Bentley doesn’t make an SUV. Though they’ve contemplated and toyed with the idea, the boys in Crewe ultimately decided against it. Sure, some of their sedans and coupes are roughly the size of trucks, with engines of similar proportions and torque output, but they hardly fulfill the same purpose as a sport-ute. So what’s a guy to do? Well, most would pick up a Range Rover, frankly. Or a Q7 from Bentley sister-brand Audi. Badges aside, even a VW Touareg V10 TDI would fit the bill. But one driver apparently didn’t like any of those ideas, so he had his own Bentley SUV made up. Er, sorta.

The abomination you see above is actually based on – yep, you guessed it – a HUMMER. Yes, it’s horrible, but don’t blame us. We’re only the messengers. And just where might you stumble upon such misplaced gluttony? You’d be forgiven for thinking it was in Russia, where that hideous Cayenne/Touareg resides, but only if you couldn’t tell the Arabic alphabet from the Cyrillic: this unfortunate embodiment of “too much money, not enough taste” comes straight out of new-money Dubai.

Game Over. Period. This is the hottest thing I have seen in years. I was just yelling and jumping around like I have not done for a long long time. This right here is why I love what I do and why I started Bulletproof 10 years ago. This is innovation, this is quality, this is a level of the game that only Amuse can do. This is why I fell in love with Amuse in the first place.

Back in 2001 Bulletproof Automotive started bringing Amuse to North America. I never imagined we’d end up as their sole US direct distributor, but I sure dreamed about it. If there was ever a company that I’d bet on it was Amuse. I knew after getting my first R1 Titanium exhaust in 2001 that Amuse doesnt play around. So I stepped up my game and repped Amuse hard. 9 years after our first Amuse shipment, the rewards of working with the best in Japan present themselves to me all over again…

I thought my blogging day was done, settling for a rear image of this Amuse kit. Then Amuse sent me an email with hi-res pics, pricing and the much anticipated front shot. There is nothing as cool as being the first to see something as amazing as this. Its like having a private viewing of the future. Make no mistake about it, this is the future look of high end JDM tuning. When is the last time you’ve seen something so innovative, envelope pushing and yet something that worked out to be so clean and classic looking instantly!? That is how I feel about it, so I jumped right into writing this blog post to share with you all right now!

Simultaneously to writing this, we’ve just prepared a pre-order special. For our wholesale clients you can contact us and we’ll work out wholesale terms for you on this new hotness…but for all you 370Z owners out there, I wanted to personally offer you 10% off on a pre-order of these kits. You’ll never see us discounting Amuse again since it’s not a discount brand in the slightest…I just wanted to give 370Z owners something special and to be able to show Amuse Japan that the community supports them with a nice healthy pre-order

This one has been a long time coming…under the radar of most, we’ve actually been supplying Prius styling and tuning parts by Kenstyle, Toms and other high end Japanese companies for quite a few years already. However, lately the Eco tuning scene has rapidly picked up and we feel a need to double our efforts on our end to promote and distribute for our friend’s brands in Japan.

Bulletproof Eco is designed to do for Eco and Hybrid car tuning what Bulletproof Automotive has done for Sports Car tuning.

The website is being built now and I’m excited to debut it in the hopefully near future. In the meantime, please keep us in mind for you or your friends who are interested in adding something special to your Eco or Hybrid daily driver. Our Eco business is already running at full speed and we can currently accept any orders or requests by email or phone. For those who already know what they want, this is ideal while waiting for the official website launch which will debut a lot of parts and brands that many have never seen before.

This is also perfect timing to announce that we have recently been selected as the North American and Middle East Exclusive distributor for Tommy Kaira and their great Prius and Insight tuning parts lineup (and those cool LED emblems they make!).

