The name MUGEN symbolizes Honda performance throughout Asia and around the globe. MUGEN, under license by M-TEC Co., Ltd., of Japan, has been closely associated with Honda for decades in the design and manufacture of racing and premium performance components. The Civic MUGEN Si Sedan draws inspiration from a "Formula Sport" concept, adding an aggressive dimension of performance to the Civic Si Sedan with a track-tuned suspension, aerodynamic body styling and a performance exhaust system. The track tuned suspension, tested at the Twin Ring Motegi racing circuit in Japan, lowers the vehicle by 0.6 inches (15mm) with highly aggressive spring and damper tuning for enhanced handling performance. The full-vehicle aero-package adds a front spoiler and sports grille, side spoilers, a rear diffuser and a rear wing. The lightweight MUGEN forged alloy wheels measure 18x7.5 inches and are shod with high grip 215/40R18 summer tires. The sports exhaust system reduces back pressure from the catalytic converter back resulting in an enhanced power curve. Additional accoutrements include front and rear MUGEN emblems along with a serial number placard on the instrument panel. A spherical 50 mm MUGEN aluminum shift **** replaces the standard aluminum and perforated leather shift ****. Planned for production in a limited quantity of 500 units a year, the Civic MUGEN Si will be available at U.S. Honda dealers starting in spring 2007 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of less than $30,000 and includes a full factory warranty.

Following the theme of "urban sport," the Sport Concept CR-V is designed to increase the athletic feel of the already sophisticated CR-V. Highlights include aerodynamically styled front and rear bumpers along with a sports suspension package that lowers the Sport Concept CR-V for a customized presence. Custom 19-inch wheels are shod with Bridgestone Potenza tires (245/45R19). Interior modifications focus on the creation of a high-tech, performance-oriented driving environment with the addition of Civic Si synthetic suede fabric on the seating surfaces. Carbon fiber trim panels further accent the interior. Outside, the Sport Concept CR-V is painted in Agile Blue.

Shelby Automobiles will celebrate the 40th anniversary (1967-2007) of the Shelby GT500 Mustang with a limited edition upgrade component package. The new package will kick-off a new Shelby Modification Center at SAI’s Las Vegas headquarters. Through the leadership of legendary racecar driver and Cobra creator Carroll Shelby, the limited Shelby GT500 40th Anniversary packages will include distinct visual elements and performance upgrades. The Shelby GT500 40th Anniversary package will make its debut at the Ford Motor Company Booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.

“The Shelby GT500 has always had a mean street presence with power to back it up,” said Carroll Shelby, Chairman of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “We’ve added more performance and more in your face looks to the most powerful factory Mustang ever built.”

The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition packages will be installed at SAI’s new modification center. Customers will deliver their GT500’s to SAI’s World Headquarters where each vehicle will be customized with the anniversary package.

“Our Mustang business has expanded rapidly through the development and production of the Shelby GT-H and the upcoming Shelby GT,” said Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles, Inc. “The mod center will allow us to do special exclusive cars for a limited group of customers and allow for continued research and development for mainstream production programs.”

If looks could kill
The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition package includes a host of components to let others know that something special is prowling the streets. On the menacing outside components include carbon fiber lower front fascia splitter and mirror covers; aluminum hood grille inserts; deck lid SHELBY letter kit; sequential tail lamps; front and rear brake duct kits; Anniversary stripe package (convertible models); special optional 20” American Racing Shelby Razor wheels and various 40th Anniversary badging including side, grille and trunk badges.

Inside there is a consecutively numbered dash plaque, special 40th Anniversary Shelby door sill plates with consecutive number; floor mats; Shelby snake door handles; center dash mounted gauge cluster with three Carroll Shelby/Autometer carbon fiber gauges (boost, oil and fuel pressure); 40th Anniversary arm rest cover and for convertibles a light bar with solenoid activated light system.

The engine bay receives a consecutive number plate authenticating the package and installation from SAI and special billet aluminum caps and covers for power steering, radiator, brake master cylinder, windshield washer fluid bottle and oil dip stick.

Backing it up
With 500 horsepower out of the gate, the Shelby GT500 can run like no other pony that ever grazed a field. The 40th Anniversary Package ups the ante with additional power by utilizing the Shelby Signature Borla exhaust system. The cat-back system is designed to maximize power and give a nice robust “big-block” sound.

