Section: Tokyo Auto Salon
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 16th, 2008 12:20 PM
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Tucked away under the lights at the Tokyo Auto Salon tuner show last week was the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept, this mysterious-looking IS-F festooned with huge fenders, wheels and spoilers looking like a refugee from Germany’s DTM race series.
What gives? Nobody on the Lexus stand was saying a word. Details on this wild IS-F were precisely and frustratingly zilch. Deliberately so, it seems.
It now transpires the car’s the pet project of IS-F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, a true rev head who built it not just for fun but also so that IS-F engineers can experience ‘true driving pleasure’ and something of what a full race IS-F might just feel like.
(Click through to read more about the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept.)
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Written By: Peter Nunn
January 12th, 2008 4:30 PM
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On the Nissan stand at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the NISMO works entry for the 2008 Super GT race series was unveiled, looking utterly bewitching under the show lights.
Nissan’s not saying what’s under the hood, but word is that it may borrow last season’s 4.5-liter normally-aspirated V-8 from the GT 500 class NISMO 350Z, good for “over 500 horsepower.”
Purists would doubtless prefer Nissan work on the stock 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 but that’s still very new for top flight racing so for now, in the interests of durability, NISMO may well go the proven V-8 route for this top GT race series.
But hey, a V-8 GT-R doesn’t sound bad, does it?
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 12th, 2008 3:30 PM
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At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Suzuki is showing this stunning, lowrider version of its new 660 cc Palette mini minivan even before the real production car has been unveiled.
Across the way, the Modest California, this beguiling retro-look American minivan, actually started life as a 660cc Honda Vamos.
The Fluente is a one-off Italianate coupe, based off an RX-7. If there’s enough interest, it could even go into limited production.
Lastly, on a crowded Mitsubishi stand, a psychedelic lowrider Galant Fortis (actually a new Lancer) shared space with a whole hat full of stock, Drift, and racer Lancer Evo Xs.
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 12th, 2008 3:00 PM
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Mazda was at the Auto Salon with Mazdaspeed versions of the Demio, Axela, Atenza and Roadster (Mazdas 2, 3, 6, and MX-5 Miata), each with new aero body kit treatment, performance dampers, custom exhaust and PCM tuning of the regular engine.
Mazda also unveiled the Type RS version of the new shape RX-8 (check out the new nose) which gets Bilsteins and 19-inch forged alloys as part of its impressive spec.
Then there’s the latest RX-8 Mazdaspeed Concept, recognizable via those gaping front air vents, trunk spoiler and glitzy 20-inch Yokohamas. A completely new RX-8 won’t come until 2011 or 2012.
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 12th, 2008 2:30 PM
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True to form, Honda was out in force at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon and here are some of the cars that caught our eye.
Cue the Sports Modulo Type R, an even more aggressive rendering of the brilliant Civic Type R with special aerodynamics and chassis tuning to have it go harder and faster. The Touring Modulo Inspire is a funkily reworked version of Japan’s new 3.5-liter V-6 Inspire (cousin to America’s Accord) with body kit and yummy orange interior. How do you like it?
From Mugen, we had the very cool F154sc, a pumped up Fit with prototype 1.5-liter supercharged engine. Also, the Civic Mugen RR Experimental Spec, with lightweight carbon-fiber body and trick 2.2-liter engine.
Written By: Peter Nunn
January 12th, 2008 1:30 PM
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The 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s premier custom and tuner show, opened its doors this week and littering the show halls was a remarkable number of Nissan GT-Rs.
Remarkable because the GT-R is still in very short supply yet many of Japan’s top tuners like HKS had already started tweaking theirs.’ Or trying to.
GT-R engine power is set very firmly at 473 horsepower in Japan spec and the GT-R’s also speed-limited to 112 mph. Spookily, the limiter only lifts when the satellite navigation recognizes the GT-R’s at a race track, thus opening up top speed.
(Click through to find out how powerful the Blitz GT-R is…)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
January 11th, 2008 8:00 AM
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Nissan has released its GT-R GT500 race car at the Tokyo Auto Salon, complete with an all-new livery for the 2008 motorsport season. The red and black design is said to be the result of collaboration between Nissan, NISMO, and some input from the rabid NISMO enthusiasts club.
The red and black livery is meant to mean more than just a hot look for the GT-R racer, with the red said to represent Nissan’s racing passion, and the black exuding extreme performance.
(Click through the jump to read on about the GT-R GT500 including Nissan’s official press release.)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
January 10th, 2008 12:30 PM
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Allegedly, the 2009 Mazda RX-8 RS will be at the NAIAS in Detroit next week, but it will also make an appearance two days earlier at the Tokyo Auto Salon as well. Prior to the showings, Mazda has released a couple of images of the revamped auto.
According to Motor Authority, the 2009 RS version will come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, Recaro buckets and spoiler. However, with no official word on specs from Mazda, we’ll have to wait until Sunday to check out what’s under the hood.
+ Autoblog: Mazda Releases Two Images of Updated RX-8 RS, Many More Leaked
Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 11:45 AM
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Those concerned that Mazda’s newest Demio (or Mazda2, outside of Japan) may be a bit too stale for enthusiasts tastes can rest assured: Mazda hears your complaints. Coming to the Tokyo Auto Salon this January is the Mazdaspeed Demio concept, an attempt at putting more “zoom-zoom” into the sub-compact hatchback.
(Click through for more on Mazda’s conceptual hot hatch)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 29th, 2007 12:35 PM
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The Honda Inspire is the Japanese version of the Accord that we all know and love. In preparation for the Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda has tapped tuner Modulo to help it spice up several cars, including this Inspire concept.
(Click through the jump to read more about the Inspire Modulo concept.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 28th, 2007 3:22 PM
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Honda is preparing some of its finest tuned concepts for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon, including this Civic Type-R prepared by Modulo.
The track-weapon style Civic has been fitted with a revised suspension, a totally new body kit, and 19-inch Modulo 10-spoke wheels. It has also got a checkered paintjob that is supposed to evoke a motorsport feeling, but looks, at best, a bit cheesy.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Modulo Civic images or on the jump to read more.)
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Written By: Peter Nunn
December 19th, 2007 1:15 PM
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The Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s answer to the SEMA show, will soon be upon us this January and Mazda is one maker out early with a teaser of what it will have at the show.
Heading the list are funky Mazdaspeed versions of the new 6 (known in Japan as the Atenza). The 2, 3, RX-8, and MX-5 Miata also get the makeover but these are sport-lite models: new aero parts, sports dampers and mufflers, wheels and tires, plus engine control module tweaks are what’s on the menu, as opposed to anything really serious (like dropping in a new turbo engine or outrageous power).
We also like the CX-7 ‘Cool Style’ and RX-8 fans can check out the new Type RS, a new top end model with 19-inch alloys, Bilstein dampers, urethane foam-filled front crossmembers and custom Recaro bucket seats.
Mazda will also display the new facelifted RX-8, at the same time it appears at the North American International Auto Show.
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