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Tokyo AutoSalon 2010: Varis Original RUNDUCE Nissan GT-R
Well the 2010 Tokyo AutoSalon finally kicked off today after what seemed like an endless wait! GTRBlog went along to check out the show and see the progress so far on the Varis/Original Runduce Nissan GT-R build. You probably recall when we broke the news that Runduce would be producing a full widebody carbon fibre body kit fo the GT-R back towards the end of December 2009. Well they had actually only kicked that project off at that stage so nobody seriously expected them to complete the whole kit by January.
They did however manage to turn out some respectable carbon parts for the GT-R including the following:
- Carbon Fibre Hood
- Carbon Fibre Front Underspoiler
- Carbon Fibre Rear Underspoiler
- Carbon Fibre Side Skirts
Varis also came to the GT-R party on this build, supplying some additional extras for this car in the form of:
- Varis Hyper Narrow GT-Wing for Nissan GT-R
- Varis original GT-R trunk lip spoiler
- Varis Sound Control Exhaust System
Other parts in the build so far are HKS HyperMax III Suspension, Recaro Racing Seats, AVS Model F15 wheels (20×10.5 all round) and ADVAN 275 wide tires to finish them off.
While there’s a lot of parts on this car, there’s more to come from Varis and Original Runduce after AutoSalon so we’ll keep following their progress and report back when we hear more.
For now, please enjoy the photo gallery from the show today!!!
Link: Varis Website
Link: Original Runduce Website
Images: (C) Copyright GTRBlog.com
Tokyo AutoSalon 2010: HKS Kansai’s Booth Preview
HKS Kansai have announced they will be attending Tokyo AutoSalon in their traditional parts stocked booth. Along with their other demo cars will be the HKS Kansai R35 GT-R Black Edition. This HKS Kansai car is kitted out with the entire catalogue of parts including:
- HKS Racing Suction Kit
- HKS Metal Catalyzer and Front Pipe Kit
- HKS Kansai Titanium Dual Exhaust
- HKS Kansai Transmission Water Cooling Kit
- HKS Kansai ECU
- HKS Kansai Stabilizer/Sway Bars
- HKS Kansai Front LSD
- HKS Kansai Seat Rails
- HKS Kansai Floor Mats Set
- HKS Kansai Tow Hook
- HKS Kansai Carbon Exhaust Protector
- HKS Kansai Carbon Radiator Shroud
As well as that formidable list, the car is also decked out in a fairly comprehensive list of SEIBON carbon products such as the dry carbon aero hood, rear spoiler, trunk lid, front lip spoiler and grille.
We’ll grab the latest pics this coming Friday the 15th of January so keep checking back for our Tokyo AutoSalon coverage for 2010…
Link: HKS Kansai Website
Tokyo AutoSalon 2010: Nissan to Debut GT-R Data Logging Option
Nissan have announced their plans to attend Tokyo AutoSalon 2010 this month. The Nissan booth will feature 9 vehicles including the Nismo ClubSport Package Nissan GT-R and the 2008 SuperGT Championship winning #23 Xanavi GT500 class R35 GT-R.
One interesting thing to note is that the Nismo ClubSport kitted GT-R will be of the 2010 model flavour and be fitted out with the forthcoming Nismo Data Logger MFD option.
The Nissan GT-R 2010 model also includes the newly developed “NISMO Data Logger Kit”, which makes it possible for the driver to download their driving data via USB and view it on a computer. With this data logger kit, NISMO provides a new driving pleasure in which the driver has a full complement of options to analyze driving data acquired at the driving circuit.
Nismo will also be offering a limited edition #23 Xanavi GT500 model on sale. Only 996 numbered units will be up for grabs so if you plan on attending it might make a nice keepsake.
Link: Nissan’s Tokyo AutoSalon Website
Tokyo AutoSalon 2010: TommyKaira GT-R Buildup Continues
The tension builds as we get nearer and nearer to Tokyo AutoSalon 2010. I leave for Tokyo this weekend so personally I’m pretty damn excited too. About the show, seeing old friends but also about checking out what TommyKaira have been up to with their GT-R.