Fiorino Qubo is the name of the new car marketed by the Fiat dealer network. This original name clearly conveys the model’s attributes: it is reliable and robust, as well as being uniquely practical and versatile. And the original choice of the letter Q evokes the distinctive personality of the car as much as the rounded profile of the exterior shape. Created as a result of a manufacturing joint venture between Fiat and PSA, the Fiorino Qubo is made at the Tofas factory in Bursa (Turkey) – where the Fiat Doblò is also made - and this month it will be launched in France, followed by Austria, Poland and Hungary in July and August. It will then become available in Italy, Germany and Switzerland, and will arrive in Holland, Ireland and Belgium in October. Next year the launch will conclude in Great Britain and Denmark. Marketed in Italy with an entry-level price of around EUR 13,000, the new Fiorino Qubo is the outcome of a concept that is both simple and revolutionary. It transcends the MPV concept to embrace the idea of a ‘free space’ vehicle, capable of satisfying various transport needs, due to its distinctive personality and a practicality and versatility that are unique in its category: the Fiorino Qubo is a very practical vehicle for families, but it is also a car for young people, and customers seeking an entertaining drive. It is the ideal companion for leisure and for travelling with friends, being both environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient. In other words, with this car you can do whatever you like, just as you would expect from a multi-purpose vehicle: as handy as a city car, and as spacious and comfortable as an MPV. Indeed, the Qubo offers, at an affordable price, the same versatility as an MPV but with more compact external dimensions – it is 3.959 metres long, 1.735 metres high and 1.716 metres wide – and its turning circle is less than 10 metres. In other words, the new Fiat Fiorino Qubo is equally at home negotiating narrow town centre streets or weaving in and out of city traffic. What’s more, the Fiorino Qubo can adapt to any surroundings (urban or rural), guaranteeing considerable savings as a result of its good fuel economy (due to the 75 bhp 1.3 multijet engine) and low running costs (30,000 km before the first service). The Fiat Fiorino Qubo’s original, rational exterior style stands out due to special treatments on the side and rear that give it a sophisticated look. Likewise, the beefy, sturdy front does not detract from the general nonconformist and likeable impression that is the model’s trademark. The model’s look of a substantial vehicle with its wheels firmly on the ground is offset by clear, fluid lines that give it a dynamic edge. The new Fiorino Qubo really comes into its own as a unique car in its segment when you take a look inside. The original ‘free space’ concept combines six different seat configurations with a practical, regularly shaped interior. The result is a functional interior, with exceptional flexibility and use of space. For example, with the seats in normal position, the boot offers 330 litres of space (up to the parcel rack) and 650 litres if measured up to the roof. With the rear seats removed, the capacity increases to 2,500 litres. For maximum driving comfort, the Fiat Fiorino Qubo can also rely on smooth power units coupled with sturdy gearboxes. The lively 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet and the reliable 73 bhp petrol-driven 1.4 version offer outstanding driving satisfaction, optimum performance and low running costs, as well as for their great reliability and respect for the environment. For example, a 1.3 16v Multijet combined with a manual 5-speed gearbox or a robotised 6-speed gearbox guarantees excellent performance and the most efficient fuel consumption in its category: the maximum speed is 155 kilometres per hour, whilst over a combined cycle it returns 4.5L/100 km, which translates to a range of a thousand kilometres with a full tank of 45 litres. A Fiat Fiorino Qubo equipped with this power unit also proves itself to be an environmentally friendly car – some versions boast CO2 levels of less than 120g/km – and if equipped with a particulate filter, the particulate emission levels can be as low as 0.005 g/km. The 73 bhp 1.4 8v also boasts optimum performance, and could certainly be an ideal base for CNG conversions. Developed with particular attention to performance and fuel consumption, the power unit is coupled with a mechanical 5-speed gearbox and is capable of a top speed of 155 km/h despite its thrifty fuel consumption

’ve had this picture on my desktop for a few months now it seems. I love this angle of this car in this color with this kit. Damn near perfect right here. Tamon Design put this car together with their original aero parts and the result is stunning. We’ve sold a couple of these kits but it still remains a very rare kit to this day. I like this a hell of a lot more than their green demo car.. I love this angle of this car in this color with this kit. Damn near perfect right here. Tamon Design put this car together with their original aero parts and the result is stunning. We’ve sold a couple of these kits but it still remains a very rare kit to this day. I like this a hell of a lot more than their green demo car.

n the Swiss city Zug, perfection has a different meaning than in the Italian town Sant’Agata Bolognese. While Lamborghini is satisfied with the Gallardo LP560-4, the Swiss have higher demands – at least the engineers at BF-performance. For them, the Gallardo is too innocent and neither dynamic nor individual enough. Therefore, they turn both the Coupé and also the Spyder into the GT600 which has a stronger performance, more self-confidence and looks more aggressive.

