Issue 77

Issue 77
March 2008 
 
Although this is the third time I’ve visited Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon, my heart never fails to race as I enter the central hall and, from the balcony, gaze out at the turbulent mass of people milling around the most colourful, extravagant show cars you’re ever likely to see.

Turn to p36 for the first in our comprehensive three-part coverage. But I’ve heard mixed reports about this year’s show. Some reckon it had more of a ‘tuner’ feel compared to last year, whereas others… well, let’s just say they weren’t very complimentary.

At least the Makuhari Messe was heaving with punters, which is a good sign for the industry. I personally think that without the high-profile newcomers – GT-R, Evo X, STI – the show would have been a bit stagnant, too reliant on wild D1 cars to provide the headlines. There was no obvious show stopper that I couldn’t wait to tell people about, unlike last year when Top Secret unveiled its V12 Supra.

Due to the fact that the GT-R was launched less than a month before the show and examples are extremely sought after, few tuners had had a chance to properly tinker with this new halo model; hence the reason why most simply sported new wheel and tyre combinations. They were staggered arrangements too, which as far as I’m aware is a first for a four-wheel drive car. Nissan has also been very clever (or devious, depending on your perspective) and engineered the new GT-R to circumvent the aftermarket.

The front suspension arms have been integrated into the shock absorbers, which, in turn, have been integrated into the car’s asyet- uncrackable electronic systems. Development costs for aftermarket suspension manufacturers is therefore immense, and I would hazard to say that any who claim to have a product already are probably stretching the truth.

Companies were certainly tight-lipped when I questioned them about the setups supposedly fitted to their display cars. A dismissive ‘It’s confidential’ was the usual reply. Apart from the fact that Nissan will sue you for trying to import one before the official UK launch, it’s the GT-R’s GPS-based speed limiter that would put me off owning a JDMspec model.

Apparently, it only disables the limiter when the GPS system detects that you’re on a registered circuit. As JDM-spec cars will likely only come with mapping for Japan, I don’t think any prospective GT-R owners would fancy the embarrassment of being hassled by my supercharged Aygo (yes, the mechanicals have been finished and the car’s back in my possession) around a track because they can’t seem to get past a pedestrian 112mph.
 
As for new trends, well, hybrid luxury cars – particularly the long wheelbase Lexus LS600hL – are leading the VIP onslaught, while changes to the rules of D1 mean that aftermarket canards are now banned from front bumpers. So expect to see new body kits being launched that include these aerodynamic aids already moulded in. Finally, the large Japanese tuning houses are beginning to dip their toes into European marques such as BMW and Porsche. But we don’t want to know about that, do we…

Joe Clifford, Editor

In the March 2008 issue..

Potent-in-pink
Straight from Japan to our Banzai track day, this JDM Cruise-tuned, pink Evo is built for maximum track attack

Full of eastern promise
Part one of our comprehensive three-part coverage of the most important show of the year - the Tokyo Auto Salon

Pace Car
When owner and tuner are thousands of miles apart, this Impreza WR1 had to be perfect before it was unleashed

National treasure
How would the UK's top tuner cars fare against Japan's own in Time Attack at Tsukuba?

The people's favorite
Check out the winners of Banzai Car of the Year 2008

Camry campaign
This 'low-rider' project showed SEMA visitors a new side to the top- selling Toyota Camry

Economies of scale
Meet the cheap and cheerful face of modern modifying - a Suzuki Swift that proves there is life beyond eco-friendliness

Family fun
The new facelifted Mazda5 proves your practical family daily driver doesn't have to be dull as dishwater

Smells like Teen Spirit
Imagine being just 17 and having one of the finest, UK built R32 Skyline GT-Rs in the country on your drive. Farooq Khan, you're a ridiculously fortunate individual!

Sport for choice
Autosport numbers were at an all-time high at over 80,000. Maybe they were all after a glimpse of the all-new Evo X?

The mak daddy
Garage Mak turns to the classic PS13 Silvia for its awesome new Time Attack machine

Virtual reality
Who'd have thought that the virtual world would give Mark Johnston the biggest win of his driving career?

Can't stop won't stop
Sticking to what he knows, Darren Law has built a classic JDM-style DC2 Integra Type-R with a modern K20A i-VTEC engine

Two of a kind?
Two rare TRD VM180s together, one of them hiding a secret of V6 proportions

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