Autoblog

LoveFab debuts 850-HP NSX Pikes Peak hill-climber [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST

Cody Loveland, owner of LoveFab in Traverse City, Michigan, is joining the ranks of drivers for the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on August 12. Known especially for his work packing monstrous power into the Acura NSX, it's no surprise that he's whipped up his own unlimited-class chassis based on the legendary Japanese car that we'll dub the FrankeNSX and that rides on HRE wheels - the same rim-maker who will be supporting Rhys Millen and Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima.

The 850-horsepower, twin-turbo C96S LoveFab NSX is said to throw down 600 hp at the wheels. To see what it should look like running up the mountain, below are some short clips of it testing in the Michigan backwoods with just 500 hp at the wheels. And below that is a press release with more info.

Continue reading LoveFab debuts 850-HP NSX Pikes Peak hill-climber [w/video]

LoveFab debuts 850-HP NSX Pikes Peak hill-climber [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch HRE make one of its Vintage Series wheels

Zach Bowman — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Design/Style

We're smitten with the Vintage Series three-piece wheels from HRE. The hardware is about as cool as it gets in our opinion, and you can bet we'd rock a set if we had a vehicle worthy of the rollers. If you've ever wondered how the company goes about putting the wheels together, you're in luck. HRE and StanceWorks have collaborated on a video documenting the ins and outs of crafting "investment grade" wheels.

The manufacturing process is set to a suitably epic soundtrack, and the high-def images of aluminum being milled from soulless blocks to three-piece glory are mesmerizing. Take a second to hit the jump and check out the clip for yourself.

Continue reading Watch HRE make one of its Vintage Series wheels

Watch HRE make one of its Vintage Series wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HRE introduces the Vintage Series, modern versions of retro supercar wheels

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Classic cars have been getting all kinds of love and money lately. Classic wheels, not so much. HRE has introduced a new line called the Vintage Series that puts old rims in a new light.

There are three in the range for now. The 454 "five-window" you'll recognize from old Lamborghini Countach posters, the 505 "thick five-spoke" reminscent of the Ferrari 288 GTO and F40, and the 501 "mesh lace" worn to terrific effect by racing Porsches from decades past.

Sized from 18- to 20-inch diameters and from seven to 14 inches wide, all are forged of aerospace-grade alloys and are hand-finished to the customer's order. They just might make it all right to work backwards on your next car project: get the wheels first, add the Countach LP5000 QV later. There's a press release with more info after the jump and, of course, a high-res image gallery.

Continue reading HRE introduces the Vintage Series, modern versions of retro supercar wheels

HRE introduces the Vintage Series, modern versions of retro supercar wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HRE hosts open house, shows us how its forged wheels are made

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Plants/Manufacturing

HRE Open House 2011 - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you asked a group of enthusiasts what company makes the best wheels, the answers would undoubtedly be varied. HRE, however, would probably be mentioned in that conversation. The HRE Peformance Wheels team has been creating rollers for everything from luxury cruisers to some of the most exciting vehicles in motorsports.

The current lineup of HRE wheels is as impressive as it is expensive. Wheels start at around $1,300 per corner. Curious to learn how the company justifies charging so much for its wares, we traveled to the company's Vista, California headquarters for its recent 2011 HRE Open House. We wound up with an inside view at how the wheels are made and a peek at the company's diverse (and loyal) customer base.

Continue reading HRE hosts open house, shows us how its forged wheels are made

HRE hosts open house, shows us how its forged wheels are made originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monster Tajima and Rhys Millen talk about chasing the Pikes Peak record

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hyundai, Suzuki, Racing

HRE talks with Rhys Millen and Monster Tajima - Click above to watch video after the jump

A twisting, climbing road in Colorado is attracting the attention of autophiles this week as the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb begins to ramp up. Teams have arrived to begin their practice sessions, and for many there could be a multitude of goals. For drivers in the Unlimited Class, there is but one goal; to reach the finish line in less than 10 minutes.

HRE Wheels sponsors a few of the Unlimited Class drivers, and recently sat down with two of them to talk Pikes. Rhys Millen is a driving a Hyundai, and Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima runs a Suzuki, while both vehicles wear a set of HRE rollers. It's not about the wheels, however, as both drivers take a few moments to talk about the race ahead of them. Click past the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Monster Tajima and Rhys Millen talk about chasing the Pikes Peak record

Monster Tajima and Rhys Millen talk about chasing the Pikes Peak record originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Koenigsegg

eGarage Koenigsegg CCX - Click above for high-res image gallery

A new automotive website is getting ready to hit the Internet. Called eGarage, the site's goal is to become a haven for supercar enthusiasts. The team behind eGarage wants to prove it's serious, so it has teamed up with HRE Wheels to dress up a pair of hyper-exotic supercars.

At the 2011 Supercar Experience in Miami, eGarage will show off a Koenigsegg CCX and SSC Ultimate Aero. The CCX wears a set of new 595 RS HRE Wheels and a matte-white wrap.

Currently, eGarage.com is just a splash page displaying a car-centric rewording of the U.S. Marine Corps' Rifleman's Creed. (Really, guys?) We'll withhold full judgement on the site's true potential until we see the finished product. If nothing else, the CCX and Ultimate Aero indicate that there should be plenty of hardware to drool over once eGarage goes officially live.

[Source: eGarage]

Continue reading eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts

eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New year, new livery for Monster Tajima's Suzuki SX4

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:11:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Etc., Suzuki

We assume that Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima is already thinking about his next run up Pikes Peak. His Suzuki SX4 hill-climb special is one step ahead and wearing a fresh new livery courtesy of sponsor GoPro. The car looks as unique as ever and our eyes are particularly drawn to the icy blue HRE wheels. They're custom-forged 20-inch rollers built to take the abuse that 910 horsepower and Mr. Monster throws at them. Hopefully at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, we'll see this bright white-and-blue blur streak by on its way to a record-setting run.

[Source: HRE]

New year, new livery for Monster Tajima's Suzuki SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2010: HRE Wheels homers with the Oakley Design 458 and a Gumpert Apollo

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:19:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Ferrari, Luxury

HRE Wheels on the Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia - Click above for high-res image gallery

HRE had a trio of cars parked in its booth, one of them being a Ferrari 458 Italia tuned by British aftermarket house Oakely Design. The car was showed off for the first time in June, and in white, and Oakley said it would build just five. The production was upped to the seven, and this one here comes in a hue red rich enough to make Sleeping Beauty want to take another bite.

The carbon fiber lip up front boosts downforce by more than 50 pounds, and the sliver of a rear spoiler adds about 48 more pounds of aero downforce to the rear axle at 150 miles per hour. A carbon fiber roof panel, mirror housings and 20-inch HRE wheels complete the coupe's Jenny Craig makeover, with the rims subtracting 11 pounds at each corner. Performance mods tune the car to 632 horsepower, and a reflashed ECU is meant to make the most of it. Oakley's work is said to reduce the 0-62 mph time to three seconds and top speed is a lofty 208 mph.

Just in front of that was a Gumpert Apollo, rarely seen on the big-rim circuit, wearing a set of single-lug-nut HRE's, and a Porsche GT3 RS with some fire-engine red multi-spokes. They're all in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: HRE Wheels Booth

SEMA 2010: HRE Wheels homers with the Oakley Design 458 and a Gumpert Apollo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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