5000 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs produced to date

Mitsubishi has already manufactured 5,000 i-MiEVs as of 23 November, which are produced at its Mizushima plant. Production for PSA (Peugeot & Citroen) is not included. The production of the small EV vehicle started in June 2009 and more than 3,000 vehicles have been sold in Japan. Euro-spec i-MiEV production started in October 2010 and is steadily proceeding with global rollout.

J's Racing S2000 photography

[Source: Face of Minds]

New Nissan Tiida to come with MR16DET engine

The fact that Nissan will fit the MR16DET engine in the new Nissan Tiida (aka Versa) is no surprise. The Juke also comes with this turbocharged DiG-T engine and so far, the critics about it are good. However, this scan, published by a Japanese magazine almost one month ago, shows a really beefed up Tiida, which is far from what we have seen so far (earlier post). 

It makes me wonder whether the Chinese version, called Sunny, will be different from what we will get. In the past, I read that Nissan plans to go head to head with the VW Golf and Ford Focus, but in order to do so, the new model has to be way better than the current model. So, judging from the photos of the upcoming Chinese Sunny, it's definitely not the car for this job... hm, maybe we will get something different...

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

New Suzuki Swift Sport launch postponed

The launch of the new Suzuki Swift Sport was intended for spring 2011, but according to a report from a Japanese magazine, it has now been postponed until next autumn. The reason behind this has to do with engine improvements, as Suzuki aims to achieve 30% improvement in the fuel consumption. The engine will also feature a stop/start system and a decision regarding gearboxes has been made yet (manual or CVT).

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Amazing CarbonDry Protec wheels!!!

I am not really into after market bits and pieces, but those CarbonDry Protec wheels certainly caught my attention.

Those GT-R wheels were shipped to CarbonDry Japan (カーボンドライジャパン), which they were then refinished in carbon fiber (4 layers!!!) with the company's dry carbon Protec system. The result of course in not only aethetic, as it does improve the strength and it barely adds any weight.

The results below are from a strength test on a 80mm piece of aluminum that is 20mm thick.

	Force withstood	Strength increase
No coats	60 kg	0%
1 layer	86 kg	43%
2 layer	180 kg	300%
3 layer	296 kg	493%

I have to admit that it's an amazing job... just take a look at the details! You can also watch a video at this link.

Nissan sets up special Leaf support team in US

Introducing an EV vehicle to the market is not as simple as someone may thing, mainly due to consumer's anxiety. It's something totally new after all. Therefore, Nissan has decided to set up a dedicated support team of thirty technicians and ten engineers trained in the Leaf’s drivetrain. The team will be visiting customers who experience issues with the car.

A similar support system is being introduced in Japan. 

[Source: Automotive News]

Subaru Impreza Concept video

What’s under the bonnet of the Gran Turismo 5 Signature Edition?

Honda NSX alive...? Or is it a ghost from the past.. which is anyway dead?

I have to admit that I have started being disappointed from Honda... NSX replacement cancelled, no F1 team (just at the time they had a winning car ready) and only words about hybrids... and again more boring hybrids. But wait!!!!!!

Now, this is shocking. New NSX alive???????

According to Motor Trend, it lives although in a different form. According to a source, Honda never gave up its plans, even though the V10 NSX concept came at the wrong time. So, the project was redefined, this time with a more market-friendly approach, which means giving it the latest hybrid tech.

The technology to power Honda new sports car "can be driven with either a clutch and an engine only, the engine and motor only, or the motor only," and a manual gearbox will be also available!

The car will be based on a modified Accord platform, and power will come from either a 2.4-liter R4 or a 3.5-liter V6 engine, with the latter considered the sure favorite. In Japan, a patent application that specifies a "V6 powertrain developing upwards of 400 horsepower" has been uncovered. Expect Honda to fit the rear-drive-based SH-AWD setup that enabled the test mule to lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 37 seconds two years ago.

If it gets the green light for production, expect to see it in showrooms as early as 2014. 

