Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

When you hear the term “light SUV,” images of the suburban doldrums typically come to mind: errands, grocery shopping, carpooling, etc.  With the Brabus GLK V12 (available from Brabus for approximately $540,000), any proconceived notion you may have held in your fragile mind regarding that classification gets permanently obliterated.  With a 12 cylinder twin turbo engine churning out 750 hp, the Brabus GLK V12 hits 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and tops out at 211 mph, making it the fastest street-legal SUV in the world.  With specialized modifications to the front and rear fascia, the addition of fender flares, custom-tailored rocker panels with LED lights as well as a coilover sport suspension, high-performance brakes and fully leather interior, the Brabus GLK V12 is more than just a tuner SUV—it’s the singular embodiment of unadulterated power and strategic engineering.  One look and it’s readily apparent that this sleek, yet absolute beast of a vehicle is meant for anything but the carpool lane.

Automobiles, Gear, Trucks

It’s hard to improve upon near-perfection.  But the Aston Martin Carbon Black Special Editions (i.e. the V12 Vantage, pictured, and the DBS) compellingly prove it can be done.  It starts with a custom Carbon Black metallic paint that has a depth of color that’s both aqueous and luminous at the same time.  The carbon theme extends beyond the finish as side strakes, anodized black tread plates and sill plaques all share a common carbon bond.  Even the seats are constructed from Carbon Fiber and Kevlar for a combination of lightness and strength, while the interior is swathed in the aptly named Obsidian Black leather, which is further accented by hand-sewn silver stitches.  10 spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels round out the myriad trims and options available, making either of the two Carbon Black Special Editions, the Aston Martin of choice for those who value the inimitable aesthetic power of black carbon.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Impeccable quality, reliability, and innovation has always defined Lexus as a luxury automobile manufacturer.  And with the introduction of the Lexus LFA (available from Lexus for approximately $350,000), they’ve now compellingly broken new ground in establishing themselves in the supercar arena as well.  With a flawlessly fluid design, the LFA exhibits an aggressive front fascia that’s further accented by side air vents, LED tail lights and a rear triple-exhaust system that has the LFA looking just as incredible going as it does coming at you.  Constructed out of a specially engineered Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic that provides incredible strength while remaining light-weight, the LFA (with a 4.8L V10 engine that puts out 552 hp) accelerates from 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds and tops out at 202 mph.  And with only 20 hand-built LFAs being produced each month for 25 consecutive months for a maximum of 500, the Lexus LFA is one limited edition supercar we can’t wait to see out on the road (but with production slated to begin December 2010, just don’t expect a sighting anytime soon).

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Nobody ever expects to find themselves unable to get out of their car after an accident (or as it rapidly sinks into a body of water), but every year, these things do happen.  However unlikely this scenario may be, it never hurts to be prepared just in case the unforeseen somehow manages to take place.  The Swiss+Tech BodyGard 7-in-1 Emergency Tool (available at Swiss+Tech starting from $30) weighs in at just a paltry 1.5 oz, but is superbly equipped to address your survival needs with a spring-loaded glass breaker, safety-blade seat belt cutter, sonic alarm, emergency distress light, bright-white LED flashlight, thermometer and digital tire pressure gauge.  Durably constructed, incredibly compact and portable (as it’s attachable to a rear view mirror, sun visor and key chain), the BodyGard 7-in-1 Emergency Tool may just be the most important after-market accessory your car ever needs.

Automobiles, Gear, Security, Tools

In a time where cars park themselves and use sonar to eliminate blind spots when changing lanes, the editors at DS suspect that as a result of these advances, our senses are being dulled as we rely more heavily on technology to do the work our natural instincts used to handle for us.  In turn, cars are often heavier and less responsive and our ability to enjoy what makes driving so intrinsically liberating is diminished as well.  The Porsche Boxster Spyder (available from Porsche starting at $61,200) exceptionally addresses those very concerns by eliminating the frills and instead allowing the driver to appreciate the fundamental aspects of what driving a true roadster really means.

