Harley-Davidson expands Sportster line with new Forty-Eight

Harley-Davidson has just announced a new addition to its entry-level Sportster family, and it’s seemingly again drawing on its years of heritage in both the bike’s design and name. Called the Forty-Eight, the new machine is the latest motorcycle to slot into HD’s Dark Custom series, which also includes the Nightster 1200, Iron 883, Cross Bones, Fat Bob and Street Bob.
So, what makes this model different from the other Sportster models? It’s all in the styling details, naturally. Included in the kit are bobbed fenders front and rear, fat front tire, blacked-out and polished 1200cc Evolution V-twin, solo seat that measures 26 inches from the ground, under-mounted mirrors, side mount license plate and tiny 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank. No matter, with what we bet is less than two inches of rear suspension travel, this bike seems destined to be a short-distance mount anyway.
So, to recap, there’s nothing new here at all (which we surmise is kind of the point), but the overall effect still makes the Forty-Eight arguably the most attractive bike in the Sportster line, barring the much sportier XR1200, of course. Pricing begins at $10,499 MSRP in Vivid Black with Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl also available. Click past the break for the complete press release and check out our high-res image gallery below.

Heynsdyk 2500SF puts that old Porsche 944 to good use

Another day, another kit car for your toupee-tousling amusement. This is the Heynsdyk 2500SF from Holland: a bespoke body placed over the engine, electronics, and drivetrain of a Porsche 944. The substantially lighter body, in galvanized steel, takes weight down to 900 kilograms (1,980 pounds) while maintaining 50/50 weight distribution. There are six engine choices, from a basic 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 163 horsepower, to a 2.5-liter four-pot S-motor with a turbo. That one will get you 250 horsepower, and from 0 to 60 in six seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour).

You can buy the car as a kit or a finished product, and prices start at €14,750 ($20,798 U.S.) for the kit, or €36,995 ($52,158 U.S.) for a ready runner. Like its countrymate Spyker, what the car might lack in beauty it makes up for in unique and arresting looks. Have a look for yourselves in the gallery of high-res photos below. Hat tip to Anton!

BMW M3

In these days of financial belt-tightening and environmental concerns, the idea of buying a luxury car might be derided by many. Powerful cars use lots of petrol and cost large amounts of money. Can this really be justified any more? Many people are turning to smaller and more practical cars, which cost little to run and are easy to drive and park. The Smart Car, for example, released in 2008, was seen by many as the future of motoring: stripped down, small and practical.
So, does all this mean that the age of the luxury car is over? Not at all. While developments in ecologically friendly city cars are certainly welcome and may well be the future of mass-market motoring, the luxury end of the market stands apart. Luxury cars are about aspiration and dreams, about creating something that is as good as it can possibly be. Luxury cars push the boundaries of what is possible. To compare cars with air travel, the much loved Concorde was developed to be the fastest and most advanced plane in use. It never served the majority of consumers, who travelled on more practical, cheaper aircraft, but it was universally admired and seen as an important technological achievement. The same is true of luxury cars. It is part of being human to want to strive for the best.
So, what if you want to see some of these feats of human achievement for yourself? Most of us won’t be buying a luxury car to do the school run or go to the supermarket any time soon, however that doesn’t mean we’d pass up the chance to try a luxury drive once in while by hiring one. A road trip in a luxury car would make a perfect holiday for anyone interested in cars. A trip through the breathtaking scenery of the Alps or a road trip Los Angeles along the world-famous Route 66 might just fit the bill.