Corvette UK-bound?

Following the official announcement that Chevrolet is to start offering its Camaro in the UK, the latest rumour is that the Corvette will be joining it.

According to Auto Express magazine, sales are due to start next May. The Corvette hasn’t been available here since Dutch importer Kroymans went bust, an event that was also responsible for the temporary non-availability of Cadillac in Europe.



In the US, prices for the Corvette start at $48,950 for the 430 bhp (320 kW / 436 PS) Coupe with entry-level 1LT trim, rising to $111,100 for the 638 bhp (475 kW / 646 PS) ZR1 variant.

At today’s exchange rates, that would mean UK prices of around £31,380 to £71,220. However, the reality probably won’t be that simple, and potential customers should be prepared for Chevrolet to just swap the ‘$’ symbols for ‘£’ signs, leaving the US numbers pretty much unchanged.



The Corvette should be exclusive though, with predicted annual retails of just 100 units. Presumably, given that kind of volume, the steering wheel will remain firmly on the left.





All images © GM Corp.

458 Italia wrecked

If proof were needed that money can buy a Ferrari 458 Italia, but not necessarily the driving talent to go with it, this YouTube clip is it.



Apparently the video shows a customer picking up his pride and joy from the Maranello factory, only to get it very intimate with a tree the next day. Luckily there were no serious injuries, thanks to the car's crumple zone and airbags.



Should be an interesting one to explain to the insurance company.

World’s fastest saloon

A new record for the world’s fastest saloon car was established earlier this year by German tuner G-Power. Its Hurricane RS - based on the BMW M5 and boasting 739 bhp (551 kW / 750 PS) - reached 228.2 mph (367.4 km/h).



But now that record has been broken… by G-Power. This time though, it used the Hurricane RR. A development of the RS, the RR’s power is taken up to 789 bhp (588 kW / 800 PS) thanks to twin ASA T1-316 superchargers, Mahle forged pistons, redesigned connecting rods, strengthened piston pins and a remapped ECU.

With its extra 80 bhp, the Hurricane RR managed to hit 231.2 mph (372.1 km/h). The only change made to the car ahead of its record attempt was substituting the standard 20” wheels for 19” items. That was to accommodate special Michelin Sport Pilot tyres, certified for speeds over 230 mph (370 km/h).



Obviously, though, there are other benefits from having all that horsepower: G-Power reckons the Hurricane RR will accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.35 seconds, 0-124 mph (200 km/h) in 9.5 seconds and 0-186 mph (300 km/h) in 25.8 seconds.



The RR package also includes the ‘Highline’ body kit, which is designed for high speed stability while increasing air flow to the engine to aid cooling. High performance brakes are fitted and the suspension features G-Power RS coilover suspension that is adjustable for ride height, compression and rebound. Changes to the interior are confined to plenty of carbon fibre trim, a G-Power steering wheel and a replacement speedometer that reads up to 250 mph (400 km/h).



Customers can order the Hurricane RR as a complete car, with prices starting at €252,100 (about £206,100). Alternatively, individual components can be fitted to an M5 - and that includes the touring.

Renault Koleos axed

Renault has a history of its more adventurous models - such as the Avantime and Vel Satis - not doing so well in the UK.



It’s unlikely the design of the Koleos SUV has ever been labelled daring, but nevertheless it seems that UK buyers have also ignored it in their droves. So much so, Renault has decided to pull the model from its range here, conveniently citing the credit crunch for a lack of sales.

Built in South Korea by Renault Samsung, the only version available was the £24,705 Dynamique S. Powered by a 148 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS) 2.0 diesel engine, perhaps its strongest feature was the generous equipment level. Climate control, satellite navigation, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and a Bose stereo all came as standard.



But poor dynamics and limited space in the back let it down and, in the end, it just couldn’t compete with the likes of the Land Rover Freelander and Volkswagen Tiguan. Doubtless badge snobbery influenced many buying decisions, too.



According to Renault UK they have about twenty cars left if stock and no more will be imported. The Koleos continues in other European markets, though.

Confusing Suzuki SX4

Car manufacturers are generally very careful when choosing car names, in case something is lost in translation. That’s why, for example, the Mitsubishi Pajero is known as the Montero for the Spanish market, and the Buick LaCrosse was originally renamed Allure in Canada to better appeal to French speakers.



