Xeno Issue 02

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S U P R E M ELIFESTYLEMAGAZINE FOR

CARS &E N T H U S I A S T S

SEPT 12 - 13, 2009

In the Plaza of Nations

Hosted by

OFFICIAL GUIDE

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Automotive luxury, performance and passion heat up Vancouver’s wa-

terfront at Canada’s largest annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend event,

September 12-13, 2009

Hosted by Vancouver’s Edgewater Casino located at the spectacular

and vibrant Plaza of Nations waterfront, beside the Mainers Cooper Quay.

The Luxury & Supercar Weekend event celebrates the finest collection

of supercars from prestigious manufacturers such as Bugatti and Ferrari

as well as exclusive never before seen modified supercars from an elite

group of private collectors.

The term ‘Supercar’ was coined in the 1960’s by British motor jour-

nalist L. J. K. Setright writing about the Lamborghini Miura. The term went

on to describe the most prestigious designs and engineering advances

in automobiles. Supercars are created to showcase supreme advance-

ments in technology and often designed to push the limits of speed; they

are generally not profitable for manufacturers. Only limited quantities are

produced, which end up in private collections never to be viewed by the

public .

Vancouver’s Luxury & Supercar Weekend welcomes all luxury and

supercar agents as well as private collectors and auto aficionados from

around the world to discover a prestigious line-up of automotive excel-

lence, including: the 251 mph Bugatti Veyron, the Rolls Royce Phantom

Drop Head Coupe, the Lamborghini 2010 LP670-4 SV, the historical E

type Jaguar, and the electrics the true supercars of the future.

Luxury Supercars, Private Collections and Vintage Models Showcased On Unique Waterfront Setting In

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

September 12 - 13, 2009 11am - 7pmwww.luxurysupercar.com

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Automotive luxury, performance and passion heat up Vancouver’s wa-

terfront at Canada’s largest annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend event,

September 12-13, 2009

Hosted by Vancouver’s Edgewater Casino located at the spectacular

and vibrant Plaza of Nations waterfront, beside the Mainers Cooper Quay.

The Luxury & Supercar Weekend event celebrates the finest collection

of supercars from prestigious manufacturers such as Bugatti and Ferrari

as well as exclusive never before seen modified supercars from an elite

group of private collectors.

The term ‘Supercar’ was coined in the 1960’s by British motor jour-

nalist L. J. K. Setright writing about the Lamborghini Miura. The term went

on to describe the most prestigious designs and engineering advances

in automobiles. Supercars are created to showcase supreme advance-

ments in technology and often designed to push the limits of speed; they

are generally not profitable for manufacturers. Only limited quantities are

produced, which end up in private collections never to be viewed by the

public .

Vancouver’s Luxury & Supercar Weekend welcomes all luxury and

supercar agents as well as private collectors and auto aficionados from

around the world to discover a prestigious line-up of automotive excel-

lence, including: the 251 mph Bugatti Veyron, the Rolls Royce Phantom

Drop Head Coupe, the Lamborghini 2010 LP670-4 SV, the historical E

type Jaguar, and the electrics the true supercars of the future.

“We’re thrilled to bring to the spectacular City of Vancouver this pre-

mier event that promises to be an inspiring and educational experience.

It is an exclusive opportunity to discover and celebrate innovation in

high-performance and sustainable technology, premier craftsmanship

and luxurious style, while exploring the passion and vision behind many

of the world’s greatest automotive designers and manufacturers”, says

Craig Stowe, President of Luxury & Supercar Weekend.

Vancouver’s Luxury & Supercar Weekend is proud to recognize its

sponsors, partners and affiliates as well as exclusive automobiles that

will be featured because of the generous support of private collectors.

This unique event is committed to respecting Vancouver’s position as a

sustainable city.

General Admission Tickets are available online at:

www.wantickets.com or In person at Edgewater Casino Guest Services

24 hours a day 7 days a week. On the day of the event, subject to ca-

pacity, at the Luxury & Supercar ticket booth. Members of JetSet Crew,

can purchase tickets online at www.jetsetcrew.com.

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Craig Stowe, Director of Luxury & Supercar Weekend

604.612.9784 or [email protected]

Xeno Vancouver is the Official Guide of Luxury Super Car Weekend.

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STENNER INVESTMENT PARTNERS, GMP PRIVATE CLIENT L.P.Private Group Tel: (604) 678-3650

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the world’s best parties, the world’s top destinations

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6_________________Masthead

8_______________Contributors

10_________LSW Event Calendar

13____________List of Sponsors

14__________List of Invited Cars

19____________________News

Local News

Automotive News

Design News

23____________ Lifestyle Gears

26__________________Fashion

31_____________Featured Ride

2009 Bentley Flying Spur Speed

Featured Shop______________35

SR Auto Group

Column___________________40

David Wan - The Native Foreigner

Events____________________43

SR Black Tie Event

XENO Magazine Launch

German Car Fest

Review____________________46

Royal 4door Family Feud

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w w w . x e n o v a n c o u v e r . c o m

Copyright 2009 © by Veloce Media Productions Inc. All rights reserved. XENO Vancouver® is published 12 times a year by Veloce Media Productions Inc in Canada. Individual articles in this journal are copyrighted by VMP Inc., as indicated on each article. Reproduction, redistribution, or reselling any materials from this publication in either machine-readable form or any other form in whole or in part without permission of the VMP Inc or payment of the appropriate royalty for reuse. For subscriptions or copyright-related questions, please email your question to: [email protected] XENO Vancouver® is a registered trademark of Veloce Media Productions Inc.

