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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 While it may be one of the more expensive Japanese sports cars, the Lexus SC430 is sadly far from being the prettiest. Its bulbous, over-inflated bodywork and the stylistic compromises necessitated by that electric folding hardtop have relegated the poor ol' SC430 to being the ugly duckling in the Lexus lineup, but thanks to a number of aftermarket body addenda that can easily be changed. Blitz have now added to the range of third-party bodykits for the SC430 with their recent release of a...
05/09/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Thrashed the pants off your old whip and need something newer to cart your JDM-loving ass around in? You might want to give US parts manufacturer Skunk2 a call, as they've just recently put their 190fwkW EP3-based "Civic RR" onto the used car market. The price? A mere 17 Gorillas. For the price, this car is top-notch and features some primo hardware to boot: Deep within the bowels of its K24 beats four Wiseco pistons with a compression ratio of 11.0:1, forged Cunningham rods...
14/08/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Japanese aftermarket parts powerhouse Blitz has apparently transplanted the RWD drivetrain from a Z33 Fairlady Z into a near-new R35 GT-R, which suggests only one thing: there are plans afoot to enter a back-wheel burnin' GT-R into the sideways circus that is the D1 Grand Prix. While I personally frown upon such mechanical mutilation of a technological marvel like the R35, I get the feeling that watching that big coupe sliding its way across a Japanese circuit would be a truly...
12/08/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 The GT-R is done and dusted and we've already pretty much ascertained what the LF-A is going to look like in production form. Now it's time for speculation to focus on the 2010 NSX, which was first glimpsed testing under some light camouflage just last week.Graphic artist 'Larson' is the man (woman?) behind this latest rendering, which uses the spy images taken of last week's prototype as it's basis. The end result, while purely speculative, is a definite step in the right direction and shows...
29/06/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
Boy, the lads over at Best Car sure are an impatient bunch, aren't they? Known for their love of pumping out highly detailed speculative renderings of yet-to-be-released automobiles, BC have gone a step further in the case of the upcoming Z34 370Z by commissioning Shizuoka customisers Mad House to build them their very own replica.
Using a Z33, a couple of teaser photos and a shitload of fibreglass, Mad House managed to do a pretty decent job of replicating the 370Z's controversial lines. Of...
27/06/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 When news broke late last year of the R35 GT-R's 7:38 laptime at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe, the automotive publishing world was quite understandably impressed. Now, Nissan have one-upped themselves and tackled the fearsome Nordschliefe once again, emerging from the other end with a new personal best: an epic 7:29 lap. Without changing anything on the car used (a base model GT-R) and running standard Bridgestone Potenza RE70s, Nissan have managed to drop almost ten seconds off their previous...
01/05/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 While browsing through Auto Otaku's report on the Exciting Car Showdown which took place in Nagoya on the weekend, we spotted yet another unique engine swap. This time around, there's been a bit of intercontinental cross-breeding.While many of the cars at the Exciting Car Showdown were absolutely stunning (you can see more of them in Mike Garrett's report on Auto Otaku here), this W202 C-Class Benz was the standout for us. Not because of its paintjob or presentation (which looks to be...
07/04/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 The Autech Stelvio was one of the more forgettable Japanese "sports" cars. The lovechild of the Zagato styling house and Nissan's custom car builder Autech, the Stelvio never really managed to convince the mainstream enthusiast of its worth - thanks in part to it's prohibitive purchase cost, but mainly because of those divisive looks. It was no supermodel, and being based on Nissan's luxo-cruiser Leopard chassis, it wasn't exactly a rapier-sharp sportscar either. Despite this, the Stelvio...
06/04/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
  Japan's Best Car magazine must have the most well-funded art department in the entire world of publishing, if their prolific renderings of as-yet non-existent cars are anything to go by. This time, they've given their take on Toyota's successor to the Supra.
