Monday, January 31, 2011
(Jan 24 2011, 03:30 PM)
The Phoenix's Power girls.
For anyone that has ever attended a Tokyo Auto Salon you may understand when I say that for a large number of Japanese showgoers, especially the ones armed with pro camera equipment, it isn't the cars they are there to see and shoot. The girls of TAS are indeed, for many, the most important aspect of the show so it would be sacrilegious to not dedicate at least some space to them. So here is a little gallery...enjoy!
One of the girls at the Veilside booth next to the Toyota "iQ-R."
The
The
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
Source: speedhunters.com
(Jan 24 2011, 06:00 AM)
Of course improving the looks is also very important as is shown here by the Boom Enterprises Prius running on HRE P-40 19-inch wheels. To boost power the car is also fitted with a bigger intake throttle, less restrictive air filter and a sports exhaust system.
Walking through the halls of TAS this year it was obvious that every tuner out there is giving a lot of attention to hybrids, especially the new kid on the block, the CR-Z. The car you see above in the opening shot, built by aero specialist Silk Blaze, won the "Eco Car" award for its innovative front-end design which is aimed at improving airflow to help make the car more slippery through the air, thus more frugal. But tuners primarily modify hybrid cars to extract more performance, as let's be frank, they aren't exactly exciting in that department, so every extra horsepower is a bonus!
HKS Kansai's CR-Z, aside from the cosmetic parts like the
...runs an HKS supercharger kit based around the HKS GTS7040 blower. Kansai Service are still developing this kit and depending on supporting parts it may yield anywhere from 250 to 300 HP.
On the other hand
...is fitted with a GT Step 2 Supercharger, a mild kit that raises power to 202.4 HP. It's not quite clear if this figure includes the 14 or so HP the IMA motor is capable of delivering.
I followed the development of the
The kit includes a complete front bumper, side skirt and a rear bumper lower section. I thought the low-mounted rear wing was rather nice, nor sure if it would hamper visibility though!
I knew the EMC Engineering CR-Z had to be packing something special under the hood to be sitting in the RH9 booth next to some of Japan's most impressively tuned cars...
...and it didn't disappoint. Joining the HKS Supercharger kit is custom titanium piping and an EMC carbon air box which helps lower intake air temperature dramatically. All of this is good for 300 HP.
Quad exhaust outlets should put a few hairs on its chest!
This CR-Z on the
A VIP feel for the
Lexus LS exhaust finishers have really been used on everything!
Now that's an original exhaust layout! Certainly gives an all-new feel to the Insight.
With an interior this flashy...
...the exterior could only be done up in this way!
This must be by far the most original hybrid on the planet! Linhbergh has already showed us the
Powering this 1989 Datsun B122 Sunny truck is the complete 1NZ-FXE hybrid powerplant from the Prius.
Check out the exposed battery pack and fuel tank.
Subtle looks are joined by a chassis-scraping stance and adequately cambered 15-inch Equip 01s. Not bad for a car built as a university project!
Nagata-san at
...by using a turbocharger rather than a supercharger. A 200 HP kit is already available and the above 300 HP kit running a TD04 turbo is almost ready for sale.
I went back to the Honda stand often to see if I could figure out what to make of the TS-1X concept.
I'm guessing Honda is testing the feasibility of releasing some of these innovative and curiously styled parts to the market. I'm sure I wasn't the only one that was baffled by its styling.
The F-Sport version of the CT200h is already on sale in Japan and can be further modified to look like this display car by adding the full list of optional F-Sport by
A few steps away from the CT200h was the G's Prius G Sports Concept, a car Gazoo Racing is considering creating if interest is high. The G's Prius gets 18-inch rims and very distinct front and rear bumpers.
And to finish up this look at the hybrids of TAS 2011 something completely different, a Porsche Cayenne hybrid on Schmïeden wheels.
I think I will have to dedicate the next post from the Makuhari Messe to the girls of TAS!
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
Source: speedhunters.com
(Jan 22 2011, 05:30 PM)
When I landed in Japan, got into Tokyo, and started seeing these tiny, tiny cars all around, I fell in love. So it was natural for me to fall in love with this tuned Copen that was at Top Secret's shop.
I've liked Daihatsu Copens for a few years now. Like many in States, I was first introduced to these cars from video games.
Just as we arrived at Top Secret, one of the guys was moving this Copen out of the garage to make room for the white R34 (next to the Top Secret CR-Z in the back of the photo) so it can be worked on in the shop.
I love how gigantic a normal sized Japanese man looks in a Copen.
It's hard to know just how small these cars are until you realize that in this photo, the license plate is not a comically larger sized but it is normal sized!
The car has been slightly dropped on a set of coil overs and is rolling on a set of what looks like some old school Sparco wheels (can anyone take a guess what these wheels are?). For added fun, the owner opted for a set of Yokohama AO48s tires.
When I first set my eyes on this car, I noticed the power bulge on the hood. And since I was at Top Secret, I was hoping under the bulge was some monstrously tuned engine.
Sadly, that wasn't the case.
The JB-DETi 660cc engine has been lightly modified. The turbo's intake has been upgraded as well as an upgraded intercooler. The engine has been tuned with an HKS F-Con V Pro. The original 64 hp has been boosted to a little over 100 hp.
That's stock Miata power, but in a car that's 1000 pounds lighter. Copen's may be front-wheel drive but imagine flogging this car around with its upgraded suspension, sticky tires and with 100 horses to play around with. Sounds like a load of fun to me!
Upgraded power means that the exhaust needs some bigger pipes. What’s a normal sized pipe on a regular sized car looks gigantic on the Copen.
The Z3 fenders I'm a bit iffy on, but I'd say that could be overlooked for the fact that this Copen is overall pretty sweet.
On a perfect day, with the Copen's top down, and on the perfect road, I'm 100% certain that this car would put a huge smile on your face.
100hp on a 1700lb car, how can that not be fun?
-Linhbergh
Source: speedhunters.com