Tokyo Auto Salon auto news

Tokyo Preview? 550-hp, 218-mph Lexus LF-A reportedly coming this year

Last year's reports about the demise of the Lexus LF-A may have been greatly exaggerated, and according to the fabulists at AutoExpress, Lexus' long-awaited supercar is due to be revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

Toyota insiders told the Brit pub - in so many words - that the LF-A's delay was due to a series of engineering tweaks to boost the sleek supercar's top speed. Initially, the LF-A topped out at 199 mph, which ToMoCo execs decided was too slow considering the supercar's competition, so after some fettling with the engine and bodywork, the revised coupe is expected to hit 218 mph or beyond.

In addition to the revised top speed, the R&D team's exterior tweaks will be obvious when the wraps come off in Tokyo, with a new fascia, headlight design and reworked rear end. Underneath that long hood lies a revised version of Lexus' new V10, displacing 4.8-liters and sending all 550 hp through a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

Production of the LF-A will be limited to 500 examples, and that will supposedly include a higher performance version equipped with wider body panels, a track-oriented suspension and aerodynamic components pulled from the Nurburgring racer (pictured above).

Pricing is still rumored to be somewhere in the $200,000 range, and if the LF-A does debut in Tokyo - likely alongside the rear-wheel drive Toyobaru sports coupe - it could be on sale as early as 2010.

Gallery: 2009 Lexus LF-A Nurburgring 24 Livery

This year's Tokyo Motor Show? JAMA Be There (but most of the world's automakers won't)

We already knew about the Detroit 3 taking a pass, but now, word from Automotive News is that Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen and Volvo will apparently be skipping out as well. In a news conference that JAMA chairman Satoshi Aoki called a "once-in-a-hundred-years crisis," the organization confirmed to media members that just 122 exhibitors will hawk their wares - nearly half of 2007's total of 241. The departure of those manufacturers represents a loss estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars for JAMA and the local economy (if not more), as costs associated with mounting a single show stand often reaches into seven-figures.

Of those 241 parties that still remain, Japan's eight primary automakers have signed on (Daihatsu, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota), and Hyundai will join as well. On the high-end front, only Alpina, Lotus, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche have committed.

Rumors swirled as recently as in January that the show might be canceled altogether, but organizers have evidently decided that a scaled-down show is better than no show at all. Other outlets are reporting that JAMA will reduce the event's Makuhari Messe footprint from four show halls to two. Additionally, public days are reportedly shortening up as well, with the original run of October 23 to November 8 being cut down - the show will now close November 4.

Formula for Disaster: Ferrari Hyabusa Trike on display in Tokyo

There have been countless attempts to translate the Ferrari spirit from four wheels to two, ranging from sport bikes to choppers and everything in between. But this is the first we've seen with three wheels. That's right, in case your eyes couldn't adjust from the endless see of crimson contours, what you're looking at is a Ferrari trike.

Mirroring the "styling" of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 car, this one-off trike was spotted at the banzai Tokyo Auto Salon by the same people who brought us the no-less-bonkers Lamborghini ATV. Based around a 1.3-liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine and frame, this (thankfully) unique example was built by Trike Japan in order to showcase what they can do. We certainly hope the rest of their portfolio is a bit more tasteful than this showpiece, but we won't be holding our breath. If you're feeling a little masochistic today, have a look in the gallery below and the pair of videos after the jump.

Gallery: Ferrari Trike

Continue reading Formula for Disaster: Ferrari Hyabusa Trike on display in Tokyo

Embrace your inner child with a Lambo ATV

The 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon was loaded with the usual assortment of wild and wacky tuner fare - same as always. But tucked among the cars are hidden treasures like the wee beastie shown above. Liberty Walk/LB Performance are Japanese Lamborghini tuners, and in addition to showcasing a selection of the supercars they've worked on, they also showed off a couple of ATVs they re-bodied to look like super deformed little Murcielagos. Miniaturized dimensions, big alloys, low-profile tires - this is what Power Wheels would look like if they made 'em for grown-ups and cost $20,000. Dad, can we have one? Pleeeeeeeeeeease?

Gallery: Liberty Walk Lambo ATV

One for the Roadster: Huet Brothers to offer HB Special in limited numbers

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Huet Brothers Special

Regulars here at Autoblog may have caught the HB Special we reported on two weeks ago. The retro roadster, inspired classic by the Le Mans and Mille Miglia racers of the 1950's, was created by Dutch brothers Tino and Paul Huet, who intended to produce a limited quantity exclusively for use on their European classic motoring rallies. But demand for the unique HB Special grew to such an extent that the Huet Brothers have decided to put it into limited production.

Based on a modified Triumph TR6 chassis, the HB Special uses the British roadster's original straight six, but bored out from 2.5- to 2.7-liter and fitted with new Honda pistons. Buyers can choose between three versions, with 160 or 180 hp or a supercharged version pumping out over 210 ponies. Buyers will also get the opportunity to specify from a wide range of options, from color and interior trim to a limited slip differential. The Huets plan on producing an initial run of five units, with a maximum of ten vehicles per year depending on demand. Prices start at €67,000 for the 160hp model and range up to €80k for a fully-optioned supercharged version. We've added a handful of new images to our high-resolution gallery of the HB Special, so check it out, along with the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Huet Brothers HB Special

Continue reading One for the Roadster: Huet Brothers to offer HB Special in limited numbers

2009 Tokyo Auto Salon: Blitz brings RWD, manual-equipped GT-R

You'd have to go to great lengths to improve on the Nissan GT-R, but judging by the number of R35s on hand at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's top tuners are making a serious attempt. One GT-R that caught our attention comes from the aftermarket firm Blitz, which ditched Godzilla's all-wheel-drive system and fitted a manual gearbox in an attempt to make the GT-R a credible contender in Japan's D1 drift series.

