It’s 9.00am Friday morning in Japan and the doors have just swung open at the Makuhari Messe, allowing a monstrous crowd of media to spill into the halls of the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon. Since I figured you wouldn’t want to wait a whole day for a taste of what this year’s show has to offer, yesterday I paid my usual pre-show visit to TAS while the tuners, manufacturers and parts makers were busy setting up their booths.
My first port of call was a quick stop at the massive 13-car-strong Liberty Walk display. After seeing the success its US demo car enjoyed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas a couple of months back, I just had to see an LB Works kit-equipped Ferrari 458 up close. After weeks of checking out Kato-san’s Instagram feed I knew exactly what some of the cars looked like, but no matter how many pictures I’ve seen, nothing quite prepared me for the visual impact his wild kits had on both the Italia and the candy blue R35 parked next to it.
I’m glad the whole red wheel thing is catching on too… With the roof down, the Ferrari’s rear three-quarter view is simply mouthwatering; those fender flares just containing the aggressive offset of the wheels.
If the Spider isn’t for you, the black 458 hardtop Kato also brought along to the show is bound to satisfy. I just can’t stress how damn low these cars sit! Once the rear diffuser is fitted (it was yet to be installed on black car at the time I grabbed this picture) there is less than one centimeter of ground clearance…
What was I saying about ride height? Liberty Walk is on a true roll. It had one of the most talked about cars of SEMA and now it’s well on its way to being a stand-out exhibitor at this year’s Auto Salon. While this pink Murcielago was great and all, it was Kato’s two Kenmeris that I was really itching to see. However, due to some delays they weren’t going to be dropped off until later in the night, so you’ll have to check out our Instagram feed today – or wait for my next post from the show – to see them in detail.
And yes, if you’re one of the fortunate people heading to the show over the weekend, you’ll get to see more than one of LB Works’ GT-Rs too!
It’s not easy to stand out among a sea of prohibitively expensive exotica, but the moment I spotted the S & Company Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale I just had to go in for a closer look. The car sports S & C’s latest satin wrap, which looks and feels remarkably like real paint.
The KM4SH 86It seems like a long time ago since we began chatting to Miura-san of TRA Kyoto about collaborating on a unique series of aero parts. After much discussions, translation, and numerous 3D renders, I was blown away by how good the KM4SH 86 turned out. I love how aggressive it manages to be, without being over the top, and that front lip spoiler looks even better than it did in digital concept form. The soon-to-be-released 6666mesh wheels from Enkei are just what the doctor ordered for a kit of this nature – you just can’t argue with copious amount of lip mated to a classic center.
The guys at S & Company were making sure the black body shined like a mirror thanks to a selection of Kleers detailing products. You can read more about the KM4SH project here.
I will have to ask Miura-san how many cars at this year’s show are fitted with his aero parts.
It’s not so much the 86 kits that I’m talking about – there were plenty of those including the Rocket Bunny V2 at the Trust booth – but his style has really influenced a large slice of the JDM aftermarket.
That includes exotic imports, time attack machines and high speed cars.
But of course, there’s a lot more to TAS. It’s such a mishmash of styles and ideologies, with a distinct need to shock.
It’s always interesting to see how quickly trends arrive and are applied to the very latest crop of cars.
In the mixHistory is never forgotten – which is a very good thing – but so far I haven’t seen quite as many old school rides as I would have liked to.
That said, I will definitely be on the hunt for more today!
As you can imagine, the new-gen baby Lexus sedan has quickly become a popular platform for aesthetic modifications. This is Tommy Kaira’s takes on the refreshed IS.
Lexus’s spindle grille meets the Works overfender look on the Aimgain ZN6. Could this be considered a luxury drift car?
Over the course of the weekend I’ll be spending a lot of time in the adjacent halls that were added to TAS last year. This is where the big Option display is situated, as well as the RH9 guys with their crazy-powerful cars. It’s these machines that add a more ‘functional’ aspect to the show, where power still rules above style and where the cars are engineered for purpose. Oh yeah, that’s a twin turbo, four-rotor rotary engine that Kawato-san at Total Car Produce Magic will be fitting in a new FD3S RX-7 drift car. Our own Mad Mike Whiddett should be happy as he gets to drive it!
