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Category: Highlight

  • Watch Travis Pastrana rock his hometown in this wild Subaru in Gymkhana 2020

    The last instalment in Ken Block’s Gymkhana series, number 10, dropped in 2018, and in it we saw the head Hoonigan pass the steering wheel to occasional series guest star Travis Pastrana, hinting that Pastrana would take over in future videos.

    Well, it’s happened for Gymkhana 11, whose official title is Gymkhana 2020. Airing Tuesday, the latest instalment sees Pastrana rock his hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, in a custom Subaru WRX STI packing 862 horsepower thanks to a 2.3-liter turbocharged flat-4 running a monster 50 psi of boost.

    You’ll notice the entire body of the car is made from carbon fiber, helping reduce the weight to 2,623 pounds, or about 800 pounds less than a stock WRX STI. It has also been fitted with wildly aggressive aero parts that Subaru said have been tested in the wind tunnel. Other upgrades include long-travel suspension and a stripped interior built to Pastrana’s specs. Overseeing the build was rally car constructor Vermont SportsCar based in Milton, Vermont.

    Block also drove Subarus in the early Gymkhana videos, before switching to Ford, so this represents a return to the series for Subaru. It’s also a great way to promote the arrival of the redesigned 2022 BRZ, which you’ll spot making a cameo in the video.

    But will we ever see Block back behind the wheel in a Gymkhana video? He doesn’t plan to give up his seat permanently. Adding a new driver “sets the ground for a new game of one-upmanship,” he said in a statement.

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  • Nismo starts restoration service for R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs

    The values of old Nissan Skyline GT-Rs continue to soar, especially now that more and more examples are becoming eligible for import into North America.

    As a result, the cars are becoming more sought after by collectors, though given the nameplate’s popularity with the tuning scene, finding original examples in prime condition is rare. That’s where Nissan, more specifically the automaker’s Nismo performance arm, can help.

    Nismo has had some success with the launch of official parts for the R32, R33 and R34 generations of the GT-R, but is now offering a full and rather comprehensive restoration service where a customer can have their car stripped to its bare structure, repaired if necessary (with stiffness and dimension measurements taken), and even coated in rust protection before a full repainting.

    There are also options for owners on smaller budgets. For example, the restoration can focus on just one element, such as the powertrain, drivetrain or interior. For each restoration, every part involved is inspected and tested, after which it is either refurbished or replaced by an official part. A detailed log of all the work done, along with part numbers, is included in the process.

    R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R undergoing Nismo restoration

    R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R undergoing Nismo restoration

    For the interior, original trim fabrics can’t be replaced due to changes in flame retardant standards. Depending on the owner’s wishes, Nismo’s restorers can clean the original fabric for reuse or add new fabrics used in production of the current R35 GT-R.

    The final step of the restoration is a run on a dyno and a test drive on a racetrack with a professional driver behind the wheel. A special build plate is then attached to show that the car was restored, and a one-year, 20,000-kilometer (12,427-mile) limited warranty is included.

    Nismo also offers as part of the service a chance for owners to upgrade their cars, for example from a standard GT-R to a V-Spec or V-Spec II Nur. This will depend on the availability of parts, Nismo said.

    The restoration takes place at Nismo’s main facility in Yokohama, Japan, and can last up to a year depending on the level of work done. Nismo said it has restored cars for sale and can also source cars for the service if anyone is looking to join the Skyline GT-R ownership club.

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  • Conquer the sandbox with the Lego Jeep Wrangler

    If you don’t have the room in your garage (or your budget) for a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the SUV is now available as a Lego Technic kit. It’s the first time Jeep and Lego have partnered to make a miniature version of one of the automaker’s SUVs.

    The Lego version of the two-door Rubicon (no word yet on a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon kit) includes button-operated steering, working suspension with axle articulation, a working winch, chunky off-road tires, fold-down rear seats, and, of course, the Jeep seven-slot grille.

    “The Jeep Wrangler is an icon in the off-road world,” Lego Technic designer Lars Thygesen said in a statement. “The Rubicon has a lot of iconic details loved by 4×4 fans the world over, so it was important to me to pack as many of the authentic, powerful features of the vehicle into the Lego Technic replica.”

    Lego Technic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

    Lego Technic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

    With 665 pieces, the Wrangler Rubicon isn’t as complex as the 2,573-piece Land Rover Defender Lego Technic kit. It also doesn’t feature the Defender’s working differentials, or engine with moving pistons. But the Jeep might be a bit more approachable for novice builders (Lego recommends it for ages nine and up).

    The Lego Wrangler Rubicon kit will be available worldwide January 1, with a price tag of $49.99, representing a $42,165.01 discount over the real thing.

    Speaking of the real thing, the Wrangler Rubicon is getting two new variants that seem like polar opposites—the 4xe plug-in hybrid and V-8-powered 392. With one emphasizing efficiency and the other emphasizing old-school muscle, they certainly make for an odd couple.

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