A hybrid Toyota engine has just won the coveted "Race Engine of the Year" award. But don't think that this is just an Al Gore-sanctioned award given to a Prius with a sticker package; the hybrid Toyota in question is this bad-ass Toyota team SARD Supra HV-R.
The editors of super-techy mag Race Engine Technology felt that, out of all the racecars made throughout the world in '07, this Supra had absolutely the best racing engine. With a four-wheel energy recovery system sending juice to three electric motors-two motors mounted in the front wheels and one motor on the rear axle-this Supra is the first hybrid car to win in competition (the Tokachi 24-Hour Race). Of course, the fact that this hybrid system was attached to a Super GT-spec 4.4-liter race engine probably had a lot to do with this car's success. Carter is already on the phone trying to convince Toyota to sell him this engine for his still-stationary JGTC Supra.
Kazunori Yamauchi, the godfather and creator of Gran Turismo, talks about the how he and Nissan worked together to bring the GT-R to life both in the game and in the real world.
Tetsu's Tales
There are many toy cars at the Toys "R" Us (yes, we do have one). The toy cars for over 14 years old is elaborate and you can find many domestic cars and JDM cars. How is the toy cars for under 14 years old? That is simple and comical style body. But it is hard to find toys JDM cars for under 14 years old. Is the JDM cars unpopularity for kids? Not cool? At the Tokyo Motor show 2007, many people noticed NISSAN GT-R. GT-R's heart is VR38DETT makes 480ps. Multi-function meter shows anything information of GT-R for you. It looks like the GT-R can test your driving skill and price is 7,770,000 yen. Honda displayed compact hybrid sport car, CR-Z; Toyota displayed Lexus IS-F; Mazda displayed future model of RX-7 but GT-R had strongest appeal. If someone redesign the GT-R for making funny toy, I guess the funny GT-R is popular for the kids which means GT-R is very cool car and have engineer's spirit. I want to buy GT-R but I am concern my bank account. Gas price is 150 yen/liter in Japan; it is about $5 U.S./ gallon (as of November '07). In USA, it is over $3 U.S./gallon but SEMA 2007 was same as the market of toy cars for kids. I mean domestic cars markets grow up at the SEMA. JDM car's fuel mileage is better than domestic cars but domestic cars were very popular at the show. Why? Hearing the environment stories has tired many people? I noticed Scion booth because Scion booth sparkled at the show. Customized Scion xB (Corolla Rumion in Japan) and Scion xD (ist in Japan) looked like toy cars for kids. They are not for race track or drifting. That is like "Cafe Racer style." Ridemakerz displayed toy xB cars at the Scion booth; the body is comical but I think toy xB cars will be popular for kids. I think that kids' favorite car and engineer's spirit are key point for developing cars and customizing cars.Tetsu
Word On The Street
Classic Super Street
Our february '98 issue of Super Street, cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Saturn SC1 somehow found their way into our Performance Cars of '98 feature. Prior to the staff monkey road trip to SEMA, someone on the Super Street payroll managed to destroy the magazine's first-ever loaner Civic by backing it out of a garage, thereby establishing the precedent that Super Street staffers can't drive. We also eschewed our Honda fanaticism and hooked up an '86 Corolla with the finest TRD parts-all in the hopes of building a drag race monster.
Gimme The Works
Top tuner WORKS has recently joined forces with Mitsubishi to campaign a Lancer sedan in the 2008 SPEED World Challenge. Yes, we said Lancer, not Evo X. This sedan is prepped for race duty, thanks to goods like Ohlins coilovers, Brembo brakes, carbon-fiber body panels and a fully-built WORKS-tuned engine.