Rare JDM Cars at the 2021 SEMA SHOW

Million Dollar Skyline GTRs, Special RX7s, and Widebody Nissan Zs in Las Vegas

Spotting a Nissan or a Toyota is something you can do in your grocery store parking lot, but the ones you find at the SEMA Show are a little bit more special. Actually, that is an understatement, these are some of the most sought after JDM cars and some of the most popular styles in the Tuner scene. In terms of JDM and Tuner cars there is all sorts of stuff at SEMA this year, some of which you will never see, and others that you will probably see on retail very soon, with a couple only being JDM inspired. Come check out these JDM gems that we’ve spotted at SEMA 2021!

We never were sold any skylines in the US until Infiniti G35, and so to say that they are rare here is an understatement, especially for these two GTRs. This is the first R33 GTR 400R to come to the US and only 44 400Rs ever made. Named 400R because of its 400hp output, this was the rarest and craziest Skyline to come from the factory. Specifically this is a 400R in Sonic Silver making it a one of 5 ever made. Brought out by Top Rank Imports, this Skyline definitely stole the show

Vehicle: Nissan Skyline GTR R33 400R Sonic SilverThe other one is a Midnight Purple II V Spec GTR which cost about the same as Lamborghinis, one of the rarest color combos and trim packages for the R34 GTR.

We also spotted this Origin Widebody S14 Kouki with a 2JZ VVti Stuffed in it. It is hard to look past those stunning custom headlights though, but you’ll probably be staring at the tail lights of this thing if you caught it on the street.

You know the brand new GR 86/ BRZ? HKS is already making a new exhaust system so that you can sputter and bang your boxer as quickly as possible.

We also Saw this yellow RX7 from Fortune Auto, sporting a full RE Amemiya kit with the aero headlights.

Check out this S30 Widebody Z from Extreme wraps. It might look different from a standard 240Z or 260Z because of the slicker aero front end, referred to as a G Nose.

Finally here’s a couple BMWs that have adopted a lot a of the JDM tuner style and incorporated them into their Bavarian Builds.

The New BMW M5 CS Is the Pinnacle of M Performance

Jan. 18 – BMW just made a new top of the line model that is the most impressive M model to date; the BMW M5 CS. Adding to their already impressive lineup of CS models spanning their (now)entire lineup of M cars, this limited run special edition takes it to the next level.

Described as the “highest rung of the BMW M ladder”, the BMW M5 CS comes with tons of features and performance numbers to boot. It comes with a 4.4L V8 engine that makes a whopping 635hp which makes the M5 CS the most powerful M car ever made. All this power is delivered to all four wheels through their M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which also gives you the option of 2-wheel-drive if you’re a RWD purist.

The BMW M5 CS has 0-60 of just 3 seconds flat and can take it all the way to 124mph in just 10.3 seconds. With an electronic speed governor, the M5 CS caps out at 189mph.

As with all of the CS models, this model takes weight savings seriously and has adapted retuned bearing springs and modified axles to coincide with the lower vehicle weight. Additionally, your 4th friend will have to sit this one out, cause the BMW M5 CS comes with only 4 racing bucket seats in all corners. Classic BMW luxury is injected throughout with black merino leather with red stitching, with an Alcantara steering wheel to round out the interior.

The M5 CS comes with a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with a quad tip exhaust. To control all that power, it also comes with M Carbon ceramic brakes that can be painted either red or gold; whichever suits your fancy.

This luxury and performance comes with a cost, with the BMW M5 CS starting with a price tag of over $200K in USD. But, how much would you shell out for the most powerful BMW M car to date?

SSC Tuatara Sets World Record for Fastest Production Car

October 20, 2020 – Move over Bugatti, there’s a new hypercar in town, and it just set the record for fastest production car. Built by SSC, America’s first hypercar company, the Tuatara hit a staggering 331 mph, a seemingly easy feat with 1,750 horsepower.