And that starts with a minimalist approach that many would consider monastically austere.  No radio.  No cup holders.  No air conditioning.  Instead, the Boxster Spyder is equipped with special lightweight 19-inch wheels, aluminum doors, an open roof and even door pulls in place of conventional door release levers, making it the lightest production Porsche available.  Aesthetically, the Boxster Spyder is striking, particularly from the rear fascia perspective as the fixed rear spoiler and two powerdomes immediately set it apart from the regular Boxster.  And one retro detail we love is the 1960s Porsche striping and logo on the side.  The Boxster Spyder’s 320 hp also gets you from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds (4.7 with the PDK), and with its lowered chassis and stiffer suspension, the handling is true Porsche bliss.  Sure, the Boxster Spyder isn’t for everybody, but for the purist at heart, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

The Audi e-tron represents Audi’s first significant foray into the high performance electric vehicle market.  Though still just a concept car, the e-tron is an engineering and design revelation.  The e-tron immediately strikes you with an assertive front fascia that’s compellingly defined by a single-frame grille flanked by two large air intakes.  Adaptive matrix beam headlamps are aggressively designed and powered by high-efficiency LED lights that reflexively change intensity and brightness according to weather conditions.  Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the e-tron accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, has a top speed of 124 mph, and has a travel range of approximately 150 miles on a six to eight hour charge (using a household current via a cable and plug).  Two electric motors are mounted on the front axle and another two are mounted behind the rear axle, thereby achieving true quattro performance as torque flows distinctively to each wheel based on driving conditions.  With similar design lines to the much loved R8, but with zero emissions, the Audi e-tron is hopefully an auspicious presage of a production vehicle in the near future.

Automobiles, Gear, Going green, Sports Cars

Some acts are virtually impossible to follow.  So when Mercedes-Benz reinterpreted the iconic 300 SL with an updated model, we were curious to see how it was going to stack up against the original.  Simply put, we were left speechless.  The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (price TBA) is one of the most stunningly gorgeous automobiles we’ve ever seen.  With an aluminum space frame body housing an AMG 6.3 liter, V8 engine putting out 571hp, the SLS AMG is capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, while being electronically limited to a top speed of 197 mph.  And with stylistic elements from the inimitable gullwing doors to the cockpit-like interior, the classic purity of the original 300 SL’s spirit is retained, while its low-slung and aggressive aesthetic, evocative of sleek fighter jets, propels the SLS AMG into the rarefied air of contemporary super sports cars.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

As the striking successor to the F430, the Ferrari 458 Italia (price TBA) doesn’t just passively take the place of its predecessor; rather, it dauntlessly takes a new step forward as a completely redesigned car.  With a 4.5 liter direct injected V8 mid-rear-mounted engine producing 570hp, the 458 Italia has an estimated 0-60 time of under 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.  And with all that horsepower being delivered through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as well as having a shell designed by Pininfarina, the 458 Italia represents the stunning synthesis of aerodynamic engineering and the inimitable sense of automotive design we’ve come to always expect from Ferrari.  Expect more information and imagery to follow after its official presentation at the 2009 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Rims, dubs, wheels—whatever you call them, it doesn’t change the fact that most people judge them almost solely on appearance.  HRE Performance Wheels has distinguished itself from the competition for over 30 years by precisely engineering wheels that not only have inimitable style, but also provide unsurpassed performance and quality.  Using state-of-the-art analysis, each HRE wheel’s strength-to-weight ratio is optimized to ensure outstanding acceleration, braking and handling.  Each wheel is forged out of heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and hand-assembled to guarantee a consistent quality finish.  And every wheel is measured against the highest performance standards to an exactness that borders on obsession—HRE even uses third-party testers to validate that their designs meet, if not exceed these high standards.  However, what makes HRE exceptional is their commitment to providing you with the ability to customize your wheels with options such as custom colors, pinstriping, and various powdercoats ranging from silver to charcoal to black, among others.  Ultimately, every HRE wheel can be fully customized for vehicle fit as well as individually built-to-order so that each style, fitment and finish meets your every desire.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

It would be an oversimplification and an injustice to call the Aston Martin DBS Volante (available at Aston Martin from $282,500 – $286,500) just a convertible.  With a motorized retractable fabric roof and a 6.0 liter V12 engine producing 510hp, the DBS Volante combines the thrill of open air driving with the serious performance of a luxury sports car.  And with standard carbon ceramic brakes equipped on the DBS Volante, you’ll have the necessary stopping power to get you right back to zero after you first hit 62mph in only 4.3 seconds.  It’s not just about performance either—Aston Martin engineers and Bang & Olufsen’s Tonmeisters have teamed together to produce the BeoSound DBS entertainment system, which actually recognizes when the roof is retracted and adjusts to ensure sound quality in the midst of extra wind noise.  And just in case the standard paint colors don’t suit your taste, Aston Martin will apply a custom paint job to match any color you like, virtually guaranteeing your Aston Martin DBS Volante will be one of a kind.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars