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#41
10-03-2010, 08:40 PM
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Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video]
Filed under: Aftermarket, Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Honda  Noblesse-tuned Honda CR-Z on-track - Click above to watch video after the jump A couple of days ago, we wrote about the specs for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and most commenters weren't all that impressed. Spoon then let a little bit slip about what it was doing to make the hybrid coupe a little more engaging, but those were merely words. Now we have what is said to be track footage of Japanese tuner Noblesse in one of their tuned CR-Zs at Suzuka, and it might put people in a mind to at least reserve judgment. It's all in-car video, and yes, Noblesse is primarily known for their bodykit work, not for actual performance parts. All which makes this footage a little tough to gauge, but there were moments when we did find ourselves thinking, "Hey, this could be something." And yes, we will only accept fully blacked-out CR-Zs from now on. Follow the jump for some Suzuka lapping, and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below. Thanks for the tip and images, Chris! [Source: Six Sylinder] Continue reading Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Commentsأكثر... 
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#42
10-03-2010, 11:10 PM
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Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi?
Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Mitsubishi  In a letter issued to its customers, Ralliart, a Japanese high-performance subsidiary of Mitsubishi, has announced that it is closing its doors. The company's business case has apparently faded, a victim of the wilting domestic aftermarket scene as well as its lack of continued motorsports involvement. Naturally, we wondered if and how the closure of the company responsible for its high-performance parts and related merchandise would impact the development, production and marketing of Mitsubishi vehicles sold here in the States - more specifically, the Lancer Ralliart and Sportback Ralliart models. To answer that question, we spoke with Mitsu spokesman Maurice Durand, and he informs us that the closure of Ralliart will not, in fact, have any affect on the availability or continued marketing of these models (or any future branded offerings), as Mitsubishi owns the rights to the name, logo, and so on. Furthermore, all licensing agreements in foreign countries remain intact. So, while you may not be able to get a genuine JDM Ralliart strut-tower brace or shift knob, you can breath easy that the SportBack that you've been saving your lunch money for will still be at your local dealer by the time you've got enough scratch. Official press release after the jump. Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Commentsأكثر...
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#43
11-03-2010, 04:00 PM
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Going Platinum: The $80,000 Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Japan, Nissan, Toys/Games  In honor of Tomica's 40th anniversary, jeweler Ginza Tanaka has produced a one-of-a-kind replica of the toymaker's die-cast 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432 (the Z432 was a Japan-only model powered by the same S20 inline-6 used in the C10 Skyline GT-R). Unlike anything Tomica sells to the public, "toy" is made of platinum - including its exquisitely-detailed box. If it were to be made available for purchase (it isn't), it's estimated worth is around $80,000. Japanese Nostalgic Car jokes in its headline that even at that price, it's still less than what one would pay for a real Z432, given their rarity and desirability (a total of 420 cars were produced between 1969 and 1973). As for this platinum bauble? It's being publicly shown at the Hong Kong International Jewelery Show this month, after which it heads back to Japan for next month's Osaka Tomica Fair. [Source: Japanese Nostalgic Car] Going Platinum: The $80,000 Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Commentsأكثر...
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#44
12-03-2010, 10:50 PM
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Honda CR-Z enjoying high early demand in home market?
Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Honda  2011 Honda CR-Z - Click above for high-res image gallery The new Honda CR-Z has only been on sale in Japan for two weeks, and already the automaker has received over 7,000 orders for the small hybrid. This represents about 60 percent of the 12,000 units that Honda anticipated to sell domestically in the hatch's first year of production. If this trend continues, Honda may have to ramp up production of the CR-Z in Japan to meet the high demand. The CR-Z's fortunes in other markets will be every bit as interesting to watch, of course. In the United States, for example, doubters (full disclosure: ourselves included) question whether Honda's idea of a sports hybrid that takes just under 10 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour might not be what the doctor ordered, especially when paired with surprisingly disappointing fuel economy figures. Of course, that's largely just what the online enthusiast community is saying at the moment, and not necessarily any indication of the car's eventual marketplace success whatsoever. As fans of the long-gone CRX, we sincerely hope that the new CR-Z carries the torch in a way that does not appear to be conveyed by these early performance numbers. Either way, watching the CR-Z's long-term sales prospects both at home and in other markets will be far more important to the model's fortunes than an early sales boom in Japan and pre-launch online skepticism. [Source: MarketWatch] Honda CR-Z enjoying high early demand in home market? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Commentsأكثر...
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#45
15-03-2010, 05:30 PM
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Word of Lexus LFA N?¼rburgring track edition emerges from Japan
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Lexus, Rumormill  Lexus LFA Nürburgring track edition - Click above for image gallery Remember when Lexus was synonymous with cushy, spongy rides that were anything but performance oriented? That all seems a distant memory since Toyota's luxury division set its sights on the likes of BMW with the IS-F, even more so with the release of the exclusive LFA supercar. But according to the latest, Lexus ain't done yet. Back in October when we were in Miami test driving the LFA, we brought you a report on the possibility of a stripped-down, competition-focused version. Now it appears that this track edition is upon us. Apparently called the Nürburgring edition - in reference to the legendary German road course where the competition prototypes that led to the production LFA cut their proverbial teeth - this extra-special LFA will benefit from a large, fixed rear wing, a splitter up front, a stiffer (and more adjustable) suspension, lightweight alloys coated in track rubber and an extra 10 horsepower (likely resulting from a revised exhaust system). Aside from the four paint options - which reportedly include glossy black, matte black, orange, and an unknown fourth color - that's about all we've got for now, but if your Japanese is up to snuff and you can extrapolate more from the source report, let us know in the Comments below. [Source: ??¬??¯??µ??¹??¨??®é??[LEXUS] (translated) via The Lexus Enthusiast] Word of Lexus LFA N?¼rburgring track edition emerges from Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Commentsأكثر...
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