In the cockpit was professional racing driver, Oliver Webb, who took the Tuatara to its record speed right outside of Las Vegas, along a seven-mile stretch of road that had been closed off for the event. Webb took two consecutive passes, one direction at 301.07 mph, and the second heading back at 331.15 mph, averaging a speed of 316.16 mph.

To break the world record for “Fastest Production Car”, the Tuatara had to travel in opposite directions, clocking its speeds within one hour. They take the average speed of these two passes in order to account for wind and road conditions that may favor the vehicle. Other criteria for setting this record included achieving this feat on a public road ensuring real world driving, having its speed checked by a certified GPS measurement system, and lastly run on street tires and non-race fuel.

In addition to this outstanding feat, the SSC and the Tuatara also set three other records, including “Fastest Flying Mile an a Public Road” (313.12 mph), “Fastest Flying Kilometer on a Public Road” (321.35 mph), and “Highest Speed Achieved on a Public Road” (331.15 mph).

Aerodynamics and an unprecedented drivetrain are to thank for the Tuatara’s incredible passes. The Tuatara’s design achieved an all-time production-hypercard best coefficient of drag of 0.279, and from 150-300 mph, the hypercar maintained a perfect aerodynamic balance of 37% front and 63% rear. When it comes to the drivetrain, under the hood the Tuatara has a V8 5.9L twin-turbo power plant that’s capable of producing its 1,750 hp.

The coolest part of the world record attempt? How it was filmed. The SSC Tuatara’s aerodynamics are modeled after those of a fighter jet, so it was only right to film the passes using a subsonic T-33 jet. This aerial asset proved to be the ultimate camera vehicle, as it is capable of operating at altitudes as low as five feet from the ground, and with speeds over 400 mph, it had no trouble keeping up with the Tuatara.

The New BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe Are Here With a Bigger Grill and AWD

September 23, 2020 – The BMW M line gets an update with the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe and packs in a ton of new tech. Both the M3 and the M4 will be available in a standard trim and a competition trim. Power wise, the competition versions have 20 more horsepower than the standard version as well as an all-new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The M returns with an in-line six-cylinder engine powered by twin turbochargers and track optimized cooling and oil supply. Additionally, the exhaust comes with electrically controlled flaps to control exhaust sounds.

BMW M3 Sedan:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M3 Competition Sedan:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds
BMW M4 Coupé:
353 kW/480 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 4.2 seconds
BMW M4 Competition Coupé:
375 kW/510 hp; acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 3.9 seconds

Both the M3 and M4 will be available with a 6-speed manual transmission, keeping with their pursuit of providing an authentic drivers experience. Models with the new xDrive system will also be able to switch between 2wd, 4wd, and 4wd sportmode through an electronically controlled differential. Adding to the electrification, the suspension has Adaptive M suspension which has electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering. Race compound brakes paired with carbon ceramic rotors round out the performance of the new M.

There’s no shortage of sharp lines in the design of these cars. The new BMW M, with the addition of its large grill, brings a fresh look to the traditional BMW twin kidney grill. Regardless, the pedigree of the M remains in these models with their high performance capability.

BMW Announces New M3 With a Little More Trunk Space

August 13, 2020 – BMW M teased their newest project; a high performance touring car bearing the M3 badge. A touring 5-door variant has previously only been seen in the M5 line, but the team at BMW’s performance division decided that they wanted to do something new. This will be the first ever BMW M3 Touring 5-door wagon model, satisfying the needs of those looking for a high performance racing developed vehicle paired with high functionality.

It will likely be powered by the classic 6-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine which should be capable of over 500hp. BMW M also stated that “Further speculation on engine and performance is quite welcome.” They did ensure that several of the iconic exterior M3 features will be present in the new model, like large intake ducts and quad exhaust. Not much visually has been shared other than this obscured rear shot BMW M shared on their Instagram.

The BMW M3 Touring is still in its early testing stages, so it’ll be quite some time before we see any of them on the roads. And unfortunately, if you’re in the US you might not see any on the roads ever. Regardless, M3 fans have been waiting for this for quite some time, and we’re excited to see the full release.