Who said hybrids have to be boring? It may be an over-the-top show car, but the Kuhl Racing Prius sports the most unique roll cage I have ever seen – something to do with it being fabricated out of exhaust piping. Okay, so it’s not functional, but it’s cool and that’s all these types of cars are trying to accomplish.
The 2014 Super GT season is only a couple of months away and there are plenty of GT500 and GT300 cars to check out at the show. That includes the Nismo GT-R which we first saw last month in Fuji at the Nismo Festival. It’ll be exciting to see how this 1000kg, 2.0L turbo, DTM-rule-based racer does agains the Honda NSX and the Lexus RC.
I really can’t get enough of the Ferrari F12. I can’t recall a car that has done ‘it’ for me as much as the R34 GT-R, as this one.
And talking of GT-Rs, Top Secret, along with a bunch of Japanese tuners including Phoenix’s Power, Screen and JUN, had enough R35s between them to hold a single make race series!
Every time I look at a Varis car I can’t help but shed a tear. Its cars are some of the best-looking in the whole Japanese tuning scene and it just makes me sad that they never did anything for the R34. Guys, seriously, please come up with something nice and functional made out of carbon for us forgotten san-yon owners. Onegaishimasu!
The Varis name was being repped in the RAYS booth too with the Bulletproof Scion FR-S all the way from California. Originally unveiled at SEMA, the ZN6 was sitting pretty on Volk Racing G25s.
Modelling a set of brightly-colored 20-inch TE37s was the all-dry-carbon Overtake GT-R – a machine that perfectly balances function with form. Weight reduction and a few selected engine upgrades are all that’s needed to make this thing perform.
I’ll finish up this preview from TAS with one last surprise – the BenSopra Z33 built in collaboration with RYO in Hiroshima. The car was still being assembled as I grabbed this shot, so you will have to wait for the full coverage to see more. Its flat-white sister car will be on display at the Trust booth from today, along with what may well be the highlight of the show. I might have to treat you guys to a spotlight later on that particular car tonight as I know you’ll want to see it!
Wish I could be there, looks like things are just heating up! Cant wait to see more coverage!
The Overtake GT-R deserves a full feature and while I am not a fan of the bolt-on over fender fad, the super-deep-dish mesh wheels from Enkei are a very good match for the KM4SH project! Are they going to be offered with a stepped lip from the factory?
Dino after TAS ends, I hope that you are planning to offer us some full features for the automobiles that impressed you the most. Given the fact that GT86s will be prevalent, I hope that there will be a few Hondas and Rotaries at this year's TAS.
can't wait! heading over tomorrow
They are not showcasing the C7 in TAS?
or puegots and other cars that roams the streets of japan that is not JDM?
Is that car a certain Celica maybe?
More on Overtake please..!!??
That red R31 (or R30, sorry, not sure) is just so simple. Love that car!
I'm assuming the 4 rotor is a bridgeport?
HOT DANG DINO!!! TOO MUCH SUSPENSE ON THE HIGHLIGHT YOU'RE TEASING US!!! Wish I was there
Can someone explain the difference between Liberty Walk, Rocket Bunny and TRA Kyoto as they all seem to be doing the same shaped kits and flares etc, it's really quite confusing.
Spaghetti I think it all comes back to Miura-san. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Should rename the show Rocket Bunny/Liberty Walk/TRA Kyoto Auto Salon...
MidshipR R31 I think
Sooo exciteeeed !
I'm in love with the candy blue R35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!
Its nice and all, but all these r35s would look so much better without the 2f2f style bodykits..
Spaghetti Liberty Walk belongs to Kato-San while Rocket Bunny is a line-up of Tra Kyoto and belongs to Miura-San
Why call them rocket bunny how did it start?
Gelo10 Started as making kits for Kei cars, then he started making stuff for the s13/14, people say the Rocket Bunny is only for Kei cars but I feel like thats not true. He started that way but since the new kits are not the 6666 kits he named the new ones as the same line as the Kei cars as they are over fender style kits. Now they are used on S chassis, BRZ/FRS and others. Much like the 6666 kits covered Hondas, S chassis Nissans etc. There is a sick article on this site from August last year(2013) covering his shop and some history.
AdamBezzegh What? Catch up hommie, some big differences in these kits versus what you can buy at Pep boys, have some respect.
