Category Archives: Tuning

Tuning

Honda S2000 BP25: Bulletproof Automotive’s Jaw-Dropping Tribute to a Legend

It’s hard to believe that the Honda S2000 first leapt onto our roads more than twenty-five years ago. Yet here we are, decades later, and the little Japanese roadster still occupies a sacred place in every petrolhead’s heart—a car that sparks dreams, tuning projects, and obsessive scrolls through classifieds. Few machines from that golden era have aged with such dignity, and even fewer inspire the level of devotion we see today. Enter the BP25 from Bulletproof Automotive, a project that takes the S2000 and transforms it into something truly, painfully desirable.

This is not just a modified S2000. This is a rolling testament to everything enthusiasts love about Japanese engineering: precision, high-rev thrills, and a little bit of madness. Conceived as a celebration of Bulletproof Automotive’s 25th anniversary, the BP25 combines the best of respected Japanese tuning houses with the latest high-performance wizardry, culminating in a car that stole the spotlight at SEMA.

Looks that demand attention

The BP25 immediately announces itself as a Spoon-inspired hardtop coupe—a dramatic shift from the classic soft-top roadster silhouette. It wears a Varis Dark Panther carbon fiber bodykit, complete with reworked bumpers, flared fenders, aggressive intakes, and a rear wing so substantial it could double as a small aircraft stabilizer. Lamborghini Balloon White paint, gold graphics, exposed carbon fiber, and subtle red accents make the styling pop, while racing-style carbon-magnesium mirrors and custom LED taillights complete the picture.

Even the wheels are a statement. 19-inch BP-RW Evolution forged rims, inspired by traditional Japanese hammered metal techniques, shroud massive Brembo Pista brakes behind their high-grip rubber. The stance, aided by a Top Secret coilover setup and a cocktail of parts from J’s Racing, Roberuta, Spoon, EVS, and Hardrace, is sharp enough to slice through asphalt just by looking at it.

Heart of a beast

The engine bay is where dreams collide with reality. Bulletproof has taken the original 2.0-liter four-cylinder and paired it with a Vortech supercharger, producing a staggering 588 hp at 9,300 rpm and a redline stretching to 10,000 rpm. That’s right: ten thousand. Power flows through a reinforced six-speed manual and limited-slip differential, with a titanium Amuse exhaust manifold feeding a 70mm Euro dual exhaust system that sounds as feral as it looks.

Inside the cockpit

Step inside, and the BP25 proves it’s not just about straight-line terror. A Mugen steering wheel, Recaro RS-G racing seats with harnesses, ARC titanium shifter, and a horn button borrowed from the legendary NSX-R give the cabin a purposeful, track-ready feel. Alcantara upholstery with red stitching and a roll bar remind you that this is a car meant to be driven hard, not just admired in a garage.

A fitting tribute

Ben Schaffer, founder of Bulletproof Automotive, calls the BP25 “a tribute to the spirit that first defined the S2000.” And he’s not wrong. Every detail—from the carbon fiber accents to the screaming high-rev engine—honours the original’s DNA while injecting enough modern flair to make even seasoned enthusiasts gape.

In a world obsessed with SUVs and EVs, the BP25 is a reminder of what driving should feel like: visceral, exhilarating, and just a touch ridiculous. If the original S2000 was a mischievous grin, the BP25 is a full-blown roar. And somehow, even after twenty-five years, the dream isn’t over—it’s just gotten louder.

Source: Bulletproof Automotive

Tuning

KINGPIN: The Mustang That Broke Bad

There are restomods… and then there’s whatever dark alchemy Ringbrothers have just conjured up in a quiet Wisconsin workshop. It’s called KINGPIN, and it’s not just another SEMA show car. It’s a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 reimagined with the kind of obsessive precision that borders on madness — 5,500 hours’ worth of cutting, shaping, and metal-massaging madness.

The Heart of a Predator

Pop the carbon-fiber hood (carefully, please) and you’re greeted by Wegner Motorsports’ 5.0-liter Whipple-supercharged Coyote V8 — the sort of engine that could frighten small gods and most traction control systems. Over 800 horsepower gallops through a Bowler Transmissions Carbon Edition six-speed manual, sending every last ounce of fury to the rear wheels.

It’s got a custom stainless-steel exhaust manifold and a Flowmaster Super 44 setup that sounds less like a car and more like a baritone apocalypse. It doesn’t purr — it snarls, coughs, and announces itself as KINGPIN, ruler of the asphalt underworld.

Bodywork by Blacksmiths with OCD

Ringbrothers didn’t just restore a Mustang. They re-engineered it. The body’s been widened by two inches up front and 3.5 inches out back, giving it a stance that looks ready to punch other cars out of its parking space. The front wheelbase stretches 1.5 inches, lending KINGPIN a crouched, aggressive posture — part predator, part muscle-car deity.