Getting the power to the ground is one thing. Being able to utilize what you want when going into the corners is another. One key element to the 40th Anniversary package is the new Shelby/Eibach suspension upgrade for GT500. This new coil over systems allows for adjustability for both straight line and road course tracks. The new spring/shock combination lowers the front a maximum of 0.8-inch and the rear 1.6-inches for a very aggressive appearance and lower center of gravity. In addition bigger anti-way bars are included for reduced body roll. The result is flat precise cornering without a harsh ride.

“We have designed the 40th Anniversary to honor the special legacy of the GT500 and provide a limited few a very special car,” said Boylan. “This limited edition package is only the first for the mod shop and the first upgrades from SAI for the GT500. There is much more to come.”

Available in the first quarter of 2007, the 40th Anniversary Limited Edition will be sold exclusively through Shelby Automobiles Las Vegas headquarters and a national dealer network. Interested buyers can contact Shelby Automobiles at (702) 942-7325 or visit the company's web site at http://www.shelbyautos.com for more info.

Las Vegas, Nevada (October 31, 2006) – Take the outrageous notion of blending a Formula One car with a hot European street machine and you’ve got the idea behind the Volvo C30 concept by Evolve Cars Inc. This one-off show car started life as a European spec version of Volvo’s youthful new C30 – unveiled to rave reviews at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Letting its imagination run wild, Evolve created an enthusiast’s dream machine that draws on F1 technology and its renowned track record of maximizing the performance potential of Volvo vehicles.

With its stunning aesthetics combined with staggering performance capabilities, the Evolve C30 targets the enthusiast who seeks the ultimate Volvo sport compact. From the street, to the strip to the track, this driver wants a car that can deliver the goods on the promise of serious performance, excellent handling and head-turning style.



To achieve the muscular stance it envisioned the Evolve team began by removing all the vertical panels on the car. It then painstakingly added six inches of width at the rear fenders, tapering to zero stretch at the tips of the front fenders. The pronounced wedge shape and broad rear shoulders give the C30 a menacing hunkered-down look. Up front, an adjustable F1 style front spoiler commands attention. At the rear, a functional diffuser accelerates air as it exits the vehicle to help keep the car glued to the tarmac at speed. A roof-mounted rear spoiler can be adjusted by the driver to tailor downforce as desired. The body was sprayed in an eye-popping shade of BASF Glasurit Competition Yellow with Silver and Graphite highlights.

Under the hood, Evolve has modified the stock C30’s 2.5-liter turbocharged engine to deliver pavement-blistering performance. A combination of increased air volume and pressure matched with proper fuel and spark delivery through tuning yields an estimated 507 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and a stump-pulling 468 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm. Sequential twin turbochargers are the keys to extracting maximum performance. Carefully engineered plumbing and boost management with Turbosmart components tie the turbos together to create a brutally forceful combination.



Instead of a traditional intercooler, Evolve devised a totally cool solution it dubs the Charged Air Cooler. Integrated with the factory air conditioning refrigerant system, an evaporator was constructed inside a fabricated sheet metal intake manifold. Hot, charged air from the turbos crosses over super-cooled piping prior to entering the throttle body. This dramatically reduces the intake charge temperature making the heated air considerably cooler than ambient outside temperature. Engine exhaust enters a five-into-one header, feeds the turbos, passes through a catalytic converter and exits via a custom-built muffler and twin, rear-facing exhaust tips located high in the quarter panels.

While the Volvo C30 is a front-drive car, Evolve decided to leverage the full potential of its talents by converting it to all-wheel drive. This arduous task required underbody modifications to route a driveshaft to the newly installed rear differential. Electronically controlled AWD employs custom software created for this application by Haldex of Sweden – a name familiar to Volvo aficionados as the supplier of Volvo’s other production models. A 6-speed manual transmission puts the driver in charge of the action.



Continuing its quest for creativity, Evolve engineered and built its own brake system for the C30. The front caliper assembly consists of more than 100 components resulting in a 14-piston billet aluminum work of art. Rear calipers are six piston assemblies. Each piston/cylinder is finned and exposed to 360º of airflow to reduce the tendency for brake fluid to boil during repeated high-speed use. The massive two-piece directionally vaned rotors measure 386mm in front and 362mm in the rear and feature an exclusive Evolve slot pattern. Evolve devised a mechanical/hydraulic parking brake system that uses stock brake handle components to exert hydraulic pressure upon the front calipers. Its two small “master cylinders” are mounted on the front strut tower bar for easy viewing. The parking brake system locks the front wheels allowing the driver to “load” the turbochargers for brutal off the line acceleration.