The refined appearance immediately catches the eye with the new aerodynamics kit which BF-performance produces entirely in carbon. The elaborate processing of this high-performance material combines extremely light weight with supreme durability. This allows the Lamborghini specialist to implement an optimised aerodynamics concept.

At the front, this shows in voluminous air inlets of the especially developed front spoiler which follows the shape of the Lamborghini top model Reventón. This way, BF-performance does not only improve the driving behaviour, but also gives the Gallardo a significantly aggressive appearance and an increasingly racy look.

Optimised under-body aerodynamics is guaranteed by the side skirts and the rear diffuser which are both also made of carbon. The striking carbon rear wing renders additional down thrust. Its edged design perfects the design language of the Lamborghini and gives the Gallardo the finishing touch.

The wing doors render a significant amount of individuality, but are strictly limited to Lamborghini models with twelve-cylinder engines. Due to the refinement by BF-performance, also the GT600 with a V10 engine can be equipped with doors which are so typical for Lamborghini.

And of course the engineers also focused on the engine performance. BF-performance has confirmed the performance of the new automobile in an impressive race. On the Sachsenring round course, the GT600 even managed to beat the stronger Lamborghini Murciélago LP640-4 SV by an impressive lead of 0.6 seconds.

For the special individualisation, BF-performance offers a unique amendment: it can be modified from a four-wheel drive car to a rear-drive super car. This way, the GT600 combines the exclusive feature of the Gallardo LP550-2 “Valentino Balboni“ with increased performance. The new engine concept and 43 kilogramme of saved weight render a unique driving experience.

The interior also follows this dynamic maxim. Apart from the sports bucket seats, BF-performance also offers five-point belts, a roll-over cage and a carbon-ceramic braking system with which the GT600 meets the highest racing standards. BF-performance visually adjusts the interior to the increased dynamics. The manufactory uses carbon on the steering wheel, door handles, ventilation grids and even at the switch casings. The customer can even opt for carbon in his favourite colour.

Seat brings more emotion to the roads. The Cupra R is the strongest Leon. JE DESIGN bestows the Spaniard with even more fire. With enhanced performance, an aggressive aerodynamics kit and flaming red colours, the refined Cupra R stands out from its serial counterparts. Also the enhanced suspension, the light alloy wheels and the interior demonstrate the fiercer re-modification by JE DESIGN.

The two-litre TFSI engine renders nearly one quarter more performance after the JE DESIGN engineers from Leingarten, Germany have finished their work. Instead of 265 hp (195 kW), the Cupra R now reaches 330 hp (243 kW). The maximum torque is increased from 350 to 420 Newton metres. Therefore, the Seat reaches the 100-kph limit in already 5.8 seconds instead of the former 6.2 seconds. The acceleration ends at 268 kph, while the serial model achieves its top speed at 250 km/h.

The Cupra R owes this additional power to the optimised control unit, the sports air filter, the metal catalyser, the front- and centre mufflers and the four-pipe stainless steel exhaust system. JE DESIGN offers the entire performance kit for 6200 Euro including VAT and includes a 12-months warranty.

The enormous performance enhancement is confirmed with the new Cupra R aerodynamics kit (entire kit for 1539 Euro). The front spoiler (319 Euro) with the centre sword (149 Euro) sucks the front to the road surface and the rear wing (459 Euro) renders the necessary downthrust. The side skirts (299 Euro) pacify the air flow and convey it to the rear wing extension (299 Euro) with the centre diffuser insert (99 Euro). The latter is surrounded by two stainless steel end pipes at both sides measuring 90 millimetres (899 Euro). Of course, JE DESIGN offers all aerodynamics components with an approval by the Technical Control Board (TÜV).

