The Cars of 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon (Part Two)

And it's back. In a previous article, carmakers show off their modified versions of their current car lineup at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon at Makuhari Messe. Now, let's take a look at some of the modified cars in other booths of this year's show. WARNING: This is pure car porn...

Images courtesy of Carview.co.jp

There are so many modified cars in store for the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon. Why not check it out? This event runs until Sunday so best be hurry up while you can or you'll miss out the most this year's Tokyo Auto Salon!

Good Luck.

"IT'S ALL GOOD!"

On the January 11, 2013 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Waterfall gags, for adventurers who are on the verge of being caught by guards

- For this guy, he has someone who can complete his sentences...

- Two tough guys...on a role of being gay...

- The worst restaurant he had ever visited in his whole life...

- Bubble Gang does Tropicana Twister by spoofing this commercial as TRAPIKANA TWISTER! IT'S ALL GOOD!

Bubble Gang does Tropicana Twister

- Everything here is FAKE!

- Tata Lino once again returns for more quotes...

- PICKUP LINES!!!

- James Wang (Jacky Woo) on the scene of robbery or the CHEATING case...

- IyoTube in ACDC's Highway to Hell

The Cars of 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon (Part One)

The Tokyo Auto Salon, every year, is one attention-grabbing car show where all of the modified cars get together and showcase themselves to the public. Even carmakers from Japan and foreign are getting the fun out there modifying their cars for that very show. This 2013 TAS is no different from last years because there are so many modified cars are featured by the dates of January 11, 2013 to January 13, 2013 at the Makuhari Messe. First, let's begin with carmakers modifying their cars for the show. Not only that, race cars are present as well. Let's see...

Toyota 86-Q - This is what happens when a Toyota 86/GT86 (Scion FR-S) gets shrunken into midget sizing. Imagine if it looks like a future Car Town addition...

Toyota 86-Q

Toyota 86 x style Cb - That's odd. Seems that this GT86 looks like a Jaguar E-Type on the front...

Toyota 86 x style Cb

Toyota Aqua G Sports Concept - Toyota previews another addition to their G's (G SPORTS) conversion kits and this time is the turn of the most affordable hybrid, the Aqua (Prius C).

Toyota Aqua G's Concept

Toyota GRMN Sports FR Platinum - A Toyota 86 reminiscent of the Supra from the 90's but GRMN really means serious business about this 330HP monster...

GRMN Sports FR Platinum

Toyota Mark X G's Carbon Roof - using the G's version of the facelifted Toyota Mark X, the carbon fiber roof really sums it up...

Toyota Mark X G's Carbon Roof

Toyota Vitz Turbo Concept - We're not sure if this turbocharged Vitz has some potential on it...

Toyota Vitz Turbo Concept

Toyota MINUTE-S - The world's only one-seater three-wheeler hybrid made by the power of Toyota Engineering Society.

Toyota MINUTE-S

Toyota 86 Modellista Version

Toyota 86 Modellista Version

Char's Auris - 2013 Toyota Auris by famed Gundam baddie, Char Aznable, right? Sinister enough...

Char's Auris

Modellista Multi Role Transporter - using the Fifth-generation Toyota Hiace as the basis for the do-all transporter.

Modellista Multi Role Transporter

Nissan Deltawing - As seen from last year's Le Mans...

Nissan Deltawing

Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 - Homolongated for GT3-spec racing

Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3

Nissan Juke Personalization Concept

Nissan Juke Personalization Concept

Nissan Leaf NISMO PERFORMANCE CONCEPT - That would be silly for an electric car to get spiced up a bit...

Nissan Leaf NISMO Performance Package

Nissan Note Personalization Concept - Surprisingly, the all new 2013 Nissan Note E12 has a chance to get itself modified for the show.

Nissan Note Personalization Concept

Nissan NV350 Caravan Rider Transporter - Nissan tries to steal the spotlight from the Hiace-based Multi-role Transporter with the Nissan NV350 Caravan Rider Transporter.

Nissan NV350 Caravan Rider Transporter

Honda Mugen CR-V Design Study - Fourth-generation Honda CR-V...To modify or not to modify? Mugen previews their next sports conversion to the latest CR-V...

Honda Mugen CR-V Design Study

Honda CR-Z Mugen RZ

Mugen RZ

Mugen Racing N-ONE Concept - Mugen imagines what if Honda's new kei car, the N-ONE, is suitable enough for racing.

Mugen Racing N-ONE Concept

Honda S2000 Modulo Climax - It's been a long time, isn't it? Honda S2000? The Modulo S2000 Climax shows that there's life after death for the S2000 but no one can explain why...