[Source: Motor Trend]

Mitsubishi to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2013

Do you remember the Mitsubishi PX MiEV Concept? It was presented at 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and I found it a nice looking concept. So, what new now about it? Actually, according to Yoshikazu Nakamura, senior executive officer of Mitsubishi's global electric vehicle business, a plug-in hybrid SUV will be launched in 2013. The car will be similar to the concept.

The PX MiEV Concept was powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine mated to a hybrid system with two electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the rear. Mitsubishi hasn't named its plug-in hybrid SUV, but it will carry the "MiEV" (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) moniker, Nakamura said. 

Now, just a question... what's the point in having cars like RAV4 EV and PX MiEV? I really think that "eco" technologies should be available in mass produced cars, but a big SUV with a limited mile range on the EV mode is destined for commuting, isn't it? So, people still want SUVs in order to move in big cities... and therefore, the marketing guys came up with this brilliant idea! Bring out a relatively green big SUV (after all, the tag "green" is the important bit), which in fact is not necessarily a green car... The fundamental element for a green car is weight reduction and if weight is low, then the 30-mile range of an SUV on EV mode can easily become 100-miles...

[Source: Automotive News]

Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept & Sprinter Trueno AE86 diecast models

I cannot resist ordering new scale models... and this time I ordered a couple of 1/43 ones which should look nice next to each other! 

• Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 Carbon Bonnet Takumi Fujiwara by Fujimi (フジミ)
• Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon by Kid Box (キッドボックス)

A spiced up Toyota iQ!

Toyota can be exciting...?! Check this iQ out!!! This is a supercharged racing concept parked outside Toyota Europe's HQ.

[Source: Scott Brownlee - Head of PR and social media for Toyota and Lexus in the UK]

Toyota officially outlines eco-car plans & battery research progress

Following the post about Toyota's "eco" future lineup, the company has now officially announced details of its plans for “eco-car” development and launches (confirming what has already been posted), as well as the progress in next-generation secondary-battery research.

1. Hybrid Vehicles: TMC plans to introduce 11 models by the end of 2012, consisting of all-new models and redesigned models.  Of the planned new models, one is a compact with fuel efficiency in excess of 40 km/L under the 10-15 Japanese test cycle.

2. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: By early 2012, TMC plans to begin sales of a “Prius”-based PHV, mainly in Japan, the United States and Europe.  Sales are targeted at more than 50,000 units annually, and the price for Japan is expected to be in the 3-million-yen range.

3. Electric Vehicles: In 2012, in addition to the U.S. market, an iQ-based EV will also be introduced in Japan and Europe.
• Launch preparations call for road trials in Japan, U.S., and Europe starting in 2011.
• Launch in China is also being considered, with road trials planned for 2011.

Separately, the “RAV4 EV” concept, which was developed jointly with Tesla Motors, will be on display until November 28 at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, United States.

Toyota launches Ractis (Verso-S) in Japan

Toyota has launched today the new Ractis (ラクティス), aka Verso-S, in Japan. The car made its debut a few months ago at the Paris Motor Show and basically, it's a mini-MPV based on the upcoming Vitz/Yaris. Interior space is claimed to be on par with that of rivaling C-segment cars.
 

The base model is powered by the 1.3 L 1NR-FE engine, while it is available also with the 1.5 L 1NZ-FE engine. The latter one is also available with 4WD. In terms of transmissions, both engine are couple to a CVT gearbox, called Super CVT-i. Prices start from 1,445,000 ¥ (1.3 L - Grade X) and go up to 1,848,000 ¥ (1.5 L 4WD - Grade G).

The Ractis will be on display on all Toyota dealers nationwide from November 27.

Ferrari 599 HGTE vs Lexus LFA

Japan's ultra-tiny home

... today's post is not about cars, but it's still a very interesting one!

Nissan Leaf: Less demo cars due to strong demand

Nissan's US dealers will each give up one of their Leaf demo cars as the factory tries to satisfy initial demand for the car. Initially, dealers were promised two demo Leafs, but now they will get just one. This move translates in as many as 1,000 extra Leafs going to consumers.

Only 20,000 Leafs will arrive in the US in the first year, due to the limited production volume. Nissan is investing $1.6 billion to construct another lithium-ion battery plant in Smyrna, Tenn., where it will also assemble the Leaf, but that supply will not come on line until late in 2012.