On top, the Seat is fiercely looking ahead thanks to the headlight blends (89 Euro) and the daylight running lights “Dark-Line“ (299 Euro) sparkle above the fog lights. Further fiery impressions are rendered by the colour design. JE DESIGN varnishes the front spoiler sword, the letter R in the grill, the mirror caps, the diffuser insert and many more details in a flaming red colour. The flag decoration at the sides further enhances the hot soul of this Leon.

For enhanced road holding, the lowering springs bring the Cupra R 25 millimetres closer to the tarmac (159 Euro). Those who wish to reduce the distance to the road individually by 15 to 44 millimetres can opt for the KW-coilover suspension made of stainless steel (979 Euro). For highest demands, JE DESIGN moreover offers a KW coilover suspension Variant 3 with adjustable traction- and compression phase (1549 Euro).

The especially designed light alloy wheels “Multispoke“ in 8×19 inches now fill the wheel houses. Especially for the fiery Cupra R, JE DESIGN has varnished the wheels in racing red and equipped them with high performance tyres measuring 235/35 (entire wheel set from 2810 Euro).

Filled with emotions and new ideas - that is the signature feature of the concept cars from Swiss car visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht that have added colorful bright spots to the Geneva Motor Show for many years. Rinspeed boss Rinderknecht always has a surprise up his sleeve and this year is no different. Once again he does what nobody would have expected from the whiz kid known in the past for his affinity for powerful machines: He’s building a subcompact car. But that’s not all: For the first time in the long history of its concept cars the Swiss automobile and concept powerhouse has developed not just a vehicle but an entire mobility concept. The cute two-seater with electric drive is aptly called the “UC?” which stands for “Urban Commuter.” But the biggest surprise is that the “UC?” was designed to be ready for future series production. The little speedster measures less than 2.60 meters in length and is intended to help avoid gridlock in the inner cities.  At the same time an advanced railcar loading system will add the option to cover long distances by train, comfortable, without traffic jams and stress-free.

The goal is to create a new mobility concept that integrates individual car ownership and public transportation. A transverse loading system using custom railcars allows loading and unloading of numerous “UC?” vehicles simultaneously and in a very short time. Train passages are booked and reserved online directly from the vehicle. Harman International provides the permanent 3G internet connection as well as marvelous sound on wheels. VoIP2Car technology provides IP telephone service, video chat, video conferences, e-mail and many more features in the “UC?”.

Integrated charging stations on board the custom railcars ensure that upon arrival at the destination the “UC?” battery is once again fully charged for maximum operating range. During the train trip drivers can visit the train

car whose body adapts to the number of passengers on board. For Rinspeed boss Rinderknecht the vehicle is more than just a clever concept car. “The „iChange“ is a symbol for the fundamental changes the auto industry undergoes worldwide.  And it is clear that only those companies will survive that have innovative answers for the demands of a new automotive era.” The visionary Rinderknecht is convinced that the days of gas-guzzling behemoths are coming to an end: “The „iChange“ is a signal for the coming global changes to individual mobility. We need to be ready to meet these challenges with new ideas.”

In seconds a streamlined one-seater sports car transforms into a comfortable car with ample room for three. The trick: At the push of a button the rear end of the teardrop-shaped car magically pops up. “We have designed and built an extremely flexible vehicle. In it we have brought the themes of versatility and continually changing energy demands to their logical conclusions.” The result is a streamlined, lightweight zero-emission car with dramatically reduced energy consumption.

The basic idea behind the ‘iChange:’: The energy demand of a vehicle depends mostly on its weight, the type of engine it uses, and its aerodynamic properties. The engineering-services company Esoro that traditionally builds Rinspeed concept cars has built an extremely lightweight car weighing in at only 1′050 kilograms. To power the car, the Swiss specialists chose an electric motor. The idea of the pop-up rear end was conceived to account for the sizeable effect aerodynamics play in fuel consumption.

