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CarScrubs Review: BMW 335i with Eisenmann Race Exhaust

There are certain things that just go hand in hand: cookies and cream, apple pie and ice cream, peas and carrots, football and tailgaiting, green eggs and ham, BMW and Eisenmann exhausts…wait, what was that again?

Yes, BMW and Eisenmann. A match made in heaven. Both are German companies. Both deliver outstanding performance in their products. Both produce products that enhance the driving experience.

As many BMW fans can attest, when the BMW 335i was introduced about 5 years ago, it created quite a buzz in the BMW world, being the first turbocharged BMW production car since the 1970s. With its 3.0 Liter, inline 6-cylinder twin turbo engine, this car became an instant hit. Making at least 300 hp and 300 lb-feet of torque, the 335i’s N54 engine won countless awards in the automotive world and became the basis/inspiration for the now ubiquitous current lineup of turbocharged BMWs, ranging from the 1-series cars all the way up to the luxury, flagship 7-series.

While the stock exhaust on the 335i has a nice, pleasant tone, we felt it was a bit too tame for our tastes. Hence, after searching for the right exhaust, the choice was clear: Eisenmann. Why Eisenmann? Well-known in the automotive industry for their top-quality exhausts, you’ve probably already heard their exhausts without even knowing it. You see, Eisenmann manufactures the stock OEM exhausts for performance car giants Porsche and AMG Mercedes, among others.

Hand-crafted in Germany (the exhausts are stamped by the person who builds each exhaust), Eisenmann exhausts have always had that signature sound that other manufacturers just can’t capture: a deep, low rumble at low RPMs, followed by a higher-pitched scream at higher RPMs. When you hear it, you just know it’s an Eisenmann exhaust.

So let’s cut to the chase. This 2008 BMW 335i convertible was outfitted with the Eisenmann Race Exhaust, featuring a stainless steel system with dual, 4-inch diameter rolled exhaust tips (compared to the stock tips, which are 3 inches in diameter).

As for the sound, it is much more aggressive than the stock exhaust and gives the car much more “personality”: has a nice, deep rumble at low RPMs (yet not obtrusive) and a higher-pitched, aggressive scream at high RPMs. It does not interfere with in-cabin conversations and gives a nice, pleasant tone at cruising speeds.

There is also some improved throttle response (as with most aftermarket performance exhausts), and the car definitely feels more “alive”. The sound is quite a hit with car fans of all types.

Here is the Eisenmann Race Exhaust on a pure cold start. No revving. Just starting the car up and letting it idle:

Here are a few fly-bys. You may notice even the birds like singing along with the Eisenmann “tenor”… 😛

In summary, the Eisenmann Race Exhaust will give your BMW 335i a more aggressive and distinctive sound that will add even more fun to your experience of driving the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. 😉

CarScrubs is now on Razzi! (Photo Sharing Site)

You can now view our photos/pictures on Razzi.me!

Razzi.me is a great site for storing and sharing your online photos. It is very easy to navigate, fun to use, and free to boot! We highly recommend this site for your online photo needs.

Click on the “Razzi” icon below to go to our CarScrubs page:

Props to Rob and Michael, the creators and developers of Razzi.me. We feel they deserve recognition for their outstanding work! 🙂

CarScrubs Review: Lamborghini Gallardo with Fabspeed 70 mm Supersport Exhaust (with X-Pipe)

When it comes to exotic cars, the sound is what gets you hooked. Any car fanatic will tell you so.

As we talked about in an earlier post about Fabspeed Motorsports, there are multiple benefits to upgrading the stock exhaust, even on a modern supercar. Yes, even on a Lamborghini. 😉

The benefits are three-fold:

1. It helps the car “breathe out” easier…this leads to a bit more horsepower and some improved throttle response.

2. Most aftermarket exhaust systems are lighter than the OEM factory exhaust…hence, weight is reduced.

3. The car SOUNDS even better. It’s the SOUND! Yes, you HEARD that right! 🙂

So how do you improve the sound of a Lamborghini Gallardo? Well, you replace the OEM exhaust with something along the lines of this…

Fabspeed 70 mm Supersport Exhaust with X-Pipe:

Before we continue, we’d like to give a special mention to Josh Hill at Exotic Car Specialties, who installed this exhaust on a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. Josh does an excellent job and is the mechanical equivalent of a finely-trained surgeon when he lays his hands on any automobile.