To optimize handling, Evolve once again took matters into its own hands. The front suspension is fitted with hand-built strut tubes around double-adjustable Koni cartridges. Heavy-duty Eibach springs support the front end for a firm, track-ready setup. With the switch to AWD, a clean slate approach was taken for the rear suspension. Fabricated control arms connect to an adjustable ladder bar to keep the independently acting rear wheels firmly planted under varying loads. Koni struts activated via pushrod assemblies can be spied from the rear of the car through the lower air diffuser. Evolve’s quick height adjustment suspension enables the driver to vary the front ride height underhood using a standard socket on a strut-to-chassis interface. Rear height is similarly changed using a single adjuster positioned in the center of the rear diffuser.



Rounding out the performance package is an aggressive set of wheels and tires. The Evolve C30 rides on 265/30-19 Pirelli Pzero Rosso tires in front and monstrous 355/25-19s at the rear. The massive rear tires neatly tucked into the modified rear fenders gives the car a track-ready appearance. Multi-piece forged alloy Evolve wheels are sized 19 x 9 inches in front and 19 x 14 inches in the rear. As utilized on most every racecar, Evolve wheels feature a true single center nut method of attachment. Graphite painted center sections with spun brushed aluminum wheel hoops gives the Evolve C30 just the right attitude.

In true racecar fashion, Evolve took a minimalist approach to interior design. A six-point chrome moly safety structure was meticulously TIG welded in place. Evolve leather upholstery in two-tone perforated black and smooth graphite colors is contrasted with yellow stitching. The same pattern is applied to the steering wheel. The C30’s signature floating center console was remade with translucent plastic to serve as a focal point for the interior. Volvo’s stock Premium Sound System features 650 watts of Alpine® amplified power, 10 loudspeakers from Dynaudio® and Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround sound. Evolve added a hands-free Bluetooth mobile phone system for safer communication while driving.



Safety Runs Deep on the Track or the Street
As a vision of an ultimate performance sport compact, the Volvo C30 by Evolve pushes the envelope to the extreme. Yet underneath it all, Volvo’s legendary reputation for safety continues as a hallmark of the brand. The C30 is an exceptionally safe car, built to the same high standards as every Volvo.

Prior to building the project car, Volvo required that all the C30’s standard safety systems remain intact and functional. Evolve’s concept is based on the recently introduced European spec version of the production C30.

One of the most noticeable additions to the Evolve C30 is the six-point safety structure welded into the passenger compartment. Since this car is designed around a racing and performance theme, this is a natural addition. However, it’s important to note that this modification is unique – it’s not a requirement for those who want to personalize and enhance their own C30’s to meet their individual needs and tastes.

Even though the C30 is 8.5 inches shorter than its sedan sibling, the S40, the body structure is engineered to contribute to controlled deformation. The front structure is divided into zones that are constructed of different grades of steel with different deformation characteristics, to distribute and absorb collision forces in a controlled and effective manner. The lower side members are designed to help prevent the front wheels from being forced into the cabin in a collision.

Cross members, sills and door pillars are solidly constructed to keep the cabin as intact as possible in a collision. The rear safety structure is designed with an optimized mix of different grades of steel to provide strength and carefully controlled deformation in a rear impact. The rear side members are designed to absorb most of the impact forces in the early phases of a rear impact.

Dual-stage airbags, safety belt pretensioners in all four seating positions, force limiters on the front belts and collapsible pedals help protect the occupants of the car in a frontal collision. The steering column deforms in a controlled manner in a horizontal movement to interact with the airbag as effectively as possible. SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), side impact airbags and IC (Inflatable Curtains) contribute to effective protection in side impacts.



Outstanding outward visibility, another hallmark of Volvo design, continues with the smallest Volvo. The C30’s unique shape, with its vast expanse of side glass, creates a panoramic view from all four seats. The inwardly curving rear side windows and the unique glass tailgate provide excellent rearward visibility. Well placed rear seats, with their theater style layout gives passengers in the back a good view through the front side windows.

Speaking of visibility, Volvo continues to pioneer new driver support systems. To make it easier for the driver to detect other vehicles in the blind spot at the side of the car, Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) will be available as on option on the production C30. The system uses cameras mounted in the side door mirrors to register if another vehicle is in the blind spot. If a vehicle is detected, a lamp located at the base of the A-pillar illuminates to alert the driver of the situation.

To help reduce the risk of the driver being distracted by untimely information in critical situations, Volvo’s Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS) is standard on the C30. IDIS is an electronic information system that continuously monitors certain functions in the car such as steering wheel movements, accelerator pedal movement, the direction indicator controls and braking. In demanding driving situations information that is not crucial to safety, such as text messages from the instrument panel, is delayed until the situation requires less of the driver’s attention.