Summer in NY can get pretty hot, but last weekend was simply perfect. 80-90 degrees with virtually no humidity to be exact. Surprisingly the roads were pretty clear(by New York standards), and I was able to experience the Boxster under a variety of driving conditions including low, mid, and high end acceleration, handling, and hard braking. This isn’t a review of the car as there are a million of those around, so I’m limiting my comments to a few qualities of the car that I experienced.

Despite my overall positive experience there were a few areas where the Boxster could use a bit of enhancement. In my upcoming posts, I’ll suggest fixes for each area of improvement that help improve the balance of an already very balanced ride. Each post will cover one of these areas and offer up some relatively cheap but effective aftermarket solutions. I’ll add links to each section below as they are published. If you have your own issue with any area not yet mentioned, leave it in the comments below and I’ll try to include that in my post.

While the Lamborghini Murcielago’s days are numbered, it is still one of the best looking cars to ever grace the planet. This image does it nothing but justice. Enjoy!

Car Magazine has reported that the upcoming Audi RS3 may receive the same engine as the TT RS. This seems to make sense since the 2.0L Turbo engines from the Volkswagen group seem to have gotten as much boost as they’re willing to give at this point, at least in stock form. But, with Audi’s Quattro AWD, the RS3 is sure to be able to put that power to the pavement.

Unfortunately, like the Audi S3, VW Scirocco and many other European cars, we won’t likely be seeing this in the US. (Sigh) Now, I know that we don’t have an Autobahn here in the US, but we do have a lot of great driving roads and plenty of autocross venues and racetracks to put that power to work. I guess we’ll just have to keep dreaming for now.

This is what you get when you decide to combine a Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette with a wrecked Ferrari 355. The 2CV (in French deux chevaux or “two horse”) got its name from the “2 tax horsepower” it was rated at. The actual original horsepower was 9bhp. My guess is this is the fastest delivery van in existence, but I’d love to be proven wrong. While I’m not usually a fan of the use of Ferrari power in non-Ferrari vehicles, this one is kinda fun.

An amazingly low 4.87 lbs per horsepower help to propel this 620hp rocket around the track. Even in dry conditions I’m sure it is hard to put the power to the pavement, but in the wet, it looks close to impossible. It sure does look like a lot of fun!

Just because you have money doesn’t mean you have taste. This Audi A4 (S4?) Cabriolet illustrates that sometimes less is more. The owner of this “whip” must be longing for the 1980′s. It really just looks like a bad kit car. But, to each his own. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So, the question is, would you be caught dead in this thing or would you proudly cruise the streets?

BMW M3 Film from BanditoGarage on Vimeo.

This short video from Bandito Brothers makes me smile…and drool…A LOT. It not only makes me want a BMW M3 more, it makes me want to just get thrashed around in one…especially if the girl in the video was driving. Show this to anyone even remotely considering this car and I’m pretty sure they’ll be scheduling their test drive in the short term.

Is this the best looking BMW ever?

BMW certainly has produced a lot of great looking cars over the years, but the Grand Coupe concept, rumored to go into production next year, just might be the prettiest car they’ve ever made. Audi has really upped the ante in the last few years and this sexy Bimmer just might have answered the challenge. What do you think?

After a 40+ year absence from the World Rally Championship (WRC), MINI has confirmed that they will enter their new Countryman AWD 4-door crossover into the 2011 season. The number of races and its debut event in 2011 is still yet to be determined, but they are set to race the full season in 2012.

Developed in cooperation with Prodrive, the MINI Countryman WRC will use a BMW Motorsport sourced 1.6L turbo engine aligning with the FIA’s new Super2000 regulations which stipulate the use of turbocharged 1,600cc 4-cylinder engines. The car has been in development since 2009 and will be tested starting this fall. MINI will also make the Countryman WRC available to customer teams.

“I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying. The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go,” states Ian Robertson, BMW AG Board of Management member.

It will certainly be nice to see a new manufacturer in the WRC since the current field consists of mainly Fords and Citroens.

German tuner G-POWER has followed up their 750hp HURRICANE RS with a further modified BMW M5 sedan, the HURRICANE RR. The HURRICANE RR has just set a record speed of 231 MPH breaking the current record that was also held by the HURRICANE RS of 228 MPH set early in 2010.

The 800hp HURRICANE RR V10 is fed by two ASA T1-316 superchargers, one for each cylinder bank. G-POWER also states that this configuration could theoretically make as much as 900hp. The engine internals have also been modified to handle the added boost. New MAHLE high-performance forged pistons with lower compression and the connecting rods and piston pins have also been replaced.

Peak power is achieved between 7,500 and 8,000 RPM with 590 ft-lbs of torque available at 5,000 RPM. The Bugatti Veyron it isn’t, but the HURRICANE RR also doesn’t have the luxury of 16 cylinders, 8 liters of displacement, and 4 turbochargers. Just to put this into perspective, the Bugatti produces 125hp per liter, while the HURRICANE RR produces 160hp per liter.

As you would imagine, the HURRICANE RR also boasts some pretty impressive acceleration with a 0-62 time of 4.35 seconds, a 9.5 second sprint to 124 MPH and 186 MPH is reached in just 25.8 seconds. So….it’s not your average 4,000 pound executive hauler. It’s a 231 MPH supercar that just happens to have 5 seats and a trunk.

G-POWER has also made modifications to the aerodynamics with their HIGHLINE body kit. Consisting of front and rear skirts and spoilers, the HIGHLINE body kit helps to keep the car planted at speed with increased downforce as well as provide the needed cooling for the 5 liter V10. G-POWER also adds performance brake system and height-adjustable G-POWER RS coilovers to help with handling and stopping power.

How much does all of this cost? About $72k on top of the price of the donor M5. Used M5s are selling in the $50k range these days for a decent car, so if you were thinking about buying a the Porsche Panamera Turbo but thought it was a bit too “tame”, this is a great option. That is if you don’t mind a used car. Which in this case, why would you? $120k is a lot of paper, but with this kind of performance, the HURRICANE RR is in a league of its own.