While other cars always have to ferry around their puffed-up exteriors that can accommodate up to seven passengers even if they’re just transporting a single soul, the „iChange“ features an adaptive body. The sole driver is conveyed in a teardrop-shaped car that offers optimal aerodynamic properties and thus minimized energy consumption. If more than one person need to be transported the expanding rear provides room for two passengers. As a result of the increased weight and no longer optimal aerodynamics the energy consumption increases - but only for the time passengers are actually on board.

irty years after the movie thriller ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ hit the silver screen “sQuba” is the first car that can actually ‘fly’ under water.
Zumikon - “Dive it again, James!” If the situation gets too hot for the secret agent he’ll go underground - or under water. So demonstrated impressively by Roger Moore in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977 when he dove below the waves in a sleek vehicle that moments before seemed to be an ordinary car. The only problem: The scene never really took place; it was an animation.
With the “sQuba,” the world’s first real submersible car, the movie fake now becomes reality for visitors of the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008). Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht (52) is known for his extraordinary automotive creations. The acknowledged James Bond enthusiast and Swiss automobile visionary kept revisiting this scene in his mind over and over: “For three decades I have tried to imagine how it might be possible to build a car that can fly under water. Now we have made this dream come true.”

And it is this submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters that sets the “sQuba” apart from military vehicles. While the latter can go under water, they are limited to driving slowly over the submerged ground. Rinderknecht: “It is undoubtedly not an easy task to make a car watertight and pressure resistant enough to be maneuverable under water. The real challenge however was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water.”

It also had to be a sports car that was converted into a diving dream in the facilities of Swiss engineering specialist Esoro. In a first step the combustion engine was removed and replaced by several electric motors. Three motors are located in the rear. One provides propulsion on land, the other two drive the screws for underwater motoring. They are supported by two powerful Seabob jet drives in the front, which ‘breathe’ through special rotating louvers from HS Genion (for opening and closing the water intake). The rotating outlet jets were designed to be extremely light yet twist resistant by using high-tech nano materials, so-called Carbon Nano Tubes.

It is a sure bet that the “sQuba” will steal the show from any ‘Baywatch’ beauty on the beach. And easily, too: You drive the car into the water and the car floats. That is, until you crack the door to let the water in. Immediately the “sQuba” starts on his way to the underwater world. The occupants’ breathing air comes from an integrated tank of compressed air that divers know from scuba diving. Rinderknecht: “For safety reasons we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency. With an enclosed cabin opening the door might be impossible.” But safety wasn’t the only reason for choosing an open-top design: With an enclosed volume of just two cubic meters of air the vehicle weight would have to increase by two tons (!) to counteract the unwanted buoyancy, giving the “sQuba” the land mobility of a turtle. Without occupants the “sQuba” surfaces automatically.

It is even capable of autonomous driving on land thanks to a sophisticated laser sensor system from the Hamburg company Ibeo - without any help from the driver or passenger.

Power is supplied by rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries. Rinderknecht: “The ‘sQuba’ is a zero-emission car as documented by the rotating license plate in the rear. It produces no
exhaust emissions. The Swiss are among the world’s pioneers in the area of hydropower. The ‘sQuba’s’ filling station is the water reservoir.” It is no surprise that the vehicle features
powerful yet energy-saving LED lighting technology.

3-D foil elements with embossed fish and sharkskin patterns from Wetzel Processing Group and Hornschuch add visual pizzazz and streamline the exterior. Together with styling
elements from Foliatec they create a harmonious velvety matt-white appearance.

For shore leave the “sQuba” relies on a stainless coil-over suspension from KW automotive and large Pirelli tires mounted on custom-made forged light-weight wheels from AEZ with 17- and 18-inch diameters. But the “sQuba” is really at home in the water. To make the occupants feel at home there as well the innovative salt-water resistant interior from Strähle + Hess features genuine mother-of-pearl trim and diamond-plated non-slip inlays from KGS Diamond, normally used in high-tech abrasives. After all, ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friends.’ The high-tech VDO instrument cluster and controls create a futuristic ambiance and allow controlling all vehicle functions even while submerged.