Printed in Canada by Teldon Media Group.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEFSung-Rok Cheong

CREATIVE DIRECTORJames Hur

ASSOCIATE EDITORDavid Wan

SALES & MARKETINGDon Lee Skipp Johnson

FINANCIAL EXECUTIVEYoungjin Won

WEB COORDINATORJunho Ahn

Graphic DesignerGoo Il Lee

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIESFor information regarding advertising opportunities please email [email protected] or call 604.639.2140

SUBSCRIPTIONSTo subscribe , call 604.639.2140 or email [email protected]

VELOCE MEDIA PRODUCTION INC.1500-885 West georgia st. Vancouver B.C V6C 3E8

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Veloce Auto Gallery

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Ultimate power & beauty at affordable prices

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Contributors

David Wan is a professional writer and a self-confessed car nut. He is currently the host of the AMG car club in Vancouver, and enjoys bringing car enthusiasts together to share in their passion.

Craig Stowe, the Creator of the Edgewater Casino Luxury + Supercar Weekend, brings a wealth of talent and experience to any event. His work in the premium wine and spirit business, as a consultant for Edgewater Casino and the co-owner of the entertainment and social networking group JetSet Crew made Craig the ideal candidate to envision and establish a weekend featuring the finest collection of Luxury and Supercars ever assembled in Canada .Craig expresses his sincere thanks to Edgewater Casino for presenting the event and the Luxury + Supercar dealers / Private collectors, who have overwhelmingly supported this Luxury weekend.

Jim Park has been looking at life through a camera lens since his childhood. A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Jim owns and operates a studio in Vancouver. His works have appeared in numerous books, magazines and websites.

Logan McRae is an avid car enthusiast and photographer.

Sean Lim has been a resident of Vancouver since 1989, and has witnessed the evolution of the car industry through the streets of Vancouver. He has built a strong interest for exotic cars since a very young age.

www.xenovancouver.com

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Thursday August 27th , 2009

Luxury Supercar Weekend Media Launch @ Redbull Private Lounge4pm - 7pm

Friday September 11, 2009

Porsche 60th anniversary dinner @ Le Crocodile909 Burrard Street, Vancouver Hosted by Le Crocodile chef and owner Michael JacobReception 6:30 Dinner 8:30 Accepting reservations for tables of 6, 8 or 10 guestsFor reservations , Please call Le Crocodile 604-669-4298Please identify that you wish to book for the Porsche Dinner Sept 11th

Porsche after party @ Bar None1222 Hamilton Street Yaletown, VancouverLuxury + Supercar weekend VIP ticket holders (please show your pass for comp entry)For Bottle service & table reservation please call Waldo : [email protected] or 604.763.5250

Saturday September 12, 2009

Luxury Supercar Weekend Event @ Plaza of Nation11 am – 7 pm The Edgewater Casino Luxury + Supercar weekend auto show in the Plaza of Nations

Supercar Dinner at La Terrazza Restaurant and Lounge1088 Cambie StreetHosted by La Terrazza owners : Gennaro Iorio, Iqbal Grewal and Giulio MiceliReception 7:30 Dinner 9:00 For reservations please call Lisa at 604-899-4449Please identify that you wish to book for the Supercar Dinner on Sept 12th

Supercar Saturday after party @ Pop Opera686 West Hastings, VancouverLuxury + Supercar weekend VIP ticket holders (please show your pass for comp entry)For bottle service & table reservation please call Rich : [email protected] or 778.960.8151

Luxury+Supercar WeekendEvents Calender

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Get in the Game!

Where can you find all your gaming action?

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Le Crocodile

Bar None

La Terrazza

Pop Opera

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Sign up to become a BC Gold member and receive special offers!

Get in the Game!

Where can you find all your gaming action?

In Vancouver’s most spectacular casino, Edgewater!

At the Plaza of Nations | 750 Pacific Boulevard South, Vancouver, BC V6B 5E7 | 604.687.3343 | edgewatercasino.ca

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Exclusive Sponsors of

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Acura NSX1. Aston Martin DB72. Aston Martin DB93. Aston Martin DBS4. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish 5. Aston Martin V8 Vantage6. Audi RS47. Audi S68. Audi S89. Audi R8 V1010. Bugatti Veyron11. Bentley Azure12. Bentley Continental GT13. Bentley Continental CGTC Speed14. Bentley Flying Spur15. BMW B716. BMW 750li17. BMW M318. BMW M519. BMW M620. BMW New Z421. BMW Z822. Cadillac CTS-V23. Cadillac STS-V24. Cadillac Z0625. Cadillac ZR126. Dodge Viper27. Ferrari Mondial Cab28. Ferrari 59929. Ferrari F34830.

Ferrari F35531. Ferrari F4032. Ferrari F43033. Ferrari F360 Modena34. Ferrari California35. Ferrari Enzo 36. Ferrari Dino GTB37. Ferrari Testarossa38. Ferrari F35539. Ferrari 612 40. Jaguar E Tyoe41. Jaguar XF42. Jaguar XJ43. Jaguar XK44. Lamborghini Gallardo45. Lamborghini Murcielago46. Lamborghini LP560-447. Lamborghini LP64048. Lotus Eleven49. Lotus Exige50. Lotus Elise51. Lotus Evora52. Lexus SC43053. Lexus LS Hybrid54. Maserati Quattroporte55. Maserati GranTurismo56. Maserati MC1257. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG58. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG59. Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG60.

Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG61. Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG62. Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG63. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG64. Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG65. Mercedes-Benz SLR 722s66. Mercedes-Benz SLR Convertible67. Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid68. Mercedes-Benz New E Class69. Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG70. Nissan GTR71. Nobel GT72. Pantera Deromaso73. Porsche 993 Turbo74. Porsche 996 Turbo75. Porsche 997 Turbo76. Porsche 997 GT377. Porsche 997 GT3 RS78. Porsche Cayenne Turbo79. Porsche Carrera GT80. Rolls-Royce Phentom81. Rolls-Royce Phenton Drophead82. Land Rover Range Rover Sports83. Land Rover Range Rover84. Saleen S785. Spyker C886. Spyker Lavlolette Coupe87. Shelby Cobra GT88.

