
When it comes to company’s such as Ford that are innovative, you can be certain that the copycats won’t be far behind. That seems to be the case with the 2017 Raptor truck. The follow-up to the successful F-150-based SVT Raptor will likely get some competition from FCA’s Ram truck division that recently showed off its likely-production-bound Rebel TRX concept. Now General Motors has announced that a special edition of the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD can now be ordered. Called the All Terrain X, it’s available only as a 4×4 crew cab. Along with the Z71 off-road suspension, there’s a…
Back in the 1950s and ’60s, driving gloves were de rigueur for professional racers as well as amateur sports-car enthusiasts. Since that time they’ve fallen out of favor, but Bradley Price, founder of Autodromo, has brought them back. The company’s latest high-fashion Stringback gloves combine a mesh-style backing with a perforated-leather gripping surface for comfort and utility. They also come with a strapless split cuff that makes them easier to pull on and remove. You can order your Stringback gloves for $125 in a variety of sizes and in a choice of black, burgundy, cognac and verde pino (green) leather.…
For carbon-fiber wheels, there are only a couple of options out there. Carbon Revolution supplies wheels for the Ford Mustang GT350R and sells its one-piece CR-9 carbon fiber wheels for about $16,000 a set. Carbon Revolution says its products will improve acceleration, handling, steering response and tire grip, while reducing stopping distances, fuel consumption and road noise. Full details at www.carbonrev.com. Similar advantages are available from Vitesse AuDessus, which produces original and bespoke carbon-fiber wheels for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and McLaren. With a starting price of more than $35,000 a set, exclusivity is virtually guaranteed. Visit www.vitesseaudessus.com.
You don’t want to put just any floor mats inside your expensive vehicle or classic car. Not when there’s a wide assortment of genuine leather mats available from Inpelle Auto Accessories. The company makes seat coverings for BMW, Porsche and Audi and now offers custom-fitted floor mats for a variety of other makes. The leather has been given a special waterproof finish that is claimed to resist all sorts of dirt and grime. They’re also claimed to fit just like original-equipment mats so they won’t slip. Each set of front and rear mats (available in four colors and two different…