Autoblog

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Thumbing through the last issue of 0-60, one of the car-guyiest car mags around, I turned the page and saw an image that stopped me cold. Mother of pearl, a Subaru rally car flying through the air at a snowboard park. How is that even possible? We've all seen imagery of airborne rally cars, but the cruising altitude is usually just a couple feet. These shots depict serious flight. General Lee, Bo and Luke Duke flight. $150,000 worth of machinery being treated as the Greatest. Snowmobile. Evar.

It turns out 0-60 contributor and driver extrodinaire Ken Block was behind the wheel of that car, flying off jumps intended for snowboarders with 3,000 pounds of machinery as part of the shoot for the DC Shoes production MTN.LAB 1.5. Hit the jump for more, and to see some of the jaw-dropping video.

[Source: 0-60]

Dave Senders of Boulder, CO is one lucky dude. Through a joint promotion run by Hot Import Nights and DC Shoes, Dave has been crowned the winner of the blue-and-orange DC Shoes Subaru Impreza WRX STi that was driven in the Gumball 3000 rally by pro skater Rob Dyrdek.

The custom Impreza is valued at $65,000 and is outfitted with (among other things) a JDM Impreza STi Spec C body kit and the camo wrap and graphics from the Gumball. Inside, a full suite of A/V upgrades is ready to entertain driver and passengers alike, while a 425-horsepower boxer that 's good for 180 miles per hour resides underhood. The full list of mods can be found after the jump, but the highlights of the engine work are the Crawford Performance S2 motor and CP32 turbo kit.

In addition to the car, Dave gets VIP status for every Hot Import Nights event. As if rolling up to one in a 425-horse Impreza wouldn't have gotten him the swank treatment already. Color us blue (and orange) with envy.

(Press release, car specs after the jump)

[Source: Hot Import Nights]

Ai Designs has been making a name for themselves over the past few years, customizing everything from 'Sclades to Skylines for a select clientele. When DC Shoes co-founder, Ken Block, decided his CLS55 AMG was too pedestrian in the performance and appearance department, the New York-based customizing firm got a call.

On the outside, the CLS got the in-vogue matte black treatment, while the chrome trimmings were bathed in a shiny piano black. A full body kit, including front bumper, side skirts, carbon fiber grill and spoiler were all sourced from Merc uber-tuner Brabus and Ai contracted a jeweler to create a custom DC logo that adorns the trunk lid.

The vented hood allows passersby to peer into the engine bay and get an eyeful of the AMG muscle that lurks underneath. Not content to leave the powerplant alone, Ai again tapped Brabus to provide their K8 engine kit, which, with the addition of a less restrictive exhaust, brings power output up to 575 HP.

A Brabus electronically controlled suspension module drops the CLS overtop 20-inch Radenergie R10 rollers, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber and 15-inch discs are under the pressure of eight-piston Brembos.

Inside, the Merc gets a custom slathering of interior materials, including a DC logo emblazoned onto the head rests. A Valentine One radar detector is hardwired, with the display etched into the rearview mirror.

The end result is incredibly trick, substantially quick and downright menacing. In short, we like.

(More pics after the jump.)