24hcar: Japan

Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

New JDM Subaru Legacy B4 2.5GT tS

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, June 11, 2010

Subaru's in-house tuning arm STI has added some flair to the latest generation of the Japanese market Legacy B4 sedan and its Touring Wagon brethren. The limited production Legacy 2.5GT tS (Subaru talk for Tuned by STI) models come with various cosmetic and performance enhancements, but unfortunately, no upgrades to the 2.5-liter flat-4 turbo engine.
The list of performance goodies includes a Bilstein suspension, strut tow bars, sport exhaust system, and 18-inch multispoke alloy wheels shod in 225/45 R18 rubber.
On the outside, STI's team added a front lip spoiler on both models, along with a discreet boot lid spoiler for the B4 sedan and a roof spoiler for the Touring Wagon.
More attention was paid to the interior of the Legacy 2.5GT tS models as both variants get a revised instrument panel, sport seats dressed in alcantara and leather with contrasting red seams, decorative carbon trim in a titanium finish, STI leather steering wheel and gearbox lever with red seams and of course how can we forget, STI-branded floor mats.
In Japan, the sedan model starts from 4,029,900 Yen (around $44,190) and the Touring Wagon from 4,187,400 Yen (around $45,920).

0 comments

Lexus LFA not sold Out. U.S. allocation still available

Posted by Mr Dung Sunday, June 6, 2010

[insideline]

Contrary to previous reports, the Lexus LF-A is not sold out.

The Japanese premium brand now says that there will still be some LF-A supercars available for lease to U.S. customers. Parent company Toyota told Inside Line on Thursday that there were still some production spots available for the car. Lexus will make 500 units of the LF-A. It appears that not all U.S. orders were from qualified buyers.

Lexus has created a unique sales model for the LF-A in the United States; units are only available for lease with an option to buy the car after the 24-month lease period is over. Leases are not transferable to a new owner. In Europe, the car can be purchased at Lexus dealers in the usual manner.

Lexus will begin production on the LF-A in December. It still says production will be limited to 500 units in total (available globally).

1 comments

Infiniti trademarks IPL for new performance brand, targets BMW M and AMG

Posted by Mr Dung Wednesday, May 26, 2010

[autonews]

Infiniti has filed papers with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark both the "IPL" and "Infiniti Performance Line" names.

Infiniti, the premium marque of Japanese automaker Nissan, wants to use the IPL designation to create a sub-brand for performance-oriented cars to compete against the likes of BMW's M division and the Mercedes-Benz AMG brand - the performance divisions of those German automakers.

The trademark is said to also cover performance parts such as turbochargers and superchargers, as well as items like suspension and exhaust components, brakes and sports seats.

Ben Poore, vice president for the Infiniti Business Unit, recently said that Infiniti would be bringing out a performance model sometime this summer but did not offer any further details. Nissan also said at the same time that it was looking to develop more small but high-performing engines through the use of turbochargers.

Infiniti is playing catch-up with its more established competitors - premium brands such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi who have a longer history and offer a larger range of products.

1 comments

Japan's 3D Design Kits-Up the BMW Z4 Roadster

Posted by Mr Dung Tuesday, May 25, 2010

[3D Design]

Japanese tuner 3D Design has come out with some new aero bits for owners of the E89 Z4 (that's the latest one with the retractable hard top).On the show car here you'll see the new urethane front lip and trunk spoilers and a diffuser made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
Going by exchange rates as of this typing, the price breakdown is as follows: $956 (¥86,100) for the front lip spoiler, $805 (¥72,450) for the trunk spoiler, and $1,260 (¥113,400) for the diffuser.
If you want your E89 to stand out in a crowd, these might be worth a look. As for yours truly, I'm enough of a Z4 fan to really worry about $1,000 lip spoilers.

1 comments

Toyota to invests $50 million in Tesla, co-develop EV technology

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, May 21, 2010

[Toyota]

In a surprise move, Toyota has teamed up with Tesla to develop new electric vehicle technology.

While details are limited, the companies will create a specialized team to design parts and production systems for future EVs. As part of the agreement, Toyota will also purchase $50 million dollars worth of Tesla stock (as soon as the company goes public).