And while there’s still plenty of Detroit muscle in its bones, the outer shell is draped in carbon fiber — the hood, grille surround, front lip, rear diffuser, and side panels all painstakingly woven to perfection. The color? A deep, sultry Bootleg Blag that catches light like polished obsidian.

Under the Skin

Beneath the sheetmetal, there’s proper engineering wizardry: independent front and rear suspension, Fox RS adjustable dampers, and enough Brembo stopping power to halt the Earth’s rotation. The HRE Vintage 517 wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, complete the look — a nod to vintage racing wrapped in modern grip.

Interior: Subtle Mayhem

Inside, KINGPIN blends race-ready focus with designer swagger. There’s a chopped carbon steering wheel, Dakota Digital gauges, and a bespoke roll cage tucked neatly into the cabin. Even the climate controls look like they were designed by someone who builds stealth fighters on the weekend.

And the paint? Oh, it’s Grab-Her Green — Ringbrothers’ cheeky reinterpretation of Ford’s classic Grabber Green. It’s just a shade off, deliberately so. A little smirk in color form.

KINGPIN isn’t a restomod. It’s a statement. It’s proof that the American muscle car can evolve without losing its snarl — that craftsmanship still matters in an age of touchscreen horsepower.

Ringbrothers haven’t just built a Mustang. They’ve built an event.

If this thing doesn’t make you want to burn rubber and confess your automotive sins, check your pulse — you might already be dead.

Source: Ringbrothers

Tuning

Ferrari Goes Mud Plugging: Meet the GlasWerks DMV Elevato

You’d think the phrase “off-road Ferrari” was something you’d hear from a fever dream after one too many espressos. But no — the Americans have done it. GlasWerks DMV, a boutique automotive outfit best known for crafting luxury SUVs with more leather than a Milan fashion show, has just unveiled the Elevato: a lifted, off-road-ready Ferrari GTC4Lusso. And yes, it’s every bit as gloriously absurd as it sounds.

This isn’t some Photoshop fantasy or a one-off meme for car forums — GlasWerks actually built it, and they’ve taken it to the SEMA show just to prove the world has officially gone mad (in the best possible way).

A Ferrari That Eats Gravel for Breakfast

Underneath all the lifted bravado, the Elevato still packs Ferrari’s magnificent 6.3-litre V12, now tuned to 760 horsepower — that’s 70 more than it had when it rolled out of Maranello. Instead of whispering down Italian coastal roads, it now roars through dust trails and spits out rocks with the same enthusiasm a 488 Pista spits flames.

To get there, GlasWerks’ special operations team tore each GTC4Lusso down to its bones and replaced or modified over 30 percent of its components. The result? Nine inches of ground clearance, eight inches of wheel travel, and a stance that looks like a supercar wearing hiking boots.

Engineering Madness, Executed Beautifully

The suspension has been completely reimagined for off-road life — aluminum upper and lower control arms, beefier axles and CV joints, uprated end links, and stabilizer links that wouldn’t look out of place on a Dakar racer. Customers can even choose their own spring rates and suspension setups, tailoring the ride from “highway cruiser” to “mountain goat.”

Body panels and mudguards? Interchangeable.
Exhaust? Crafted from Inconel, naturally.
Lights? All-LED, all custom.
Roof racks, rock guards, and machined switches? Take your pick.
Every Elevato even wears a paint protection film, because if you’re going to yeet a Ferrari through a forest, you’ll want to keep those Rosso Corsa curves looking respectable.

Luxury Meets Lunacy

Co-founder Joshua Sroka says the team’s aim was to create “something different” in the luxury off-road market — and that’s putting it mildly. They developed two versions side by side: one more road-focused, the other ready to clamber over whatever nature throws at it.

It’s the sort of engineering project that makes purists gasp and dreamers cheer. Imagine pulling up to a trailhead in a Ferrari that doesn’t flinch at the sight of mud. Imagine leaving tire tracks on a mountain pass while V12 symphonies echo through the trees.

The Price of Madness

All this off-road brilliance will set you back $175,000 — and that’s before you supply your own GTC4Lusso donor car. So, in total, you’re probably staring down something north of half a million dollars. But then again, can you really put a price on the first V12 Ferrari that could, theoretically, drive up a volcano?

In a world where crossovers keep pretending to be sporty, the GlasWerks DMV Elevato flips the script: a proper supercar that’s gone full SUV. It’s ridiculous, brave, and utterly wonderful — exactly the kind of madness the car world needs right now.

Source: GlasWerks DMV