The Cafe Racer Phenomenon (Those were the days … series)

By Alastair Walker
The Cafe Racer is one of the most enduring styles of motorcycle ever created, encapsulating the rebellious spirit of the 50s. This new book is a look back at the glory days of the Cafe Racer, from Friday night dices on London's North Circular road, through the street specials craze of the Seventies, to the modern day revival.

The Cafe Racer Phenomenon, a new book in Veloce Publishing's Those were the days … series features a huge, global Cafe Racer community directory alongside a unique mix of personal memories, previously unpublished photos, iconic machines and chassis builders in profile. Wonderfully evocative reading for any ton-up rider of past or present.inline_mediumwraptextright31211991/news/epcp_1001_cafe_racer_phenomenonepcp_1001_02_o+cafe_racer_phenomenon+wide_shot.jpgTrue

British supercar manufacturer and challenger for the production car world land speed record, Keating, will have its 260.1mph TKR supercar on display at this year’s MPH Show featuring Top Gear Live at London’s Earls Court on 5 November.inline_mediumwraptextright31197294/news/epcp_0911_keating_tkr_fastest_carepcp_0911_01x_z+keating_tkr_fastest_car+front_passenger_side.jpgTrue

Porsche is introducing a new, lightweight version of the mid-engined Porsche Boxster roadster at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December, the distinctive styling and technical specification of which represents the true, purist form of the Porsche sports car – light, powerful, open-roofed, and very efficient.inline_mediumwraptextright26988991/firstlook/epcp_0911_2010_porsche_boxster_spyderepcp_0911_03_z+2010_porsche_boxster_spyder+rear_driver_side.jpgTrue

The current economic state has created plenty of tough situations, but that doesn't mean there isn't an upside. Great cars are going for great prices. Great for the buyer, that is. Here's one such example. And with a bigger budget, it's possible to make it even more powerful than the current V8-packing M3.inline_mediumwraptextright26990947/news/epcp_0911_bmw_m3_e46epcp_0911_01_z+bmw_m3_e46+front.jpgTrue

This new book from Veloce Publishing is the first in a new World Sportscar Giants series and covers the origin and subsequent history of the 3-litre Ferrari sportscars, which the famed Italian firm designed and built to contest the various versions of the World Sportscar Championship between 1969 and 1973.inline_mediumwraptextright31165644/news/epcp_0911_ferrari_312p_312pb_bookepcp_0911_02x_z+ferrari_312p_312pb_book+cover.jpgTrue

Okayama, November 1 2009. Aston Martin Racing claimed a sensational victory in the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Okayama, Japan.inline_mediumwraptextright25793555/news/epcp_0911_aston_martin_racing_wins_japanepcp_0911_01_z+aston_racing+1st_place.jpgTrue

Go For A Spin
Designed to appeal to gearheads and general motoring enthusiasts, the Mikado ring by Porsche Design features a unique bearing-like outer ring with moveable polished stainless steel rods. The inner ring is shaped with contoured edges for maximum comfort. $370
porsche-design.cominline_mediumwraptextright31020198/tech/epcp_0911_porsche_mikado_ring_audi_mini_quattro_more_premiere_collectionepcp_0911_01_z+premier_products+ring.jpgTrue

Product Spotlight
Macht Schnell Anodized Battery Tray There's no arguing that street cars just keep getting heavier. So if you like to hit the track with your also-street-driven vehicle and enjoy seeing ever-increasing returns on your lap times, one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to do so is by reducing weight. Short of tearing out your back seat, there are a couple key areas you can look at to quickly shed mass and improve ETs.inline_mediumwraptextright31020048/tech/epcp_0911_macht_schnell_anodized_battery_tray_boston_acoustics_more_gearepcp_0911_01_z+battery_tray+battery.jpgTrue

Seat Time
Is the manual transmission as we know it going the way of dinosaurs and ice ages? I'll admit that I was one of those Luddites who, on the introduction of a manu-matic for the masses (VW Group's DSG), wrote dual-clutch transmission technology off as a fad, the answer to a question no one asked, the proverbial fixing what ain't broke.