On the news front, you can see a little more work has been done getting the parts on the car. A full custom TommyKaira brake kit has also been developed along with a suspension setup from Quantum.
We know that the guys at TommyKaira also plan to splash red leather liberally around the interior, including on the seats which will be replaced with some SpecV-esque Recaros.
Stay tuned for a full spread of photos from the mornings press preview at Tokyo AutoSalon on the 15th of January…
Link: TommyKaira Official Website
Mine’s Meeting Event 2010: Come Visit Mine’s in Japan – January 15th – 18th
As you probably know, Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 is right around the corner so if you’re attending this one it’s time to start planning your trip. We’re happy to announce on behalf of Mine’s that, around the same time, they will be holding a open shop Mine’s Meeting event where visitors from all over the world are welcome to come and check out the latest in Mine’s developments.
The event will be held at their Yokosuka workshop just about an hour out of Tokyo on the train.
Come along and check out as yet unreleased GT-R products in the flesh such as the Mine’s Dry Carbon Front Bumper and the exciting new Mine’s Complete Engine.
Ordinarily, visiting such a legendary a tuning shop around Tokyo AutoSalon time is difficult at best. Workshops are working overtime to finish cars for the show and dont have time to entertain guests. Mine’s are making special arrangements for visitors at this time as they will unfortunately not be holding a booth at TAS this year.
Still, that’s all the more reason to plan a side trip to the Mine’s workshop to checkout their R35 and previous generation GT-Rs. If you’re a Mine’s distributor, customer, or fan, you’re invited so book it in!
Speaking of Mine’s parts, check out these sneak peak photos of the Mine’s Complete Engine at it’s shakedown testing at Sodegaura Circuit in Chiba taken yesterday. Love the look but can’t wait to hear it in the flesh in January…
Link: Mine’s R35 GT-R Website (English)
Map: Mine’s Shop, Yokosuka, Google Map
Nismo Festival 2009: Nismo Festival Walkthrough Part 3
Thanks to you guys who have been following this series of articles. We’re going to wrap it up today with a look at some of the celebration side of Nismo Festival. As you may know, Nismo Festival sits right at the far end of the SuperGT season and is a celebration of the season past.
So one of the final events is the fan thankyou and closing ceremony where everyone associated with SuperGT, and now, FIA GT racing for Nismo will get out on the circuit to hear the roar of the fans and give thanks for their support. The drivers themselves will first roll up in their respective rides. Burnouts optional…
Once assembled the fans will salute them, chanting Nissan and waving giant banners adorned with Nissan, GT-R and team emblems. Following this, we hear from team bosses of each SuperGT team as well as the Nismo SuperGT and FIA GT team managers.
At the end of the festivities, each of the SuperGT drivers gets to throw some small gifts into the crowd to again show thanks and wrap up the Festival.
And on that note I want to wrap up the Nismo Festival 2009 coverage from GTRBlog too. It was a great festival this year with a couple of sneak peaks scooped and a lot of friends caught up with. Looking forward to the next big show now which is litterally right around the corner. January 15th – 17th at Makuhari Messe – you got it – it’s Tokyo AutoSalon 2010.
For now, though, I’ll leave you with the remainder of the eye candy from the closing of Nismo Festival 2009!
Images: Copyright (C) 2009 GTRBlog.com
Nismo Festival 2009: Nismo Super Taikyu Nissan GT-R – Part 2
Time to get to the real meat of the latest race spec Nissan GT-R to be spied out of Nismo’s workshop. We got our first look on Saturday and fortunately, GTR-World were quick enough with their camera to snap a whole load of pics.
In this final installment of the photo posts, we get under the hood and inside what we presume is the upcoming ST1 specification Nissan GT-R for Super Taikyu competition next year.