Frank M. Rinderknecht and his partners - amongst them also the fleet specialist LeasePlan - have created a truly unusual vehicle and in the process have thought of everything. Even the
Motorex lubricants used in the ‘sQuba” are biodegradable. For the Rinspeed boss that is a meticulousness stemming from conviction: “The ‘sQuba’ lets me be one with the elements and lets me immerse myself in a new and fascinating world - with Q factor. It is our duty to protect this world in which we are guests to the best of our ability.” Isn’t it, Miss Moneypenny? - James couldn’t have said it better himself glancing at the sporty Swiss precision chronograph from C.F. Bucherer. Eau la la - shaken, not stirred.

Swiss made
Esoro

Frank M. Rinderknecht used highly advanced technology and a Swiss-based network of top automotive specialists for his project. So the Rinspeed “sQuba” fits perfectly to Esoros motto: engineered by Esoro - What you dream is what you get.

For the ninth time the Swiss engineering company Esoro was hired to serve as general contractor for the entire project. Esoro was responsible for project management, implementation of new technologies, engineering, rendering, design and the manufacturing of the Rinspeed “sQuba”.

Esoro realized the Rinspeed “sQuba” with the help of its highly competent suppliers. Starting with initial concepts, it took the highly skilled development team just six months to realize the
entire project.

For 17 years now, Esoro has been a contract developer of concept vehicles, components and products, main focus is lightweight construction and mobility. During this time it has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellent efficiency and innovative solutions, which is demonstrated by numerous prototypes and serial products. Esoro develops fiber reinforced components from initial conception up to pre-production samples. In-house specialists optimize the component properties and characteristics throughout the entire development process. Important steps are non-linear, strong orthotropic Finite Element Analysis and crash simulation.

Another recent development from Esoro is the new E-LFT production technology developed for Weber Fibertech. E-LFT makes large scale production of high-strength and lightweight
composite parts affordable. E-LFT composite parts weigh more than 30 percent less than comparable steel parts. The tailgate of the new Smart Fortwo - the first serial produced ELFT- component - was produced over 100’000 times in 2007 and received the JEC Innovation Award 2008.

Furthermore another production process for niche markets, like high performance cars, trucks and caravans is now introduced by Esoro to several OEM’s. The new and patented
process called Melt Embossing offers the possibility to produce high end thermoplastic composite parts with low initial invest for structural and semi-structural applications. Since the company was founded, Esoro has been working intensively in the field of conception, implementation and tests of alternative and optimized vehicle concepts and drive systems. Esoro is thus one of the few companies in the world with well-founded experience in development and operation of electric, hybrid and fuel cell drives.

A word from our partners

AEZ develops special wheel for Rinspeed sQuba
German alloy wheel manufacturer AEZ, including it’s brands Dotz, Dezent and Enzo leader in the European alloy wheel after market since many years, develops a really special wheel
for the Rinspeed sQuba. Like 2007 for the Rinspeed eXasis, where AEZ was developing and manufacturing the wheels as well, the wheels are forged and have a unique design specially suited to the appearance of the vehicle. Key focus was again the reduction of the weight, an important issue for AEZ also when it comes to the development of road wheels which can be accomplished thanks to extensive electronic simulations and a perfect production process. With the sQuba wheels a further challenge was the resistance against salt water from the sea - thanks to AEZ’ painting technology and the experience with winter wheels no problem at all.

Time and Speed: Carl F. Bucherer New Partner of Rinspeed Concept Cars
Cars that drive over water. Cars that drive under water. Cars with transparent bodywork. The Concept Cars, which Frank M. Rinderknecht is developing, give a new meaning to mobility. They are the work of a person, who follows his own path without deviation, just as Carl F. Bucherer, the founder of the Luzern-based watch brand, once did. This was also one of the reasons prompting CEO Thomas Morf and vice-president Marketing Bruno Jufer to get involved as a partner of the Rinspeed sQuba. Even more important, however, was their common philosophy, aiming to develop the sophisticated technology, top quality materials and surprising shapes through their innovative, conceptionally convincing, combined work. Like the Patravi TravelTec FourX does, for example, with its four different materials and three different time zones. This is what the Rinspeed cars are doing all the time. In summary: the new partnership project brings together two companies, which obviously think the same way and are constantly searching for innovation

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