I'll be a much happier camper when December 31, 2009, is finally in the record books. The symbolic passing of the year 2009 is going to do huge things for my optimism, which has been at the bottom of the toilet since last November.

I don't have what most people would call a risky job. I take pictures of cars, boats, planes and motorcycles and write stories about them. Not a very dangerous line of work.

Unfortunately besides the awesome radio, nav, and seats, the rest of the interior was somewhat lackluster. I'd like to see a bit more in a $55,000 car. The aluminum trim's finish is not uniform, the cupholders were not very user-friendly to passenger or driver, and the overhead map lights didn't have covers over the lenses; they look like they were hijacked from a GM truck. Plus, what looks like a huge police light hangs from the rearview mirror. I looked for the button to activate it so cars would get out of my way, but to no avail.

Z4 M Part 7
This is it, the grand finale. An all-out track shoot-out with three completely different, yet wisely modified modern enthusiast cars. Each fit perfectly into the "OEM Plus" category. We took our Project Cayman X51 and Project Z4 M to the track for direct comparison to an intelligently modified Porsche 911 (997) Carrera S to wrap up two exciting project car series in one wild swing.

Obsession
Egon Booms' Mercedes-Benz PontoonI have always loved Q-cars. The idea of putting a big, tricked-out engine into a small car, and seeing the look of surprise on the faces of sports car drivers as you leave them in the dust has its own brand of appeal. These days major manufacturers play this game very well indeed. BMW's M5 and the E63 AMG are just two examples of factory-built four-door hot rods that can really upset drivers of junior league supercars.

The Vossen VVS-083 wheel features monoblock construction with a machined finish and a deep stainless steel or black lip. This one-piece wheel offers a multi-piece look without the multi-piece expense. All Vossen wheels offer tire pressure sensor capability and will clear most aftermarket brake upgrades. Each is backed by a two-year manufacturer's warranty.Applications: Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Range Rover, Porsche

M Stands For All-Wheel Drive
First Drive
We appear to be in a serious situation here. Scientists tell us carbon emissions have hijacked the atmosphere and that global temperatures are going up. Raging storms assault unprepared coastal locales with alarming ferocity. The American Midwest remains frozen solid even as the polar ice caps melt and the seas rise.inline_mediumwraptextright26570566/features/epcp_0911_bmw_x6_m_fast_forwardepcp_0911_01_z+2010_bmw_x6_m+side_view.jpeg.jpgTrue

Seat Time
Is the manual transmission as we know it going the way of dinosaurs and ice ages? I'll admit that I was one of those Luddites who, on the introduction of a manu-matic for the masses (VW Group's DSG), wrote dual-clutch transmission technology off as a fad, the answer to a question no one asked, the proverbial fixing what ain't broke.inline_mediumwraptextright30760785/features/epcp_0911_m3_bmw_dct_fast_forwardepcp_0911_01_z+2009_bmw_m3+side_view.jpgTrue

The Ferrari 599 is almost the perfect all-around GT car. Fast, elegant and prodigious fun, it's just about the perfect all-around package. Except for the hateful looks of envious strangers, the paint stripper thrown on the car at night and half the population flipping you off at lights. Now the last bastion of Ferrari tuning, Novitec, has the answer with its supercharged version of the Maserati GranTurismo S.inline_mediumwraptextright26572618/features/epcp_0911_novitec_tridente_maserati_gran_turismo_sepcp_0911_02_z+maserati_gran_turismo_s+front_view.jpeg.jpgTrue