Gelo10 Some background
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/08/the-house-of-style-tra-kyoto/
Driftstudent Yup stunning color
@aclasschris Miura Salon would suffice haha
Spaghetti Both the Liberty Walk ánd the RB/TRA Kyoto kits are designed by Miura-san but Liberty Walk is as said not his own company. He designed kits for BenSopra too.
Spaghetti Miura is contracted to adapt ideas to customer cars and develop their own brand/kits. He has been doing this for many years and not all of his work is overfedners work style
botchilah More coming soon, give me time to sleep haha
@Kart Works Sure, why not!
EricSeanDelaney You talking about that FF drifter with bonkers neg camber? If you are then no
EricSeanDelaney You talking about that FF drifter with bonkers neg camber? If you are then no
EricSeanDelaney You talking about that FF drifter with bonkers neg camber? If you are then no
Omnigear I spotted 3 C7s, quite impressed, great looking car
Omnigear I spotted 3 C7s, quite impressed, great looking car
@Seeking Perfection It sure does!
More of the Bensopra Z33 please
Gianluca FairladyZYes please! Maybe we can get a full article on this Dino?
Its nice to see the Z33 chassis still getting some love. Widebody Z's are gorgeous when done right of course
Definitely going to keep my eyes on these posts. I always love it when the TAS time of year comes around
More of the S13 in the opening shot? Like the flat white on black.
Anyone else notice a sharp drop in the amount of S-Chassis at shows like this? Or maybe it's just a decrease in the amount of coverage they get
JoeWhalerpossibly because theres a ton of new chassis' to work with for fresh looks, or its been beaten to death *cough*BRZ/FRS/GT86*cough*
I hate to admit it but that prius actually looks cool
More mazda rxs please, and of course we're desperate for details on the 4 rota mota!
i'm starting to realize that i visit speedhunters every day only to see if Dino Dalle Carbonare posted something mental from Japan... really... Japan and it's car culture never fail to amaze me and this kind of articles, just like the ones about daikoku really fit my taste!! keep up the good work ! let us poor italian guys dream a little more...
it's seems that i've found another Z lover #thumbs up!
awesome as always dino! please please, do a story on the kei cars there this year, they seem to get such little coverage everywhere
Haha. Something close to an addict. My gf says I spend more time and money on my car sometimes. I should call my car "my mistress"
I never let a single shop work on my car. I don't know if it's being stubborn or pride sometimes.
I understand you totally man, i have the same situation but i think we're not the only one's here:)!!!!!!! I've put a lot of passion in my Z as well, so i won't let anybody else touch "her".... (my car and my girlfriend :p ) keep enjoying your car mate;)!
That's exciting. Sad that I couldn't be there. Anyway, I saw a Fortune FD3S on my Facebook feed. Please sir. I can't get enough of it.
That last shot is looking a bit Back to the Future from that angle!
You had to write the car make and models.
FunctionFirst Hi - It is a collaboration car from a friend Taniguchi-san who owns Spirit-Rei. They do a lot of bespoke parts for the s-chassis series.
What red wheels are those are the Ferrari... Good God they are delicious!
What red wheels are those on the Ferrari... Good God they are stunning!
TyPetersen I was think the same thing.
TyPetersen I dunno man the ZN6/ZC6 is still un-attainable for a lot of people, anyone can pick up a S-Chassis for a few grand but I doubt many people here could go and pick up a GT86 fresh out the showroom. That what I always liked about S-Chassis at shows like this, it's sorta relatable
Parking lots pictures please!
Dino, thank you for the C230 Laurel and R31 pics.
(Some great older Nissans).
Roughsmoke FunctionFirst Very cool, thank you for the great info, I'll do some research on it and see what else I can find.
FunctionFirst Roughsmoke No problem, any time I can help a fellow s-chassis admirer! you can check out spirit-rei.com or headover to their fb page as they have a few pics up from the preparation of the car going out to TAS.
I'll have some bits myself coming up in collaboration with them a little while into the year, you can check out roughsmoke.com to keep up to date with that..
In the mean time, c'mon Dino you've had a little while to charge those batteries, give us a little more to wet our beaks, or with we'll eyebrow wrestle the next time i'm at Daikoku..
Here are some pics I took of the show yesterday. Just finally finished editing them and getting them uploaded.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agent_viagra/sets/72157639729394174/
speedhunters_dinoSpaghetti Thanks for that. But all the kits essentially look exactly the same to me. It's a tad bit boring.
The KM4SH 86 looks well!