For $141K, the New BMW Alpina XB7 Gets You High-End Luxury Paired With a 600HP Bi-Turbo V8

May 19, 2020 – There’s no doubt that SUVs and crossovers are taking over the US market, so it makes sense that Alpina is bringing their first BMW SAV along in their fall lineup. The BMW Alpina XB7 is a refined combination of high performance and luxury comforts which can be yours for the modest price of $141,300.

Now, yes, that’s a lot of dough for the average Joe, but this SAV has got goodies to spare. The BMW Alpina XB7 comes with a bi-turbocharged 4.4L V8 producing 612 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. With all that power, the XB7 goes from 0-60 in just 4 seconds. The twin turbos both have 2.1″ turbines to reduce lag and get you up to speed quicker, but Alpina actually limited the top speed to 180mph when equipped with the standard 21″ wheel and performance tire setup. With the custom Alpina Dynamic wheels, you can specify if you want performance summer or all-season runflat tires. The XB7 shares a similar stainless steel exhaust system as the Alpina B7 sedan that lets you control wether or not you want to hear how fast you’re going.

Suspension wise, the balance of performance and comfort is prevalent. The BMW Alpina XB7 features a two-axle air suspension setup with dampers tuned by Alpina to achieve this balance. The air suspension allows up to a 1.6″ change in ride height depending on current speed and performance settings chosen. With the ability to change it’s center of gravity in a moment, the XB7 can be comfortable at low speeds and vicious at highs. Additional suspension parts work to refine the cornering capabilities of this SAV and combat roll like; reinforced torsion struts, dome-bulkhead strut, and electromechanical anti-roll bars.

The interior is what you’d expect from a luxury automotive manufacturer and more. There are 3 rows of high-end Maerino Leather multicontour seating with 2 captains chairs in the second row. Alcantera headliner frames its optional Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof, which “generates a very special aura when darkness falls, with LED light spreading evenly across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky.” Fancy is an understatement.

The XB7 exemplifies Alpina’s dedication to luxury and performance.

For more on the BMW Alpina XB7 click here.

The i4 Is the New Electric Gran Coupe That Will Take BMW to the Future

March 3, 2020 – BMW unveiled their step into the future with the new Concept I4. The new I4 will be completely electric but is said to maintain the driving ability and luxury that makes it a BMW. On the exterior, this concept is extremely sharp with several body lines leading to the iconic dual grille. BMW has also used this model as an opportunity to show off their new, more modern, identity mark, which will serve as the badge on all future models. This concept focuses on creating a sedan for every day with sports coupe styling. Very sharp indeed.

As with any step into the future, technology will be key. This is prevalent in the new touch Curved Display which is oriented towards the driver. According to BMW, this display is for “those times when the driver chooses to pilot the car themselves.”, which seems like they will have autopilot features much like Teslas, however there was no mention of that technology being added. Drive features will be broken into 3 modes selectable off of the curved screen, which are “Core”, “Sport”, and “Efficient which all effect the way the car will drive. The rest of the interior is actually quite luxurious featuring gold bronze trim all over the dash and steering wheel. There are only 4 seats in there, so you will unfortunately have to say goodbye to the 5th friend in your group.

An interesting feature, and one that is quickly becoming a standard in newer cars, is the addition of automotive sound design, otherwise known as fake engine noise. In the BMW I4, the sound will be designed by none other than the world renowned composer Hanz Zimmer. Yes, the man who brought you the emotional music of your favorite films will now be bringing you emotional sounds from your otherwise soundless electric car. The sounds you will receive will change depending on which of the 3 driving modes you have selected.

Overall, the BMW I4 is a big step for the manufacturer in producing the cars of the future as well as setting up the direction of the new core of the brand.