Honda S2000 Modulo Climax

Honda Vamos Show Model - Vamos tries to show off its party side with this modified version made exclusively for the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon

Honda Vamos Show Model

Mazda Atenza RACER 2013

Mazda Atenza RACER 2013

Mazda Atenza Sound Special 2013 - Not only the aero kit of the 2013 Mazda Atenza was surprising but the audio in the boot is one heck of a trouble.

Mazda Atenza Sound Special 2013

Mazda Atenza Wagon Grand Touring 2013

Mazda Atenza Wagon Grand Touring 2013

Mazda CX-5 Active Driver 2013 - CX-5 with a black bonnet on it!

Mazda CX-5 Active Driver 2013

Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring 2013

Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring 2013

Mazda LMP2 SKYACTIV Racing - Mazda's SKYACTIV Technology now pushes through the world of motorsports.

Mazda LMP2 SKYACTIV Racing

Subaru BRZ GT300 - As seen on last year's Super GT

Subaru BRZ Premium Sport Package Concept - A BRZ with a touch of class

Subaru BRZ Premium Sport Package Concept

Subaru XV Sport Concept - See how the new Subaru XV looks like when it was modified for the show

Subaru XV Sport Concept

Subaru Forester Sport Concept - A sinister modification for the all new 2013 Forester with a red and black combo.

Subaru Forester SPORT Concept

Suzuki Stingray Customize - 2013 Wagon R Stingray's well bling-bling. That is sick!

Suzuki Stingray Customize

Suzuki Wagon R RR Concept

Suzuki Wagon R RR Concept

Chevrolet Camaro Giovanna - the special edition Camaro for fiscal year 2013.

Chevrolet Camaro Giovanna

Chevrolet Captiva FREEDOM RIDER

Chevrolet Captiva FREEDOM RIDER

Chevrolet Sonic STREET ICON PACKAGE - The wild compact gets even more wilder.

Chevrolet Sonic STREET ICON PACKAGE

HAMANN Range Rover Evoque

HAMANN Range Rover Evoque

Lotus Elise CR - CR means Club Racer and this Elise is racy.

Lotus Elise CR

Lotus Evora SR - SR means Sports Racer and the Sports Racer is the luxury model of the Evora because of all the options included with less pricing.

Lotus Evora Sports Racer

Volkswagen up! SPORTECHNIC - SPORTECHNIC tunes the German mini-compact car, the Volkswagen up!

Image: Carview

More to come in Part Two of the cars you'll be seeing in the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon! Remember, this runs until Sunday, January 13, 2013.

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 46

Well, well, it's 2013. New year, new threats attacking my blog. Guess what threats I've encounter after my Christmas vacation?

seat toledo commercial song

song in toyota let's go places commercial

 ...you just can't stay away from me you pirates! PIRACY often want to triumph against the music industry thanks to the motoring industry. You always wanted to steal music because of cars. This is like...music-jacking! Seat Toledo commercial song? Sorry. Perhaps you've never seen a Spanish ad for the new SEAT Toledo, eh? Anyway, a new year brings us another set of five driving musics!!!!

5) Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra - 2012 Toyota Crown commercial song

4) Deeper Deeper by ONE OK ROCK - 2013 Suzuki Swift Sport commercial song

3) Prettiest World by Daniel Norgren - Audi quattro loves snow commercial song

2) Four Seasons - Winter by Vivaldi - 2012 Daihatsu Move commercial song

1) It's My Life by Tim Myers - Song in Toyota Let's Go Places commercial

...innit though? If these happens again, you piracy-laden morons would be in a lot of trouble, otherwise I'm going to take some drastic measures to stop car addicts stealing music from car commercials, got it? AND DON'T SAY A WORD!!!

If you have questions, contact me at leopaul_delr@hotmail.com

Let's Do The News! (January 9, 2013)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

Lotus opens flagship Petaling Jaya showroom, confident on recovering Lotus

Lotus Exige S (V6) Malaysian launch
photo: Paultan.org

Last year, Lotus has been in several bad issues. With issues such as expelling Dany Bahar, some potential buyers, and a dark future for this British sports car maker, we might think that it spells gloom for Lotus but when Malaysia's DRB-Hicom, the new owner of Lotus' parent company, Proton, said that this Lotus brand is not for sale and its their responsibility to improve it, they decided to make things around to keep Lotus afloat. And for that, the flagship Lotus showroom in Petaling Jaya was opened as well as Malaysian launches of the Lotus Exige S V6 and the new Elise S.

Proton is bright about their two-year plan to bring Lotus back afloat and so far, Lotus had received 20 orders for the cars in the local market and had delivered 12 cars. They are targeting a yearly sale of between 100 and 200 units of Lotus cars upon its entry into Malaysia and before the end of fiscal year 2015, Lotus will seek about 3,000 and 4,000 units, most will be sold in big markets such as China, USA, and Japan.

