WHIPS:

BAPE and Formula 1 once again teamed up on a collaborative capsule this year to mark both the revered streetwear label’s 25th anniversary along with the international auto racing league’s 1,000th event: the 2019 Formula 1 Heineken China Grand Prix.

Taking place in Shanghai, China, a new branded Formula One racing car has just been unveiled. Unlike the green 1ST CAMO model showcased in Tokyo in September of last year, the one shown above is decked out in BAPE’s iconic ABC CAMO in pink. The label’s ubiquitous Ape Head insignia and Shark Face motif have also been rendered on the 200 MPH automobile, while “BAPE® x Formula 1” co-branding can be seen strewn about. The decked out supercar will also be on display this weekend during the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix being held in Shanghai.

American Revival Cycles have presented their take on BMW’s Motorrad boxer engine via a custom titanium bike, dubbed the “Revival Birdcage,” unveiled at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, Texas last week. The American motorcycle customizers — which marks the second group in the world to build a prototype based on the Big Boxer — were inspired by Ernst Hennes’ “record-setting machines from the late 1920s and early 1930s,” according to BMW.

“We had already dreamed about this bike for years and in December 2018 we received the engine and could finally get to work. I have always been a fan of the boxer engine, but the pure physical size and aesthetic appeal of this prototype really inspired us,” explained Alan Stulberg, head of Revival Cycles.

It took the company six months to build the vehicle, which was constructed with intricate webbing on the body to create a “transparent” geometric design. The various visible components, including chrome-plated protection ducts, recall the BMW Motorrad boxer engine from the 1960s. Meanwhile, new details such as air-oil cooling and a larger cubic capacity offer modernized touches. Other parts of the model were also individually crafted by Revival Cycles, including the handlebars, footrests, shift lever and seat.

“This was our first time to build a frame with titanium, that alone was already a significant challenge. Regardless, the frame came together very well in the end and it accomplished the goal of being nearly transparent. We wanted to focus attention on the engine and that is precisely what we achieved with this completely unique frame. You can easily view the engine and the drivetrain from all angles,” said Stulberg.

The first custom bike built around the BMW Motorrad boxer engine, entitled the “Departed,” was revealed in December 2018 by Japanese brand CUSTOM WORKS ZON.

Besides the best sneakers, food, landscapes and selfies, Instagram is also home to the most stunning imagery of cars. From old-time classics and vintage muscle, to sleek European imports and JDM tuners, there’s no short supply of hard-parking, up-close drifting, speed limit-breaking whips on the social media platform. To crown the heaviest hitters, insurance company Veygo and Motoring Research has listed the top 25 most Instagrammed cars in the world. The list is, surprisingly, not entirely made up of the hottest, most exclusive supercars.

While obvious eye candy — the Lamborghini Aventador, Audi R8, and Chevrolet Corvette — is definitely within the 25, consumer favorites like the VW Golf, Honda Civic and Audi A4 find themselves contending for the attention of social media equally. The Mazda MX-5 is respectfully placed in #22 with almost 1.5 million mentions, while the Porsche 911 and Carrera (split due to the public denoting the same car differently, perhaps) make up around 4 million mentions in total. Not surprisingly the BMW M cars are well within the list, but the #1 spot is owned by the classic Ford Mustang at almost 12 million mentions. Much like on the streets, the Mustang leaves the #2 position — the Honda Civic — in its dust with more than a 4 million-mention gap.