Barrett Jackson Goes Bavarian

Cool, Collectable and Unusual BMWs

BMW is known for some of the most refined, performance oriented, and sometimes unusual, vehicles known to man, and many found their way to the Barrett Jackson auction block.

From the unconventional Isetta 300 to Paul Walker’s collection of some of the rarest E36 M3 Lightweights, Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona is a treasure trove for BMW collectors. 

Paul Walker’s collection easily steals the spotlight. The collection consists of 21 cars, 7 of those being BMWs, including 5 E36 M3 Lightweights and 2 E30 M3s.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that Paul Walker had great taste in cars.

BMW 2002s, the company’s major milestone after World War II that pretty much secured their future, also made a statement at the auction.

While some of these cars are either kept pristine or restored to their original state, others take on a whole new look, including new wheels, wraps and even engine swaps.

This particular ’73 2002 was stripped down and sandblasted, then wrapped up in the signature Louis Vuitton monogram. Some may not go down the same road as this owner, but it’s all about creating a car that suits your taste.

Nürburgring 2019

Just a scant week after the Le Mans 24 hour race in France, the European sports car action moved a little more than 400 miles northwest to the German town of Nürburg and the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobile-Club (ADAC – German Automobile Club) 24 Hours Nürburgring. Established in 1970 on the Nordschleife (North loop) of the circuit, 24 Hours Nürburgring is not Le Mans, attracting local rather than international teams, but it is, nevertheless, a fantastic endurance race for touring cars and GT sports cars, especially if you like German-made sports cars from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche.

The Nürburgring track, once described by retired Grand Prix World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart as “The Green Hell,” is 15.5 miles (25 km) long and affords space, so the organizers say, for some 200 cars and more than 700 drivers. Not unexpectedly, the race has been won for the last few years by home-grown, German vehicles such as Mercedes in 2016, Audi in 2017 and Porsche in 2018. This year saw the 47^th running of the event, now sponsored by TOTAL, and once again an Audi R8 LMS campaigned by Phoenix Racing took the checkered flag.

The track [was], once described by retired Grand Prix World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart as “The Green Hell”… 

Four German-Belgian drivers: Pierre Kaffer, Frank Stippler, Dries Vanthoor and Frederic Vervisch managed 157 laps and 2,475 miles at Nürburgring. One lap down was the second place Manthey Racing team of New Zealander Earl Bamber, Brit Michael Christensen, Kevin Estre from France and German Laurens Vanthoor (brother of Dries) in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. Manthey Racing has won six times before, however, a penalty caused by Vanthoor for speeding in a “slow zone” meant that they lost first place.  Meanwhile, third place was taken by the Audi Sport Team Car Collection in another Audi R8 LMS driven by Markus Winkelhock, Christopher Haase, Marcel Fassler and Rene Rast.

For Team Phoenix it was their fifth win as it was for Audi, however, it was Frank Stippler’s second win, his first was in 2012, but the first for the rest of the drivers including Pierre Kaffer, who said, “The Nürburgring is my home race and winning is a dream come true.” Kaffer has also won at Le Mans and Sebring.

The Black-Falcon-Mercedes-AMG #2 driven by Maximillian Buhk, Hupert Haupt, Thomas Jäger and Luca Stolz, lead the first third of the race with the Manthey-Porsche #911 until the Mercedes had to retire due to damage caused by a collision while overtaking a slower racecar. Battle for the leadership raged all night but eventually, the Audi secured the lead.

Perhaps driver Alexander Prinz had the mostly dramatic race when his GT3 #55 Ferrari 488 from the aptly-named Octane 126 team caught fire and almost burned to the ground as it took marshals some time to get there and get the flames under control. Unfortunately, BMW did not have a great race at Nürburgring. Their best finish was seventh and the remainder of the M6 GT3s were sidelined early.