The easy solution is to just use letters and numbers, although that didn’t work out too well for Toyota when its MR2 went on sale in France. And that strategy can also lead to a long string of nonsense, which is where Suzuki comes in.



Its SX4 has been around for nearly four years now. Sporting mini-SUV looks and that name, casual observers might be lured into thinking it has four-wheel drive - which it probably doesn’t. The latest model names just add to the confusion.

The entry-level version is known as the SZ3 (no sign of an SZ1 or SZ2), which features niceties such as four electric windows, six airbags, eight speakers but no four-wheel drive. There’s only one engine choice, a 1.6 litre petrol that produces 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS).



45.6 mpg (6.2 l/100km) on the combined cycle is good, as is a CO2 emissions figure of 143 g/km. However, it looks like economy has been the priority, as 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes a leisurely 10.7 seconds and the top speed is 115 mph (185 km/h). The UK on the road price for the SZ3 is £11,750.



Next up is the SX4 SZ4. Now you’d think that with all those 4s surely it must have four-wheel drive? But no… still front-wheel drive, and still just that 1.6 litre petrol on offer, although it can be had with a performance-sapping automatic gearbox. Additional spec over the SZ3 includes 16” alloys, keyless entry and start, side body protection and fully automatic air con. The SZ4 costs £12,395, with the optional automatic £1,025 extra.



Completing the revised line-up is the SZ5. This too is available with the petrol engine, although there’s also a 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) 2.0 litre diesel on offer. The former comes with rear privacy glass, while the latter adds cruise control and a six-speed manual gearbox to the standard kit list.



The shocking news is that both have Suzuki’s i-AWD (intelligent - All Wheel Drive) system. This has three modes that the driver can switch between: 4WD-Auto, 4WD-Lock, and 2WD.



As expected, the SZ5 diesel is less thirsty than the petrol, achieving 51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km) on the combined cycle. It’s marginally slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).



It’s quite a bit more expensive, too. Whereas the petrol SZ5 costs £14,235, the diesel version is £15,995.

Lewis Leathers Bullet

Royal Enfield has got together with Lewis Leathers to create a very stylish version of its 500 cc Bullet Classic.

The special edition features a unique paint scheme for the tank, with the design being echoed in the mudguard and side panel graphics. It also gets a black and cream two-tone solo leather seat, plus leather panniers embossed with the Lewis Leathers logo. The final touch is an upswept sports exhaust.

Available exclusively in the UK, anyone wanting one will have to be quick as only fifty are going to be produced. The on the road price of the Lewis Leathers Royal Enfield Bullet Classic is £5,695.

Arm Tattoos For Men - Tribal, Armband, Skull and More Tattoo Design Tips

The arm tattoos for men seem to be an expression of our tough and rough side. For us guys, we would love to think that the ladies find it sexy and charming. As you may have noticed, the tats in the arms are easily seen as compared to other body parts. You can find a lot of men with body arts on their upper arm and arm sleeves. The designs also vary like tribal, skulls, and many others.

Arm tats are timeless and even though a lot of men are into back and chest tattoos, arm bands are always trendy. Whether you have a conservative or rebellious personality, this is a great addition to your physical features. Here are great design tips for your arm tattoos:

1. Flames
2. Fire-breathing dragons
3. Tribal designs
4. Skulls
5. Scorpions

More and more people are now willing to experiment on tats. Getting a tattoo is really easy. If you want, you can use the internet to locate body art shops in your area. Find a safe and reputed body ink artist in your area. The artist can provide you with great tips on the right designs. Always consider your personality when choosing the appropriate design. If you're funky or sporty, you can experiment on the most suitable body inks.

Price is another consideration when getting a tat. The quality body ink artists usually charge a reasonable price and this will depend on the area where you want the tat to be. For the arm tattoos for men, the charge is usually lower as compared to the chest or back tats. You can shop around for the best deals but here's a tip - never sacrifice quality with a low price.

The designs mentioned earlier as only some of the most poplar. There are still many other designs in the market that you can choose from like angels, heart, fairy, dolphin, nautical star, tiger, koi fish, and many others.

Men should spend some time in looking for the perfect arm tat that will suit their personality. Thanks to the internet, looking for the perfect body art is really easy. Conduct your search online by using any of the major search engines to find the arm tattoos for men. There are many websites on body arts that you can visit. This is your chance to find the best arm tattoos in the market. Go ahead and find a reputed body artist. If you can find one in your local area the better since you don't have to go someplace else.