500 for love

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I love small things. Blame the estrogen.

I love fast things. Blame Hollywood, Tom Cruise sliding across the floor in his underwear, and Days of Thunder.

The Fiat 500 is one of my favorite cars of the first description, and I can't wait for the new Fiatsler to bring the tiny deathtrap back to US shores.

Unfortunately, it seems like these mini cars will be getting the Biggie-size treatment, with a longer, wider, and more "accommodating" version more fit for robust American bodies.

Embiggened microcars? The charm of these little 500s has always been their diminutive size. Is it sad, then, that the best I fear I can I hope for is a new Chryco 500 that's smaller than the newest Coopers?

Yes.

Until they arrive, I'll just have to enjoy dreams of this lil' rat-motored terror from the 2009 SEMA show, and marvel at what might have been.

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Photographs via the Autoblog.

weiner pics

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Just a few pics of the RENN's GLK - from Ree Bisaccio at MBUSA.

Thanks, again!

we are ze weiners!!

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After a crazy-hectic 45 day build and grueling 30 days of campaigning for votes from friends, family, well-wishers, enemies, total strangers, spam-bots, and all manner of Illuminati conspiracy theorists, Mercedes-Benz announced that RENNTECH has won the MBUSA GLK tuner build-off!!

At this point, I'm supposed to write about the tough competition from Brabus and Legendary, but - being 100% honest - Brabus took a knife to an all-out RENNTECH/BLVD gunfight, and I'm not sure Legendary showed up at all.

In any event, Mercedes acknowledged that RENNTECH's sweeping program of upgrades - which included extensive engine mods, software development, aerodynamic bodywork, suspension and brake upgrades, as well as converting the GLK to hybrid drive - pushed RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Rally Racer "over the edge".

The RENN and I would like to thank all our friends and sponsors (listed, below), this build would not have been possible without you.

Thanks for all your support!

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Special thanks to ...

- Nitto tire
- Seibon carbon
- 3M
- Optima batteries
- Schroth racing
- Goff's curtain walls
- Platune design
- JRD tuning
- Technicar
- Graphic Reproduction

Extra special shout-outs to ...

- David Dimitrion
- Rod Trenne
- Jack Baruth
- Matt Hardigree
- Ree Bisaccio
- Brian Nieves
- David Larsen
- Nicole Weiss
- Rob Moran
- Nick Chambers
- Steve Calamusa
- Robert and Raymond (mmm ... dark meat)

episode iii

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Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 3 (of 3) is posted above.

Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

episode ii

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Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 2 (of 3) is posted above.

Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

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EDIT: SAME DAY

You know, for some reason I look terrible in this episode! What's up with that? I look OK in episodes 1 and 3 ... bad lighting?

What. Ever.

episode i

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Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 1 (of 3) is posted above.

Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW!

glk voting card

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Just posting the digital version of our 4x6" SEMA handout to remind you all to head over to MBUSA.com/GLK and vote for the RENNTECH GLK 350 Spec.R hybrid!

As the happy little handout will tell you (do cards tell you things?), you can vote once from every computer you have access to - and, if you're a rabid RENNfan, you can even VOTE AGAIN! Simply text "Glk73" to the 5-digit number 48457 from your mobile phone.

Danke!!

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EDIT: SAME DAY

I'm Jo Borras, and I approve this message.

sema girls 2

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I haven't exactly been heavy into the news since getting back from SEMA (sort of "got back into it" yesterday, having been shocked back into action after seeing that Tesla/Brabus stupidity), but it seems like our Andrea got everyone's attention in Vegas, including Autospies, who seem to have made her their "top pick".

CLICK HERE to see what I mean.

sema girls 1

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Assuming you don't count the RENN's own swimsuit model (Andrea), it's been a while since I posted any new carshow honeys ... or posted anything at all, for that matter!

All this blogging comes in cycles. One day you have the time, the next you don't - other days you have all the time in the world and absolutely ZERO motivation.

You know how it is.

In the meantime: CLICK HERE to vote for the RENN's GLK hybrid, and try to enjoy the wimenz!

vote early - vote often

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It is the most important vote of our generation - a symbol of generational change and hope for a new era of American greatness.

I speak, of course, of the 2008 SEMA Mercedes-Benz tuner "build-off", where America's premier Euro-tuner RENNTECH plays David to take on the twin Goliaths of Brabus' thousand-man payroll and the marketing power of DuPont publishing.

RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R hybrid rally racer features modifications to cams and heads, combined with full race exhaust and RENNTECH's new 350 composite airbox to produce 350 hp, while the 26KW electric motor adds 40 lb-ft of torque at 0 rpm to help this nimble Sport-utility vehicle get moving.

Visit MBUSA.com/GLK to vote now, and text GLK73 to 48457.

CLICK HERE for photos from the MB reveal.

we're stars

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It might not be our big Hollywood break, but it's something!

You might recall a recent Mercedes press release announcing a tuner build-off at this year's SEMA show that would pit RENNTECH against 3 well-known tuning firms (read: victims). The winner of the build-off will be decided by popular vote on November 4, when the cars will be revealed to the industry at SEMA.

RENNTECH's entry has been covered HERE and HERE, but you have the chance to get a "sneak peak" at RENNTECH's rally dominator now - by visiting www.MBUSA.com/GLK. Click on the highlighted buttons (as shown, below) to make your way to the build videos.

CLICK HERE to jump to the site.

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Click "Watch the Videos"

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Click "Meet the Tuners"

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Expand "RENNTECH RALLY RACER"

4 more days to circle the drain

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Remember what happened to Scotty a few days ago?

I'm right there with him - and there is so much going on right now, I can't honestly put together a coherent post.

So, what else is new?

With only four (4) days left, Everyone here at the RENN is getting pretty fried - and it's all about the car you can barely even see behind the curtain wall in that picture up there. That car you can barely even see back there is well on its way to becoming the RENN's 2008 SEMA GLK Project:Rally hybrid show car, thanks to some crazy-long hours put in by Hartmut, David, Cliff, Steve, Pierre, Ratatouille (aka: "Napoleon, the mad intern"), Technicar, a bunch of people I'm forgetting at MBUSA, and the Swedes.

The Swedes! Holy crap - I can't believe I forgot to mention the Swedes!! That should be its own post, really - but, for now, enjoy this clip from Monster Garage (yes, these are THOSE Swedes).

it's been one of those weeks

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WITH ONLY 9 DAYS LEFT, SCOTTY SNAPS

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It's been one of Those weeks here at the RENN, what with the SEMA deadline coming fast and all the customers what want their cars - you know, actually finished. And on time.

With only 9 days to go before the SEMA deadline, it looks like Scotty's checking out - here's hoping the rest of us fare better!

More updates coming soon. Hang tight.

miss november is ready for vegas

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I know it's a bit late in the year to post a 2008 calendar, but we're inching (read: barreling headlong in a flaming ball of rocket-powered Chaos and Fear) towards the SEMA reveal of our GLK Project:RALLY hybrid, and when I saw Miss November happening with the casino action I figured I'd found yet another excuse to post pictures of good-looking women. CLICK HERE to see all 12.

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NOTE TO FRANKIE: always room for more pictures of good-looking women ... just let me know when you want to schedule that photo-shoot.