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Widebody GT-Rs Part I: Axell Auto
Tokyo Auto Salon saw the debut of what many consider the most radical aero parts for the GT-R ever in Axell Auto’s full widebody kit.
We can let the pictures do the talking…
Prior to their GT-R kit, Axell Auto had been primarily known for their modifications to Japanese luxury vehicles like SUVs and vans, but their GT-R kit is Axell trying their hand in the sports car realm. Axell’s fascination with the R35 started after the President of Axell purchased his GT-R and began modifying it with off-the-shelf parts.
The kit takes some styling cues from Tommykaira and features wide front and rear fenders, completely new front and rear bumper designs with a carbon fiber rear diffuser, rear wing and side skirts with functional brake ducting.
While pricing hasn’t been released, you can visit Axell’s website for pictures, video and more information.
Link: Axell Auto’s Website
In addition, Axell has enlisted GT-RR to be the first international distributor for the kit.
Link: Axell Auto on GT-RR.com
This post will be the first in a series regarding the recent widebody options that have been released for the R35. Look out for more in the coming week!
TAS09: Girls of Tokyo AutoSalon 2009
One last post of photos from Tokyo AutoSalon 2009 we attended last month. We really focused on the GT-R this year and didn’t get too many shots of the booth babes, but that doesn’t mean we returned completely empty handed.
Here’s our final post on photos from TAS2009. We had an amazing time this year and can’t wait until we head back to Japan next. Click through the pages below to see all the pics. Enjoy!
Link: Tokyo AutoSalon 2009 related articles on GTRBlog
TAS09: Garage Defend GT-R – A Face Only a Mother Could Love
It’s not pretty but almost a year since Garage Defend built their one of a kind Nissan GT-R with trademark Stingray Carbon Canards up front it still pulls a crowd. It’s one of the most aggressive looking GT-Rs in Japan and is still a one of my favourites from Tokyo AutoSalon 2009.
Regular readers will be quite familiar with the modifications Defend Racing have made to their GT-R such as:
- Garage Defend Stingray Evolution Front Canards
- Garage Defend GTU-Spec Carbon Front Mask
- Garage Defend GT Cooling Panel
- C-Ring modified standard suspension for lower ride height
- RDD 400mm rotors up front
- Bride Seats
- Takata Harnesses
- Blitz Nur Spec F-Ti Exhaust
Click through the jump for more photos of the Garage Defend GT-R from Tokyo AutoSalon 2009…
TAS09: BBS LM-ACQ New GT-R Colours
BBS’s plans to roll out two new colours for the Nissan GT-R was announced in late 2008 after the initial run of LM-DBK (Diamond Black) 20″ wheels sold out in a very short time. Only 100 sets of the Diamond Black colour BBS wheel were made.
The colours you see here are the new normal production run of BBS LM-ACQ wheels in the two new colours. Diamond Silver and Gold Face. These shown here are 20″ versions specifically for the Nissan GT-R.
These will be available in both Japan and the US this year and come in sizes 20×9.5″+40mm front and 20×10.5″+20mm rear. BBS Japan and BBS USA will have more price and availability information shortly.
Link: BBS Website
Link: BBS related articles on GTRBlog
Words/Photos: GTRBlog (C) Usage requires a link to GTRBlog
TAS09: TWS AVANZATO Forged Magnesium Wheels
Tan-Ei-Sya Wheels Supply Co or TWS for short isn’t a big name in wheels internationally just yet but these Japanese made forged magnesium wheels should be on your list if ultimate performance is your goal when choosing a wheel.
Available in specific Nissan GT-R fitment, these TWS AVANZTO series wheels fitted to the TWS demo come in 20×9.5 +37 offset front size weighing just 9.85kg each. The rears are 20×10.5 +19 offset size and weigh 10.68kg each. These lightweight wheels put them over 2kg lighter per front than standard and over 1.5kg lighter per rear than the standard forged Rays wheels.
That kind of unsprung rotational mass saving can benefit you considerably more than the numbers suggest on paper.
Link: TWS Website
Link: TWS AVANZATO Page
Words/Photos: GTRBlog (C) Usage requires a link to GTRBlog
TAS09: KW Suspension Booth and KW Hydraulic Lift Suspension for GT-R
KW Suspension’s been working with Hashimoto for some time now, tuning their Japanese spec GT-R’s suspension on Germany’s Nurburgring circuit. The KW Variant 3 suspension was born of this development work and was launched in 2008 for GT-R owners worldwide.
At Tokyo AutoSalon 2009, KW showed off their new product for the GT-R the Hydraulic Lift Suspension system on their black GT-R demo car decked out in Seibon carbon fibre parts and LSD door system. Twenty inch F1X-Carbon wheels are supplied by Khan Wheels and are a magnesium alloy construction wheel with a carbon fibre inlay. Weight per wheel is around the 13 kg mark. The new 20″ Toyo R888 competition tires assist with the aggressive stance of the car.
The KW HLS system is designed to give the user in-cabin height adjustment facility to enable the owner to raise or lower their car on the fly. Available in 2 (HLS2) and 4 (HLS4) wheel kits, this is the same setup KW has previously sold for Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini’s to enable them to have a more practical supercar. Demo video is after the jump.