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Invited Cars of Luxury + Supercar Weekend





GMP PRIVATE CLIENT




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Acura NSX1. Aston Martin DB72. Aston Martin DB93. Aston Martin DBS4. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish 5. Aston Martin V8 Vantage6. Audi RS47. Audi S68. Audi S89. Audi R8 V1010. Bugatti Veyron11. Bentley Azure12. Bentley Continental GT13. Bentley Continental CGTC Speed14. Bentley Flying Spur15. BMW B716. BMW 750li17. BMW M318. BMW M519. BMW M620. BMW New Z421. BMW Z822. Cadillac CTS-V23. Cadillac STS-V24. Cadillac Z0625. Cadillac ZR126. Dodge Viper27. Ferrari Mondial Cab28. Ferrari 59929. Ferrari F34830.

Ferrari F35531. Ferrari F4032. Ferrari F43033. Ferrari F360 Modena34. Ferrari California35. Ferrari Enzo 36. Ferrari Dino GTB37. Ferrari Testarossa38. Ferrari F35539. Ferrari 612 40. Jaguar E Tyoe41. Jaguar XF42. Jaguar XJ43. Jaguar XK44. Lamborghini Gallardo45. Lamborghini Murcielago46. Lamborghini LP560-447. Lamborghini LP64048. Lotus Eleven49. Lotus Exige50. Lotus Elise51. Lotus Evora52. Lexus SC43053. Lexus LS Hybrid54. Maserati Quattroporte55. Maserati GranTurismo56. Maserati MC1257. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG58. Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG59. Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG60.

Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG61. Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG62. Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG63. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG64. Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG65. Mercedes-Benz SLR 722s66. Mercedes-Benz SLR Convertible67. Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid68. Mercedes-Benz New E Class69. Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG70. Nissan GTR71. Nobel GT72. Pantera Deromaso73. Porsche 993 Turbo74. Porsche 996 Turbo75. Porsche 997 Turbo76. Porsche 997 GT377. Porsche 997 GT3 RS78. Porsche Cayenne Turbo79. Porsche Carrera GT80. Rolls-Royce Phentom81. Rolls-Royce Phenton Drophead82. Land Rover Range Rover Sports83. Land Rover Range Rover84. Saleen S785. Spyker C886. Spyker Lavlolette Coupe87. Shelby Cobra GT88.

Invited Cars of Luxury + Supercar Weekend





GMP PRIVATE CLIENT




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xeno V A N C O U V E R ’ S

S U P R E M ELIFESTYLEMAGAZINE FOR

CARS &E N T H U S I A S T S

[ SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2009 ]

VOLUME 2Price $2.99 CAD $3.49 USD

www.xenovancouver.com

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ad

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News


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Luxury + Supercar Weekend Websitewww.luxurysupercar.com

Veloce Auto Gallery’s New Location

Mercedes-Benz E Class has arrived!www.mbvancouver.com

Vancouver Local News

Veloce Auto Gallery has now opened in Vancouver. Veloce Auto always goes above and beyond to meet their customer’s needs. With luxurious vehicles on display, and high-class customer ser-vice to add to it, Veloce Auto Gallery is without a doubt the place to be for your luxury vehicle needs.

Ferrari California has taken the spotlight in centre stage of Vancou-ver. Having finally arrived to our city, it will be quite a treat to see one of these rolling down the streets of downtown Vancouver. With a 452hp V8 engine under its hood, the Ferrari California is definitely worth stopping to look at.

B.C. welcomes the arrival of the Benz E-class into its borders. With luxurious performance and design, the Benz E-class will defi-nitely create some impact into Vancouver’s car industry. Ranging prices between $45 000 to $55 000, you will be sure to find that this car is worth every penny.

With over $20 000 000 dollars worth of super cars attending, Luxury Super Car Weekend will definitely be an event to remem-ber. From Bugattis to Lambos, the event will play host to an impressive list of luxury super cars. Come drop by the Plaza of Nations next to Edgewater Casino on the 12th and 13th of Sep-tember, and witness the innovative evolution of super cars from around the globe.

EVORA - Finally, Vancouver is ready to meet the ALL NEW Lotus Evora. Launched in July of 2008 at the British International Motor Show, the “properly fantastic” Evora is so far the only 2+2 mid-ship engined coupe available. This unique masterpiece was given a warm launching event on August 27th at Lotus Vancouver.

Rolls Royce Phantom & Phantom Drophead Coupe - Rolls Royce’s Phantom & Phantom Drophead Coupe are about to be rolled! The two prestigious models, known to be driven by many celebrities and personages, will be available shortly in Vancouver. For more information, please contact The BMW Store.

New Rolls-Royce Dealer In Vancouverwww.thebmwstore.bmw.ca

Ferrari California Arrived in Vancouverwww.ferrarimaserativofvancouver.com

Lotus Evora Launching Eventwww.weissach.com

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Automotive News

BMW has finally revealed the first official images and video of its new compact SAV. Virtually identical to the X1 showcar unveiled at the 2008 Paris motor show, the latest addition to BMW’s X range reinterprets the design cues and practical aspects of its SAV siblings but in a compact package. The small ute is arriving in Europe this fall with four engine options, a gasoline and three diesels. A diesel-powered version got the equivalent of 45.2 mpg across the pond and can hit a top speed of 124 mph.

BMW X1

Widened fenders, massive cross-drilled brake discs, and quad tailpipes. The current M5’s 500 bhp 5.0-liter V10 engine will be replaced by the new 555 hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 from the recently introduced X5 M and X6 M. There is speculation that the V8 could be retuned to produce upwards of 600 hp in the M5, but that remains to be seen.