The Fabspeed exhaust is much lighter and smaller than the obese and bulky OEM setup (about 55 lbs lighter than the stock factory exhaust). As expected, the craftsmanship looked to be excellent.

And our impression on how it sounds? Well, this is how the car should have sounded straight from the factory: Mild-mannered with a nice exotic tone when just cruising along…then wild and aggressive at higher RPMs.

The Fabspeed exhaust has a higher pitch than the OEM exhaust, yet does not interfere with having a conversation in the car while driving. The sound is actually very musical while cruising…like an opera singer peforming a loud yet pleasant musical number. We believe the X-pipe has something to do with this…it helps “smooth” out the sound and gives it a clean, pure tone.

We also noticed an improved throttle response (new BMC filters were also added) and the car felt more “alive” (i.e. lighter and more responsive). The sound is quite addicting.

Ok, enough talking. Seeing is believing, right? Or should we say, HEARING is believing?… 😉

Here is the Fabspeed Supersport Exhaust on a pure cold start. No revving. Just starting the car up and letting it idle:

Here are a few fly-bys. You may notice the sounds of jets taking off…or you may not: They could be jets or they could be a Lamborghini with a Fabspeed exhaust…hmmm, hard to tell…we’ll let YOU make the call!… 😛

And here are some more fly-bys with the Fabspeed Supersport Exhaust:

In summary, the Fabspeed 70 mm Supersport Exhaust gives the Lamborghini Gallardo a great sound that will add even more fun and enjoyment to the experience of driving an Italian supercar.

While there are certainly many exhaust manufacturers out there with excellent products, we recommend you consider what Fabspeed Motorsports has to offer. You won’t be disappointed. 🙂

CarScrubs Test Drive: 2012 Fiat 500

As we discussed in a previous post, the new Fiat 500 is coming to America. Wait…let’s update that statement…

The new Fiat 500 has arrived in America! Finally.

Ok, we admit there’s something about Italian cars that brings a smile to our face, and we were anxious to take this little critter out for a test drive. To our good fortune, we discovered that a brand new Fiat dealership had recently opened in our neighborhood, so we dropped by to say Hello to our new Italian immigrants…after all, that’s the American way, right? 🙂

Upon arriving at the dealership, we felt like a kid in a candy store…there were all these little Fiats all over the lot! In all different colors and variations. Of course, we just HAD to drive one!

And no sooner did we arrive and we were greeted warmly by a friendly sales advisor. And before we even went inside the dealership, we were given the OK to take one of the Fiats out for a test drive. Now that’s what we call great customer service. In less than 5 minutes, we were in the car and off and running!

The Fiat 500 currently comes in 3 main versions: The basic “Pop” version, the sportier “Sport” version, and the premium “Lounge” version. All versions come with a 1.4 Liter, 16 valve/4 cylinder MultiAir engine, making 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. This car is light, too, weighing in at around 2,400 lbs. Gas mileage is estimated to be around 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

The car we drove was the “Sport” version (base MSRP $17,500, sport-tuned suspension, 5-speed manual transmission, 16-inch wheels, more aggressive front and rear fascias and aerodynamic flares, red brake calipers) wearing the classy Grigio (gray) exterior paint color. It had a black interior with a proper 5-speed manual transmission.

So after test driving it, we were pretty impressed! It’s surprisingly pretty quick for a little car and it’s fun to drive. It actually has a pretty spacious interior that is surprisingly roomy. It also sports a nice steering wheel and the 5-speed manual is very easy to operate.

The Sport version we drove does need more fine-tuning, though…body roll was evident even at low speed. And we recommend you avoid the non-Sport mode as much as possible, because the car feels very sluggish in that mode. Hitting the “Sport” button makes the car more lively and we recommend you keep it in this mode.

The car is not as nimble/quick as a MINI Cooper S…nor does it handle as well. But the little 500 wins hands down in the looks department. It is a fashionably good-looking car and just has that cool, Italian style about it.