With the complex ATESSA-ETS setup and rear-to-front drivetrain removed, Blitz has created the first rear-wheel-drive GT-R and addressed one of the main complaints about the R35 - it's weight. While the stock seats remain (Blitz plans to fit a set of Bride buckets later on), it's nixed the air-conditioning and a number of other components, along with replacing several interior panels and the hood with carbon fiber pieces. The gearbox still sits in the rear for optimum weight distribution, but a Hollinger sequential unit has been fitted with the addition of an NISMO GT R34 LSD. The twin-turbo'd 3.8-liter V6 remains unchanged, but the exhaust has been swapped in favor of a Blitz cat-back.

In addition to a set of gauges to keep tabs on boost, oil temperature and oil pressure, Blitz fitted its own ZRR dampers at all four corners, along with a set of BRW09MAG forged magnesium wheels, sized 20x9.5-inches (+38) up front and 20x10-inches (+18) in the rear. Each is shod in super sticky Dunlop SP Sport DSST Ctt (we think 600s) rubber, with 255/40s on the front and 285/35 out back.

The Blitz GT-R is still under development, so it won't be campaigning in D1 until 2010. Not that it matters, we're just enamored by the sight of an R35 with a clutch pedal. Check out the gallery below for some shots under the Blitz GT-R's body.

Gallery: 2009 TAS: Blitz Nissan GT-R

Rock the Vote! Last chance to vote Autoblog as Best Major Blog

It's been a long, tough campaign (ever since last Friday) and our honorable opponent has been a worthy adversary. After yesterday's rally, we find ourselves down in the exit polls. This is the time we pull together, people.

Click the link above to cast your final ballot for Autoblog as the Best Major Blog in the 2008 Weblog Awards. The voting closes at 10:00PM 5:00PM EST tonight.

But you can do more. You have friends, family and Facebook accounts. Pass the voting link along to them and ask for their support. Tell them it doesn't cost anything to click, and Autoblog is the candidate that best represents their values, which may or may not be true.

Seriously, though, we've appreciated every vote cast for Autoblog and all the emails and comments of support. One last push and, win or lose, we'll see what's on the other side. Thanks!

Voting link: http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-major-blog/

2009 Tokyo Auto Salon: Mugen NSX RR

With the NSX successor officially cancelled, Honda tapped long-time motorsports partner Mugen to create a one-off coupe to commemorate the everyday supercar that ended production in 2005. The Mugen NSX RR is stretched to 177.95 inches (almost four inches more than the '94-05 model), and widened by 5.5 inches and features a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum body panels. In addition to a set of upgrade brakes, GT-style body kit, wing, hood-scoop and diffusers, the 3.0-liter V6 has been swapped out in favor of a supercharged 2.4-liter V6 mated to a revised six-speed manual gearbox. Mugen hasn't released any power figures, but informed speculation pegs output between 350 and 380 hp.

While it's highly-doubtful that Honda or Mugen will sell the NSX RR in the States, there's a good chance that the tuning firm will acquire some low-mileage NSX-Rs in Japan to produce a limited run of the RR, similar to the NISMO R34 GT-R Z-Tune Nissan produced at the end of the Skyline's production run.

Gallery: TAS 2009: Mugen NSX RR

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009: The best from TAS, but first...

With the Detroit Auto Show finally winding down, we can turn our attention to the east (or west, depending on your continental perspective) to take in the motoring madness and engineering wizardry coming out of the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Each year, Japan's top tuners descend on the Makuhari Messe to show their wares to the public and press, and with over a year to develop, modify and produce components for the Mitsubishi Evolution X, Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the new darling of the aftermarket scene - the Nissan GT-R - this year's show had the potential to trump anything we've seen out of Tokyo in the last decade. By many accounts, it did, and with the help of Autoblog Chinese and some of our favorite JDM-obsessed sites, we'll be bringing you the best TAS has to offer.

Since we'll be focusing almost exclusively on the products that make you go faster and stick harder, we'll get the weird out of the way right now. Behold the NATS GT-K. Captured by our friends at LeBlogAuto, the GT-K is based on the Suzuki Cappuccino, and aside from the GT-R duds, the Kei car features a modified version of the 657cc DOHC inline-three equipped with a larger turbo and intercooler, along with a coilover suspension, upgraded brakes and a set of gloriously hideous 18-inch chrome wheels. We were able to keep our dinner down long enough to look at NATS' 911-inspired Cappuccino, at which point we grabbed the nearest trash can and heaved away. Ambition: 1. Execution: 0. More to follow. Stay tuned...

Gallery: NATS GT-K

Nissan GT-R SpecV: Details, live images and video

Nissan's press release on the GT-R SpecV left a lot of unanswered questions, particularly the geeky tidbits that we thrive on. So with the help of our friends at the GTRBlog, who were on hand for the unveiling in Japan, and a few of our super-secret sources abroad, we were able to scrounge up some of the more salient details on Nissan's upgraded Godzilla.

Gallery: Nissan GT-R SpecV Live

Gallery: Nissan GT-R SpecV

Continue reading Nissan GT-R SpecV: Details, live images and video