So long…

The title actually works in two ways.

The first meaning is straightforward. It has been so long since I have last posted on my beloved blog. But there is a reason for this. I no longer feel that it is the best platform to serve my needs of chit-chatting about cars. To me, blogs are slowly fading. They just don’t have the excitement around them anymore. People everywhere have decided to turn them into money-making advertisement platforms and have taken the very essence of what blogging should be and commercialized it. More power to them. It’s just that was never my intention and when I saw that that’s what everyone was expecting of Brake Banzeen, it became much more tiring to explain that that’s not what this site was about. It was a place for me to share my thoughts on cars with like-minded individuals. That’s it.

The second meaning comes into play now. It’s time for me to hang up my typing gloves and move towards the mediums which most people tend to use more frequently. I have a newfound love for Twitter, the appreciation for which it only takes 140 characters to say what you have to. And obviously there is Instagram; haven’t started yet but I’m sure I’ll get there soon. For any of my followers over the last 4 years, thank you for reading and being an integral role of Brake Banzeen. I’ll always appreciate it.

If you guys would like to continue following my work, please do so on Twitter @brakebanzeen.

So long people, it’s been a joy!

Elwehbi

Why the Chevrolet C7 Corvette rightfully deserves the “Stingray” name

Some say it isn’t right that the new C7 base model Corvette gets the legendary “Stingray” name. I’m beginning to think otherwise. Why? 

Range Rover covered in coins representing the GCC… no cliche here folks

Approximately 57,412 coins were used to cover the surface of a Range Rover. The SUV is also covered in GCC flags and visuals representing their current and previous rulers. An entity naimed Coins Car is responsible for this. I don’t get it. Not necessarily my cup of tea. Cliche to the max. But it is impressive. Watch the walkaround video after the jump.

Speed comparison: Red Bull F1 car, a V8 Supercar and a Mercedes SL AMG. This time, it isn’t staged.

It’s been done before. Only difference is, this one takes place on live TV and isn’t staged as frequently done for marketing & PR purposes. Nice to see Casey Stoner and Mick Doohan involved (normally pushing the limits on their race bikes), while David Coulthard resumes duty in the Red Bull F1 car. Enjoy the video after the jump.

2013 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Abu Dhabi Sport Timings

There’s nothing better than back-to-back F1 weekends! The Malaysian Grand Prix is likely to be a wet and rainy affair, based on weather forecasts, so be ready for unpredictable outcomes.

F1′s Middle Eastern coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix will be broadcast March 22nd – 24th on Abu Dhabi Sport for free (HD is a paid service; race w/ English commentary may be viewed on Abu Dhabi Sport 6 HD). Hit the jump for the list of Abu Dhabi Sport coverage timings (GMT+3).

A Corvette hatchback… Yay or nay?

Ferrari’s hatchback success – the FF – needs to watch out! Callaway Cars, a reputable custom-coachbuilder, has just finalized a few renderings of a Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray in shooting brake form. The objective behind the design was to create a long-roof version of the Corvette with more interior room and a “unique style.”

The use of carbon fiber in the newly-added structure will keep weight down to a minimum, helping the car break Callaway’s top speed target of

2013 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix – Abu Dhabi Sport Timings

It’s back baby! The Australian Grand Prix kicks off the 2013 season in what promises to be a super-competitive spectacle.

F1′s Middle Eastern coverage of the Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast March 15th – 17th on Abu Dhabi Sport for free (HD is a paid service; race w/ English commentary may be viewed on Abu Dhabi Sport 6 HD). Hit the jump for the list of Abu Dhabi Sport coverage timings (GMT+3).

GulfRun 8 – Done and dusted!

January 2013 saw another successful GulfRun event come to a close. The event has developed into a fan favorite, linking up man vs. machine at the Bahrain International Circuit annually. Hit the jump to watch a recap of this year’s GulfRun 8 event.

