Stolen Civic Si: Philly and Surrounding Tri-State

Hey guys, a car has been stolen from one of the people in my local car scene (not that I know him at all).  As a fellow tuner, I see it fit to help him out.  If you're on Craigslist, eBay, Yahoo Auctions, or any other site and you see any of these parts or you see this car's shell message me.

1. b16 motor with skunk 2 head and cam gear
2.gates timing belt
3.skunk 2 pro series intake mani
4.aem intake skunk 2 short throw
5. inovative headers with mani cover
6.purple valve cover
7.slammed on full skunk 2 coilvers
8.polished slips
9.full beaks purple control arms and sway bar
10.apexi can
11.si wing

Supposedly there will be a reward if the car is found.  I will connect you with the owner through friends.  Thanks readers

As always, thanks for reading!

Project DC5

Hello,

So I figured I'd document my progress on modifying my RSX Type-S and some other stuff like up-keeping it.  The goal is to make a reasonable street car with a decent amount of power and looks while still retaining driveability.

My mainly stock Type-S

Currently, I'm only rocking a couple of mods as I'm still in college and paying for all of this on my own thanks to Drexel University's well endowed engineering program which includes fully-paid co-op positions and a rigorous curriculum.

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The mod list, as-is, goes like this:

• A'PEXi GT Spec Catback Exhaust System

Note the husky exhaust tip.

• Custom-painted with color match Duplicolor rattle can paint AEM Short Ram Intake (nothing special)

Note the color matched to the valve cover and intake manifold cover.

• DC Sports Shorty Headers

Painted flat black with barbecue paint, the aftermarket header is on the right and the Type-S header is on the left.

• Stage 2 Clutch and Pressure Plate Kit from ACT Clutch along with ProLite Flywheel

Thanks to N-Spire Performance

• 55W HID's from DDM Tuning with HID ballast and 6000K (?) bulbs

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I'll be keeping you guys updated as the project goes along.  But for now, I'll just tease you with some photos...

All new bumper and fender clips along with replacing the fender liners which fell off on one of my 60 mile commutes to work.  >.<

Fabrication of a drill-in and bolt-on brake master cylinder stopper for the DC5 chassis with my fabricating-master boy, Eric Magray of Magray Scooter Co.

Some Work Wheels ;) without my beautiful dog <3 ...="..." p="p">

Stay tuned as Lexi.Laron brings you more interesting reads in the upcoming future!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, people!

Thanks for reading, guys and gals.

The Fall of a L(FA)egend

Source

Today we pay tribute to the last Lexus LFA, a Nurburgring Edition, that rolled off of the production line yesterday, the 17th of December.

The last Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition being rolled off the line Source

Beginning design for the LFA in early 2000 and kicking off production about a decade later on December 15, 2010, the LFA was only destined to be hand-built 500 times, making no more than 20 models per month and one car per day.  Given the extremity of the figures associated with this car in terms of production, it's no wonder that this was one super Toyota and not just your average Camry.

Nurburgring LFA Source

The engine was designed with a 4.8 L V10 engine to accomodate high rev speeds with a relatively small displacement for a super car and still achieve large amounts of torque thanks to ten cylinders.  In fact, the engine revved so quickly to 10,000 RPM's that an analog tachometer would not cut it.  Quite cool, indeed.

Source

And despite having the "roar of an angel" according to Toyota Engineers, the car sported much more than a highly advanced engine with heads designed by Yamaha (once again).

Lexus LFA Chassis Source

No, this isn't your average supercar with an all-aluminum body like the revered Honda NSX.  This is a car with a carbon-fiber chassis which not only helps to contribute to the light curb weight of 3,263 lbs and a weight-to-power ratio of 5.9 lbs/hp!

Chassis of the Nurburgring Edition LFASource

With all of that being said, it's no wonder this car was so impressive (and that's beside the production numbers).  With about 10 years of engineering put into this car and numerous concept models-- it's probably safe to say that Toyota will never design anything cooler.  Challenge accepted, Toyota?

Until next time, thanks for reading.

The Possibility of a New 240SX

With the uprising of the tuner culture into the mainstream that we've seen over the past couple of years, it's no surprise that car companies are coming back a little harder, trying to provide us with some better chassis to work with.  Just look at the BRZ/FR-S!  Perhaps the times are changing-- nevertheless, I digress.  You can read about that here.

Anyways, the real story starts here, and it doesn't sound pretty, but trust me...it gets prettier.  ;)

I was sitting in "the office" at work the other day after a hefty lunch reading an article from one of my favorite auto-related entertainment providers, GT Channel, when I noticed this...

One rendering acquired from GT Channel's website Source

What is it?  Is it a land shark or some sort of Nissan Murano Sports Coupe?  Uh oh, is this death for the Nissan Juke!?  Hahah, no it's not a crossover and it's not some sparky little hybrid either.

It's the supposed concept for a new Nissan 240SX

Fan-made rendering of a "Silvia S16" Source

A couple of years back before the recession hit, Nissan was supposed to come out with a successor to their Silvia line.  But when the money hit rock bottom, so did their plans for a new Silvia.  I mean can you blame them?  Gas prices were sky-rocketing and people were losing their jobs and even their houses, let alone their Japanese sports car.  However tough times call for tough decisions.  Engineers have been challenged, they have been thinking, and they have been deciding on new ways to save you gas and move your ass.

