2003 Tokyo Auto Salon Turbo - Super Street Magazine

Chiba's Master Garage
Mr. Nagata, aka the Dr. Frankenstein of engine swaps, did it again with his VQ-powered GT-R (look for our complete feature elsewhere in this issue) and he displayed one of his Fusion GT-Rs with an even more glittery shade of his signature Top Secret gold. Top Secret's white ITR, complete with an ings carbon-fiber body kit, could be seen in the Rays Engineering booth. What we now know as the Acura TSX began life as a Honda Euro R and Mugen poured its goods master all over one on display at its TAS booth.

But Wait, There's More
From the grass-is-greener department, we found Bomex displaying a U.S.-spec Civic and Yashio Factory brought a 240SX with an SR20DET conversion. Yashio big boss, Mr. Okamura, would have rather displayed the car with a 500hp KA24 motor but he could not get it completed in time for the show. Okamura-san told us that he was not really shooting for the U.S. market and that he just wanted to try something different.

VeilSide also debuted a couple other new items at TAS. The tuner's latest wheel, the 20-inch Andrew Baccarat, looked great but we were less enthused about the Fortune '03 Supra. The car was an updated version of VeilSide's legendary Fortune Supra. While the 850hp package was impressive, the lines failed to match the impact of the original.

Rays Engineering displayed a dizzying amount of new wheel designs and Tein unleashed a next generation Super EDFC with a wireless controller. A'PEXi showed a new Rev-Speed Meter GP and Super AFC. At HKS we saw the new Super AFR and Type II racing blow-off valve. To celebrate a milestone, HKS is also offering its EVC, Turbo Timer, and EZ Guard Timer in a special 30th anniversary gold color. Top Fuel had an interesting little device called the Power Neo that attaches to your fuel line. Mr. Hirano explained to us that the Power Neo uses extremely powerful magnets to positively charge the oxygen molecules in your fuel. The result is that your fuel will perform more "effectively," improving not only performance but mileage and emissions as well. Sounds great to us. As soon as we get our grubby mitts on one we'll try it out and let you know the results.

Finally, to widen the Pac Rim tuning disparity even further, Signal announced the creation of a high-quality body shop franchise specializing in tuner cars. The group of Show Up shops will be located around the central area of Japan. All of these tantalizing treats from this faraway land made the return trip that much more unbearable. Well, that and the fact that Jonny's huge head blocked the in-flight screening of Meatballs III.