Rumours n' Renderings: 2011 Silvia & 2010 March Turbo

Nissans highly anticipated low-cost FR sports car (let's call it a Silvia, for old time's sake) has been the topic of much speculation since it was announced that it would be hitting Nissan showrooms sometime early next decade. There's been countless renderings, a leaked Nissan image that's supposedly of the real deal and rumours that it could feature a hybrid/electric or even a fully electric drivetrain. Today's update isn't really all that groundbreaking as it's just another artist's...

27/08/2008 | 9 Zugriffe

Next-Gen MX-5 to Benefit From Added Cojones

Most of you already know what next year's facelifted Mazda MX-5 looks like and no doubt you all know that there won't be a Mazdaspeed/MPS version joining the lineup anytime soon, but what of the next generation of Mazda Roadster? Well, according to Lauren Van den Acker, head of design at Mazda, the next instalment in the MX-5/Miata/Roadster story will feature a drastically different look to the "conservative" lines of the current generation NC. With its clean, sensible, rounded body, the...

27/08/2008 | 7 Zugriffe

Smoking May Be Harmful...

...but when it involves a tyre-shredding 2JZ-powered S15 Silvia, it's simply too much fun to give up. Because it's a bit of a slow news day, I've decided to treat you guys to a video of one of the biggest smoke machines I've ever seen outside of Japan. It's Driftwork's new S15 drifter, which they purchased from Japan in full race-ready trim and with the 2JZ conversion completed. Suffice to say, the 427kW generated by that big Toyota six translates into a hell of a lot of smoke and I'm sure...

26/08/2008 | 10 Zugriffe

Caption This: Episode One

I never cease to be amazed by the sheer number of cars that I see for sale that are photographed with no thought given to presentation. Some are merely unwashed, others are caked in dirt and even more still have interiors that would leave their new drivers waist-deep in burger wrappers. This one, however, is different. From the outside it's just a regular ol' 1977 260Z with an L28 under the hood, but it's the below shot of a pair of spare carburetors and some other spare parts in the boot...

25/08/2008 | 11 Zugriffe

Spoon NSX-R Update

Spoon Sports has announced pricing for their Type R specification USDM NSX conversion, as well as a little more information regarding the availability of the car. Spoon's LHD NSX-R is now available to order from Spoon, however pending approval from various US road safety and registration departments the cars cannot legally be driven on the road. Spoon are confident the registration process will be completed soon though, which is good news for those who don't want to confine their USD...

24/08/2008 | 24 Zugriffe

What The Hell? Toyota Aristo Wagon Spotted

If you thought that SR20-powered Toyota Aristo speedway racer was weird, then check this out. It seems that some Japanese dude decided that his bright purple luxo-sedan with colour-coded Work Euroline rims wasn't enough of an attention grabbing ride, so he did what any man in his position would do... he grafted the tailgate section and rear windows from a Ford Taurus wagon onto the back. Of course. Kudos goes to Mike Garrett of Auto Otaku fame for stumbling upon this pearler of a find. It's...

23/08/2008 | 9 Zugriffe

New Civic Uncovered?

Hmmm, while I'd love to say that yes, the shapely car you see before you is indeed the next generation Civic, it would probably be rather irresponsible of me to do so. You see, while the lads over at Auto Express are quite keen to label this as the all new 2010 Civic there's very little evidence available to support their claim. Honda themselves have made no releases related to a new Civic, nor have they even alluded to the development of such a model. Of course, the Civic will eventually be...

23/08/2008 | 10 Zugriffe

Nissan Pondering Fuel Cell Powered Sports Car?

While Toyota's own alternatively-fuelled performance car program appears to be faltering, Nissan have apparently stepped up to the plate with their plan to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell powered sports vehicle by late 2014. Autocar reports that Nissan is considering making their first production fuel cell vehicle a high-performance or luxury model, largely to help justify the model's anticipated £50,000 cost sticker price. Nissan's fuel cell lab manager Izuho Hirano also told Autocar that...

23/08/2008 | 4 Zugriffe

GT-R's True Power Figure Revealed(?)

