Autoblog

This is the kind of computerized world we can get behind -- not the kind that drives for you whether you like it or not, but the one that allows you to do your human thing even better. Futuremark has created a concept instrument and dash cluster for Audi that is rendered entirely in 3D graphics. In the Nissan GT-R, you can change the center console screen to show or highlight the gauges you want. With Futuremark's dashboard, you can create any kind of dashboard layout, color scheme, gauge look... you name it... that you want.

Using its Open GL ES engine (that's Open Graphics Library for Embedded Systems) for the API (that's Application Program Interface), Futuremark wants to show what's coming -- or at least, what's possible -- for in-car information and entertainment systems. We're not really worried about the acronyms; as far as we're concerned, we're talking about the tweakability of video games brought to life in hot cars. Amen to that. The system will be on display at the NVISION in San Jose. Follow the jump for the full press release, and a word for Audi: yes.

[Source: Crunchgear]

If you want to see how that new Porsche is going to look in your driveway (or you just need to impress the women who frequent your favorite online dating service), our friends in Stuttgart have given us all the tools we'll need. Well, in a sense at least. Point your favorite browser here, and click on the "picture it" link on the bottom. Upload your favorite driveway shot, and then you can put either the Cayman, Boxster, 911 Coupe, or Cayenne on your own personal pavement. Once done, you can save it as a JPEG (we had to add the file extension afterwards) to share with your friends. While Porsche is kind enough to put a sports car or SUV in your driveway without charge, they won't be sending you the keys. For that, you'll still need some serious coin.

[Source: Porsche]

Let's admit it: playing around with the customizing tools for cars you never intend to buy is fun. Although the Veyron's is one of the nicer ones we've tinkered around with, the lack of choices gets boring pretty quick, two-tone paint schemes notwithstanding. Fortunately the good folks at Bugatti – those same good folks who brought us the 1000hp ultra-mega-über-super-car – have decided to bestow upon us a few more criteria to tinker with. Alright, maybe it's more for the actual customers, but since there won't be another Bugatti model coming anytime soon, as we sorrowfully reported several months back, we'll take what we can get.

Future buyers ponying up the million clams it takes to put a Veyron in their (undoubtedly immaculately paved) driveways will now be offered several new choices: a few new color combinations, some new leather trim options for the interior, and colored wheels. The latter will likely please individualistic buyers the most, as a 250-mph supercar can't take just any wheels the aftermarket has to offer.

Reports also suggest that Bugatti is working on a revised exhaust system following client feedback that the exhaust note was not sufficiently impressive, muffled as it were by the four turbochargers (!) and whatnot.

If anyone needs us, we'll be spending the next little while sorting out our new preferred Veyron specs.

[Source: Spiegel Online via German Car Blog and Motor Authority]

Audi has decided that its consumers are best suited to customize the exterior and interior design scheme of their rides, so the four-ringed crew is launching a new personalization program dubbed "Exclusive." The plan is to give new Audi buyers the option of making bespoke themes for any model in the automaker's lineup, with an almost endless palette of 30,000 colors to choose from.

The choices of hue extend from the exterior to the interior, with carpets, mats, headliner and even seatbelts that can be tied into the rest of the car's design makeup.

The launch of "Exclusive" is likely to produce some rather compelling combinations, but for every design-conscious architect that buys an Audi, there's got to be a real estate agent who's determined to match the paisley curtains in her office. Things could get ugly quickly, and according to the AutoExpress, the first one-off TT came in a retina-scorching pink. Let the triumph of bad taste begin.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Looking for a good way to waste time? There's no shortage out there, but here's one that's good for a few hours you'll never get back.

BusSelecta.com gives you the tools to customize any of a variety of classic German cars. As the name suggests, the site started out a few years back with the classic VW bus, but now includes the Beetle, the Type 3 and a whole variety of classic Porsches. You can customize a wide range of features, including the wheels and tires, suspension height, change the color, add decals and accessories... enough variety to keep you busy for a while. Check out the Porsche Selecta that lets you chose from a range of 911, 914, 356 and 550 bodystyles. Deck it out and then change to another model to see how the scheme you worked out for James Dean's Speedster would look on a 912 Targa.

While you can print out your design, we were disappointed to find that the printout is only on paper. To get your hands on a real one might take a bit more. If you're proud of your work, take a screen grab and send it to abresearch at gmail dot com. If we get enough, we'll make a gallery in the same vein as our CARS gallery.

[Source: BusSelecta.com via PistonHeads]

Like a dad descending the basement steps and asking in on a round of Halo 2 with his son and his buddies, Buick will be showing up at SEMA this year with no less than 11 customized Lucernes. It will be the first time in the event's 43-year history that General Motors' elder-brand will appear on the show floor. Just to give this some perspective, the median age of a Buick buyer is 65, which happens to be a decade shy of the life expectancy for males in this country.