URL: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/1/9/business/12550533&sec=business

Has anyone tried NFSMW's Ultimate Speed DLC?

Back in December 2012, EA's NFSMW (take note, the 2012 version of NFSMW, not the old 2005 with the M3 GTR on it) released their very first DLC pack under the banner of Ultimate Speed Pack. In this DLC Pack, five brutally fast supercars were featured such as the open-top Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, Pagani Zonda R, McLaren F1 LM, the one-of-a-kind Lamborghini Aventador J, and the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. They are fast enough to break the law, outwit your rivals, and more ways to retain your Most Wanted rankings against your friends. With new milestones and new challenges await in each car, this pack will be more enjoyable for Most Wanted fans. Also, there's a Most Wanted event featuring the Venom GT Spyder. This is a tough challenge, unlike the previous Most Wanted races, but if you are worthy, beat it and take it down to take home the Venom GT Spyder.

My favorite car on this pack was the Pagani Zonda R because this is the best car I have driven in NFSMW thanks to its quickness, its lightness, and the trouble it caused against the cops. I used that car to take down the Venom GT Spyder though...

Documentary about Arabs and their supercars in London

I once watched a documentary from Channel 4 about the invasion of wealthy Arabs and their supercars invading the streets of London. They have plates came from the Middle East, they drive Ferraris, Lambos, Bugattis, or any other exotics the Arab playboys bought and making noise around London, causing complaints from normal residents. It's titled Millionaire Boy Racers and this documentary tackled more on average Londoners enraged by the Arab Supercar invasion in the summer until Ramadan. This documentary does made some points though....

Anyone watched it?

New Dodge Dart grade

Dodge Dart GT

The Dodge Dart sedan was launched last year but they want to make it better by adding a new grade to Dodge's midsize sedan. Headlined as GT, this new grade features a sport-tuned chassis with frequency-sensing damping shocks, 18-inch aluminum wheels and certain styling features such as the sports front grille with black accents, black projector headlamp bezels and dual exhaust tips. It still has the same 2.4L engine on it. It will hit showrooms sometime this year with a $20,995 pricing...

URL: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2013/01/dodge-presents-faintly-sportier-dart-gt.html

Sony now makes a rival to the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy

As I heard, Sony has revealed a new smartphone that will rival to the likes of the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. It's called the XPERIA Z and this is the first smartphone to integrate a full high-definition 1080 x 1920p five-inch display and can capture High Dynamic Range video plus 13MP stills photos. Aside from putting so much of high-definition stuff on it, this new XPERIA Z comes with Battery STAMINA technology, which prolongs the phone's life between charges by automatically shutting down power-hungry apps when the phone is on standby and the company also claims the phone is dust- and water-resistant to the point where it could be left to sit submerged in fresh water (to a depth of 1 meter) for up to 30 minutes without any ill effects. It will be launched this year...It makes me MEH....

URL: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/sony-officially-reveals-worlds-first-high-definition-water-101057194.html

Let's Do The News! (January 8, 2013)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

Yes really, Season 19 of Top Gear coming in January 27!

Is Series 19 of BBC's Top Gear coming on BBC One this January 27? According to the producers, YES, BBC TOP GEAR IS BACK. They even showed some sneak peek photos of what to expect on the 19th and the most explosive season yet. What to expect?

- USA Road trip with the SRT Viper, Lexus LFA, and the all-new Aston Martin Vanquish
- A 2013 Shelby GT500 races against the train heading from Wembley to Milan. Will the honor of Top Gear, proving that cars are better than trains, defended or lost? Find out soon...
- Making a people carrier for the senior population
- Sensible Kia cee'd (c-apostrophe-d) test where the new generation Kia cee'd was reviewed and even pitted to a game of car rugby...
- Pagani Huayra
- Toyota 86
- Hot hatch comparison between the Ford Focus ST, Renaultsport Megane, and the new Vauxhall Astra VXR
- a car that Jeremy Clarkson fits...
- Africa Special

Top Gear Series 19 coming on BBC One this January 27 at 8:00 PM UTC. Coming soon on BBC America, BBC Canada, BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, or if you're in Japan, BS Fuji.

URL: http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Top-Gear-TV-is-back-2013-01-03

The Amputee team at 2013 Dakar rally

Race2Recovery Team

Remember back in Top Gear when Richard Hammond introduces to some special kind of Dakar rally team that will compete for this very moment? Yes really, they were soldiers who lost some of their body parts during the war but they never lost their dreams to race in the Dakar rally. This amputee team, called Race2Recovery, were the first ever disabled crew to compete for the 2013 Dakar rally using four Bowler Wildcats for racing purposes, 28 staff for duty, and an array of support vehicles. The Dakar rally runs on 15 days but we wish these special kind of team the very best proving that even with their handicap, they are capable of what they are at the Paris Dakar.

