SuperTunes

One of the most important Hollywood cars is about to get the LEGO treatment. In what could be the best LEGO car of all time, the iconic Batmobile from the 1989 Batman movie has now been immortalized in bricks. Otherwise known as the 1989 Tim Burton Batmobile, this LEGO car is a showstopper when fully built and a huge challenge to actually build. It’s made up of 3,306 pieces, which is around 200 fewer pieces than the LEGO Bugatti Chiron. The LEGO Batmobile, which arrives in time for the Tim Burton film’s 30th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the Batman character, will be released on November 29 (Black Friday) at a price of $250.

An all-electric Chevrolet Corvette might have seemed like an odd idea a decade ago, but it’s an acceptable thought in 2019. That’s because Chevy already announced plans to electrify the Corvette but, more importantly, it’s because some companies actually converted existing Corvettes to accept EV drivetrains. Genovation is one of the companies, and its modified C7 Corvette is capable of top speeds in excess of 200 mph. Specifically, the GXE just hit a top speed of 210 mph, a benchmark that many sports cars and even some supercars can only dream of.

John Hennessey is bringing some divine power to the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. The model is called the Hennessey Resurrection, but don’t confuse the perceived grace attached to its name. The Resurrection is a super-limited, take-no-prisoners, 1,200 horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that can lay waste to any ill-fated automotive soul that gets in its way. Hennessey only plans to build 24 units of the Resurrection with each model priced at around $200,000. That’s right. If you want to be showered by the grace of the Resurrection, you need to pay up some serious cash for the opportunity. This is why it’s worth every penny.

The 992-generation Porsche 911 is already on sale globally, but only in non-Turbo trim. The range-topping Turbo and Turbo S have yet to be launched, and it seems we have to wait until 2020 to have access to them. However, the folks over at Car and Driver managed to ride in a Turbo S and found out important bits of info on the rear-engined sports car. For starters, we know it will generate 641 horsepower, but will it be quicker than the old model? Let’s find out.

Ford’s upcoming all-electric and Mustang-inspired SUV was caught testing in the wild with a production body. The crossover is wrapped in camouflage from bumper to bumper, but the details show through the wrap, so it’s our best look at this vehicle yet. The Ford Mach-E, as it’s expected to be called, will make its official debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, most likely in pre-production form.

The Toyota Supra has arrived at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show, and in true form, we’re not just talking about one Supra at SEMA. Nope. There are multiple Supras in attendance at SEMA, each wearing a different alter-ego. One of these models is called the Supra Heritage Edition. It’s the most subtle of the Supras in SEMA, but it’s also the one that we identify with the most. Part of the Supra Heritage Edition’s appeal is its connection to the aftermarket tuning world. Toyota created it as an homage to the tuning scene, something that past versions of the Supra were all very familiar with. Granted, the Supra Heritage Edition doesn’t boast any of the over-the-top madness that past custom Supras could claim, but as a celebration of the relationship between the nameplate and the aftermarket tuning scene, the Supra Heritage Edition is as good as it gets.

The Alfa Romeo 4C was the sports car that marked the Italian company’s return to the U.S. after many years. But, as Alfa Romeo’s sales plummet and FCA starts to cut back, the 4C Spider has been canceled – just like the standard 4C at the end of 2018. Alfa Romeo has already stopped production, so the only 4Cs available as of November 2019 are those left in dealer inventories. So, if you want one, you better hurry up and get it.

With a modern Ford Bronco just around the corner, TV personality and car collector Jay Leno gave new life to a first-generation Bronco Wagon with help from Ford Performance and various aftermarket tuning shops. Shown to the public at the 2019 SEMA Show, this Bronco retains the looks of the original SUV, but it features modern underpinnings with a supercharged V-8 built by Ford Performance. The story behind the vehicle is quite interesting, as it was left for Jay Leno as a joke by fellow TV host Craig Ferguson. Leno kept the vehicle in his garage unrestored until he decided that it deserves a new life.

Various companies and shops contributed to the project, starting with Ford Performance, FoMoCo’s very own performance division. Kincer Chassis, Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, SEMA Garage, and LGE-CTS Motorsports.

Ford teamed up with RTR to tag-team the
2020 Ranger and has brought two fine examples to the 2019 SEMA show. One of those concepts was the Ranger RTR, and the other is the Ranger RTR Rambler. While the Ranger RTR is already up for sale, will the Rambler prove that it has what it takes to makes its way to the showroom floor? Let’s take a look at what the Ford Ranger Rambler by RTR is all about!

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 UNKL is a one-of-a-kind restomod project created by Ringbrothers and showcased at the 2019 SEMA Show. The company’s first Mach 1-based project, UNKL joins a long list of cool Mustang restomods built by the company in recent years. The apparently weird UNKL name has a simple meaning, as this build was made for a customer “who enjoys a close relationship with his uncle” and “pays tribute to his uncle’s influence on his passion for cars.” It’s nice to see a meaningful message behind a car name. Well, let’s find out more about this interesting project in the review below.

