We get the whole idea of dressing up a car like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe with a comprehensive bodykit, but given what the Rolls already stands for, it does seem like a little too much, doesn’t it?
The people over at Wald International beg to disagree because they’ve just released a pretty daft package for the British luxury car. No matter the consternation we have for such a program, you can’t deny the skills of Wald International, especially when it comes to dressing up cars that are as exclusive as the Phantom Drophead Coupe. To their credit, the Japanese tuner fitted the Rolls with a comprehensive body kit, complete with a new front bumper that comes with a set of vertical LED running lights. The kit also has new air vents that have been cut into the fenders. There’s also a new front lip, mesh air intake inserts, new side skirts, and a new rear bumper that comes with a small rear diffuser with dual exhaust pipes.
All in all, it’s pretty extensive. Maybe even a little too extensive. But give Wald International credit; these guys know how to catch attention with their projects, especially when they use one of the most luxurious cars on the face of the planet.
Friday the 13th isn’t typically considered a good day for those that are a tad superstitious, but the people behind the Tokyo Auto Salon aren’t in the least bit paraskevidekatriaphobic (plague with a fear of Friday the 13th) because that’s when they decided to open their doors. Lucky for us (pun intended), because Toyota has chosen this setting to reveal their TES-ERA EV - a concept car developed by the Toyota Engineering Society that proves that even electric vehicles can be extremely cool.
The work on this project began back in March 2011 with a team of 20 members doing their best to produce a spectacular electric concept. This concept features an innovative design with sweet gullwing doors, a rich Dark Blue Mica exterior paint finish with 18-inch aluminum wheels, and height adjustable double wishbone suspensions. The interior of the concept gets a built-in touch-shift steering wheel, a rear and side view camera monitor system, an instrument panel, door trims with decorative illumination, and 4-point seat belts.
Joining the ranks of the beautiful exterior is the power setup. The TES-ERA is powered by an electric 4JM motor that delivers a total of 164 HP and 247 lb-ft of torque. The motor takes its power from a lithium-ion battery and is mated to a rear-wheel-drive system and the F1 "KERS’ system. With a total weight of 2535 lbs, the TES-ERA EV can hit a top speed of 124 mph.
All we can say is: we want it!
The 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon is just chock full of tuning packages for the Toyota GT 86, or any of its sibling iterations. Next to the GT86 by TRD featured earlier, Toyota has also brought the GT 86 Modellista version to Japan. While both versions mostly focused on adding some flare to the small sports car, they both proved that the GT86 is the perfect car to upgrade, in any way the customer dreams or desires.
The Toyota GT 86 Modellista has received a new front spoiler, a new rear spoiler, and chrome door moldings. Both headlights and rear lights have been modified, with the headlights receiving eye lids to simplify the car’s front and the taillights receiving covers to blend with the rest of the car. The final touch for the exterior is a new set of 18" wheels wrapped in high performance tires and a very cool white exterior paint. There aren’t any details on the interior modifications, but stay with us and we’ll keep you posted!
We all knew the secret was out of the bag as far as Subaru’s impending participation in the Japanese Super GT series. Now, the Japanese automaker has officially revealed their entry to the racing series: the Subaru BRZ GT300 Race Car.
The BRZ GT300 Race Car is being built to compete in the Super GT series, replacing the existing Subaru Legacy STI that’s currently plying its craft in race tracks all over Japan.
In terms of its design, the BRZ GT300 looks a lot different than the production BRZ, as well it should. The former was engineered specifically for racing reasons and as such, it’s had some in-house tuning done on it courtesy of STI. Among the modifications done on the BRZ GT300 include a larger carbon fiber splitter, a larger front air intake, new air scoops on the bonnet, a fixed rear spoiler, a new diffuser, Perspex windows, and a new set of 18" black alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohoma Advan tires. As you can expect, the interior of the BRZ GT300 was completely stripped down to its bare essentials to ensure that the car loses as much weight as it can. In place of everything that was taken down, Subaru added a full roll cage and a Recaro racing seat.
Under the hood of the race car, Subaru outfitted the BRZ GT300 with an STI-developed 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that has been tuned to produce 300 horsepower, right in line with the requirements for the GT300 class of the Super GT Series where the racer will be competing in.
UPDATE 01/13/12: The Subaru contingent at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon was in full force, including the BRZ GT300 Race Car. Check out the auto show photos of the racer in all its glory, courtesy of Subaru.
It’s understandable for us on this side of the world to be getting ready for the 2012 North American International Auto Show, but it’s important to not forget that another major motor show is set to open its doors next week. And it just so happens that it’s the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.
As the home to some of the biggest automakers in the world, the 2012 TAS is expected to feature some pretty interesting vehicles. For their part, Toyota is doing a pretty darn good job drumming up the interest with a teaser of the TRD-developed Toyota GT-86 sports car.
Just to be clear, TRD, or Toyota Racing Development, is the Japanese automaker’s racing division, and they’ve prepared the first high-performance, racing iteration of the recently unveiled GT-86. Not a lot of information has been revealed about the performance package TRD is putting into the GT-86, but we’d be the first to tell you that the mere thought of the affordable sports car receiving a top-flight performance upgrade is already making us drool in anticipation.
For now, we have to settle for this teaser photo, but here’s to hoping that the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon opens its doors sooner rather than later.
