Japanese Car News

Amarapala · June 18, 2013

USA vs EU versions of 2014 Corolla (sorry for the small images, due to the upload restrictions )

Edited June 18, 2013 by Amarapala

GTAm · June 20, 2013

Leaked pics of the new Mazda 3/ Axela. Looks very good I must say.

Gummybr · June 21, 2013

Nissan trying out an electric Le Mans 24 hour racer.

http://photos.nissan-global.com/EN/130621-01/3935/index.html#content

Magnum · June 30, 2013

Mugen Honda Civic

Magnum · June 30, 2013

Switzer ClubSport GT-R

Switzer Performance has developed yet another aftermarket program for their favorite car, the Nissan GT-R.

This latest kit is described by the Ohio-based tuner as the "most track-focused Nissan GT-R" and is essentially a combination between the Ultimate Street Edition's engine (nearly 1,000 bhp) mixed with other upgrades developed over the years.

For an additional 29,900 USD over the USE GT-R you'll get an aerodynamic body kit, track-biased suspension, beefier brakes with carbon-nano brake pad compound, composite racing seats, as well as track-designed Toyo R888 tires. The aforementioned aero kit encompasses a rear wing, front splitter and hood which have all been made from carbon fiber.

Magnum · June 30, 2013

Lexus LFA GTE

This is the Lexus LFA GTE which was originally developed to compete in the 2012 WEC season.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH had plans to race a GTE car and a LMP1 vehicle that year, but while the TS030 participated at 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GTE was never officially revealed.

The reason why Toyota pulled the plug on the LFA GTE has to do with logistics since they didn't want to have two programs running at the same time, especially when they were preparing for a Le Mans return. However, they did test the car in May 2011 in Valencia after spending some time in the wind tunnel.

At one point they wanted to race the car in the VLN series for customer teams at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Various setups were developed for the car, including one for sprint racing in the FIA GT Championship. Powering the LFA was a V10 rated at 475 HP (349 kW) and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque at 9,000 rpm put to the ground via a six-speed gearbox geared to 186 mph (300 km/h).

Even though it was canned, some of the knowledge acquired during development was put to good use in the Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA which took class victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

Gummybr · July 2, 2013

Datsun Rising

Datsun will be back on the 15th of July 2013. Check out their website with the countdown. http://www.datsun.com/

Looks like they will start marketing in India 1st and the first concept drawings are out. Engineered and Styled by Nissan and produced in India.

http://blog.nissan-global.com/EN/?p=9746

Crosswind · July 2, 2013

On 7/2/2013 at 2:30 AM, Gummybr said:
Datsun Rising
Datsun will be back on the 15th of July 2013. Check out their website with the countdown. http://www.datsun.com/

Looks like they will start marketing in India 1st and the first concept drawings are out. Engineered and Styled by Nissan and produced in India.

http://blog.nissan-global.com/EN/?p=9746

To my knowledge, Datsun is just going to be the cheap brand of Nissan. Obviously the Japanese don't want to lose the value of their Nissan brand any more, so they just create a brand name to compete with Marutis, Geelys, Dacias and the like and bring out some cheap crap to suit the taste of Indians. U won't see Fairladys and Zs under the Datsun brand name.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Crosswind

vishkid · July 2, 2013

The 2014 Mazda 3 was launched last week. Should be available in Europe and USA (and hopefully Asia-Pacific markets) at the end of the year with 4 engine models.

Seems to be packed with a lot of new tech which (again) puts it above Japanese/Korean vehicles of it's class but as the last para below reads, it's not just tech which makes a Mazda, it's the drive and the handling - so eagerly waiting for the first road tests.

The 2014 Mazda 3 has a certain maturity about it. Compared with other recently redesigned compact cars, such as the Kia Forte andToyota Corolla, it seems more grown up.

In fact, the all-new Mazda 3, which will come as a sedan and a hatchback when it goes on sale this fall, looks like a smaller version of the midsize Mazda 6. And all of the design tacticsthat Mazda used to make the 6 seem more like a luxury car than a budget-oriented one also apply to the 3.

