The Daily Werks Crew Meet: Chevillac Astrolade and More

Did you ever go out somewhere and see something you didn't want to see?  A lot of you have probably been to the movies or the mall and have seen an ex with her new boyfriend or his new girlfriend.  It probably sucked a lot and you probably went home and cried for days.

But have you ever seen something you thought you wouldn't like but actually liked it anyway?  The latter happened to me at Tuesday's The Daily Werks Crew Meet in Levittown, PA when I came across a couple of pretty sweet cars, as usual, but also some cars which were unique in their own refreshing way.

Check out what I'm talking about:

First car I shot at the meet was Negrete's Auto Sales' Van, a company out of Bensalem PA who a dude named Juan was repping.

I called it the Chevillac Astrolade because it was a mix between a Chevy Astro Van and a Cadillac Escalade, sporting Escalade, pearl white paint, real escalade rims, and a real escalade front end.

Juan and his boy parked the car outside of Sears and everyone started raising their brows-- not in disapproval, but in shock!

Sporting their own custom upholstry for their sound system featuring Rockford Fosgate Amps, JL Subwoofers, and a brand new top of the line Optima Battery to power it all, this car was bumping.

Props to Negrete's Auto Sales out of Bensalem, PA.

Bending over to take a couple of shots is one thing, but keeping your pants up while doing so is another!  As I was shooting this Z I pulled a plumber and my ass crack was showing the whole time.  Needless to say my kind friends were nice enough to tell me to pull my pants up.  Reality: they laughed.  -____-

Check out the gauges on this twin turbo Z33

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Later that same night after the Z33 and some of the other cars rolled out, Josh of N-Spire Performance showed up with some of his boys.  Although the car your about to see isn't finished, you can see that it's pretty serious, tucking some meety tires on a set of Enkei RPF1s under a full widebody.  Check out what this car used to look like.

...Man, uff yo' fitment...

Here's a set of Recaro Seats from an Integra (DC5) Type-R straight out of Japan.

Shot of Josh's car with some cool lighting tricks and an Iraqi Campaign Medal Plate!  God bless our troops!

Stay tuned for my feature of my boy's 3000GT build process later on here at Lexi.Laron.  Thanks for reading, b00yyyss and g@@lzzz

Old Skool JDM Goodness: Nissan Silvia S12 Photoshoot

Some say that cars are just not cars anymore.  They say that with all of the technology, emissions revisions, and safety elements that cars are just becoming lackluster-- big boxes that transport us to and from our lackluster jobs in a lackluster world where people are lead to settle down and accept what they have as not up to par with their dreams.

Realizations like this are what lead the previous generation to mine to begin building and restoring muscle cars.  It allowed people like my father and my father's friends to relive their glory days, reminiscing on their wonderful teenage years without buying a time machine.  Big engines and light chassis with sexy lines were what turned those guys on.  But what about my generation?

The slew of 20-year-olds out there looking to stir up some of what defined automobiles for themselves while igniting a flame inside of their aging hearts?  What about my generation, looking to escape the ever-approaching reality of escalating responsibilities with four wheels and a motor?  What defines youth for us?

Cars like this: a Nissan Silvia S12, labeled the 200SX in America.  Pop-up headlights, lightweight chassis, all birthed to an era that strived for excessiveness!  Technology was becoming cheaper, but cars weren't being hampered by it!  Cars were being improved with technology, because the chassis remained light, the engines were becoming more powerful, and emissions weren't a huge issue!  

There was no such thing as an auto on-off engine back then with an advanced plant-like control system.  There was less weight and more mechanical efficiency.  Car companies were using THOSE things to improve their cars' efficiency levels all while inducing cool locking buttons on their door handles too!  :3

So when my buddy Ryan posted some blurry cell-phone pictures on Facebook and all of my buddies were going wild over his mystery car with cool 80's technology, I figured I'd head on over to Pottstown to get some sweet pics.

Although it was freezing, we handled the weather like men.  We talked about the car and Ryan gave me some information on it, including what he'd like to do to it, what it is like in its current state, how much he paid for it, and other car guy stuff.