The issue of the R35 GT-R's true power has been a contentious one ever since the first press car strapped onto a dyno recorded a much higher than expected result. Many have claimed that cars given to journalists were deliberately altered by Nissan to produce a higher power number than that stated on the official spec sheet (353kW/473hp), and that customer cars would enjoy no such increase. Well, the folks at Car and Driver have decided to put these rumours to rest and have conducted their own...

21/08/2008 | 6 Zugriffe

Spoon To Convert LHD USDM NSXs to Type R Status

US-based Honda fanboys take note: the US arm of Honda specialists Spoon Sports has confirmed that they will be converting left-hand-drive US-spec NSXs into full NSX-R trim in the very near future. So, while the only Type R the US market ever (officially) enjoyed was the ol' DC2 Integra, American enthusiasts should be able to get their hands on a rebuilt LHD NSX in full JDM NSX-R trim soon. That means the cars will come with completely re-tuned suspensions featuring harder springs, stiffer...

21/08/2008 | 14 Zugriffe

Excuse Me While I Wet Myself

Yes, it's a computer-generated rendering and yes, it's 100 per cent fictional, but nothing could ever, ever stop this image from being so incredibly awesome. Why? Because this is without a doubt the most cohesive modern interpretation of the legendary S30 Fairlady Z that I have seen to date - and it rocks. The chap responsible for these renderings is a Polish bloke who goes by the name Jacek Kolodziejczyk and suffice to say, his recipe of S30 style and proportions mixed with a little GT-R...

20/08/2008 | 10 Zugriffe

Experiments in Hybridisation: The World's Most Conflicted Aristo

Okaaay.... here's a curly one for you all. Video Option has always been a little bit out there with the cars they cover, and this JZS161 Aristo is no different. Why? Because it's a huge Japanese luxo-barge built for dirt speedway racing with a SR20DET under the bonnet, that's why. Sure, the Aristo's big proportions may help absorb the bumps and nudges that inevitably happen on dirt ovals, but why on earth pair that porcine body with an SR20?! Lord knows just how that poor little motor copes...

18/08/2008 | 9 Zugriffe

Toyota Cans FT-HS/Supra, Focuses on FR Sports

Supra fans, look away now. Toyota has reportedly put all plans to resurrect the Supra nameplate on an indefinite hold after concerns over the slowing global economy and ever-stringent fuel economy standards have thrown the viability of such a car into doubt. After last week's announcement that the launch of the LF-A and development of the GS-F had been delayed, it looks like Toyota's much-vaunted return to the world of high performance may be over before it's even begun. Thankfully, the...

17/08/2008 | 17 Zugriffe

Bargain: Skunk2 Puts EP3 Civic Shop Car on the Market

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 | 9 Zugriffe

Transform and Roll Out!

  While the R35 GT-R is perhaps the world's cheapest supercar, that still doesn't mean itwithin reach for average Joe's like you and I. Well, come November us regular folk should be able get our hands on a model that not only provides an accurate 1:32 scale representation of the GT-R for much less than 1/32nd the cost of the full-size model, but also transforms into one badass robot! Japanese toy maker Takara are prepping an R35 GT-R model for inclusion into the Tranformers Alternity line up,...

14/08/2008 | 22 Zugriffe

More Spec C Specs Revealed?

  Inside Line's Japanese correspondent Peter Lyon claims to have the inside scoop on the upcoming Subaru WRX STI Spec C, which takes the basic STI-trim WRX and strips it of its few concessions to comfort, leaving behind a raw, focused, motorsport-ready hot hatch. The Spec C will apparently feature a range of under-the-skin changes, such as a lower and stiffer suspension package and a drop in overall weight of 90kg. From here it gets a lot more serious though, with Subaru allegedly...

13/08/2008 | 11 Zugriffe

Blitz to Campaign RWD R35 GT-R in D1GP?

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 | 18 Zugriffe

Lexus Trims the Fat, LF-A & GS-F put on the Backburner

According to Automotive News, times are getting tough for Toyota's prestige arm Lexus. Slowing SUV sales, economic instability and an aging model line-up have reportedly spurred the manufacturer to put both the LF-A and the rumoured GS-F performance sedan on hold until conditions stabilise. The LF-A is also rumoured to be in trouble for not being able to meet Lexus's lofty expectations for the 373kW uber-coupe. Lexus wants it to be the fastest production coupe around the Nurburgring...