According to BC, the 2010 Supra will most likely make use of a naturally-aspirated 3.7-litre V6 driving through the rear wheels (natch). Power should be around the 350 metric horsepower mark and forced-induction may very well become an option. The overall proportions are a close match with the FT-HS concept, except this time the body design reprises the wide n' curvy haunches of the last-gen JZA80 Supra.
The front lights even replicate the lamp placement of the JZA80, and the C-pillar also echoes that of its predecessor. BC's rendering even showcases the FTHS's trick carbon-fibre rims, as well as its bonnet "bulge", however one thing we'd liked to have seen carried over from the FTHS concept was its sexy rear light cluster. Instead, Best Car chose to go with some kind of  Ferrari/Elise type arrangement.
Anyway, if Best Car's rendering is anything to go by, the basic package looks like a winner. It's modern, but it's not so far removed from reality as the FTHS was. Nor is it as pointy. Lets hope that when the next Supra eventually rolls around, it looks like this.
[Source: Motor Trend]
[Images courtesy of Best Car]
13/03/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 "Wait a minute", you say. "I know my Japanese cars, and Bolwell ain't one of them". Good observation. So why are we covering it? Well, like the E-Vade, Bolwell's Nagari fuses an Australian chassis, body and suspension with the brute force of a forced-induction Japanese powerplant.
Nagari is a name that stretches way, way back to the 1970's, when Japanese engines were still derived from old British and German designs and when big-displacement American V8's were king. Bolwell used to produce the Nagari with a Ford V8 under the bonnet, but now, with their modern reincarnation of the badge, they've instead put Toyota's 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 under the rear hatch, mounted amidships. Why the shift to Toyota? Vaughn Bolwell, son of founder Campbell Bolwell, explains that the primary reason was one of weight, with the alloy-block 2GR allowing Bolwell to create a mid-mounted sportscar with a more sporting weight distribution (although at a 35/65 front/rear split, it might be a little daunting for novice drivers).
Not much to see here. The Nagari's supercharged 2GR-FE is virtually right behind your shoulderblades
The engine comes in two flavours: naturally-aspirated, and supercharged. While the supercharged unit is similar to the TRD Aurion's V6, different cam profiles and other minor changes mean it produces more power than the Aurion's 241kW and 400Nm. Drive is taken to the rear wheels via a standard Toyota manual transaxle.
Brakes feature 330mm vented and slotted discs up front, while the rear has 295mm vented and slotted discs. 4-pot calipers clamp on all four corners
The interior is surprisingly well fitted-out for such a car. Leather trim is an option, while most fittings are based on existing Toyota parts.
The passenger compartment is constructed from a carbon-fibre "bathtub", while tubular steel subframes support the suspension, engine and drivetrain. Shocks and springs are courtsy of Koni, while suspension links are custom. Thanks to extensive use of composite materials, the whole vehicle manages to weigh just 920kg
Despite being only 4100mm long and having a mid-mounted engine, the boot is pretty capacious
Recognise those rear lights? Yep, they're DC5 Integra items
[Images copyright Rory Gardiner/JPCN, Bolwell Car Company]
01/03/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Bolwell have just released a teaser image of their all-new Nagari mid-engined sportscar, which will debut at the upcoming Melbourne International Motor Show.
For the uninitiated, Bolwell is an Australian low-volume sportscar manufacturer, whose main model, the Nagari, was first produced in the 1970s. Past iterations of the Nagari have used Ford V8s mounted up front in the traditional Panhard layout, however for 2008 Bolwell will be squeezing a Toyota V6 behind the driver to create a mid-engined sportscar.
The Nagari will be powered by Toyota's 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6, which will be supercharged by an as yet unknown compressor. If the TRD Aurion is anything to go by, the supercharged V6 (which produces 241kW and 400Nm in the Aurion) should provide the 900kg Nagari with plenty of straightline performance.
Unfortunately, the teaser pic above is the only image Bolwell has released of the completed car (construction pic below). We're sure there'll be more imagery in the next couple of weeks, but even if there aren't, JPCN will be at the Melbourne Motor Show to bring you our own coverage of Bolwell's J-powered creation.