Furthermore, when the more racy/faster Abarth 500 version (about 140 hp or so) arrives in the U.S. (probably sometime in 2012), the MINI Cooper S will have some more competition…this is the version we are really anticipating!

In summary, the new 2012 Fiat 500 is the car to get if you want a cool, fun car with that unquestionable Italian flair! It’s time to start saving up and filling up those piggy banks! 😀

Editor’s Note: The Fiat 500 is the perfect commuting car for a busy doctor. This car will get you back and forth to the office/hospital without having to worry about parking that oversized BMW 7-series, Mercedes S-Class, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, etc. 😉 Ok, ok, we know that most doctors probably drive Hondas, but hey, the 500 has that Accord of yours beat, too…we bet you can’t drive your Accord INTO the office and park it right next to your reception desk now, can you? 😛

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Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Official Commercial

Ok, we admit it. We just can’t get enough of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4! Hey, can you blame us? 🙂

When Lamborghinicomes out with a brand new model, it’s big news for all car fanatics. So, of course, there HAS to be an official commercial for any new Bull coming out of Sant’Agata, no? Well, thanks to the crew at Edmunds.com,there is!

Here is a preview of the making of the new Lamborghini Aventador commercial by
Edmunds.com:

The commercial was filmed in the California desert and features an Aventador sporting a new Lamborghini color called Arancio Argos (orange Argos), with its 6.5 Liter V12 roaring freely.

Rest assured, when Automobili Lamborghini makes a commercial, they like to catch your attention – just like their cars capture attention.

Can’t wait to see the final product? Well, no need to wait any longer! Here is the official Lamborghini commercial for their new flagship, the Aventador LP700-4:

Now if THAT doesn’t make you pull out your checkbook to place your order with the factory (that is, for all you **cough** plastic surgeons **cough** out there), we don’t know WHAT will! 😀

Editor’s Addendum: For your amusement, watch the video again very closely. Around the 2:06 mark, look at the shape of the lighted area in the middle of the clouds…does it not look like a “Prancing Horse”?…i.e. the symbol of Ferrari (a long-time rival of Lamborghini).

And notice that the outline of the prancing horse comes into full view just before the new Bull launches toward it (like a raging bull charging toward its victim). Very clever indeed! 😉

Coming to America: Austin, Texas that is…

You know what they say: Everything’s big in Texas!

When you think about Austin, the capital city of Texas, a few things come to mind: live music, high-tech companies, the University of Texas at Austin, Lance Armstrong, the Longhorns, Bevo, Formula One…

Wait, what was that? Did you say Formula One? Why yes, we did!

You see, Formula One is a big thing. Texas is a big thing. After all, they have billion-dollar football stadiums in Texas (Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones can vouch for that). They don’t mess around in Texas! And neither does Formula One. Perfect match, huh?

Starting in 2012, racing fans (along with the Texas economy) can rejoice in the return of Formula One to the U.S., along with MotoGP (elite echelon of motorcycle racing). Formula One’s last appearance was in 2007 via the U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The track will be called the “Circuit of the Americas” and will consist of a 3.4 mile circuit in Austin, Texas with 20 turns and 133 feet of elevation change. The track was designed by the German architect/designer Hermann Tilke, who has also designed other known circuits around the world.

In 2012, the Circuit of the Americas will host the FIA Formula One United States Grand Prix (through 2021), bringing the best drivers in the world back to U.S. soil, along with the excitement/thrills/glitz that only Formula One can bring. Construction of the circuit began in December 2010 and is set to be completed around June 2012, with an “estimated” cost around $300 million dollars (cheap by Texas standards!).

So listen here, y’all…fasten your seatbelts! Here’s a preview of what’s coming to America:

The sound of Ferrari: The ultimate symphony?

If you love classical music like we do, there is nothing better than hearing the works of the great composers in history, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Chopin, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, et al. The masterful works produced by such musical geniuses are second to none – audio nirvana for the human ears…the ultimate symphonies…

Or maybe not?…

The “composers” from Maranello, Italy might have something to say about this! Yes, you heard that right. Enter Ferrari S.p.A., also known simply as Ferrari. Well, they’ve certainly produced some “compositions” that will rival anything from the “Classical Era” – perhaps, dare we say, even BETTER?