If you're expecting to see 11 Lucernes that look like part of an Xzibit rental fleet with woofers, LCDs and automatic Red Bull dispensers, you'll likely be disappointed. The Lucerne's will reportedly be customized in the "VIP style" that's popular in Japan right now in which vehicles forego the bling for modifications that enhance their luxury and status. We say good luck to Buick in its efforts to be hip and immerse itself in youth culture, because we know how serious those kids take their Halo 2.

[Source: BrandWeek]

click on image above to enlarge

As you know, we were unabashedly impressed with the C30 when it debuted as a concept at the 2006 North American International Auto Show and were equally excited to see the production version lost little of the concept's charm. It turns out that Volvo is pretty excited about the C30 too, as the Swedish brand has turned three cars over to a triumvirate of tuners who will produce custom versions for the SEMA Show in November. The companies involved include ipd, HEICO SPORTIV and EVOLVE.

The first tuner is little ipd who will make a very big statement with its C30 concept (shown above) producing 400 horsepower thanks to a belt-driven supercharger. That delicious powerband is augmented with audio courtesy of Alpine and Apple. Handling is jacked up a notch thanks to a fully adjustable coil-over suspension system and the party will come to a stop quickly thanks to a big break package. And just for fun the ipd C30 is painted with a Swedish flag theme. Nice.

(Follow the jump for more details on the other two tuner Volvos and more renderings)

[Source: Volvo]

Back in May we revealed that Scion would be pricing its tuner-ready 2007 tC Spec Package at $15,000 with a manual transmission and $15,800 with an automatic. Unfortunately it took Toyota until now to furnish some photos of what the tC Spec Package will look like, but it came through today with a bunch.

The idea behind the tC Spec Package is ingenious – instead of sinking millions of development dollars into a super tC like Ford did with the SVT Focus, Dodge with the SRT-4, and other manufacturers continue to do, offer a version of the tC that's ready to be tuned and costs less than the standard tC. Real sport compact enthusiasts want to turn their own wrench, pick their own appearance mods and make their cars truly unique. The sport compact enthusiast scene would be a much different and more creative place today if every manufacturer acknowledged the tuner in this way.

Realizing that new wheels is one of the first mods a tuner may perform, Scion equips the tC Spec Package with smaller 16-inch wheels wearing seven-spoke wheel covers. The new entry-level model gets the fixed glass panoramic roof (that'll get replaced by an articulating sunroof with mounted 42-inch plasma screen), unique upholstery on the seats (that will be ripped out and replaced with Recaros) and a urethane steering wheel (can anybody explain the significance of this last one? Doesn't matter, the MOMO wheel's on its way), as well.

Aside from those changes the Spec Package is loaded with the same equipment as the standard tC, which includes items like a 160-watt Pioneer audio system, four-wheel disc brakes, and the car's 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 161 hp and 162 ft-lbs. of torque.

Scion has its own catalogue of Toyota Racing Development accessories that includes the normal staple items of a tuner's diet: supercharger, wheels, sport suspension, exhaust, etc. No doubt many tuners will look to the aftermarket, though, where a number of good companies have been producing good Scion performance and appearance accessories.

(Tons of pics after the jump and Toyota's press release)

[Source: Toyota]

Scion may have forgtten the spellcheck, but its remembered to bring some excellent aftermarket suppliers for its customization program called Optomize. The 150 possible parts (Alpine and H3R Performance among them) can be added by dealers at the time of purchase, and are covered by the manufacturer's warranty, which is a huge benefit over traditional aftermarket bits. Like many youth-oriented brands, drivers drop huge chunks of change on profit-rich Scion add-ons, and Toyota is no doubt trying to perfect its product lineup to keep the cash in the hands of dealers, not third party shops.

[Source: InsideLine]

Little known outside of Japan is the fact that you can design a build-to-order Mazda online and see you custom creation through to purchase without ever leaving your chair. Mazda’s Web Tune Factory has been up and running since 2001 and the newest addition to the lineup of 22 available vehicles is the Web Tuned Roaster that’s based on the MX-5.

Though one can access the Web Tune Factory from anywhere in the world, Mazda adds the caveat that the cars can’t be exported. That’s just as well since the site is only available in Japanese. We pimped out a new Web Tuned Roadster with every available option we could find, including a ¥54,600 ($463 US) car seat for the little kiddo in your life. Not being able to read the strange eastern hieroglyph, we simply chose whatever was most expensive. After the build you get a snapshot of your one-of-a-kind whip in a decidedly awkward setting (ours looks like it landed in Germany). Still, spending millions of virtual yen is always a fun way to while away the work hours.

[Source: Mazda]