According to Toyota's President, Akio Toyoda, "I've felt an infinite possibility about Tesla's technology and its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota's approach to manufacturing). Through this partnership, by working together with a venture business such as Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has."

The warm and fuzzy feeling was echoed by Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, who said, "Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla."

As you may recall, Daimler has also joined forces with Tesla "to accelerate the commercialization of electric drives globally."

0 comments

VIDEO:Lexus' LX570 gets Invaded by ASI

Posted by Mr Dung Friday, May 7, 2010

[Carscoop]

Japan's tuning specialist, ASI, thinks the Lexus LX570 full-size SUV needs a good ol' bump in styling and performance.

The tuner's Invader package takes care of the looks, although there has been no news yet of what engine upgrades are supplied. With the basic 5.7 liter churning out 381 horsepower, any intake/exhaust/ECU tuning would likely bring that number above 400.

ASI has bigger plans than just the standard tune-job, though, with a nigh-600 horsepower package on the way. It should run to 60 in under 5 seconds.

Unfortunately there's only one image to go from, so all that can be said is this: the body kit's nose looks decent, if a tad over the top (e.g. that front bumper is about 6 inches too tall). Lose the lower lip / fog light area and move everything higher.

Actually, forget that. It's not like owners would have to worry about off-roading, anyway. Honestly, who takes their Lexus LX to the trails?

1 comments

2010 Suzuki Concept Kizashi Turbo promises 290 hp

Posted by Mr Dung Tuesday, May 4, 2010

[Suzuki]

Suzuki has premiered the 2010 Kizashi Turbo Concept which made its public debut April 30th on the Speed Channel's Test Drive program.

The concept was born out of the designs of Suzuki tuner Road Race Motorsports working with a pre-production Kizashi GTS. Road Race Motorsports added its own 16G turbocharger, high-flow intercooler, an extreme spray injector, a blow-off valve and a velocity air intake. All that takes the Kizashi up to a competitive 290 bhp (216 kW).

The work was done on Suzuki's 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with the baseline 185 bhp (138 kW) of the Kizashi GTS, although the press release doesn't say. Suzuki was denied access to GM's 3.6 liter V6 power plant, which it intended to fit to the Kizashi, when the partnership between the two automakers was dissolved.

For improved handling, a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in Dunlop performance tires were added along with a rear spoiler from Delta Tech Engineering. Road Race Motorsports also added its own sport springs to the Kizashi's independent suspension holding up the uni-body frame.

0 comments

Honda to cease Civic Type R 4-door production

Posted by Mr Dung Tuesday, April 20, 2010

[WCF]

Drive goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.

Honda says it will stop production of the Civic Type R 4-door model at the end of August 20 The car was being manufactured at the company's Suzuka factory in Japan.Its predecessor had come off Honda's Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, production line.Unlike its 3-door hatchback sibling with 150 kW (201 bhp/ 204 PS), the four-door Type R's 0-litre naturally aspirated engine was injected with extra power for a rating of 168 kW (225 bhp / 228 PS).

0 comments

Nissan R35 GTR boosted to 800 hp and 948 Nm of torque

Posted by Mr Dung Thursday, April 8, 2010

[WCF]

It started when a Nissan R35 GTR owner in New England wanted to make the 1725 kg (3800 lbs) car more track-friendly.

To reduce weight Switzer fitted the R35 GTR with AP carbon rotors, a lighter ceramic-coated titanium exhaust system, a dry-carbon deck-lid, and lightweight Bride sports seats - lightening the car by 90 kg (200 lbs).Switzer said the client wanted a car that both he and his wife could drive on public roads and go out to dinner with while still making excellent times on the track.

So the car was sent to Ohio tuner Switzer Performance who had decided to take on the challenge.Also added for improved performance were an adjustable JRZ suspension system, tighter adjustable sway-bars, a diffuser for the undercarriage and an active wing provided by Aeromotions.Tym Switzer and his team took the Super Silver 2010 GTR and added their own components, which included new intercoolers, intakes and turbochargers and boosted the car's power rating to 800 hp (597 kW) and 948 Nm (700 lb-ft) of torque.Switzer's P800 upgrading package is now available for everyone via its network of dealers.