Nissan Tiida / Versa S-tune PROTO by NISMO

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the Detroit Show overlapped the Tokyo Auto Salon, we missed out on many presentations that occurred in the Japanese capitol. One of them was the Nissan Tiida (or Versa in N. America and elsewhere) tuned by NISMO. The Tiida S-Tune PROTO concept featured a subtle bodykit that included front and rear aprons, spoilers and NISMO livery along with new alloy-wheels. NISMO also fiddled around with the compact hatch’s suspension, brakes and engine unit. -Continued

Via: Diariomotor , Source: Nissan

Renault 4L Replica Based On Suzuki Lapin

Japanese consumers just love classic European minis. In fact they love them so much that they have created replica kits for about every famous Euro mini that you can think of. At this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, the Japanese tuning firm “DAMD” presented a Renault replica 4L kit for use on the Suzuki Lapin mini (a JDM retro-looking kei hatch). The 4L which is pronounced "Quatrelle" in French, was Renault’s answer to the Citroen 2CV. It was presented in 1961 and it remained in production for 33 years until 1994. Renault managed to sell more than eight million 4Ls in more than 200 countries. -More images after the jump

Via: Motorpasion

2009 Mazda RX-8 Facelift Images Revealed

A full set of images featuring the revised Mazda RX-8 have found their way on several Japanese sites today, prior to the car’s public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 11 and at the Detroit Show on January 13. The car you see in these pictures is the all-new RX-8 RS version which will be available only in Japan. Alloy wheels, aerokit and Recaro bucket seats apart, the US and consequently, the European version of the facelifted RX-8 will feature the same styling changes as the JDM model. -Continued after the jump

Outside, the 2009 RX-8 gets a new front fascia that includes slightly redesigned headlamps, a new bumper with larger air intakes and a revised grille. In the car’s rear-end, there’s a revised bumper along with new tail-lights. In the interior, the only significant change seems to be the slightly redesigned centre-console. Since there’s no press release out yet, we don’t know whether Mazda proceeded to any mechanical upgrades.

Pics via: carview

Lexus To Unveil IS-F Racing Concept At 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon

At this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon which is something like the Japanese equivalent of the SEMA show, Lexus will take the wraps off the IS-F Racing Concept. Unfortunately, Lexus hasn’t released any details yet so we’ll have to be contempt with the one and only picture of the IS-F Racing Concept that the Japanese carmaker uploaded on its official Tokyo Auto Salon site. We'll have more on the racing concept closer to the Tokyo Auto Salon's opening on January 11.

Honda Civic Type-R Modulo: Racetrack Ready Concept To Debut At The 2008 Tokyo Salon

Along with the sporty Inspire Modulo Concept that we showed you earlier today (click here), Honda will also introduce a street-legal, track-ready version of the Civic Type-R sedan at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Apart from the racing livery, the Civic Type-R Modulo Concept’s exterior is enhanced by a wing spoiler, clear tail-lights and a set of cool 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/35 R19 rubber.

Not much, but wait until you take a look at the concept’s interior. Honda’s designers removed anything they could in order to lower the car’s weight. The door panels were replaced with carbon fibre, the door handles gave their place to latches while the stock front seats were swapped for a pair of impressive (and lightweight) Recaro bucket seats. Honda kinda overdid it with the carbon fibre as the lightweight material has been used among other things on the new sports steering wheel, the handbrake and the centre dash. -Continued after the jump

Since we don’t have the official press release in our hands, we don’t know if Honda proceeded to any mechanical changes. However, we did see from the pictures that the Civic Type-R Modulo Concept is fitted with electronically controlled adjustable dampers. We’ll have more on the concept closer to the Tokyo Auto Salon opening which is set for January 11, 2008.

Pics via: carview