New M5 SPIED

Porsche’s Panamera lineup is poised to expand as the com-pany is reportedly working on a new diesel variant as well as a high performance GTS.

Although little is known about the Panamera GTS, it is expect-ed to be positioned above the Panamera Turbo. This means the GTS will likely boast more than 500 horsepower, which should enable it to beat the 4.0 second 0-60 mph time of the Panamera Turbo. The GTS is also expected to ditch the Turbo’s heavy air suspension system, in favor of traditional coil springs.

According to Autocar, Porsche is also considering a diesel-powered Panamera. If such a model were to be built, it would likely adopt a modified version of the Cayenne’s 240 bhp 3.0-liter V6 or the Audi A8’s 322 bhp 4.2-liter V8.

Aston Martin has developed a new ‘innovative commuter concept car’ called the Cygnet. If you’re thinking it looks like the design team’s placed a downsized Aston Martin grille onto a Toyota iQ, you wouldn’t be far off. The luxury commuter concept, which Aston Martin claims will ‘offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury’ is actu-ally based on the diminutive urban runabout and was created in collaboration with the Japanese automaker. Aston Martin Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez stated that the concept is “akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht.” The plan is to offer the Cygnet along with the purchase of a DBS, DB9 or Vantage. “Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project,” Bez said, “[It] will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market.”

Aston Martin Compact Car

Porsche Panamera GTS

Rolls Royce Phantom & Phantom Drophead Coupe - Rolls Royce’s Phantom & Phantom Drophead Coupe are about to be rolled! The two prestigious models, known to be driven by many celebrities and personages, will be available shortly in Vancouver. For more information, please contact The BMW Store.

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A collaboration between the UK-based motorcycle design studio Xenophya De-sign and product designer Ellis Pitt has led to the launch of a new British motorcycle company called Mac Motorcycles. Ellis has collaborated with the team at Xenophya for the past 9 months to design a small range of lightweight, air-cooled singles using the 500cc Buell ‘Blast’ motor in a tubular backbone frame. Ellis explains “Be-tween us we’d designed, modified, built and ridden all sorts of motorcycles over the last 30 years and thought it was time to produce a motorcycle that reflected our philosophy. Our influences have been diverse and we’ve made unusual con-nections between genres of motorcycles such as choppers, Italian singles from the 1950s, flat-trackers and competition specials.”

Enertia, a new buzzed-about electric urban commuter bike, hit markets last month—surprisingly, at Portland, OR’s Best Buy rather than at a dealership. But the unusual distribution strategy is the least of reasons why the motorcycle is getting all the atten-tion. With stats like 18 horsepower, a top speed of 55 mph, a three-hour charge time and a 45-mile range, it’s the first electric motorcycle to offer a feasible zero-emis-sions way to run around town. The instru-ment cluster keeps all relevant information front and center while the USB port allows the rider to download data and tailor the riding experience to their personal usage. Ashland, OR-based company Brammo, the company behind Enertia, clearly don’t intend to replace a real hog with it. Instead, the lightweight extruded aluminum vehicle (280 pounds) represents an entry-level ride for inexperienced and expert users alike, making it the first electric bike with poten-tial to make it big. Priced at $12,000 USD (and with premium design elements geared towards the eco-luxury crowd), it may take a price drop to truly serve as a bike for the people, but it will eventually be at BestBuy stores nationwide—follow the Twitter feed BrammoSays for updates. www.enertiabike.com

Electricity/Mile: $0.007Calculated MPG: 373

Design News

The Citroën GT concept is making the leap from the virtual tracks of Gran Turismo 5 to real asphalt. Citroën plans to build just six copies of the GT, and each one will be priced at a cool $1.8 million, according to Autocar. One big question remains--what will be the mid-engine supercar’s power-plant? At its debut last fall at the Paris motor show, the concept was a set of electric mo-tors making a combined 780 hp and was powered by a fuel cell. Citroën sources say the engine will make more than 500 hp and could come from Ford or General Motors. The concept’s sporty styling and extensive use of carbon fiber will be retained. It might even keep some of the unique touches, such as using copper on the interior trim.

Citroën GT Concept Headed for Production

Mercedes-Benz has released sketches of the SLS AMG showing its ‘swing-wing’ door layout, an echo of the 300SL Gullwing’s, and its two-seat interior, said to be aircraft-inspired. Cockpit features include jet-style air vents, a gear-lever like a thrust control, a center console like a plane’s operating console, and a wide wing-shaped dash-board. This previews the Mercedes cabins of the future, apparently. The exterior outline

retains the usual SL-family long-hood, taut tail format, with low roofline and greenhouse slung rearward; it’s a clear progression from the Mercedes-McLaren SLR. An extendable aerofoil preserves the sleek outline when sta-tionary and at low speeds. The roof-mounted doors open by up to 70 degrees, supported by gas-pressure struts.

Enertia Electric Urban Commuter Bike

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Mac Motorcycles

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The HTC Hero will be available in Europe starting in July and in Asia later this summer, while a “distinct” North American version will ship later in 2009. With the signature curve at the bottom, the HTC Hero is 4.4 inches tall by 2.2 inches wide and 0.5 inch thick. It features a 3.2-inch HVGA touch screen with an anti-fingerprint screen coating. Under the pretty surface lies the new Sense UI. It allows users to customize the device to their needs and give them more access to the information they want at a glance through widgets, custom-ized profiles, and consolidated views of all communication with a contact, whether it be e-mail, text or multimedia mes-sage, Facebook status updates, or photos. Other highlights include GPS, a digital compass, gravity sensor, a 5-mega-pixel camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD expansion slot.