Ferrari’s self-loving hypercar… the LaFerrari (w/video)

Okay, Ferrari could have definitely been more creative with the name. But could they have possibly been any more creative with the car’s design and features? I definitely think not. Freshly unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the LaFerrari is the Italian automaker’s follow up to the highly regarded Enzo.

Blessed with a 6.3-liter V12 engine (789hp) mated to an electric motor (160hp) and a 7-speed DCT gearbox, the LaFerrari’s total power output is a mighty 949hp and 663lb-ft of torque. This helps the hypercar achieve some ballistic figures. 0-100km/h in less than three seconds. 200km/h in seven seconds. 300km/h in 15 seconds. Top speed is reached at over 350 km/h.

The LaFerrari’s chassis is 27% more rigid thanks to the integration of items such as the seats and the battery compartment. Showing that they don’t skimp on details, the LaFerrari features

Launched! Porsche’s new GT3

You gotta love the Geneva Motor Show! It’s “unveilings” galore. Porsche took the wraps off its latest GT3, with its new aerodynamic body inclusive of a more aggressive front bumper, additional air intakes and fixed carbon fiber rear wing.

Using the Carrera S 3.8-liter engine as a basis, the GT3 receives 468bhp (39bhp more than its predecessor) and 324lb-ft. The car is also capable of redlining at 9000rpm, which is 500rpm more than the outgoing GT3. How fast to 100km/h from a standstill?

Leakage! Lamborghini’s new and very rare supercar… the “Veneno”

We’ve all heard the news that Lamborghini was prepping a special unveiling for the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in celebration of its 50th anniversary. And this is supposedly it! Meet the Veneno (“poison” in Spanish).

Built on the Aventador’s carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, the Veneno utilizes an upgraded version of Lambo’s 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 that produces 740hp instead of 700hp. Mated to a 7-speed autobox, with power transmitted to all four wheels, the super-secret Lambo can hit a top speed of

Two 6-wheeler Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG trucks headed for the Middle East

It’s no secret that the Middle East has a romantic infatuation with the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. You can pull up at a traffic light and chances are you will spot the boxy brute somewhere. So I guess it was only a matter of time before we’d see a truly customized variant of the G Wagon headed for our shores.

Meet the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG “6×6”. Snapped prior to being shipped out to their new home(s) in the Middle East, these two examples will be quite the rare sighting. One in white and one in a grayish hue.

The Australian military currently uses a similar six-wheeled G-Wagon within its arsenal, but it’s safe to say that these are the first civilian trucks produced. There has been no confirmation whether these two examples have been built by

Alfa Romeo 4C finally in the flesh!

The production version of Alfa Romeo’s mid-engined, rear wheel drive 4C has finally been unveiled. Not that the design comes as any surprise. We all knew what the official product would look like thanks to the internet; however, knowing that this is the final spec of the 4C is quite reassuring.

Seeing the 4C in official guise truly makes me happy. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen an Alfa Romeo model which is deserving of the brand’s racing and motoring heritage. Carbon fiber and aluminium seem to have been used extensively throughout the

Want a Mercedes-Benz CLA? Put in an order now and get the exclusive Edition 1

This is “a first”… kind of. Not following the normal practice of spinning off limited edition models at the end of a car’s life cycle, Mercedes-Benz has instead opted to kick off the launch of its new CLA model with a limited addition version.

Available over a twelve month period only, the CLA Edition 1 can be ordered in exclusive colors such as

Demand for W Motors’ Arabian supercar has gone through the roof?

As per an announcement from W Motors, it seems that the Lykan Hypersport supercar has exceeded all expectations when it came to demand. Especially when one considers the heavy $3.4 million dollars price tag. W Motors was planning on only building seven units of the Lykan Hypersport, but after the 2013 Qatar Motor Show unveiling, have received more than 100 orders!

A 750hp mid-mounted twin turbo flat-six engine capable of achieving 0-100km/h times in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of