PROJECT S4: Auto Genie Pro Valet

Poor 15-year-old Project S4 has been a bit neglected of late, so we thought we'd give her a Summer treat with a professional valet by the Auto Genie.

Here she was before:

And after:

Read the full, impressive story on our website here.

NEWS VIDEO: Laponie Ice Driving New Cars & Courses

Our pals at Laponie Ice Driving have unveiled their 2013 events and what a cracking line up it is – with a choice of over 28 high-powered cars (including Lambo Gallardo’s and Porsche 911's) and 20 ace instructors, taking place on 750 acres of frozen lake in Lapland, with replica F1 circuits. If you like your driving, sideways, and safe, in an unreal location... you should book one and have a memory of a lifetime. Brand new for 2013 are two Lamborghini Gallardos, three Audi S4s and six Subaru STi S Imprezas, joining up with Porsche 911, Corvettes and more cult cars. They say: "There really is nothing quite like learning to drift on a private frozen lake in Lapland - all 750 acres of it - under expert instruction. Moreover, you can now drive on one of two replicas of the Silverstone Formula 1 circuit, as well as on other famous Formula 1 tracks. For the past seven years, Laponie Ice Driving has been thrilling participants, ranging from complete novices to semi-professional drivers. And yes, it really is possible to learn how to drive fast and safely on ice in two or three days. You can choose your car, and you will be assured of at least four tutored hours behind the wheel each day- hours never to be forgotten."
And Laponie now has UK representation, so for further information please do get in touch (in case you were wondering, Laponie is the French for Lapland!)
See more or book for yourself: www.laponie-ice-driving.co.uk
NB: The video above is for the old 2012 courses and an old offer we ran, but shows you how cool it all is! See more videos here: http://www.laponie-ice-driving.com/uk/videos.php#ancre

PROJECT S4: Powerflex Bush Kit, Whiteline Swaybar & Tarox Rear Kit Report

We've just got our tuned twin turbo V6 Project S4 back from Dave Green at www.hensteadmotors.com – complete with new Powerflex (http://www.powerflex.co.uk) bush kit, Whiteline rear anti-roll bar/swaybar and camber/caster kit (http://www.whiteline.com.au) and Tarox rear brake upgrade (http://en.tarox.com) – ready for some track day action with RMA soon. The effects are simply staggering. Read all about the test so far at our Project Cars section of the Road website: http://www.roadmagazine.co.uk/project-cars. And look out for a big power BMW and crazy EVO project cars coming soon too. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more pictures and updates too:
https://twitter.com/#!/roadmagazine and http://www.facebook.com/roadmagblog

PROJECT CARS: Project S4 Track Preparation

Project S4, our old dog leaning new tricks, is getting ready for some track time later this "Summer" (good job it's equipped with Quattro in this weather!). We're just about to go up to our good pal Dave Green's garage at Henstead Motors (http://www.henstead-motorsport.co.uk/) to fit a raft of suspension upgrades and finish off the brake kit fit, in preparation for some track days, end of this season and into Autumn and Winter (we like to slide). First up, we're about to fit the Tarox (http://en.tarox.com/) grooved, heat-treated, hand finished solid rear discs and re-bleed the system to maximum stopping power, fade-free on track as it has been on the road, we hope. Great piece of kit. Then we are setting about optimising the S4's suspension – already upgraded with Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, which are fabulous. We're fitting a full set of Powerflex (http://www.powerflex.co.uk/) high performance Polyurethane suspension bushes, replacing 12-year-old rubber with 30% stiffer, longer lasting polybushes, which should reduce tyre wear, increase braking and cornering stability and reduce inertia no end... not to mention match the Bilsteins in upping the grip level, further still. High hopes for these innovative, great value products. Speaking of grip, we're also fitting an upgraded, heavy duty rear swaybar (anti-roll bar or stabiliser bar to some), along with camber and caster inducing chassis control devices from Australian suspension genius brand, Whiteline (http://www.whiteline.com.au/). Most effective, best value modification you can make to your suspension... just maybe?  
Read all the latest posts on our website Project Car section here: http://www.roadmagazine.co.uk/project-cars/

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