Firstly lets check out the tyres on this beast, we can quickly see that these are no street tire and a full slick is fitted. It’s actually a prototype Yokohama Advan A005 265 wide (front) tyre in 20 inch size. Yokohama’s largest commonly available size for this tire is 18 inches so one wonders if this tire will be sold through dealers in the future or restricted to use by Nismo.
Next let’s check out the interior. While much is stripped out and a serious roll cage bolted in, several standard road car items can be spied. A Sparco racing wheel replaces the standard wheel but much of the dashboard, cluster, stalks and paddles remain stock. Carbon blanking panels replace the vents and stereo and climate controls are of course completely replaced with functional carbon panels to bolt more robust controls into. A Recaro Pro Racer SPA HANS carbon kevlar seat with Willans harness keeps the driver in place.
The MFD and navigation control surround piece is also replaced with proper carbon fibre. At first thought I guessed this was from the SpecV model but in comparison you can tell they’re nothing alike. The SpecV carbon MFD surround panel was too heavy for the race car? Or is this a preview of parts that may make it into future road car versions?
Under the hood we’re greeted with a pretty ordinary looking VR38DETT engine. A few obvious updates include:
- Custom catch can
- Blanking plates where blow off valves were
- Removal of emissions / evap control systems
- Billstein fully adjustable suspension (Thanks Martin)
- Custom radiator overflow tank
- Custom power steering fluid sock
- Custom brake fluid resevoir sock
- MOTUL engine oil replaces Mobil 1
- Lightweight battery with emergency cutout
- Upgraded fittings
There’s also a hidden power steering cooler in front of the radiator and a lack of aircon.
That’s pretty much it from me on the subject, I’ve strained my eyes enough for one day. Feel free to post in the comments if you spot anything I missed first time round. Enjoy the rest of the photos!
Images: Copyright GTR-World.net (C) 2009
Nismo Festival 2009: Nismo Festival Walkthrough Part 2
Following on from our first part of this article on a walkthrough of Nismo Festival 2009, we continue our story.
By this stage of the day you would have either tired yourself out from shopping or done the alternative. That is to say, if you didn’t come to Nismo Festival to shop then maybe you’ve been lining up for some of the special event tickets available on the day. These include things like; Circuit Safari bus tours on the race track with SuperGT cars whizzing by and Passenger car ride-alongs on the track.
One of the cheaper and more available of the special tickets is the Grid Walk ticket in which you get to step foot on Fuji Speedway’s circuit to get up close with the cars and drivers. Take your posters, hats or postcards out with you and have them signed by Satoshi Motoyama and get a photo with a super popular race queen. All for just 1,500 yen and they sell a couple of hundred of them versus the 40 or so for other ticket types.
Once your sorted for tickets its time to check out the Japanese muscle on display down in the pit area. There’s so much racing history jammed into these garages from 2009 model SuperGT GT500 GT-Rs to KPGC10’s from the 70’s. These cars aren’t just static displays either. Chances are you’ll catch them warming up for one of the many circuit events where anything from the Group-A R32 GT-Rs to the latest GT500 R35s will be out on the circuit. This usually involves loud revving while up on their air jacks.
After you’ve gone through the pits thoroughly is probably about time to sit down and enjoy some motor sports. Some of the races from Nismo Festival 2009 were the All time Dream Battle featuring GT500 GT-Rs from various generations versus GT500 Fairlady Zs from 2007 and earlier.
We’ll featuring some of the circuit photos in the next update. For now sit back and have a click through some photos I took of the pits and special ticket events.
Images: Copyright (C) 2009 GTRBlog.com
Nismo Festival 2009: Super Taikyu Spec Nissan GT-R – More Details Part 1
Well firstly, sorry to those who got their hopes up that Nismo would unveil this car at Nismo Festival. Evidently it was spied on it’s way out of Fuji not to return until the next private testing session. That is to say, it was completely absent for Sunday the 6th of December which was Festival day.