Not convinced? Ok, we’ll let you decide. Here’s a classic video commercial from
Shell Oil, who has a long history of partnership with Ferrari (they even have similar colors!). This video was made in 2007 to celebrate Ferrari’s 60th anniversary and to highlight Shell’s long-standing Formula One relationship with Ferrari. Reportedly costing $3.9 million to produce, this 2-minute commercial features some of Ferrari’s most famous race cars driving flat-out through the streets of Rome, Monaco, Rio, New York City, and Hong Kong.

Listen to the symphonies emanating from these Ferrari engines and let’s compare “notes” (Mozart, are you listening?):

Editor’s note: And for some added fun, here’s a neat idea we came across and credit to the person who suggested this. After listening/watching the video above, try watching it again while simultaneously playing the music below. The music seems perfectly in rhythm with the Ferrari engines…like a well-orchestrated symphony, of course! 😉

Ayrton Senna: The best of the best

What does it take to be the best? Regardless of one’s profession, the elements are always the same. Ayrton Senna certainly knew what it took.

As we highlighted in a previous post on Ayrton Senna and the Acura NSX, let’s take a closer look at the driver who many consider to be the greatest F1 driver of all time. The 3-time Formula One World Champion died in the prime of his life at age 34 after crashing into a concrete barrier while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy. Sure, there are F1 drivers with more World Championships (Michael Schumacher won 7, Juan Manuel Fangio won 5, Alain Prost won 4), but very few can measure up to the legend of Senna.

The Brazilian driver was born to win. And he did it with a fearlessness and style that has been unmatched since.

To get a glimpse into the psyche of this fierce competitor, here is an insightful tribute by the Top Gear crew to Ayrton Senna: the driver, the Brazilian, the human being…

Also, there is a new movie/documentary about Ayrton Senna, set to be released in the U.S. around June 2011. Here is the official movie trailer:

This is a must-see movie, not only for Formula One fans and racing fans in general, but for anyone who appreciates the skills and talents needed to be a truly great racecar driver.

An F1 car for the streets: 2011 McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren. Supercars. F1. These words go seamlessly together. It’s been a while since McLaren Automotive produced the legendary McLaren F1 (only 100 were made from 1992-1998), once known as the fastest production car in the world. Car enthusiasts have been waiting for years for their next production car – one fully designed and manufactured solely by McLaren. Well, the wait is over.

Enter the 2011 McLaren MP4-12C (say that 10 times really fast!). Ok, the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue (McLaren nomenclature: “MP4” is the chassis designation; “12” is their vehicle performance index number; “C” refers to the carbon fiber technology in the car).

Although this car succeeds the F1, it is not meant to replace the F1 as McLaren’s ultimate supercar (that car will come later). Rather, the MP4-12C is McLaren’s version of an “entry-level” supercar (MSRP $229,000), one that will compete with the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570 Superleggera, Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 Turbo, etc.

Featuring a 3.8 Liter twin turbo V8 engine producing 592 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, you KNOW this car is fast. But remember, this is a McLaren. This car was designed with the best of F1 technology in mind. This car is light (only 2866 lbs!) and it oozes lightweight carbon fiber everywhere, including an F1-style one-piece carbon fiber tub. Equipped with a 7-speed Seamless Shift dual clutch transmission, gear shifts are lightning fast. When you combine these factors together, you get a car that will blaze from 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds and run the ¼ mile in 10.9 seconds at 134 mph. Top speed is around 205 mph.

One of the unique features of this car is its innovative suspension, giving the car handling capabilities unmatched by other supercars in its class. One would expect nothing less from McLaren, winner of 12 Drivers’ Championships and 8 Constructors’ Championships in Formula One.

Want to see more? Here’s a nice review by EVO’s Chris Harris on the 2011 McLaren MP4-12C:

While we have some reservations about its exterior styling (somewhat sterile and lacking that true “wow factor”), there can be no question about the technology and performance of this true race car for the streets. Welcome back, McLaren…what took you so long? 😉

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