Honda RA273... pure simple beauty!!!

Honda's F1 car over the period 1966-7, the RA273, didn't prove to be a very successful one - 9 races, 0 wins, 0 poles, 1 fastest lap - but it definitely looks the part!!!

The engine was re-designed from the RA272's 1,500cc V12 to a brand new 3,000cc V12 due to the change of regulations before the 1966 season. The new engine was designed by Shoichiro Irimajiri.

This story brings to my mind the famous quote: Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure. 'Soichiro Honda'

[Sources: Wikipedia, Flickr]

MODELLISTA body kits for new Toyota Vitz

Following the previous post showing some MODELLISTA options for the new Vitz (aka Yaris), here are some more images showing the body kits. In total, there are three different packages, MODELLISTA for RS (モデリスタバージョン for RS); MODELLISTA I (モデリスタバージョンI) and MODELLISTA II (モデリスタバージョンII). You can visit the official webpage by clicking here.

Nissan Leaf's aerodynamic design

Following the post about the Nissan Leaf's rear aerodynamic design, here is an interesting photo showing the underfloor design at the front.

Exterior of new Suzuki MR Wagon revealed

The exterior design of the new Suzuki MR Wagon (earlier post) has been revealed ahead of its debut, which will take place on January 20. The new MR Wagon will have a fuel efficiency of 25.5 km/L and not 26.5 as previously reported.

A glimpse of the new Japanese models coming in 2011!!!

The latest issue of Best Car magazine has a very interesting cover showing all the important new Japanese models coming in 2011!!!

So, here is what's coming (... I am missing a couple of Nissan sedan models):

• Daihatsu's small car based on the concept e:S (earlier post)

• Honda Fit - aka Jazz - wagon (earlier post)

• Honda Freed Hybrid 

• Honda Insight (facelift with design cues from  FCX Clarity)

• Lexus CT (looks like a spicy version... a CT-F perhaps?) 

• Lexus GS-F (earlier post)

• Mazda CX-5 (Mazda's variant of the Ford Kuga)

• Nissan Tiida - aka Versa - (earlier post)

• Toyota FT-86 / Subaru 216A (related posts)
  

• Toyota Prius V (related posts)

New Mitsuoka Viewt coming in summer 2011

Mag-X has came up with this rendering of the next-gen Mitsuoka Viewt, which will be introduced in summer 2011. For those who are not aware of the Viewt, the current model is the second generation one and it's a model based on Nissan's March (aka Micra). All generations of Viewt are inspired by Jaguar's Mark 2 design.

[Source: Mag-X via Makoto Garage Illustration]

Plug-in tech: Honda vs Toyota

Following the announcement of the second testing program in Japan (earlier post), Honda has disclosed details of the EV and PHV that will be tested.

The PHV is based on the JDM Inspire and it is equipped with a 2.0 L engine using the Atkinson cycle. The powertrain consists also of two motors and a Li-Ion battery. One of the motors has a maximum output of 120 kW and is used to drive the vehicle and regenerate energy. The other is used as a generator that can generate about 100 kW of electricity.

This system is different from Toyota PHV due to the use of two motors, and it can independently operate the engine and the motors. As a result, it becomes possible to drive the vehicle (1) as an EV only by electricity, (2) as a hybrid vehicle by using the engine and the motors and (3) as a gasoline vehicle by using only the engine.

Subaru to showcase three STi concepts at Tokyo Auto Salon

Subaru will showcase at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon not only the Impreza WRX STi tS (earlier post), but also three STi concepts: a Trezia STi concept, an Exiga 2.0GT tS concept, as well as a Legacy 2.5i tS concept.

[Source: Corism]