New Gears

Audi Design Studio has partnered with Vienna-based piano manufacturer Bösendorfer to create a modern concert grand piano that incorporates the carmaker’s design lan-guage. The Grand Piano will be unveiled on next 16 July 2009 at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt to celebrate the brand’s centenary and will be included in Bösendorfer’s catalogue with a price of approximately 100,000 Euros.

Piano by Audi Design

HTC Hero

Armand Nicolet’s limited edition watches are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. The L06 is a limited series of 425 pieces with a movement of Small Seconds UT 176 created in 1951 that has been elaborated giving it more modern and refined technical characteristics. With the new L06, the makers wanted to revise the classical aesthetics by lightly retouching the lines in a more modern version and play-ing with diverse combinations of materials and colors. www.armandnicolet.com

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The 180-degree bug-eye lens creates distorted images that are even more arty than your usual Lomograph. Plus to the dwindling number of wet-chemistry photography fans (including myself) Lomography is something of a fashion-statement all of its own. The camera has bulb setting for long exposures, a multiple-exposure setting, built-in flash and a hotshoe, and is dressed up in trademark Paul Smith stripes. And it’s limited edition, so it’s going for a fashionably high $150. It has a metal body, a fisheye lens with a 180º view, a matching fisheye viewfinder and a bulbous detachable flash which supplements the built-in strobe. And of course, the stripes. www.shop.lomography.com

The new Sony NAS-Z200iR music system is intended for use with multiple music sources including iPod, Walkman, CDs, phones, radio, etc. Labeled as “do-it-all” compact audio system, the device is able to stream the music library that’s on your PC and Internet radio, thank to its built-in WiFi support. Also comes with a 3.5-inch LCD display remote control for you to sit back and relax for an uninterrupted music listening experience. Other highlights: two independent speaker (20W x 2) and DLNA Certified with Wi-Fi.

Sony NAS-Z200iR

Olympus is celebrating 50 years since the 1959 launch of its ground-breaking PEN 35mm film camera - the first affordable, consumer portable camera and one that Olympus believes was a ground-breaking launch. This week, it launched a digital version broadly based on the original 1959 design. The 12.3Mp Olympus PEN E-P1 is larger than a standard compact digital camera such as a Canon Ixus or a Sony Cyber-shot and has interchangeable lenses. www.olympusamerica.com

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FASHIONYOUR

SEATBELTSModels Jonathan & Kevin of Boys’co

Photographer Logan McRae

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Empire One Car Club.indd 1 4/22/09 4:16:54 PMsept_issue 32 2009.8.28 7:45:13 PM

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FEATUR

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Ride

2009 B ENTLEY F LYING S PUR S PEED


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“ ”

The front spoiler demonstrates optical finesse and underline the sportive character of the car. The integrated LED daytime running lights

and the large air intakes with sporty shaped and fully chromed air inlet grids draw even more attention to the car. At the same time, the

mounted parts optimize the air duct over the car silhouette which leads to a positive effect when handling the automobile. Moreover,

the extra down-thrust is generated by the rear lip which perfectly flows into the shape of the boot lid, ensuring constant traction.

By fitting a sport air filter and specific alterations in motor electronics, the engineers of the refining specialists achieve better response

behaviour for the power engine-due to this modification, the torque rises from 750 Nm to 890 Nm at 6,100 rpm.

With 600 bhp and a sports-tuned chassis, the Flying Spur Speed redefines customer expectations of a large, four-

door luxury saloon. The performance, handling and agility set new benchmarks.

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2009 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR SPEED

Mansory FS speed Full body kit with spoiler

WHEELS & TIRES

Klassen CFV with custom finishes

“Diamond face, black window, black lip”

22” x 9.5 and 22” x10.5

Pirelli Pzero Nero 265/30/22 Fr, 295/25/22 Re

SUSPENSION

SR Black Label Lowering Linkage

The Speed engine develops 15 percent more torque and nine percent

more power than the standard Flying Spur, while engine efficiency

is optimised by the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components

and a new engine management system. The resultant performance is

exceptional, with a top speed of 200mph (322km/h), a zero to 60mph

sprint time of just 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8s) and effortless

overtaking capability.

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Bentley Flying Spur Speed

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SR AUTO GROUP

FEATUR

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SHOP

SR AUTO GROUP

sept_issue 37 2009.8.28 7:46:53 PM

On the corner of Burrard and 3rd Ave is where the unsuspecting garage of SR Auto Group is located. I must admit that at first, looking in from the outside, I was convinced that it was

nothing more than a typical auto body shop hidden away in the alleys of Vancouver. However, the moment I walked in, I realized that I had gotten ahead of myself and judged the book merely by its cover. Amazing would be a complete understatement for this place. From modern art hung on the walls to exotic sports cars on display, the shop resembled nothing close to a typical auto body shop, but more so of an art gallery. Where were all of the mechanics? The grease and grime? I was baffled by what I saw and assumed I made a mistake, but sure enough, the sign said “SR Auto Group.” After entering the shop, I found myself almost instinctively wandering through the gallery of cars. It was intoxicating. From Aston Martin to Audi R8, modified to perfection, the shop was nothing less than a portrayal of every car fanatic’s wet dream. Who knew such a shop existed?

“The shop resembled nothing close to a typical auto body shop, but more so of an art gallery.”

SR AUTO GROUPwords by Sean Limphotos by Jim Park

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When entering the shop, it would be a good idea to keep an eye out for the young and ambitious owner of SR Auto Group, Cyrus Wong. Although he may not look it at first glance, Cyrus has built quite an impressive resume of experience working in the car industry. At the age of 17, Cyrus began working for SR Auto Group, formerly known as Revolution, back in 1997 before the eventual merger between the two companies. In 2008, he personally bought out the company from the original owner of SR, starting his own legacy of producing some of Vancouver’s most top of the line car modifications.