12/08/2008 | 13 Zugriffe

Honda Considering JDM Models for US Market, Civic Type R on the Cards?

While most regional markets have enjoyed some kind of Type R goodness over the years, our friends in the USA have consistently been denied the ol' Red H - which is slightly puzzling, considering the sheer number of Honda fanboys that seem to reside in that country. That may change in the near future though, as Honda North America is reportedly evaluating several JDM-only models for export to the Land of the Free. The impetus behind Honda's desire to expand their US range has been booming...

11/08/2008 | 29 Zugriffe

More VQ35HR Tuning Goodness

Dropped some serious coin on a set of those Impul exhaust headers for your VQ35HR-equipped Z33? Got some change left over? You might want to consider Greddy's Easy Cam range, which has just been expanded to include the newest variant of Nissan's venerable 3.5-litre V6. The Greddy bumpsticks feature 264° of duration and 11mm of lift on both the inlet and exhaust valves - a useful increase over the stock duration of 248°. The end result is an engine that can inhale and exhale faster and...

08/08/2008 | 36 Zugriffe

GT-R Spec V May be Delayed, "Evolution" Model to Take Up the Slack

Japanese mag Best Car reports that the Japanese launch for the more focused Spec V variant of the R35 GT-R may be delayed from this coming October to sometime later this year or even in early 2009. To whet consumer appetites, Nissan is reportedly considering the release of an Evolution or S-Tune model to tide buyers over until the Spec V launches. Bear in mind that these are all unconfirmed rumours for now, but considering the imminent arrival of a whole catalogue's-worth of Nismo parts it...

08/08/2008 | 12 Zugriffe

Mazdaspeed MX-5 Officially a No-Go

In news that is bound to annoy the MX-5/Roadster/Miata fans among you, Mazda has officially scotched rumours that a harder-core, turbocharged version of the NC MX-5 is on its way. The reason? Apparently the 2.3-litre turbo MZR inline-four from the Mazdaspeed 3 (currently the fastest Mazda on sale today) just plain doesn't fit within the confines of the NC's engine bay. It's a bit disappointing, particularly after Mazda teased us with the delectable-looking Roadster Mazdaspeed Concept at...

05/08/2008 | 21 Zugriffe

AutoExe Release Sports Upgrades for Mazda 6/Atenza

While there's little hope of seeing a Mazdaspeed/MPS version of Mazda's new mid-size sedan anytime soon, Japanese aftermarket specialists AutoExe have stepped in to fill that void with their tune-up parts for the GH Atenza - known simply as the 6 in other markets.AutoExe have got a fibreglass front bumper on offer that features a number of subtle revisions to the JDM Atenza's standard front fascia. There's also redesigned rear bumper bezels designed to accomodate AutoExe's dual-tip mufflers, as...

04/08/2008 | 66 Zugriffe

Impul Release Exhaust Manifold for VQ35HR

Despite sharing its displacement with the venerable VQ35DE, Nissan's VQ35HR is so fundamentally different from its predecessor that practically no aftermarket part can be shared between the two motors. Owners of new VQ35HR-equipped 350Zs feel this the most, as the 'DE has oodles of aftermarket support while thanks to its relative newness the 'HR has relatively little. Japanese Nissan specialists Impul have stepped in to restore the balance, however, and have released their new equal-length...

01/08/2008 | 37 Zugriffe

More Info Speculation on GT-R Spec V

Since my last post on the topic, more rumours have surfaced on the next iteration of the GT-R - the Spec V. According to GTRBlog, we can expect to see the Spec V debut in October of this year with more boost, more carbon-fibre goodies and a stronger gearbox.Some of this info we already know about, like the carbon-fibre racing seats and forged 20-inch Rays rims, but a few tidbits that we weren't privy to include the rear suspension tower brace, upgraded rear diffuser and the fact that those...

01/08/2008 | 18 Zugriffe

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