“This is David vs. Goliath vs. Goliath,” said leading actor Christian Bale that plays veteran sports car racing ace Ken Miles in the upcoming ’Ford v. Ferrari’ movie that’ll park in a cinema near you from November 15. It’s a story about racing as much as it is a story about business affairs that become personal and about what you can achieve if you’re willing to throw infinite amounts of cash at a problem. It’s the story about Ford’s first outright success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that ended a six-year winning spree for Scuderia Ferrari.

’Ford v. Ferrari’ (or ’Le Mans ’66’ in Europe and other places) is the first movie to take us back to Le Mans since 2003’s Michel Vaillant. Those scenic country roads in France that play host to the most famous sports car endurance race in the world over a weekend in June were first showcased to moviegoers almost 50 years ago when Steve McQueen put his fortune and reputation on the line to create ’Le Mans’. ’Ford v. Ferrari’ looks at the 1966 edition of the race but you can’t tell that by looking at the recently released IMAX poster. So, why are Bale and co-star Matt Damon seen propped up against a weird-looking Ford GT40?

RAM’s penchant for rolling out special edition trucks has paved the way for the truck brand to introduce a new run of special edition models that pay tribute to the five branches of the United States military. The special edition trucks fall under the RAM 1500 Built To Serve Edition name. Each of the five armed services — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines — will receive their own special edition treatment. It’s unclear which of the five will get rolled out first, but the specific launches will take place every three months, beginning next week when the truck brand hosts its own Veterans Day celebration on November 11.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the Tesla pickup truck, now called the Cybertruck. In the past couple of days, the biggest news is that it will be revealed on November 21 near the SpaceX rocket factory in Los Angeles at a standalone event. The reveal date coincides with the Los Angeles Auto Show, but we all know how Musk operates. Does he give a damn about it? Of course not!

On the other side of the spectrum, there was some incorrect reporting that Elon Musk was pitching the “Cybertruck” as a military vehicle. He has since said that was far from the case, and we’ve got the scoop on that below too.

The 2019 Nissan Kicks Street Sport is a concept car developed by Nissan Motorsports and MA Motorsports for the 2019 SEMA Show. A more aggressive version of the small crossover, it looks a lot like a Nismo-built model thanks to its sportier stance and race-inspired upgrades inside the cabin. It even features a more powerful engine, although specific performance information is not available. Sadly, this beefed-up Kicks won’t come to a dealerships near you anytime soon. Here’s why you should be upset about it.

What if you never really stopped making car payments? Most of us look forward to paying off the car and saving money each month. But if you’re constantly shelling out for professional car repair, it’s like those payments never stop.

Fortunately, you can break this annoying cycle by mastering the art of DIY car repair. If you’re ready to keep a ton of money in your pocket each month, check out our guide to maintaining your own car.

Interior vs. Exterior

With enough time and practice, you can become an expert on fixing up your own vehicle. Starting out, though, you’ll want to consider whether you’ll focus on exterior repairs, interior repairs, or both.

When we think of repairing a car, we mostly think of external issues. This includes everything from fixing dents to changing the oil.

However, the interior of your car will have its own set of issues. This may range from old seats that need lubrication to stained upholstery that looks terrible.

If you can only focus on one kind of car maintenance, exterior maintenance will give you more “bang for your buck.” But mastering interior maintenance and repair is a great way to avoid seeing a professional.

By the way, fixing up your own vehicle means knowing where to get the parts you need. Finding things like Miata parts for sale helps you do your own maintenance and repairs.

Cleaning the Lights

Some car problems are more noticeable than others. For example, you can tell right away when your headlights are looking damaged or dirty.

Many drivers think it would not be possible to repair this problem on their own. Can you really fix your lights if you don’t know about electrical repair?

In most cases, yes. The majority of “dirty light” problems are just that: the interior of the light is dirty and needs to be cleaned.

With nothing more than baking soda and toothpaste, you can clean the plastic and then cover the lights with a polymer sealant. They’ll look as good as new when you’re done!

Replace Air Filters

The best DIY repairs don’t just save money on a mechanic. They also save you money with every mile you drive.

Take air filters, for instance. It’s not uncommon for mechanics to offer you new air filters when you’re getting a routine oil change.

However, you can replace the filters on your own quite easily. And you’ll immediately start reaping some major benefits.

For example, new filters can give your car more power and better gas mileage. What’s not to love?

Fix Scratches

Car scratches may not affect the performance of the vehicle. However, they can turn your beautiful car into a moving eyesore.

If the scratches are deep enough (such as if someone keyed your car), you’re still going to need to call a pro. However, light scratches are something you can handle on your own.

With a pad, some waxing product, and a bit of elbow grease, you can make a light scratch a thing of the past. Afterward, you just seal the area with wax and call it a day.

