Daily Archives: December 29, 2017
Lexus LC 500 Appears in Black Panther Movie
One of the most anticipated movies from Marvel this coming 2018 aside from the Avengers: Infinity War is the Black Panther film. Just like almost any other superhero movies, several brands have taken the opportunity to promote their products there. One of them is Lexus with its LC 500 premium car. Black Panther can be seen in one part of the film riding on top of the vehicle.
The automaker also released a Lexus LC 500 concept car in honor of Black Panther. Lexus simply calls it the “Black Panther Inspired LC.”
The Black Panther Inspired LC 500 is highlighted by its night blue color. It is fitted with a new glowing blue Lexus logo, blacked out radiator grille, front lip spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing and custom wheels. The hood of the car comes with the face of Black Panther and the plate at the back has the Black Panther movie logo.
In addition, the sides seem to be sporting chrome gills with five horizontal lines probably representing the claws of the superhero. The side mirrors also appear with four sharp spikes resembling the nails of the panther. There seems to be something bluish glowing beneath the rear glass of the car too.
The same two-tone color theme can be found in the interior of the concept LC 500. The sporty black leather seats of the auto looks like the padded paw of the panther.
The luxury car brand even went as far as to integrate several elements of the Black Panther mythos into the vehicle. According to the automaker, the concept car is powered by a fictitious element called “vibranium.”
Vibranium happens to be the most important material in Black Panther’s kingdom called “Wakanda.” It is a rare ore coming from a meteorite that can store vast amounts of energy.
Prior Design Takes a Shot at the Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Pickup trucks used to be more inclined to their utilitarian nature. However, with the tight competition in the market, automakers have brought up their game to put more exciting features in them. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the three-pointed star brand’s entry in the automotive landscape and it is considered to be a catalyst for a new niche in the market, which is the luxury pickup truck segment.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class has the same platform as the Nissan Navara. However, it has successfully distanced itself from it because of the nice luxury touches that Mercedes integrated into its design. However, for those who are looking for more out their X-Class, Prior Design just introduced a new custom body kit for the vehicle.
The cosmetic upgrades provided by Prior Design to the Mercedes X-Class include a revised front bumper with large air vents, LED DRL strips and front lip spoiler. The front chrome radiator grille is also replaced by a blacked-out design. Then, the wheel arches are extended too in order to give the pickup a more aggressive look. Going around the back will reveal a rear diffuser and new exhaust tips.
So far, the changes offered by Prior Design to the Mercedes X-Class are only limited to its exterior. For those who want to get a sportier cabin, they will just have to wait for the AMG styling kit made specially for the pickup, which will come out soon.
The Mercedes X-Class is highlighted by its 3.0-liter V6 model with 254 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The power of the auto is distributed to its four wheels via a seven-speed automatic with shift paddles. The acceleration of the pickup from zero to 60 mph is somewhere below nine seconds and its top speed is over 125 mph.
Check out some of the pictures of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class with the Prior Design treatment in the gallery below:
The Liberty Walk Lexus LC500 is Just Wild
Japan-based Liberty Walk just released its new custom body kits for the latest Lexus LC500. The new package adds more to the sporty exterior of the car.
There two versions to choose from in the new body kits of Liberty Walk for the LC500. There are also two options for the materials used in the upgrades.
Exterior Upgrades
According to Liberty Walk, the visual enhancements offered by the body kits include a new front diffuser, side diffusers, rear diffuser, rear wing and wide fenders. Buyers will have the option to select either the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) or carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials for the package.
From the looks of it, the add-ons really bring the base of the car very near the ground. So, better look out for some speed bumps along the way. The photos reveal a new set of Advan wheels and blue-tipped quad tailpipes too, which really complement the body kit. There are some decals in the car as well, including Liberty Walk logos, Advan logos, and letterings on the doors that read “Imagine all the people living life in peace.” The quote was lifted from John Lennon’s song titled “Imagine”.
Pricing
The first version of the body kit costs $15,650 for the FRP and $19,440 for the CFRP. The second version is priced $13,380 for the FRP and $16,740 for the CFRP. It should be noted that the LC500 already has a starting price of $92,995 (including shipping).
Interior
The interior of the LC500 is not covered by the package, but we think that the stock carbon fiber and Alcantara materials used inside the car will go well with the Liberty Walk body kit.
Engine
The engine remains in its factory configuration. As a recap, the LC500 is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 with 471 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque. Combined with a 10-speed automatic, it can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Its top speed is capped at 168 mph.