Mazda calls its latest design aesthetic Kodo, meaning “soul of motion.” Overall, the 2014 Mazda 3 does look soulful, with its attractive proportions, arched fender lines and expressive front grille. (see pictures here.)

The interior also looks a step above what is expected of a car in this price range. The cut and stitching of the seat fabric, the tidy instrument cluster, and the dashboard’s horizontal orientation help create a premium feel. The look is clean, uncluttered and simple—again, echoing the Mazda 6.

But this new 3 does follow some current conventions. The display screen looks like an iPad stuck to the top of the dashboard, much like on the newBMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class—both premium cars that cost much more than a Mazda 3.

On the exterior, the Mazda 3’s upward sweeping belt line creates a racy look. The downside is that it also hampers visibility, but lots of new cars take this design approach (an annoying trend discussed in more detail here.)

Mazda has stretched apart the front and rear wheels a bit while keeping the overall length of the car relatively the same, something Toyota also has done with its 2014 Corolla. A longer wheelbase adds interior space and makes for a more stable ride.

The 2014 Mazda 3 borrows new Skyactiv engines from other recently updated Mazdas (Skyactiv is Mazda’s catch-all term for its new fuel-saving technology).

The base four-cylinder, which has 155 horsepower, is the same one used in the CX-5 crossover. It should feel peppier in the smaller, lighter Mazda 3 and return better fuel economy as well. The two-wheel-drive CX-5 with this engine gets 29 miles per gallon overall.

A larger four-cylinder engine offered in both the CX-5 and Mazda 6 also will be available in the new Mazda 3. With 184 horsepower on tap, it should make this little compact car quite speedy.

The Mazda 6 gets 29 to 30 miles per gallon overall with this engine, depending on the transmission. Again, expect the Mazda 3 to be more efficient because it’s smaller and lighter than the 6.

A slick-shifting, six-speed manual transmission will be standard. Mazda says it will have crisp, short throws like the stick shift in the MX-5 Miata sports car.

For those who don’t want to shift gears themselves, a Skyactiv six-speed automatic will be available, same as on the Mazda 6. This transmission is impressively responsive in the 6 and should be equally so in the 3.

It's not merely a redesign. It's a reinvention. All new from the ground up, the 2014 Mazda 3 shares nothing more than a name with its predecessors, according to the Japanese automaker.

The new 3 will be the first Mazda to get shutters in its front grille that close automatically in certain conditions to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy. Competitors such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Dodge Dart and Ford Focus already offer this feature.

The 3 also will have an optional regenerative braking system called i-ELOOP, which debuted on the 2014 Mazda 6. It uses a capacitor to gather and store kinetic energy generated while braking and decelerating. The capacitor powers electrical components, such as the air conditioning and stereo, to reduce the load on the engine.

The 2014 Mazda 3 includes advanced safety features generally found on more expensive vehicles. Using cameras and radar, the car can monitor its surroundings, to detect vehicles in blind spots or impending collisions.

In most cases, the new Mazda 3 will just warn drivers if it notices something amiss. But at speeds under 19 miles per hour, the car will actually throw on the brakes itself to avoid a collision if necessary.

Radar cruise control is part of this new high-tech feature set, and it too is typically only found on pricier vehicles. This system will determine if a vehicle ahead is moving at a slower pace than where the cruise control is set and will automatically adjust the driving speed to maintain a safe following distance.

Another noteworthy feature on the 2014 Mazda 3 is the optional Active Driving Display, which differs from the head-up systems offered by other automakers. Rather than projecting the speed of the vehicle and other details on the windshield, the Mazda 3’s system uses a small panel just behind the instrument cluster to display information. This clear panel looks like something from a jet fighter and folds out of the way when the car is turned off.

One benefit to this setup is reduced repair costs if the windshield gets damaged, says Dave Coleman, a vehicle development engineer at Mazda North American Operations. Head-up displays require a special reflective coating for the information projected on them to be visible to the driver. Mazda’s head-up system precludes needing to apply this coating to the windshield. So, for example, if a stray rock damages the windshield on the highway, it won’t be as costly to fix.