If you want a more specialized solution, you can even buy some scratch repair kits. The cost of such kits is still far lower than taking your car to a pro.

Change the Oil

In some ways, oil changes are the biggest money sinks of owning a car. How much do you pay a pro to change your oil each time: $40, $50, or even more?

You can save that money and do it all on your own. After your car has cooled down for a few hours, you can grab a wrench, oil filter, ratchet, and funnel. Don’t forget an oil container and, of course, some new oil.

It may go slow at first, but you’ll master this skill in no time. And that alone can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

You can also plan future car upgrades while doing this. For example, upgrading your car’s oil pan for better performance.

Dents No More

Car dents are a lot like scratches. If you have a major dent from some kind of collision, you’ll still need a professional. But you already have everything to fix minor dents kicking around your house.

Suction cups or even plungers are all you really need to fix minor dents and make the area look good as new. It doesn’t take much time, and it goes a long way towards restoring the old luster of your favorite car.

Spark Plug Secrets

Spark plugs are only slightly harder to replace than air filters. And like air filters, they offer you a pretty major ROI for your efforts.

Once you buy some new spark plugs (they are dirt cheap, especially online), you can replace them very easily. After you do so, you’ll have a car with smoother handling and better gas mileage.

If you do happen to know much about wiring, this also gives you a great excuse to check on the plug wires and inspect their condition.

Banish the Bugs

The biggest enemies to a clean windshield are, of course, bugs. After a drive (even a short drive), you’ll have a window so clogged with bug guts you can barely see out of it.

It may be so severe the windshield squeegees at the gas station can’t handle the problem. And who wants to call a pro just to handle bug guts?

Fortunately, you don’t have to pick up the phone. With nothing more than a microfiber sponge and some citrus spray, you can make the window look clean and pristine.

Clean the Upholstery

Can you clean your car’s upholstery on your own? Certainly. You just need different methods for different materials.

Glass cleaner and a brush can usually tackle fabric stains. And baking soda and rags are usually enough to handle both vinyl and faux leather.

The final result is a car interior that looks like you just brought a new vehicle home from the lot.

DIY Car Repair: Turn the Ignition

Now you know how to master DIY car repair. But do you know where you can best show off your renovated wheels?

Our recommendation is to go enjoy a Canadian football game. To keep up with the latest in football news and developments, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!

The post DIY Car Repair: How Maintaining Your Own Car Saves You Money appeared first on Motorward.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is the fourth-generation drag car based on FCA’s two-door muscle car. Based on the modern Challenger, like all its predecessors since 2008, it features drag-specific upgrades and its certified for NHRA and NMCA competitions. In short, it’s a turnkey package that turns the streetable Challenger into an ideal dragster for both amateur and professional racers. Let’s find out what’s new for the 2020 model year in the review below.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is the fourth-generation drag car based on FCA’s two-door muscle car. Based on the modern Challenger, like all its predecessors since 2008, it features drag-specific upgrades and its certified for NHRA and NMCA competitions. In short, it’s a turnkey package that turns the streetable Challenger into an ideal dragster for both amateur and professional racers. Let’s find out what’s new for the 2020 model year in the review below.

The 2020 Ford Escape is well-represented at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. Three different versions of Ford’s hot-selling crossover are in attendance at the world’s largest auto show, including the Ford LGE-CTS Motorsports Urban Escape. As the name implies, the LGE-CTS Urban Escape is a stylish all-around crossover vehicle designed to tackle both urban and off-road environments. It comes with a smattering of upgrades in the form of new equipment and performance modifications, among other things. It’s not the fanciest tuned version of the Escape that’s at SEMA, but it is the one that a lot of people will no doubt gravitate to, in part because of its functionality and all-around usefulness in the real world.

The 2020 Ford Escape is well-represented at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. Three different versions of Ford’s hot-selling crossover are in attendance at the world’s largest auto show, including the Ford LGE-CTS Motorsports Urban Escape. As the name implies, the LGE-CTS Urban Escape is a stylish all-around crossover vehicle designed to tackle both urban and off-road environments. It comes with a smattering of upgrades in the form of new equipment and performance modifications, among other things. It’s not the fanciest tuned version of the Escape that’s at SEMA, but it is the one that a lot of people will no doubt gravitate to, in part because of its functionality and all-around usefulness in the real world.

The 2020 Shelby Super Snake Sport F-150 is a high-performance concept truck that Shelby built for the 2019 SEMA Show. Developed in response to Shelby “enthusiast’s requests for a scorching fast street truck,” it’s essentially an F-150-based version of Shelby’s outstanding Super Snake Mustang. Unlike other F-Series trucks modified by Shelby, the Super Snake features a two-door cabin. Power comes from a supercharged V-8 rated at 755 horsepower, backed by a more aerodynamic exterior and exclusive features inside the cabin. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.