Word On The Street
Starring: SSR
SSR is back in a big way. If you're looking for some dope wheels you'd actually rock the center caps with pride around town, hit up More-Japan. They have SSR wheels like the SP1 (pictured) available now. www.more-japan.com
Scion Stream
Looking, er, listening for something cool on the Internet? Peep Scion's new broadband streaming site. Filled with exclusive content and completely free, it's a cool place to lounge while surfing the net. www.scion.com/broadband/skinny
Fine-Tuned
If you haven't, make sure to peep THE new Fine Tuned show on SPEED TV. The Overhaulin' equivalent to our scene, the show emphasizes less rice and more nice with clean builds. For the ICE, Pioneer has signed up for the in-car entertainment and navigation. www.pioneerelectronics.com
Absolute Guinness
Continental has entered the Guinness Book of Records for the world's fastest standard production tire with their ContiSportContact Vmax. They are certified good for up to 360 km/h. That would be 225 mph for us standard-crazy Americans. www.continentaltire.com
Tetsu's Tales
October of this year is very important season for Japanese car market because the Tokyo Motor Show will be held at Makuhari Messe. (www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/). I think this time the Tokyo motor show is very special because Japanese car companies will display super sports cars at the show. Toyota/Lexus will show Lexus sport car. It will be different from Supra. Nissan will show new GT-R. Honda/Acura will show new NSX. Lexus sport car and NSX will have V10 motor with FR drive layout. I don't know the price but sounds like expensive. Nissan will sell the new GT-R in October and price will be under $70,000. Some magazines say new GT-R has paddle shift transmission behind the steering wheel for shift up and down (I think the pedal is in right side of steering boss for shift up and left side for shift down). $70,000 for GT-R will be basic model. Nissan will sell GT-R V-spec and GT-R Evolution. GT-R Evolution will be over $100,000.
Please wait Mr. Gore. This column is not finishing yet. I know it sounds like three companies forget about environment. They don't forget about environment. Toyota will show new Prius and Honda will show compact sport hybrid car. I think hybrid cars are boring for you but Toyota built Super GT Supra which had V8 motor with hybrid system for taking part in the endurance races. Honda is taking part in some endurance races in Japan and Germany in Civic hybrid race car. I think Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Daihatsu will display new sport cars at the Tokyo Motor Show. Before Tokyo Motor Show, Mugen will sell Honda Civic Mugen RR (www.mugen-power.com/street/RR/) on September 13. Civic Mugen RR is Mugen's complete Civic Type-R sedan. The engine will make 240psi/8000rpm. (Stock Civic Type-R's motor makes 225psi/8000rpm). The price will be 4,477,500 yen (about $37,300 US.) Engine, exterior and interior have Mugen parts. Over $30,000 Civic sounds expensive but it is easy to get full complete tuning car. Mugen RR's target situation is race track. If you wanted to drive race car on the street (and you have good driving skill), Mugen RR will grant your wishes.
Can any car companies go together environment and sport cars for future?
Tetsuya