The 2014 Mazda 3 also has an upgraded infotainment system with Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. Using text-to-voice technology, the system can read emails, texts, tweets and Facebook updates.

But with Mazdas, tech gadgetry isn’t the main selling point. The key to the 2014 Mazda 3’s appeal over competitors will be in the way it drives. Mazdas are special in that way. (Read more about Mazda’s “zoom zoom” driving dynamics in a review of its CX-9 crossover here.)

True to its heritage, the company says it put a lot of effort into enhancing how the Mazda 3 drives, improving ride comfort, steering feel and brake response. The interior also has more sound insulation to keep out road noise, taking the quietness to a level that Mazda says is not only competitive among compact cars, but comparable to vehicles a class above.

In addition, the new Mazda 3 uses more high-strength steel than before, which is lighter than conventional steel and saves weight.

The company has yet to release full specs or pricing for the 2014 Mazda 3. But expect the cost to be similar to the current model, which starts at $16,700 for the sedan and $20,000 for the hatchback (plus a $795 destination charge).

GTAm · July 2, 2013

GTAm · July 2, 2013

Gummybr · July 2, 2013

On 7/2/2013 at 7:55 AM, GTAm said:

Is it just me that thinks that all the rear lamps of the new Japanese cars have similar designs to the Hyundai Sonata. Even the Corolla from TG episode on Sunday looked the same.

Gummybr · July 2, 2013

On 7/2/2013 at 3:57 AM, Crosswind said:
To my knowledge, Datsun is just going to be the cheap brand of Nissan. Obviously the Japanese don't want to lose the value of their Nissan brand any more, so they just create a brand name to compete with Marutis, Geelys, Dacias and the like and bring out some cheap crap to suit the taste of Indians. U won't see Fairladys and Zs under the Datsun brand name.

Unfortunatley yes, and am sure the Datsun owners of old will not like what has happened to the brand name and even in the US they think that dropping a well established name like Datsun was a wrong decision. But they are going to hold to the values that put Datsun on the map that being reliability and durability.

"up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets an engaging driving experience, peace of mind ownership and accessibility at the right and transparent price with a competitive total cost of ownership" according to the Nissan blog.

India itself is a big market for cheap transport with the massive population they have, and it is the Maruti market that is the growing market due to people coming up the social ladder and Maruti's and now Tata's are the stepping stones for them to owning a brand new car. BTW Renault Nissan owns Dacia and so dont think they will compete head on.

And the dream we all had about the rear wheel drive fun cars will not come true with the relaunching of the Datsun brand name, but we could always hope that Nissan will do something about it. They had plans for a small RWD car even before the GT86 came out in the open, but dont know what happened to them.

Magnum · July 2, 2013

On 7/2/2013 at 7:55 AM, GTAm said:

Looks like a smaller Evoque to me!

GTAm · July 3, 2013

On 7/2/2013 at 9:17 AM, Gummybr said:
Unfortunatley yes, and am sure the Datsun owners of old will not like what has happened to the brand name and even in the US they think that dropping a well established name like Datsun was a wrong decision. But they are going to hold to the values that put Datsun on the map that being reliability and durability.
"up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets an engaging driving experience, peace of mind ownership and accessibility at the right and transparent price with a competitive total cost of ownership" according to the Nissan blog.

India itself is a big market for cheap transport with the massive population they have, and it is the Maruti market that is the growing market due to people coming up the social ladder and Maruti's and now Tata's are the stepping stones for them to owning a brand new car. BTW Renault Nissan owns Dacia and so dont think they will compete head on.

And the dream we all had about the rear wheel drive fun cars will not come true with the relaunching of the Datsun brand name, but we could always hope that Nissan will do something about it. They had plans for a small RWD car even before the GT86 came out in the open, but dont know what happened to them.

Absolutely correct. The "budget" car sector has become a lucrative business for manufacturers. Renault-Nissan's Dacia is the big earner for the group while the Renault brand itself is struggling to stem losses. Renault-Nissan is also very strong in Russia now after the Avto-Vaz JV which means this Datsun could spawn a Lada!!

