2009 Jeremie Paret Porsche Cayenne Balrog Body Kit
Car stylist Jeremie Paret is proud to introduce their new bodykit for Porsche Cayenne Turbo, The Balrog. The Jeremie Paret Porsche Cayenne Balrog comes with a front bumper with genuine Cayenne Turbo side lights and fog lights with angel eyes. This bumper improves the cooling of all intercoolers of the Cayenne, and the cooling of the front brakes. Moreover, the drilled luxury grill offers an innovative design in automotive styling. Of course, all Porsche options, like the xenon nozzles or the parking detectors, can be mounted on the Balrog bodykit.
At the rear of the car, the spoiler and its diffuser give you more aerodynamic pressure. The diffuser can be removed in only a few minutes to let you install your tow hook. At last, the side skirts finish to give to the Balrog its so different and eye-catching look. Read more
2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
Ferrari has officially unveiled the new 458 Italia. The Ferrari 458 Italia will have its premiere at the next Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is powered by a new 5.0 liter V8 engine developing 570 hp at 9000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm. The engine of the Ferrari 458 Italia is coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Ferrari 458 Italia emits 320 g/km of CO2 and has a fuel economy of 13.7 l/100 km in a combined cycle. The top speed of the Ferrari 458 Italia is 325 km/h and the car is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds.
Rantilla Residence – Modernist Forest Home by Michael Rantilla
An Architect Michael Rantilla built a dream home in forest. this home in the forest is at once a work of ultramodern genius and a powerful response to its environment. The architect Michael Rantilla is a Senior Associate with the Freelon Group, designed this house for himself in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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Photos Credit: Mark Herboth
Project Description:
The design concept of this private home literally springs upward from the pristine wooded site. Unbuildable as a spec home property, the unique form of the building is a literal response to the significant site challenges. Wedged between zoning setbacks, a stream buffer and a steep slope, the program massing was squeezed vertically into a three story scheme elevated above the uninterrupted ground plane flowing beneath. Each floor level is expressed as a discrete rectangular volume clad in a different material and spun radially from a 40 foot tall, 18 inch thick solid concrete shear wall. This articulation of the volumes creates a wide variety of habitable outdoor spaces. The lowest level ultimately spills onto a large teak deck beneath the house, which then engages the forest via a stepped concrete pyramid. Fully cantilevered stair treads project from the concrete shear wall and shift from aluminum to maple to ipe, constantly varying the sound and feel of each staircase while allowing light and views to pass through. Vertical circulation always maintains a close connection to the diagrammatic and structural centroid of the building.
As one approaches the home, an elevated driveway reaches out from the main central volume to the street. This roadside public face has little fenestration in contrast to the all-glass private side, which takes advantage of views facing the forest, the stream and diffuse northern light. All major specimen trees, primarily pine and sweetgum, were saved due to the compact vertical building footprint and lack of site re-grading. The height of the mostly transparent upper volume set within the forest canopy evokes the feeling of a treehouse, as the swaying treetops literally brush the structure. Exposed white metal deck ceilings allow both the environmental sounds of rainfall and natural daylight to permeate the house.
The materials used in construction were steel, concrete, glass, aluminum, zinc, ipe, maple and bamboo. The architect also served as the general contractor and completed the project in 11 months.