URL: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/disabled-british-soldiers-valiantly-join-2013-dakar-rally

69 Australians hooning for the world record

It maybe a new year but there's a big achievement going on in the Land Down Under. At this year's Summernats car festival in Canberra, 69 modified cars have been gathered to hoon for the world record for consecutive burnouts, beating the previous record of 49 cars. Incredible...

To those idiots responsible for this, we say thank you. You deserved the world record.

URL: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/watch-the-worlds-largest-simultaneous-burnout-2013-01-07

Memorial Game Collection Series Solvalou from WAVE

Memorial Game Collection
Series - SOLVALOU

Ah, the Solvalou...That name sounds exotic to me and this was one of the famed classic video game icons of the 80's because it was appeared as the hero of the classic video game titled XEVIOUS, by game creator NAMCO. If Solvalou sounds so exotic, you are going to be as exotic as a member of the elite RTS or Racing Team Solvalou from the Ridge Racer games. Anyway, the legendary Solvalou spaceship makes it a perfect display on your desk as part of WAVE's Memorial Game Collection Series. It's available this late April 2013 for 3,360 Japanese Yen and what you get is a plastic model of the legendary hero spaceship from XEVIOUS that comes with a stand that kinda looks like the ANDORGENESIS. That's very simple and very clever, I like that...

URL: http://www.hobby-wave.com/LINE_UP/kit/xevious/solvalou/index.html

Sony discontinues PS2 globally

Remember the article when Sony stop making PS2 units in Japan? Bad news, the news is spreading worldwide and for that, Sony discontinued the famed and fabled Playstation2 game console worldwide. When remaining stocks run out, this could be the end of it. From its release in 2000 and up till now, the PS2 sold over 150 million units while the games made for the PS2 sold over 1.52 billion copies.

URL: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-06/sony-stops-making-playstation-2-consoles-worldwide

It's been a long time, Tito Sen!

Guess what? Those issues regarding the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is still going on and this time, those no-good hacktivist group known as Anonymous Philippines once again hacked the official website of Tito Sotto. Instead of a home page, what they'll see is a deface page bearing the hacker’s message and the song “Freedom” by American rap metal band Rage Against The Machine blaring in the background.

“It’s been a long time, Tito Sen!” the group’s message read. “Deny us our freedom of speech and of expression through R.A. 10175 (Cybercrime Law) and we will deny you your cyberspace. You cannot shut us up, you cannot shut us down.”

Guess this is taking too far, eh?

URL: http://www.interaksyon.com/infotech/its-been-a-long-time-tito-sen-hackers-hit-sottos-website-again

Brabus B63-620 Widestar

Brabus B63-620 Widestar

What you're looking here is a new model from BRABUS. It's called the B63-620 Widestar and this is essentially a tuned version of the recently-launched Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, the one with the 5.5L V8 twin turbo engine on it.

As you can see, BRABUS does a really great job tuning the latest Mercedes-Benz models through the years, just like what Alpina did to BMW models. Here on the all new B63-620, which is a tuned G63 AMG though, that is no excuse for Brabus. Thanks to its Brabus B63-620 PowerXtra module, the power of the AMG 5.5L V8 engine has been improved from 400 kW / 544 hp (536 bhp) to 456.3 kW / 620 hp (611 bhp) at a low 5,750 rpm. Peak torque grows simultaneously from 760 to 820 Nm (560 to 604 lb-ft), available on a plateau between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. 0-60mph is now 5.1 seconds and flatout it will be doing 130 or 143 mph.

There was also some cleverness on the exhausts from the B63-620. To make it sound quietly, hit it to "Coming Home" mode but if you want a very loud noise to wake the dead, hit this one to "Sport" mode. They can either be engaged on the steering wheel and there's more, there are paddle shifters on it that BRABUS says it can shift like a Formula-One car.

In terms of styling, a BRABUS-made body kit and 23-inch forged rims made by BRABUS themselves really made the B63-620 a very stylish off-roader that impresses the crowd if you're driving in posh cities elsewhere. Also, this off-roader's purely a bespoke model, meaning that it can be tailored to your specifications, showing off its exclusivity based on the owner's personal tastes.

As for the handling, this is much better than the normal G-Class because the B63-620 comes with suspension made by Bilstein, making it as sharper as a sportscar and with the Ride Control suspension, it matches your driving style, road conditions, and its personality while driving one of these.

URL: http://www.netcarshow.com/brabus/2013-b63-620_widestar/