The car is a notchback model with a 2.0 L SOHC engine that only puts out about 100 hp.  It's not much, but despite being such a small number the car still moved fairly well.  And that's how you know a 20+ year old car is bought in good condition!

With a one-piece drive shaft and rear LSD, this was one of the fathers to the S-Chassis Drift Cars that you know today.  Ryan, who went to tech school and college for automotive informed me of this while he was telling me of future plans for the car.  

Along with revamping the whole suspension with S13 parts for lowering and improved handling, Ryan plans on swapping a 3.0 L or four-cylinder turbo model's engine.  After all, it's not going to be easy to modify this old JDM gem.

However, with persistance and love, Ryan plans to make this one unique, cool little car; taking the technology and mechanical efficiency of my generation's younger days' cars and making it cooler than it already is.  I mean, it isn't a racecar...but it sure is something.

Until next time, this is Lexi.Laron signing out.

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.

Tryna Go to Japan.

Hello Lexi.Laron-ers.  Sorry that the site's been out of commission for quite some time.  I've just been living my life as usual-- going to car meets, hanging with my friends, and trying to make the most out of life by looking at situations from a different perspective.

Anyway, I come to you today to update you on something that is not exclusively automobile-related, but still holds a decent amount of significance when concerning my passion for cars.  It also has something to do with this...

Yes, that's a Japanese flag, and those of you who personally know me know that I am a student attending Drexel University, one of the top engineering schools in the nation with one of the best co-op programs available for prospective engineers looking to gain knowledge and experience in their professional field.

Through Drexel's Co-Op Experience, I am aiming to land a job working for an automobile manufacturer based out of Japan or a research and development company specializing in battery and electric drivetrain technologies for hybrid motor vehicles.

I already speak a little bit of Japanese and I've also always wanted to get involved in their tuning culture, so what better way than to go there while I'm also bettering my education and my chances of getting a high-paying job out of school?

Anyway, to those of you reading this, wish me luck!  I'm going in for my meeting with an International Co-Op Team Member in about forty-five minutes!

Thanks :)
--Dillon

The Philadelphia Auto Show: My Adventure

January 29, 2012:  The Philadelphia Auto Show

The morning of the Auto Show began at Drexel University, where I go to school.  I stayed over my boy's dorm in University City after a great night of hanging out with friends and got up early to meet up with some other people at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

I got up early to get some morning shots in as well!  Before I go to shoot something, I like to be as warmed up as possible, exercising my eye for the pictures ahead of me.  Luckily I found this awesome Civic Hatch!  I love the EK, but it's still nothing like my RSX.  ;)

PS, props to the owner of this car.

Off to the magical kingdom of bums and trash: Center City, Philadelphia!!!

Colorssssss! c:

WHAT, HOE?  Some Philly-behind birds right there!  Hahah.

THE MAJESTIC BIRD--

THEN THERE WAS A PRIUS.

The lighting was amazing out, it's a shame I couldn't have made a post about a shoot made outside.

However I did get this sweet Stance:Nation-style shoot of two Versas on in a second.  Check it outtt, staggered poses!

Stay out, tourists!

Okay, we were just kidding.  :)

--XOXO, Philadelphia

So, this is just a calibration shot, but apparently Chevy is on its bean-size car ish!  This is called the Chevy Sonic LTZ.  I've read about this car before in MotorTrend.  Apparently it has a 1.4 liter, turbocharged ECOTEC Engine with about 130 horsepower and a six speed transmission, woahhh Chevy!!  I thought they also upped the displacement in one of their models, but tossed the turbocharger and kept the power the same, but I could be incorrect as the Chevy Website says nothing about this.

Anyway, cool stuff, Chevy!

Speaking of cool Chevys, check out this Camaro ZL1, Chevy's new top-of-the-line Camaro.  With one powerful 6.2 Liter V8, sporting an Eaton Supercharger, and boasting an impressive 580 horsepower, this car is not meant to be easy on your neck muscles, most likely wrenching your neck into an arched position, forcing your head into the head rest.

And it's not all power, either.  The car runs a 7:41:23 on the Nurburgring Circuit according to the Chevy Website.  Not too shabby, eh?

