While it says Acura on the front, underneath its skin, this truck is really a Honda Horizon. And under that facade, its really an Isuzu Trooper. Although in this video made by the brand, its much more than any of those.Acura threw together this retro clip showcasing one of its classic SUVs with a wacky, modern twist. It shows an enthusiast buying the vehicle, then taking it home to park it beside his partners new Acura SLX.A couple bottles of liquid are spilled on the floor to create a powerful potion, which, thanks to the magic of 90s video-editing, takes parts from the new vehicle and imparts them into the 1997 model.In real life, Acura modified the original 1997 model year truck to include a bunch of components from its latest models. Namely, theres the 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC engine, the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System and the 10-speed transmission. Various suspension components were also upgraded to give the truck better ride and handling that includes an independent rear suspension in place of the original live axle.The video preys on the nostalgia of the 20- to 30-year-olds of today, who perhaps grew up in the back of one of these classic 1990s SUVs and are now trying to relive that childhood. Good luck finding one like the hero car for $500, though.The end of the video shows the same goopy concoction being spilled in order to recreate the effect of the potion, but instead with a brand-new NSX.The vehicle will be on display at the upcoming RADwood car show in Los Angeles, along with a 1991 NSX, the earliest known example in North
Origin: Acura will bring this modified retro SLX to RADwood
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Vatican receives modified Dacia Duster as new Popemobile
Renault has gifted a specially modified Dacia Duster to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. The budget SUV has been adapted to suit papal needs by Dacia’s Prototype department and Special Needs Team, in partnership with Romanian coachbuilder Romturingia. The new Popemobile offers the same five-seat layout as the standard Duster but has a “particularly comfortable” rear bench added to suit lengthy public parades. Also featured are a large sunroof, roof-mounted grab handles and, as is customary with Popemobiles from all marques, a removable transparent display box to allow crowds a better look at His Holiness. The Duster is finished in white with a leather interior, and its suspension has been lowered by 30mm to allow for easier ingress and egress. It was delivered to The Vatican by Christophe Dridi, managing director of Groupe Renault Romania, and Xavier Martinet, general manager of Groupe Renault Italy. The Duster won’t be the Pope’s first experience of a Dacia; during a 2016 visit to Armenia, he used an unmodified example of the Logan saloon as his official transport. He promotes frugality and modesty, whereas his predecessors rode in a variety of premium vehicles, including those from Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover. In 2017, Lamborghini gifted Pope Francis a Huracán specially painted in the official colours of The Vatican. After he had blessed and autographed the car, it was sold at a charity auction for
Origin: Vatican receives modified Dacia Duster as new Popemobile
Ken Block hoons his modified Raptor in Moab
Ken Block takes his latest Hoonigan toy, a souped-up Ford Raptor, out for a spin in the desert.Ken Block Youtube As Block says in the video, he drives a Ford Raptor as his daily driver (because of course he does) but this one is vastly different from his everyday truck. The truck was built by SVC Offroad from California, the same firm that did the tank tracks for Ken’s other Raptor. This time, the Raptor is running on Fifteen52 Turbomac HD wheels inspired by the wheels found on Ken’s other cars and wrapped in 37 Toyo off-road tires. The track width has been lengthened, and custom fibreglass overfenders give the car an aggressive wide stance. The truck is fitted in Avalanche Grey (not white, as Block is adamant to point out) which is a rare departure from his favourite finish: flat black. This works as a complement to the Hoonigan pattern showcased on the box, which actually uses reflective material similar to the one found on Block’s Fiesta RX43 used in Gymkhana 8. When light reflects off of the black accents they appear gold. The suspension is obviously modified with parts from SVC Offroad, mostly with parts that can bolt on to the stock Raptor suspension, along with triple bypass dampers. The front and rear bumpers have been customized to give it a more a pre-runner style as well. It wouldn’t be a customized Raptor without a light bar, and Block’s truck has two of them built by Ridgid, which feature GPS tracking that can focus or widen the beam depending on engine speed, and the colour can also be adjusted to anything Ken chooses. Block has even customized the licence plate with the letters HHIC2, which stands for Head Hoonigan in Charge, and the 2 being his second vehicle with the
Origin: Ken Block hoons his modified Raptor in Moab
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