Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept
SEMA may take people’s attention for the American tuner scene, but actually the Vegas expo isn’t the only tuner show in the world. Now, there is Tokyo Auto Salon which is underway, and Toyota has a wide variety of cars to display under some various lables and divisions.
The vehicle picture above is the GRMN iQ Racing Concept. That four letters on the name indicating some kind of special navigation system. It stands for Gazoo Racing which is tuned by MN. It is the same outfit that was prepared the Nurburgring 24-winning Lexus LFA racer.
Unfortunately, there are only small details released along with that solid image above, other than by saying that it will be based on a limited edition model that is already sold out, and was fitted with a roll cage and supercharger. It is only one of the seventeen vehicles that is prepared by Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiaries for Tokyo Auto Salon. Beside the GRMN iQ, there are also versions of Prius, Vitz (Yaris), Auris, Corolla, Ractis, Noah, FJ Cruiser, Lexus CT and IS F and more, which is modified by Gazoo, G Sports, Toyota Racing Development, and the Fuji Speedway and a staff collective which is known as TOyota Engineering Society.
Toyota GRMN iQ Racing Concept is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Jon Sibal BMW 1 Coupe Project Car
Some times ago, the internet was buzzing about the BMW 1M and Jon Sibal release the rendering of what he though will be a special edition of the 1M BMW. Well recetly, Jon announced on his blog that he will be working with Chicago BMW tuner IND Distribution, in order to make this rendering become a reality in the form of a project car.
So far, the announced partners to do this project are Patric BMW, ESS Tuning, KW suspension, Challenge Engineering, Brembo, and Eisenmann Exhaust System. The car is said to be getting the exterior upgrades and paintwork, as well as the performance modification under the hood to dial up the fun meter.
Jon Sibal is a highly talented artist, and his virtual pen of the 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe will be more than just a desktop wallpaper and a dream. I guess if there is another further information, it will be uploaded on Jon’s blog soon. So if you want to see more about this car, you might want to stay tune on Jon Sibal’s blog here. Let’s see how will the final product going to be?
Jon Sibal BMW 1 Coupe Project Car is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Toyota Launches Safety Research Center In Michigan
Toyota continues to preach that safety is their top priority today. To back this claims up, this automaker has announced their new research program. They called it as The Collaborative Safety Research Center. The research center is located at the Toyota’s Technical Centeer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This CSRC will examines the science of safety, and their main goal is to reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injures in American roads.
The most interesting part of this program is about the first word in its name, collaboration. Toyota will not keeping their data in house. They are going to share it with top universities, research institutions, federal agencies, hospitals, and any other projects or groups who has the same goal with Toyota, to make driving a safer experience.
There will be some researchers from North America and Japan that will work together at this Collaborative Research Center in Michigan to test everything from driver distraction to vehicle, passenger,and pedestrian safety. Toyota estimates that they will spend around $ 50 million for thi CSRC over the course of the next five years.
Toyota Launches Safety Research Center In Michigan is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Suzuki SX4: Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima
Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima is a well known name in the racing community, more specifically on a desolate mountain in Colorado known as Pike’s Peak. Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb is the world’s oldest racing event and has been run since 1916. It has evolved into an ongoing battle of most advanced racing technology. They are battling for the elevation gains, thin air, hairpin turns, frightening cliffs, as well as the paved and unpaved dirt road.
Tajima is currently standing at the top of the standings with the fastest time in the hill, 10:01:408. This year, the Japanese driver want to break that record and the 10 minutes time barrier with the upgradd Suzuki SX4. It will includes new engine and suspension tuning in the latest wheel technology. It uses ultra-strong 20″ HRE P43S wheels in blue to match the car’s new livery for GoPro cameras as their sponsor.
Tajima uses HRE wheels to match the racing tires provided by Falken that are incredibly strong. They are believe that HRE’s forging and construction methods will build 20″ Monoblok wheel which is light for racing, but rugged to whitstand the Pike’s Peak. From the picture above, I think this car is not only strong, but also has a unique color combination.
Suzuki SX4: Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Chevy Volt Come In Reality Show And Transformers 3
General Motors plans to step up their spending on sponsorship of TV entertainment this year. One project which is in development is to landing a role for this GM’s plug in hybrid Chevrolet Volt in a reality show. Steve Tihanyi, GM’s general director of sports and entertainment claims it in the Detroit auto show. He said that they are getting aggressive in the entertainment space.
This will be a whole new arena for GM. “Rather than just a sponsorship minded, it is actually have an equity position in things,” he said in an interview at GM’s headquarters building in Detroit. Tihanyi also said that GM’s spending on sponsorship deals would be up for a single digit percentage form 2010. Despite past cuts, GM remains among the largest corporate spenders in the term of sponsorships.
General Motors were probably always doing good in sports, but Tihanyi understands that entertainment is a growing area. While sports tends to be a malce centric, entertainment gets much more to the female. GM also in talks with a reality TV produce to include Chevy Volt in an under development show. They even plans a global digital promotion in the ‘Transformer 3′ movie which is scheduled to be released in July.
Chevy Volt Come In Reality Show And Transformers 3 is a post from: Automotive News and Review