Being in the industry for over 10 years now, Cyrus understands and strongly enforces the importance of perfection and meeting customer satisfaction, with every car that comes through their doors. When asked about some of the issues and challenges that the company faces on a daily basis, Cyrus replied confidently, “We come across very few issues, if any at all. One of the main reasons for this is because we like to make sure that every job is done right. We make sure that each employee at this company is in charge of specific, individual duties. This way we can make sure the job is done perfectly and efficiently instead of having one person in charge of multiple duties, which can leave room for error. We work as a team.” I could tell, not only from his

statement, but also by looking around at the shop’s arrangement, that the company was very organized.

Not only was the company organized, but the modifications on the cars also reflected their extensive capabilities to meet each customer’s individual needs. As the industry’s focus has begun to lean more towards esthetic enhancement of cars, rather than the improvement of car performance and speed, many car owners are in search of ways to make their vehicles stand out from others. Curious, I asked Cyrus how their company goes about meeting these unique tastes and requests. With a hint of excitement he explained, “Most of the products we carry are exclusive to Canada. We also carry our own line of wheels that can be customized the way customers want them to be. If you want 5 spokes, we give you 5 spokes. You want colour here or there? We colour it the way you want it.” He pointed out to one of the cars that were on display, showing me the details of the paint job and other modifications that were done by request of their customers. It was quite apparent that they placed a lot of time and effort into satisfying their customers. But his explanations were clear to me from the moment I entered the store, as the cars pretty much spoke for themselves.

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featureshopshop’snew products

Featured Product

Overall, the shop was immaculate. The shop not only had an impressive overall look, but they also proved that they were capable of producing some very impressive modifications, which clearly stood out from the crowd of everyday vehicles scattered throughout the streets of Vancouver. It was quite apparent to me that if I ever wanted my dream designs on my car to come to life, it would most definitely be the smart choice to come back to SR Auto Group’s shop again.

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shop’snew products

SR Gallery @ Burrard | Vancouver1757 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver BC V6J 1K7Tel (604) 739.7433 Fax (604) 739.7437Email [email protected] Hours 10:00am - 6:00pm PST, Monday - Friday

SR Head Office @ Minoru | Richmond5531 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond BC V6X 2B1Tel (604) 279.5563 Fax (604) 278.7902Email [email protected] Hours 9:30am - 6:00pm PST, Monday - Friday

LOCATIONS & CONTACT INFO

sept_issue 41 2009.8.28 7:47:47 PM

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I t was no less than Richard Hammond, of Top Gear fame, who poignantly noted that “the great-est thing in your life is that you can get out of that car alive.” That car being the now-revered Mer-

cedes-Benz C63 AMG. It’s not often that I succumb to popular media and the ramblings of journalistic hacks (myself excepted), whether they be on the BBC or in the local newspaper. And so it was that even as I thumbed through an issue of a certain well-known American car magazine in which the C63 AMG narrowly defeated its arch-rival BMW M3 in a 4-way comparison test with the now defunct Audi RS4 and the much-maligned Lexus IS-F making up the numbers, I barely registered the significance of what such a victory meant.

The reason for my obliviousness had deep roots. It was founded on the principle that if you can’t afford it, it shouldn’t really matter to you. For many years, I had come to accept that Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and AMG versions of such in particular, were priced in the stratosphere and out of reach of mere mortals such as yours truly. And indeed, many of the models in this most storied of marques are truly beyond the reach of the vast majority of the car-buying public. But one must remember also that prices are just numbers. It’s what you get for it that really counts.

One can’t help but be impressed by the fact that Mercedes-AMG (as the former independent tuning firm is now known, becoming the official 4th brand within the Daimler Benz group of automobiles) had finally found a way to trump its long-time Bavarian counterpart. This titanic struggle between the German carmakers harks back to a time when Duran Duran were still kind of cool (which might explain why many an M3 driver dresses the way they do, but that’s another column in another issue). But what is truly impressive is that Mercedes-AMG have managed to convince the automotive writers that they should agree with the C-class AMG’s newfound superiority. To do this, the good folks from Affalterbach (home of Mercedes-AMG) needed to find a way to shoehorn a mammoth 6.2 litre V8 engine into the C-class’ en-

gine bay, completely reengineer the car’s suspension and brakes, incorporate a Speedshift version of Mercedes’ own 7G-tronic 7-speed automatic transmission, attach a hand-built Eisenmann exhaust system, and they did all this without breaking the bank. Indeed, the starting price for all this goodness is $63,500, which means that on my measly writer’s salary, I could just about afford one.

And so it was that on one gloomy November afternoon when I brought what was then my relatively pedestrian daily commuter (an Audi A3) in for servicing at the rabbit-abundant (and I don’t mean Volkswagen ones) Automall, that I made a small detour into the Mercedes-Benz dealership. I was greeted by a tall, lanky salesperson whom I’ll refer to as John, for no better reason than that being his real name. “Would you be interested in seeing a new car that we have?”, asked John. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Sure why not?”

“This is the new C-class AMG, are you familiar with AMGs?”, John asked. Again, I shrugged, and said, “Yes, somewhat.” John led me to the parking lot and handed me the key to a wait-ing silver C63 and gestured to me to start it up. Let’s just say that was a mistake. As soon as the engine turned over, I was sold. The car had been sitting outside for a good few hours, and on a cold November day, the sound of the engine and the exhaust as the car burst into life was an ear-opening experience, to say the very least. The bark of the exhaust was enough to convince me I needed this car, and the ensuing test drive only reconfirmed my conviction, with each articulation of the throttle resulting in another explosion of mechanical orgasm.