The USDM Leaf will be launched in December.

[Source: Automotive News]

Revised Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer comes in Europe

• Fresh, modern styling for longer, wider, taller Legacy Sports Tourer (wider by 50mm, taller by 65mm and longer by 55mm)
• Updated Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
• Several technical refinements and enhanced environmentally-friendly features for Boxer diesel engine
• Completely reviewed and re-engineered bodyshell
• All-new ‘Cradle Mount System’ adopted where the engine and transmission are mounted on a sub-frame to reduce NVH
• Revised MacPherson strut front suspension design
• New ‘short height’ compact double-wishbone rear suspension
• New electronic parking brake and hill-hold function
• More room inside high-quality cabin (e.g. legroom for rear-seat passengers increases by 99mm, aided by an 80mm increase in wheelbase), and up to 1,726-litres of luggage space
• New Multi-Information Display (MID) positioned on centre stack’s upper surface 
• Recently awarded 5-Star Euro NCAP crash safety rating 
• Available from December 2010, retailing at €41,995

Get ready for Toyota / Subaru FT-86 related cracking post...!!!

One thing that I really enjoy is searching for info... and one car that I really look forward hitting the markets is the Toyota / Subaru FT-86. I just hope that I will be financially sound in order to buy it...

Anyway, I have found some interesting shots from a a number of Japanese magazines, so stay tuned for the post... it's coming soon ;-)

Murano CrossCabriolet: Just some thoughts...

To be honest, I don't like SUVs and neither cabriolets, but somehow I do like the Murano CrossCabriolet (earlier post). For sure, it takes some balls to bring a car like that in production and although it's a niche market, I really hope that it will be successful. Sadly, this model won't really come in Europe and thus, I will never be able to see it in person...

For sure at the LA Auto Show, out of all Japanese manufacturers, Nissan had the best presense. A wicked prototype, the world's first AWD crossover convertible, my favourite sports car on sale at the moment, best coverage via Twitter... what else can someone ask...?!

Nissan has a great lineup in Japan and the US, while in Europe it's a different case. It tries to penetrate the market by discovering new segments, which is not a bad thing, but some of its "standard" models are rather disappointing (e.g. current Tiida and new Micra).

Honda refreshes Life in Japan

Honda Life (ライフ), Honda's Wagon R competitor, gets some minor changes for 2011. The most noticeable change is the front mask, while another change is the design of the headlight projectors for better visibility. All versions will now come with a wiper at the back.

The same changes apply for the Diva version, which now comes standard with sports seats and turn signal mirrors.

Of course, new exterior colours and interior trims have been added.

Pricing of new 2011 Vitz / Yaris in Japan (新型ヴィッツ価格情報)

Those are the prices of the new Toyota Vitz, going on sale in December in Japan.

1.0 F M-Package 105.8万円 *
1.0 F 111.8万円
1.3 F 128.8万円
1.3 F SMART STOP Package 134.8万円

1.3 U 149.8万円
1.5 U 159.8万円

1.0 Jewela 125.8万円
1.3 Jewela 135.8万円

1.5 RS C-Package 159.8万円
1.5 RS CVT 178.8万円
1.5 RS 5MT 171.8万円

* 万円 means million in Japanese

[Source: LoVitz]

Nissan Fairlady Z (300ZX) concept for sale on eBay

A Nissan Fairlady Z Z32 (aka 300ZX) - one of nicest Japanese sports cars in my opinion - convertible is not big news, however one with a folding hardtop is! The production cabriolet version went on sale in 1993, along with the T-top and standard versions, but before this, in 1991 Nissan produced a concept version that was shown at a number of auto shows. The concept featured a power-folding, retractable hardtop.

The concept was built  with American Sunroof Corporation (ASC) and it is now for sale on eBay, with a Buy-It-Now price of $62,000. Power is provided by the standard 3.0L V6, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The car has only 8,202 miles on the clock. According to the seller's listing, the original build cost was in excess of $800,000.

And just some history... Nissan utilized the Cray-II supercomputer to completely design the 300ZX with a form of CAD software. This made the 300ZX one of the first production cars to be developed in a CAD program!