One way of doing what I just said is to down-size displacement, down-speed the crankshaft's rotations using a reducing gear, and increase volumetric efficiency by means of B00000ST.

2011 Mini Cooper Engine Source

And the reason I mention this is because Nissan is proposing to do exactly this to get more power while still achieving reasonable fuel economy from the supposed "new Silvia's" power plant.  Rumors say that the engine powering the new Silvia could be based off of the 1.6 L engine in the Nissan Juke, except it would likely be turbo or supercharged if it found its way into the love bird's little chassis.  Another rumor is that a 1.8 L engine shared with a Mercedes C 180 could find its way into the new "bay girl."

Mercedes C180 from 2008 Source

2011 Nissan Juke engine Source

The chassis for this new Nissan is supposed to be based off of the Infiniti G or the Nissan Z chassis.  This chassis, the FM chassis, is highly versatile and has been written about in Modified Magazine when the Z's and G's were first coming out.  This allows cost to be cut while not sacrificing driveability or fun!  Whoopee!

Source

The bottom line is, as always, we will just have to wait to see.  But based on rumors and stories circling the web along with comments from company execs, it's not unlikely that this could happen.

Thanks for reading as always guys.  My fans are the best.

Feel Like You're Missing Out?

You probably are.  Lexi.Laron isn't always capable of providing you with the most unique stories and photoshoots, and I bet sometimes, you're left wondering-- what is this kid doing!?  It's been almost a week since he's last updated!?  Well, I have good news for you.  Lexi.Laron has a Facebook Account!  From there you can see the most recent and up-to-date stuff from Lexi.Laron and you can always return to here when I update the blog for a good read ;).

Facebook Page

Go on over to Facebook an hit that Like button!

N-Spire Performance and The Daily Werks Crew Shoot

So whatsup, Y'ALL?!  Welcome to another non-chalant and very relaxed addition to MY SITE, NOT YOURS.  Lexi.Laron is back homies and don't get it twisted.  We're comin' correct this time with more photo shoots and collaboration with local auto enthusiast group The Daily Werks Crew.  So let's bang it out, shall we?

It was a quaint Sunday when my boy Edd of The Daily Werks Crew hit me up for a quick breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.  Over some hot pancakes, eggs, sausage, and even grits, Edd told me about a shoot he arranged with one of our friends, Josh who is a co-owner of a great aftermarket auto parts dealer known as N-Spire Performance.  Seriously, these guys sold me an ACT Prolite Flywheel, heavy duty pressure plate, and stage 2 clutch for a great price.

N-Spire Performance's legit business card 

ACT Clutch and Throwout Bearing for the RSX!

But as we all know, any good shop has some pretty sexy demo cars-- and being that N-Spire is just starting out, I'd say they're doing pretty well for themselves!  Bringing a line-up of cars to this shoot, I'd like to give a shout out to N-Spire for doin' their thang.

Starting out the night, the first thing I rolled up on was this FC3S, 10th Anniversary Mazda RX-7.  This car comes turbocharged from the factory with special 10th Anniversary real leather interior, improved sound system, and other fancy amenities.

Take a look at the GReddy intercooler behind the bumper.  The car is also sporting a GReddy Type-RS BOV and excess GReddy turbo piping.  The engine was rebuilt and was cleaned up with blue and silver engine paint on the block.  Ryan says he has more in mind for the car in the future.

Leather RX-7 front-end car bra.

From the rear, this car is nothing ordinary.  Although it's rocking a stock exterior with stock body panels and badges, nearly everything that's not gaudy is sprayed white.  I find it sexy thank you very much!

Stockies FTW or FTL?  I think the former is more appropriate.  ;)

Full rear shot of this bad boy taken by yours truly (along with a couple of other of these).

Next, in N-Spire's pocket is this bad boy...

Sporting a set of Rotas, yes I said it, F-ing Rotas, this RX-7 is nothing short of sexy...even with Rotas!!!!  (Just kidding)

Close-up.

And just to weaken the knees, I decided to feature this sexy-ass side shot taken courtesy of ya' boy, Edd.

Goin' H.A.M. with the full line-up, not just a couple of cars, N-Spire made us SWEAT.

Note that there was not only another two cars, but just one more of the cars was a rotary, for safe measure that there were plenty of triangular ...engine ...rotors(?) to go around.

But, ahh, and we can't forget the Honda S2000 owned by Josh.

Stacked with a set of Recaros, custom-made amber markers, Shine full-carbon diffuser, Tein S-Tech Lowering Springs, Eibach Chassis Bracing, and Invidia Exhaust, this is one sexy S2K.

Custom-made amber markers by N-Spire.

Shine full-carbon diffuser, and that's a wrap.

At the end of the night, Josh took me for a ride in his S2K.  Although there was nothing crazy done to it, and believe me, he plans on doing A LOT more, it was my first time in an S2000, and boy did it surprise me.  After riding in the parking lot like a quiet lady, he put the pedal to the metal and made that baby scream.  Just how I like it.  ;)

Until next time, hit stay tuned for Lexi.Laron's next feature.  Coming to a computer near you.