2007 Volkswagen GTI
Performance Software
It's a well known fact that when VW released the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), it changed the world's perception of what an automatic transmission was capable of. Suddenly it wasn't a paradox using the words "sporty" and "automatic" in the same sentence. But while impressive, DSG is a major control freak that spends every millisecond contemplating ways to keep the engine's power and torque in check, but not in a good way. We were originally informed by the manufacturer that this extremely advanced piece of technology could only handle about 258 lb-ft of torque. So they installed a torque limiter in the transmission's computer that would cause the transmission to disconnect if the torque limit was exceeded. The power struggle goes on virtually unnoticed because chip tuners found ways around this, manipulating torque numbers that the ECU lets the transmission see. While effective in preventing disconnect, it still doesn't address the fundamental problem with the overprotective DSG computer. Symptoms could include excessive timing retard, loss of power, and listlessness. While these symptoms can be attributed to other factors, the most likely condition is an agitated DSG computer.inline_mediumwraptextright25755260/features/epcp_0911_2007_volkswagen_gtiepcp_0911_01_o+2007_volkswagen_gti+tranny_shot.jpgTrue

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, set to open in 2010, is the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind. It will be an intense multi-sensory experience and a must-visit for enthusiasts, fans and families. The Park pays tribute to the passion, excellence, performance, technical innovation that Ferrari has established over the years and represents today. Its iconic sleek red roof is directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, spanning 200,000 m2 and carrying the largest Ferrari logo ever created.inline_mediumwraptextright25750079/firstlook/epcp_0910_ferrari_world_abu_dhabiepcp_0910_01_z+ferrari_world+aerial_view.jpgTrue

Following the successful debut of the compressed natural gas-powered Scirocco GT24-CNG at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, Volkswagen is launching a one-make Bio-CNG-powered race series in 2010. With a CO2 reduction of 80 per cent being achieved in combination with Bio-CNG, the Scirocco Cup will demonstrate that major innovative strides are still being made in motorsport and make it the most eco-friendly one-make championship in the world.inline_mediumwraptextright25722704/news/epcp_0910_volkswagen_most_eco_friendly_cup_racing_seriesepcp_0910_01_z+vw_racing_series+front_view.jpgTrue

Finally I pluck up the courage, that inner steel, and bury the throttle in almost $3 million of automobile. There's a moment's pause as four turbochargers find their feet, like the burning of the fuse on a firework, and then the world explodes.inline_mediumwraptextright26788234/features/epcp_0911_mansory_linea_vincero_bugatti_veyronepcp_0911_01_z+veyron+rear-view.jpgTrue

In July, Volkswagen announced a new, highly-efficient Golf model which returns 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle and emits 107 g/km of carbon dioxide. Now a new model is available to order – the most efficient production Golf ever – which achieves 74.3 mpg combined and emit a class-leading 99 g/km.inline_mediumwraptextright26829973/news/epcp_0910_volkswagen_golf_bluemotionepcp_0910_01_z+volkswagen_golf_bluemotion+side_view.jpgTrue

Almost any Volvo makes a good used-car buy. Volvo wagons in particular have gained a reputation for being great family cars. But they were never seen as anything more until something strange happened to them in the 1990s: they became fun in the form of the 850T. The idea culminated in the Volvo V70 R, which began production in 1997 and went into two generations (the V70 is now in its third generation, but there is no current R model).inline_mediumwraptextright25664717/features/epcp_0912_volvo_v70_repcp_0912_01_o+volvo_v70_r+front_view.jpgTrue

Seat Time
When VW rolled into the SUV game in 2003, the Touareg, though critically lauded, was publicly received with an attitude that could be described as lukewarm at best. Here was VW, known at the time for their quirky, hip, Gen-X-appealing models, suddenly throwing the Touareg against the Rovers, the Bimmers, the Benzes. And they expected the luxury SUV set to swallow this. Riiiiight.inline_mediumwraptextright26785966/features/epcp_0912_2009_volkswagen_touareg_tdiepcp_0912_01_o+2009_volkswagen_touareg_tdi+photo.jpgTrue