The HLS2 kit comes in at 1,020,600 yen while the HLS4 kit is a touch more at 1,209,600 yen. This includes the KW Variant3 height, rebound and damper adjustable suspension integrated into the hydraulic lift system.
To help promote the availability and test of the KW Suspension GT-R parts, they’ve built the Nissan GT-R Webspecial Site which is up now at the link below.
Link: KW Suspension Webspecial Site
Link: KW Suspension HLS Downloadable Pricelist (PDF)
Link: Hashimoto Corporation Website
TAS09: WALD Sports Line GT-R Shows Off Wildest GT-R Aero Styling Yet
We’ve been following the build up of the WALD Sports Line Aero kit from concept through to final molds here on GTRBlog and regular readers will have been anticipating the final product for some time. Finally we knew it’d be at Tokyo AutoSalon so we were extremely excited to see it.
But… personally, I missed the WALD GT-R, even after several laps of Makuhari Messe I didn’t find it. Fortunately our great friends at GTR-World.net know a little more about “asking directions” than we do so we’re able to snap a load of great photos on our behalf （ありがとうございました！）.
As you can see the WALD Sports Line “Black Bison” Edition styling masterpiece remains quite faithful to the concept rendering from back in September 2008. It features the following components:
- Front Bumper Spoiler (Front Bumper/Front Lip/Grille Cover/Side Duct/Under Cover)
- Side Step
- Rear Diffuser
- Trunk Spoiler
- Rear Wing Element
- Rear Over Fenders
The Black Bison is finished with a set of WALD P13F three piece aluminium 22 inch wheels, 9.5 inches wide at the front and 10.5 inches in the rear. HKS HiperMax III suspension gives it that lowered stance.
On the inside WALD has tricked out the interior with it’s red leather and suede treatment which carrys the Nissan Japanese market Black Edition theme to the centre console, handbrake boot steering wheel and gear knob. Carbon fibre touches accentuate the shifter surround, steering wheel and gauge surround.
Check out the rest of the photos after the jump below…
Link: WALD International Website
Link: WALD related articles on GTRBlog
Words: GTRBlog.com
Photos: GTR-World.net
TAS09: Nissan and IMPUL Booths, Nismo ClubSport, XANAVI GT-R and IMPUL GT-R
Nismo made a great showing at Tokyo AutoSalon this year with their Nissan GT-R parts display. Representing the R35 GT-R was the Nismo ClubSport edition which bares many of the parts developed for the Nissan GT-R SpecV. The various parts of the ClubSport (and hence the SpecV) were affixed to the wall of the booth for people to get acquainted with. Unfortunately the SpecV itself could not be in attendance at the show but of course we had already seen it at the press launch the day before Tokyo AutoSalon began so we we’re not too disappointed.
Also on display at the Nissan booth was the 2008 SuperGT championship winning #23 XANAVI Nismo GT500 GT-R. Satoshi Motoyama-san, championship winning driver for 2008, was also hanging around occasionally over at the Zele Performance/Motoyama merchandise booth so SuperGT fans were well catered for.
Over at the IMPUL booth we could also check out the #12 Calsonic IMPUL GT-R, winner of two rounds of the SuperGT 2008 series (round 6 and round 9). Gotta love GT500 hardware.
Link: Nismo ClubSport Edition related articles on GTRBlog
Link: SuperGT GT-R and SuperGT Season 2008 related articles on GTRBlog
Words/Photos: GTRBlog (C) Usage requires a link to GTRBlog
TAS09: Tein Circuit Master Super Racing Ultimate Spec for Nissan GT-R
Over at the Tein booth at Tokyo AutoSalon 2009 they had their Circuit Master suspension on display. This gear is aimed at those who want the ultimate suspension tuning ability when they hit the track at the right price. The Tein gear is top quality and is fully height, damper and rebound adjustable both front and rear.
The Tein Circuit Master Super Racing suspension can be combined with Tein’s EDFC technology (Electronic Damping Force Controller) to offer electronic in cabin adjustment of both the damping and rebound control. Extremely useful for those guys tweaking settings for each track they visit.
These Teins will set you back 420,000 yen for the suspension plus extra for the EDFC depending on what you go for (damper control plus rebound control or just damper control). A serious setup for not a lot of cash.
Link: Tein Website
Words/Photos: GTRBlog (C) Usage requires a link to GTRBlog
TAS09: Garage Yawata Street Special GT-R
It doesn’t come much more understated than the Garage Yawata GT-R with it’s barely noticeable external modifications. On the inside lurks quite a bit of power, 650ps to be precise.
Making that power is a LOUD full titanium variable sound exhaust system controlled by throttle linked bypass valve. The OEM ECU is tuned by Garage Yawata and the 100ps shot of nitrous doesn’t hurt either.
Garage Yawata recently finished second in the top speed challenge in Video Option DVD issue 178 published recently. Their top speed was 324km/h (200mph).
Link: Garage Yawata Website
Link: Garage Yawata related articles on GTRBlog
Words/Photos: GTRBlog (C) Usage requires a link to GTRBlog
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