What was meant to be a simple tune up and oil change for my little Audi hatchback turned into a cheque-writing afternoon of signing on the dotted line to purchase a 451-bhp torque monster of a 4-door supersedan. But this is why you must be careful if you are in any way inclined to impulse shop. No amount of YouTubing or magazine-reading prepares you for the experience of driving a C63 AMG if you have any pretensions of using the car the way it was meant to be used. The car is so laden with torque

at almost any engine speed that for the uninitiated, it can easily spell trouble should you enter a corner more aggressively than your driving skill dictates, because it is very likely that paramedics will be looking for ways to peel you off the lamp-post like the yel-low ribbon on the old oak tree.

This is not to say that the C63 is a dangerous car. Not at all. But what it does ask of you is that you remain always alert, ever-vigilant, because the 255/35ZR-18 Pirelli P Zeros in the back of the car are only “adequate” when it comes to grip and the rest is up to you, the driver. This is even more true if you should venture into the land of ESP-off. Once there, it is entirely possible that you’ll come to the conclusion that your C63 AMG is completely homicidal. Future iterations of Trivial Pursuit will surely ask who it was that coined the phrase, “an axe-murderer with headlights”, when describing the C63 AMG.

So in the words of Richard Hammond, “why would you want a car that’s constantly trying to kill you?” It’s simple: Because it is SO MUCH FUN.

Comments on this article can be sent to [email protected]

“Officer, I’d like to have my car arrested.”C

OLU

MN

David Wan – The Native Foreigner

sept_issue 42 2009.8.28 7:47:48 PM

I t was no less than Richard Hammond, of Top Gear fame, who poignantly noted that “the great-est thing in your life is that you can get out of that car alive.” That car being the now-revered Mer-

cedes-Benz C63 AMG. It’s not often that I succumb to popular media and the ramblings of journalistic hacks (myself excepted), whether they be on the BBC or in the local newspaper. And so it was that even as I thumbed through an issue of a certain well-known American car magazine in which the C63 AMG narrowly defeated its arch-rival BMW M3 in a 4-way comparison test with the now defunct Audi RS4 and the much-maligned Lexus IS-F making up the numbers, I barely registered the significance of what such a victory meant.

The reason for my obliviousness had deep roots. It was founded on the principle that if you can’t afford it, it shouldn’t really matter to you. For many years, I had come to accept that Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and AMG versions of such in particular, were priced in the stratosphere and out of reach of mere mortals such as yours truly. And indeed, many of the models in this most storied of marques are truly beyond the reach of the vast majority of the car-buying public. But one must remember also that prices are just numbers. It’s what you get for it that really counts.

One can’t help but be impressed by the fact that Mercedes-AMG (as the former independent tuning firm is now known, becoming the official 4th brand within the Daimler Benz group of automobiles) had finally found a way to trump its long-time Bavarian counterpart. This titanic struggle between the German carmakers harks back to a time when Duran Duran were still kind of cool (which might explain why many an M3 driver dresses the way they do, but that’s another column in another issue). But what is truly impressive is that Mercedes-AMG have managed to convince the automotive writers that they should agree with the C-class AMG’s newfound superiority. To do this, the good folks from Affalterbach (home of Mercedes-AMG) needed to find a way to shoehorn a mammoth 6.2 litre V8 engine into the C-class’ en-

gine bay, completely reengineer the car’s suspension and brakes, incorporate a Speedshift version of Mercedes’ own 7G-tronic 7-speed automatic transmission, attach a hand-built Eisenmann exhaust system, and they did all this without breaking the bank. Indeed, the starting price for all this goodness is $63,500, which means that on my measly writer’s salary, I could just about afford one.

And so it was that on one gloomy November afternoon when I brought what was then my relatively pedestrian daily commuter (an Audi A3) in for servicing at the rabbit-abundant (and I don’t mean Volkswagen ones) Automall, that I made a small detour into the Mercedes-Benz dealership. I was greeted by a tall, lanky salesperson whom I’ll refer to as John, for no better reason than that being his real name. “Would you be interested in seeing a new car that we have?”, asked John. I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Sure why not?”

“This is the new C-class AMG, are you familiar with AMGs?”, John asked. Again, I shrugged, and said, “Yes, somewhat.” John led me to the parking lot and handed me the key to a wait-ing silver C63 and gestured to me to start it up. Let’s just say that was a mistake. As soon as the engine turned over, I was sold. The car had been sitting outside for a good few hours, and on a cold November day, the sound of the engine and the exhaust as the car burst into life was an ear-opening experience, to say the very least. The bark of the exhaust was enough to convince me I needed this car, and the ensuing test drive only reconfirmed my conviction, with each articulation of the throttle resulting in another explosion of mechanical orgasm.

What was meant to be a simple tune up and oil change for my little Audi hatchback turned into a cheque-writing afternoon of signing on the dotted line to purchase a 451-bhp torque monster of a 4-door supersedan. But this is why you must be careful if you are in any way inclined to impulse shop. No amount of YouTubing or magazine-reading prepares you for the experience of driving a C63 AMG if you have any pretensions of using the car the way it was meant to be used. The car is so laden with torque

at almost any engine speed that for the uninitiated, it can easily spell trouble should you enter a corner more aggressively than your driving skill dictates, because it is very likely that paramedics will be looking for ways to peel you off the lamp-post like the yel-low ribbon on the old oak tree.

This is not to say that the C63 is a dangerous car. Not at all. But what it does ask of you is that you remain always alert, ever-vigilant, because the 255/35ZR-18 Pirelli P Zeros in the back of the car are only “adequate” when it comes to grip and the rest is up to you, the driver. This is even more true if you should venture into the land of ESP-off. Once there, it is entirely possible that you’ll come to the conclusion that your C63 AMG is completely homicidal. Future iterations of Trivial Pursuit will surely ask who it was that coined the phrase, “an axe-murderer with headlights”, when describing the C63 AMG.

So in the words of Richard Hammond, “why would you want a car that’s constantly trying to kill you?” It’s simple: Because it is SO MUCH FUN.