Crosswind · July 3, 2013

On 7/3/2013 at 4:51 AM, GTAm said:
Absolutely correct. The "budget" car sector has become a lucrative business for manufacturers. Renault-Nissan's Dacia is the big earner for the group while the Renault brand itself is struggling to stem losses. Renault-Nissan is also very strong in Russia now after the Avto-Vaz JV which means this Datsun could spawn a Lada!!

Just read on the net that the first "Datsun" is actually a Lada underneath!

Now that ought to be real fun to drive...

Magnum · July 3, 2013

Subaru WRX STI tS Type RA introduced in Japan

Subaru has announced plans to offer a WRX STI tS Type RA in Japan. Dressed exclusively in Tangerine Orange Pearl, Satin White Pearl or Blue Mica, the special edition features a front lip spoiler, gloss black accents and door mirrors with integrated LED turn signals. The car is also equipped with sports seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and "tS" branded sill plates. On the handling front, there's an STI-tuned suspension with revised struts, springs and dampers. Engineers also installed a front tower brace, a quicker steering ratio and Brembo brakes. If that's not impressive enough, there's an optional NBR (Nürburgring) Challenge Package adds Recaro front seats, a carbon fiber rear spoiler and 18-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires. Production will be limited to 300 units - 200 with the NBR Challenge Package - and pricing starts at ¥4,410,000.

iRage · July 9, 2013

not as exciting as some of the other previous posts..but orders are being accepted for the Axio/Fielder Hybrids which delivery will ocmmence around 6th August. The hybrid is going ot be only coupled with the 1500cc engine. Only differences apparently are:

- front grille which has a Hybrid badge

- an extra color.."something" blue

- changes in the instrument cluster

- reduced gasoline tank size in order to accommodate the batteries and still keep the same cargo space as the gasoline variants...

Magnum · July 9, 2013

On 7/9/2013 at 4:14 PM, iRage said:
not as exciting as some of the other previous posts..but orders are being accepted for the Axio/Fielder Hybrids which delivery will ocmmence around 6th August. The hybrid is going ot be only coupled with the 1500cc engine. Only differences apparently are:
- front grille which has a Hybrid badge

- an extra color.."something" blue

- changes in the instrument cluster

- reduced gasoline tank size in order to accommodate the batteries and still keep the same cargo space as the gasoline variants...

Axio hybrid? our Toyota fanboys will go mad!!

iRage · July 9, 2013

On 7/9/2013 at 4:59 PM, Magnum said:
Axio hybrid? our Toyota fanboys will go mad!!

Exactly ! and some of these toyota-PAN-boys who just bought their B/New Axios might need anti-depression medication just thinking about the fuel savings they could have had...

Edited July 9, 2013 by iRage

Gummybr · July 10, 2013

On 7/3/2013 at 7:43 AM, Crosswind said:
Just read on the net that the first "Datsun" is actually a Lada underneath!
Now that ought to be real fun to drive...

Nah more or less a March manufactured in India

Gummybr · July 10, 2013

On 7/9/2013 at 5:43 PM, iRage said:
Exactly ! and some of these toyota-PAN-boys who just bought their B/New Axios might need anti-depression medication just thinking about the fuel savings they could have had...

This is going to be a major headache for us. Talk about there being so many Axio's on the the roads being driven slowly without any respect to other users and then hybrid? Man expect more slow moving traffic.

H.C · July 10, 2013

Now whats missing is Allion hybrid !.

Magnum · July 10, 2013

On 7/9/2013 at 5:43 PM, iRage said:
Exactly ! and some of these toyota-PAN-boys who just bought their B/New Axios might need anti-depression medication just thinking about the fuel savings they could have had...

True and plenty of Axio Hybrid fuel economy threads

On 7/10/2013 at 8:56 AM, Gummybr said:
This is going to be a major headache for us. Talk about there being so many Axio's on the the roads being driven slowly without any respect to other users and then hybrid? Man expect more slow moving traffic.

Thats gonna be worst than Prius drivers!