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Category: Highlight

  • Lunaz returns with EV conversion for first-gen Range Rover

    A number of companies have started offering restored versions of the original Land Rover Range Rover, including Land Rover itself. The latest comes from a company called Lunaz, albeit with a twist.

    Based in Silverstone, United Kingdom, Lunaz specializes in converting classic British cars to run on battery-electric power. In its portfolio already are the 1953 Jaguar XK120, 1961 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur, and 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom and Silver Cloud. Now we can add the original Range Rover to the list.

    The original Range Rover, often referred to as a Range Rover Classic, was built from 1969 right up until the mid-1990s. For its EV conversion, Lunaz starts with an exhaustive inspection that includes weighing each corner of the vehicle to understand the original weight distribution right down to the gram. This information is then used to determine powertrain packaging and chassis setup so that the EV conversion is as dynamically similar to the original as possible.

    Lunaz hasn’t revealed any specifics on the powertrain it uses, but we can imagine the Range Rover’s boxy shape won’t be good for range.

    Land Rover Range Rover Classic EV conversion by Lunaz

    Land Rover Range Rover Classic EV conversion by Lunaz

    Beyond the mechanical bits, Lunaz also fully restores the Range Rover and adds modern niceties like GPS, WiFi, and climate control. All the new features are integrated with the original interior details to keep things looking original.

    Buyers will be able to choose between Town and Country specifications. For the Town specification, the focus is more on increased comfort, especially for rear-seat occupants. The Country specification is for those owners who enjoy heading off-road. In this case, the vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive and modern suspension.

    Lunaz is also offering an open-top body style just like the Range Rover that featured in 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy.” At least one customer in Europe has already ordered this option.

    Pricing for the electric Range Rover from Lunaz starts at 245,000 British pounds (approximately $329,000). While that’s certainly steep for an old Range Rover, even one running on electricity, Lunaz has a long list of customers lined up. The company said the initial run is for 50 vehicles and the first of these will be delivered next summer. As a result of all the demand, Lunaz needed to double its number of engineers, designers and technicians in 2020 and expects a further doubling in 2021.

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  • 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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