A rather unusual and largely unknown aspect of this year’s event was the fact that the president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, participated in the race in a Supra driving under a fake name. Seems that Toyota Gazoo Racing, who won Le Mans, entered three cars at Nürburgring. The cars were driven by professional drivers except, that is, for a mysterious “Mr. Morizo.” Turns out Mr. Morizo was none other than 63-year-old Toyota president Akio Toyoda driving the #90 Gazoo GR Supra. Apparently, Mr. Toyoda, who was very supportive of the Supra’s revival, had driven the Nürburgring endless times during the development of the A70 Supra and raced the ‘ring in the 2014 race behind the wheel of a Lexus LFA.

More that 230,000 spectators turned out to attend the 47^th Nürburgring and you can’t say they were disappointed.

McLaren F1 Designer Peter Stevens Takes His T Black

What do you think the F1 designer of the amazing 240-mph McLaren F1 drives? It would surprise you to know that he mostly drives a Model A Ford and at weekends races his 1925 Ford Model T.

Supercar designer Peter Stevens grew up in England in his grandparent’s house with his uncle Denis “Jenks” Jenkinson who was a British motor racing journalist and most renowned as co-pilot of Sir Stirling Moss in the infamous Mille Miglia race in Italy. Pete’s father was an accomplished painter and Peter attended London’s prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA) where later he would become a professor in charge of the school’s acclaimed automotive design program.

Peter couldn’t help but become a gearhead and he loves it all, from off-roading to the local English pub, down the River Deben in his Jeep, to Le Mans, to land speed racing at Bonneville. After college, Peter established his own design consultancy and worked for Renault on the Alpine, Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), and even did work for the Brabham Formula One team.

In 1985, he became Chief F1 Designer at Lotus Cars where he worked on the Excel, the Esprit, the Elan and for outside companies such as Isuzu, Cadillac, Triumph, and Chrysler. However, in 1989, he worked with TWR on the design and development of the Jaguar XJR15 that remains one of his favorite designs and endures as a very collectible supercar. Only 53 were built and they command prices approaching $400,000.

Ron Dennis of McLaren saw Peter’s potential and hired him to design the then-new Mclaren F1. Design credit usually goes to Gordon Murray but while he was the engineer Peter actually did the design work.

When the F1 project was complete Peter worked for numerous clients including Audi, Lamborghini, Benetton F1, BMW Motorsport, Hyundai, IPN Indonesia, McLaren Cars, Nardi SpA, OZ Wheels, Prodrive, Panoz, Reynard, Rolls Royce, Subaru, TAG Electronics, Toyota Team Europe, Virgin Atlantic, and TATA motors. His impressive body of work resulted in numerous awards including the U.K.’s Autocar magazine Designer of the Year.

“The right pedal is the brake, the center pedal is reverse, and the left pedal is low, neutral, and high. The throttle is on the column—got that?”Peter Stevens

In the year 2000, Peter became the Director of Product Design for MG Rover and worked on the MG TF, the MG Z-Cars, the MG SV and the Bonneville MG ZT wagon. It was on that project that we were able to finally work together as I worked at So-Cal Speed Shop in Pomona, California, where the racecar was built.

But why a wagon for Bonneville, you may ask? Well, deep down Peter is a hot rodder as were members of the MG board and at the time MG was developing a line of V8-powered vehicles powered by Ford-Roush engines. The aerodynamic wagon seemed a natural, especially when powered by a 700-hp Roush NASCAR engine. The wagon eventually exceeded more than 230-mph but sadly MG Rover collapsed in 2005 and the project was shuttered.

Peter, meanwhile, continues to design for a wide range of clients and works on a lot of eco-friendly, mass-transit projects as well as some alternative-fueled supercars. He also judges Concours events around the world, lectures and gives his time to numerous educational projects including the prestigious REVS Institute in Florida.

However, his first love remains hot rods and Ford Model Ts in particular. Over the years, he has owned several T speedsters but his current ride is a barely shiny, Henry Ford “Any color as long as it’s black,” 1925 turtle-deck roadster. It’s called a turtle deck because of that add-on trunk bolted to the back of the roadster body.

…his current ride is a barely shiny, Henry Ford “Any color as long as it’s black,” 1925 turtle-deck roadster.