Scion xB, tC, and xD models

The Camaro SS

One of the biggest disappointments this year, aside from the stock Civic Si was this modified one.  I mean, yes you have a great paint job on this car with plenty of modifications in the hood-- and there were DEFINITELY some modifications under the wheel wells and in the shock towers, I'm sure.  But, what happened to the real Civic?  Wasn't the Civic supposed to be a sport-compact car with great handling, a small motor, and tuner support?

Now we're putting big K24 Engines in Honda Civics, and lengthening the wheel base.  I want to see something better than this Honda.  I'm disappointed.

Here are some pics of the stock Si that was on display.

All of the cars had missing shift knobs, FYI.

The Fit!

Those wheels and Brembo Brakes :)

Those Recaro Seats :)

That stitched, leather steering wheel!

That MIVEC Turbocharged Engine!

Must be an Evolution :)

This here is a GTI.  It has an engine in it.

It's a TSI.

There's a steering wheel with red stitching...

And an automatic transmission...

And then there was this, the Subaru BRZ!

I hate everything right now, so I'm just going to post pictures and hope everyone stops bothering me, K?

On display with the BRZ was its older brother, the SVX LSi.  If you remember seeing these things around, you'll remember seeing the dual-pane windows and the unique headlights that seem to look like those from a Mercury Sable.

And although this car was built to be fast, the automatic transmission and leather seats certainly don't scream sports car.  I think Subaru teaming up with Toyota was the best move, considering the all new BRZ will be light weight, have a low center of gravity, a manual transmission, and cloth, stitched racing seats-- none of this automatic crap.

4wd Turbo XT, What?  What the hell is this?

Apparently this car was designed to look like a wedge to improve its aerodynamic efficiency.  Everything from its engine placement to its mudguards are supposed to make its coefficient of drag as low as .29.

The model on display here had a 4-speed automatic transmission rather than the 5-speed manual with overdrive.

WRX, anyone?

Yada yada yaaah, I'm getting mad bored, so LET'S STAND HERE IN A TRACK JACKET, GUY!  What a slut.

Once I got past the douche in the track jacket, things cleared up pretty quickly for me as I looked at this Z in the favoritest car manufacturer section at the auto show, NISSAN.  Plenty of people didn't even know what they were looking at, as one guy called this a 360Z, and I think that the Nissan Badge makes people stupid, because somebody also said that Honda makes the engine in the GTR that I saw, that's false, btw.

I liked this car.  Although it was an auto convertible, it sat nicely and the interior seemed very well put together.  The curves on the exterior flowed very well and although I tried to show it off in my pictures, I got lazy and decided I didn't care.

I'm going to try and not be angry for a second even though I'm annOying myself!

This GTR WAS COOL!

LOOK AT THIS GIRL'S BUTT!  AND THIS CAR'S BUTT.

THIS CAR HAD A HOT SIDE PROFILE

AGAIN.

NICE WHEELS, NISSAN.

SLUT.

Everyone got out of my way so I could shoot this hahahah, it pays to have a big camera.

After Nissan, I moved onto Ford, who really stepped up their game this year, bringing out their 1.6 and 2 liter EcoBoost Engines in their 2013 Ford Fusions with plenty of trims to choose from.  

The EcoBoost engines come with turbochargers, hence the name "EcoBoost," and they also sport direct-injection.  Something that is useful when considering fuel economy.  It eliminates extra flow paths which otherwise would be considered when designing engines with computational fluid dynamics analysis.

Honestly, Ford had it all, they had tons of different trim models for their Fusion, extremely fuel-efficient full-size trucks, little Ford Fiestas (which I truly enjoyed), and even their Laguna Seca Mustang!

Ford is proud enough of their engine technology that they actually put their engines out on their own displays.  Chrysler also did this for their Fiat engines and I also believe they did it for their OHV Hemi Engines, but their displays didn't compare to Ford's in my eyes.

Here were two engines on display.

A Mustang pool table?  Hahahah

This Hybrid Ford Fusion looked so pretty.

Aston Martin DB9, anyone?

Stay tuned for more cars from the classics display, Buick, Chrysler, Hyundai, Lexus, Acura, and the DUB Show!

Peace!