[Source: Autodeadline]
[Image courtesy of Bolwell]
18/02/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
11/12/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Nissan had previously announced that the GT500 R35 GT-R race car would have its first public excursion at this month's Nismo Festival. Nissan did not disappoint, and true to their word they brought their newest Super GT racer to Fuji Speedway last weekend, where it shared pitlane with a smorgasbord of rare and historic Nissan race cars.
Miguel from Newera Imports was there to capture the action, and capture he did - his photographs are absolutely immaculate. A big tip of the hat goes out to Miguel for taking these wonderful images.
As they've done in previous years, Nissan rolled out a significant chunk of their Zama collection for the Nismo Festival. As is the case with these enthusiast gatherings, a variety of stands were set up to peddle parts, memorabilia and entire cars to visitors. Nissan and Nismo also had a bunch of their own products on hand, such as the delectable Nismo 380RS.
Private collectors and enthusiasts also showed up with their own rare rides, with a few genuine Nismo 400R's and R34 Z-Tune's making the journey to Fuji.
Nostalgic cars were well represented too, with a sizable contingent of vintage machinery (primarily Skylines and Fairlady Z's) popping up on the track as well as the carpark.
The only thing missing from these pictures is, of course, the sound. By all accounts the howl emitted by the Super GT R35 was something worth witnessing, but unfortunately no video of the event has made it to the web - yet. There's a heap more pictures posted up on the GTROC forums (larger pictures too), so do yourself a favour and check them out.
[Source: GTROC]
[Photos courtesy of Miguel/"Newera"]
05/12/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Like a schoolgirl with a new secret, Honda simply couldn't wait until the Tokyo Motor Show to spill the beans on their new compact sports coupe concept, the CR-Z.
The CR-Z is the long-awaited spiritual successor to the CRX that was beloved by many for its light weight and revvy motor. The resemblance between the two is obvious, with the dual-glass hatch being a common feature of both the CR-Z (below) and the CRX. Unlike the CRX though, the CR-Z will be powered by a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain and feature a sleek, stormtrooper-like exterior.
Honda says the CR-Z is only a "design research model", however we think that what we'll see at the Tokyo Motor Show will be a production-ready car that could potentially be on the market by late 2008 to early 2009, although Internet scuttlebutt puts the sale date anywhere between 2009 and 2011. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one once it hits the stands at Tokyo.
For more information, read on for an excerpt from Honda's press release.
?CR-Z? stands for ?Compact Renaissance Zero??an expression intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals.
This design research model of a lightweight hybrid sports car features advanced technologies that deliver enjoyable driving for all while reducing the vehicle?s environmental footprint.
[Exterior design]
Designed to be ?Futuristic and Dynamic?, the CR-Z combines powerful performance in a compact form with a futuristic image. For its frontal view, an over-sized grill with a high-performance look is offset by openings on each side that lighten the overall feel. In the rear, tube-shaped rear combination lamps ensure better rearward visibility. Design details emphasizing the CR-Z?s advanced image include door mirrors that provide high visibility in a stylish form, LED headlights patterned after luminous bodies to convey a sharp impression, and jauntyfin-shaped sub-lights. Large, 19-inch wheels are ready for dynamic driving performance.
[Interior design]
The key words for the CR-Z?s interior design are ?Hi-tech and Sporty?. The goal was to create an all-new sporty interior that fuses the liberating feel of airy spaciousness with an advanced interface that brings out the fun of the drive. Mesh material on a simple framework construction is used throughout the interior to convey a light, sophisticated image without being oppressive. In the cockpit, the meter unit conveys the image of advanced technology ensconced in a piece of glass artwork, offering the functionality of immediate recognition while enhancing the driving experience with a futuristic and exhilarating feeling.
[Source: Honda]
[Photos courtesy of Honda]
09/10/2007
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Motorkultur Magazin 