Doesn’t really matter though because we still have photos enough to make a few good guesses about the upcoming Nismo racer. We’d also like to replay a bunch of photos from our last up close and personal article about the Tokachi 24hrs R35 GT-R for comparison.
First up its obvious that the hood scoop is a new addition, but the the entire hood base was carbon for Tokachi and it seems that there is no variation here on that point.
As for the front end in general, while at first glance it is the same as the Tokachi 24hrs car, if you look closer at the finish and materials used back then, we’ve actually got a completely new generation of bumper. Fully carbon now, each duct seems more fully integrated than before. The front lip spoiler is also revamped into a full carbon version versus the ABS plastic with carbon ducts of the Tokachi car.
The location of the air-jack line input has also shifted sides and become a proper fixture versus the rudimentry previous version.
Around back and its again easy to spot the differences. Theres a entirely new rear bumper in full dry carbon with a rear underspoiler in carbon to match. The previously gorgeous SpecV exhaust has been reduced to meer straight outlets via the path of least resistance.
A rear diff cooler can be seen hiding behind that rear grill also, and not surprising really. It shares this with the Tokachi car but there are some other differences here. The fuel filler for one, it moves from the rear trunk lid to the rear quarter panel window and that itself is replaced by a lightweight lexen window.
Have a browse through the photos to compare, point out anything you spot different. Coming up in part 2 will be some engine bay shots or maybe the interior. We’ll see what kind of mood we’re in at the time.
Source: All Nissan GT-R Super Taikyu R35 GT-R Photos (C) GTR-World.net 2009
Images: All Nissan GT-R Tokachi 24hrs GT-R Photos (C) GTRBlog.com 2008 – 2009
Nismo Festival 2009: Nismo Festival Walkthrough Part 1
We did a fairly detailed post from Nismo Festival 2008 where we photographed and showed our readers the specifics of some of the most tangible aspects of Nismo Festival so I feel that’s pretty well covered. Photos of stationary GT-Rs are always good but it’s good to get some other stuff in there too.
I’m going to be writing up a few part post on a day at Nismo Festival that pretty much follows me around and what I think the average enthusiast might also be interested in if they were to attend.
In this part we’ll take a look at the Nismo Garage Sale, the souvineer shopping and the carpark. Believe it or not, shopping is very much the first thing “done” at Nismo Festival. There’s always discounts and special pricing on whatever you might be after. Some manufacturers, and Nismo themselves, will also sell specific souvineer edition swag that you really have to be EARLY to get.
Speaking of getting in EARLY, the most hardcore of these shopping destinations at Nismo Festival is the garage sale. Think of it as a way for Nismo to clear out their warehouse of broken or obsolete SuperGT parts while releaving you of some money in the process. This starts getting a line at about, ooh, I dunno, last week! It opens at 7am to only a handful of people at a time who are unleashed on assorted carbon fibre and forged magnesium parts to hang on their wall.
Once your extremely limited SuperGT souvineer is safely spoken for, it’s time to pickup that merchandise you’ve been meaning to get. Or just to check out the huge range of ways nismo can print Nismo on a garment of some description (a lot).
By now your wallet is probably hurting pretty bad. This stuff doesn’t come cheap after all. Time to check out something that doesn’t cost, i.e. check out the carpark. What?
Each year, various Nismo built car owners are invited to park their Nismo built vehicle in the parking area closest to the event area. You see some wild and almost mythically rare cars.
Today we got to check out several Nismo 400R R33 GT-Rs and several Nismo 270R S14s which are as rare as it gets. At a guess I’d also say that every person alive bought their 380RS package or Nismo S-Tune GT 350z.
So overall the first hour or so of the event is usually safely set aside for a few big items you may need to shop for, especially limited items that sell out super fast.
Since I’m about to crash and burn from fatigue after just arriving back in Tokyo from Fuji, I think I’ll stop it here by saying what I always say: Stay tuned for more soon and check out the photos for now!
Images: Copyright (C) GTRBlog.com
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