Comments on this article can be sent to [email protected]

1518 Robson St. Vancouver, BC V6G 1C2

For reservations, call 604.687.SURA

SURA Korean Cuisine

Sweet & Sour Red Snapper

Galbi Jjim

Galbi

House Cold “Naengchae” Salad

sept_issue 43 2009.8.28 7:47:55 PM

sept_issue 44 2009.8.28 7:48:3 PM

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Friday, August 7 The SR Black Tie Event

@ SR Auto Richmend

sept_issue 45 2009.8.28 7:48:37 PM

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July 1 Canada Day: XENO Magazine Launch

@Plaza of Nations

photos by Jim Park

sept_issue 46 2009.8.28 7:48:56 PM

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Sunday June 28: 8th Annual German Car Festival @Waterfront Parkphotos by Jarvis

Ho

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The luxury sports car industry has begun a new trend which allows drivers to have the comfort and convenience of a four-door sedan, while still maintaining the high-end sports performance in their cars. However, why would Lambo-rghini, Porsche and Aston Martin want to produce these four-door super cars in the first place? Why not continue to make some of the world’s greatest sports coupes? It seems that the super car industry has begun to evolve, and the need to provide for the market of people that demand performance from their cars, but at the same time need the convenience of a four-door family sedan, has increased drastically. But which of these four-door concepts will come out on top among the others? Let’s find out.

Royal 4-door Family FeudIt’s Been Lingering In The Back Of Our Minds, But No One Dared To Speak Of The Possibility.

The new Lamborghini Estoque is an ineffable phenomenon which made its first appearance during the Paris Motor Show in 2008. Es-timated at $230 000, the Estoque, measuring at 5.15 metres long, is the result of the evolutionary four-door concept which has become a valuable addition to the Lamborghini series. The new concept comes with the familiar diamond shaped air intake scoops, connected by its lower spoiler, along with its V-shaped nose and clear cut side vents, very much like a hybrid design of its two-door predecessors, the Raventón and Gallardo. Holding a 5.2L V10 engine with 520 hp under its hood, the Estoque is definitely a force to be reckoned with. But how does it stand against Panamera or Rapide?

by Sean Lim

sept_issue 48 2009.8.28 7:49:23 PM

It’s Been Lingering In The Back Of Our Minds, But No One Dared To Speak Of The Possibility.

The next contender in the four-door battle is the Aston Martin Rapide which was first revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006. Possibly one of the most eagerly awaited cars of 2010, the Rapide is the first of its kind in the Aston Martin series that provides the same elegant, high-powered sports performance as the previous DB9, along with four full-sized seats and a spacious interior. Powered by one of Aston Martin’s 6.0L V12 engine producing 470hp, the Rapide’s rear wheel drive is developed with a highly responsive Touchtronic gearbox. So what makes this Aston Martin differ-ent from its previous two-door designs? In terms of appearance, the only difference is that there are two extra doors on the outside and extra seats on the inside. Essentially, the Rapide is pretty much exactly the same shape and design as the DB9. But it is hard to deny, the car looks good either way. Estimated at $260 000 US, the Rapide is anticipated to be one of the top four-door sport sedans available in the market.

by Sean Lim

sept_issue 49 2009.8.28 7:49:28 PM

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Were you expecting a red carpet?

At Auto West BMW, our red carpet treatment comes with sustainable thinking, like our dealership that features geothermal energy, a green roof, rain water capture and recirculation, and an entire attitude that’s moving us toward an environmentally friendly future.

Auto West BMW Canada’s first eco-luxury automotive retailer

The UltimateDriving Experience.

Auto West BMWRichmond

autowestbmw.comDealer 8113

RichmondAUTO WEST BMW

10780 Cambie RoadV6X 1K8604.273.2217www.autowestbmw.com

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Oak St. Bridge, Vancouver

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The Porsche Company has been toying with the idea of a four-door 911 for quite some time now, but the idea never materialized. Until now. Acting as the initial catalyst for the four-door war between the Estoque and Rapide, Porsche Panamera brings to the table a remarkable new concept of the luxury sports sedan. Vaguely resembling the Porsche 911, the Panamera comes as an elongated four-door hatchback, making it slightly less pleasing to the eye compared to the Estoque and the Rapide, but stays true to the classic Porsche design. The luxury sports sedan starts with 400hp 4.8L V8 in base models and 500hp in the upgraded Panamera Turbo. With the handling performance of a Porsche and the convenience of modern sedans, the Panamera stands as formidable adversary to the Estoque and the Rapide.

Of course, it is impossible to come up with an accurate conclusion that one of these four-door concepts is better than the other, with two of these cars still in the process of production. But based on the expec-tations, it is quite clear that there will be significant advantages and disadvantages that differentiate the caliber of each car. Which car will reign champion of this four-door heavy weight bout? In 2010, when these cars have all materialized into our world, why not take one out for a test drive? Then you can be the judge!

sept_issue 50 2009.8.28 7:49:34 PM

ad

Were you expecting a red carpet?

At Auto West BMW, our red carpet treatment comes with sustainable thinking, like our dealership that features geothermal energy, a green roof, rain water capture and recirculation, and an entire attitude that’s moving us toward an environmentally friendly future.

Auto West BMW Canada’s first eco-luxury automotive retailer

The UltimateDriving Experience.

Auto West BMWRichmond

autowestbmw.comDealer 8113

RichmondAUTO WEST BMW

10780 Cambie RoadV6X 1K8604.273.2217www.autowestbmw.com

Ladner, Delta, Surrey, White Rock

Hwy. 99

Cambie Road

Bridgeport Road

Oak St. Bridge, Vancouver

Sh

ell Ro

ad

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Auto West BMW

sept_issue 51 2009.8.28 7:49:35 PM

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