Peter purchased the T from the U.S. sight unseen on eBay and works and on it himself at home in his studio or his barn in Suffolk, England, about 100 miles northeast of London. The chassis is a narrowed frame from a later, 1929 Ford Model A right down to the lowered buggy spring suspension and rod-actuated brakes.

Thankfully, it does not have the quirky Ford T pedal arrangement. “The right pedal is the brake,” said Peter. “The center pedal is reverse, and the left pedal is low, neutral, and high. The throttle is on the column—got that?”

Power for the black beast comes from a mildly hopped-up Model B four-cylinder engine fitted with a Winfield cylinder head, an Ansen intake, a Mallory distributor and a Stromberg 97 carb that is made just up the road in Waldringfield, Suffolk. Over the summer, Peter’s plan is to install a hi-lift cam from H&H Antique in La Crescenta, California.

Peter is well experienced at driving these funky old cars. He not only drives them on the street but also races in such events as the Pendine Sands Hot Rod Races in Wales where we caught up with him, at the Rømø Motor Festival in Denmark, and at other European venues. It’s a far cry from the McLaren F1 but to Peter, “They’re all hot rods to me.”

For more information about Peter visit his website or follow him on Facebook.

Bimmerfest West: Welcome to BMW Paradise

Welcome to BMW Paradise

Whether you love BMW E30’s, 2002’s, M3’s, or merely looking to get away from the summer heat wave, there’s no better way to get up close and personal with a collection of rare, high-quality show and race cars than attending this year’s 19^th Annual Bimmerfest West, the biggest two-day BMW car show in the country.

With the success of last year’s Bimmerfest event held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. the promoters pulled out all the stops to once again to deliver another memorable 2018 event. BMW owners and fans from across the world gathered to enjoy the numerous exhibits/vendors, autocross competition, car show, and road race event while sharing their passion for all things BMW.  

An estimated 5,000 vehicles lined the event. After the event, Bimmerfest representatives tabulated a total of 15,000 spectators walked through the main entrance. 

Dozens of BMW cars of every model and generation could be found, from a ultra-rare Alpina B10 Bi-turbo, 900+hp F80 M3,  Pandem wide body E30, modified E36 street cars and just about everything in between.

This BMW 3.0 CSL was one of many rare vehicles on display. The Fuel injected LHD model CLS is rumored to be 1 of only 439 produced in the world. 

BMW 2002 have become a cult classic at Bimmerfest and have been popping up with more frequency as of late. From factory restorations to custom rest mods, the “02 series” was fully represented at this year’s show. 

Mild mannered from the outside but pop the hood and you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. The owner claims this 2002 makes over 400 whp and is force-fed by a T4 Cummins turbo. 

Wide body BMW’s were found throughout the parking lot where thousands of cars were in display. This E30 caught our attention with its aggressive Pandem wide body kit and aggressive wheel fitment. 

You can bet the owner isn’t afraid to push his car though some twisty roads. 

Pixar’s movie Cars is popular among both young and old. The owner of this M3 decided to not only transform his M3 into Lightning McQueen but also modified his sons Power Wheels.

BMW E30 powered by a M54B30 from E46 330i with ITB’s. 

Vendor row was bustling with plenty of activity along with over 200 vehicles on display.

The roar of engines running full tilt were reverberating throughout the event as event attendees were treated to some wheel-to-wheel racing at Bimmerfest. 

An estimated 100 cars competed in the road race portion of the event, ranging from novice to professional US Touring Car Championship contenders. 

We noticed a number of Strom Motorsports sponsored vehicles tearing up the track including this M3 piloted by Vic Pizzino. 

BMW’s weren’t the only competitors running the course as 350Z’s and Mazda RX8’s were also jockeying for a first place finish and important points in the USTCC series.

Bimmerfest was once again a big success. Having attended the event for a number of years, it’s apparent the show continues to get bigger and better with no signs of slowing down.