Toyota Shows GRMN and G Sports Concepts at 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon

The tuning-oriented Tokyo Auto Salon 2014 hosted a series of Toyota concept cars over the weekend at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, with Japan’s largest carmaker bringing no fewer than 34 vehicles at the show.

Among these there were two “GAZOO Racing tuned by MN” (GRMN) concepts, two “G Sports” models, as well as three GAZOO Racing vehicles that will compete at the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race in Germany in June.

The GRMN series display featured the GRMN Mark X Concept and the GRMN 86 Concept, both sporting a performance-oriented package. The GRMN Mark X Concept combines the Mark X’s exclusive 6-speed manual transmission with a V6 3.5-liter engine, and features special suspension tuning, disc brakes and Torsen limited-slip differential for improved handling.

The GRMN 86 Concept builds on Toyota’s technical expertise gained at the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race and has a reduced weight, lower center of gravity, and increased body rigidity.

Toyota also revealed two concepts from the G Sports series: the Harrier G Sports Concept and the Vitz RS G Sports Concept. The former is the first sporty SUV in the G Sports series and features a sharp bodykit, with Toyota saying it combines “the joy of driving with riding comfort and adds a sporty and unique feel to the base vehicle.” As for the Vitz RS G Sports Concept, Toyota says is features exclusive sports seats, optimized suspension tuning and enhanced body rigidity.

You can find technical details of the GRMN and G Sports concepts in the chart posted below.

By Dan Mihalascu

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3D Design Debuts New M-Sport Kit for BMW 4-Series in Tokyo

Japanese tuning firm 3D Design chose the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon for the grand premiere of its new M-Sport kit for the BMW 4-Series coupe.

Leaving aside the optionally available stripes, 3D Design's program dresses the M Sport version of the Bavarian two-door model with a urethane or carbon fiber front lip, optional carbon fiber lower splitters, urethane trunk spoiler, and carbon fiber rear diffuser.

It also offers a quad tip sport exhaust system built by Arqray Japan, and a choice of alloy wheels, which on the display model, were wrapped in Yokohama rubber.

3D Design said the official release of the kit is scheduled for the third week of January and will be available in the States through IND Distribution.

After the jump, you'll find photos of the 4-Series as well as other tuned BMW models at 3D Design's Tokyo Auto Salon stand.

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NATS Waves Its Tuning Wand on Suzuki Turning it Into Mini Toyota Supra

It's not the Supra that Toyota fans have been patiently waiting for ages (there's still hope that the Mirai sports car concept scheduled for an unveiling at the 2014 Detroit motor Show could be a forerunner to the next Supra), but at least NATS placed a smile to all those visiting it's booth at the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon.

The Child Speed 660GT is a mini-me replica of the last generation Toyota Supra based on the Suzuki Cappuccino kei-segment hardtop roadster (built from 1991 to 1997) created by university students.

We lack full details on the study, but it looks like the Cappuccino's 0.66-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine with 63-horses (64PS) was left intact.

At last year's edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon, NATS had built an Audi R8-like version of the Scion FR-S / Toyota GT 86.

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Subaru Reveals Nürburgring 24H-Ready WRX STI Racer

Subaru will continue to participate in the Nurburgring 24-Hour race that will be held this year in June with the new WRX STI racing car that made its world premiere at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The production / road going version of the WRX STI will be revealed in the metal at the Detroit motor show.

Extensively worked on and engineered by both Subaru and their in-house tuners STI, the racing model will use a two-liter boxer-four engine with a turbocharger and be eligible for the SP3T class for displacements of between 1.6- and 2.0-liter. The road car will use a bigger 2.5-liter variant.

The road-going WRX STI, in its traditional colors, looks nice, and so does this track-honed racer. However, the official rally-bred version is what all Subaru motorsport fans are waiting for – I know I am…

Scroll down and check out the photos of the Nürburgring racer, below.

By Andrei Nedelea

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This is How Le Mans Racing Cars Look and Sound when Driven on the Street

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your own Le Mans racing car and to be able to drive it on the street? Well, the guys from the video you’re about to watch are living this dream – literally.

These three men from Japan each own a Le Mans racing car that has actually participated at least once at the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Furthermore, two of them somehow received approval to drive them occasionally on the street, which means each and every one of their outings is impossible to ignore.

The cars are the Mazda 767B (yes, the one with the four-rotor engine), Jaguar XJ220LM and Porsche 962C, and the video was put together by Motorhead magazine.

There's not much to add that the video itself doesn't explain, so without further ado, turn up the volume in your speakers and enjoy the show.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

New Toyota Harrier SUV Suits Up for 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon

As one of the freshest models in Toyota's Japanese lineup, the new Harrier SUV that went on sale in regular guise a couple of weeks ago with a hybrid version to follow next year, will have a prominent place in the brand's 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon stand with two tuned editions.

The first is the Harrier Sportivo Concept that comes courtesy of the team at Toyota Racing Development (TRD for short), which based it on the 2WD version adding a prototype lowered sports suspension, a ground effects kit, new front grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and a sports muffler.

The blue-colored Harrier Modellista is based on the 149hp (151PS) 2.0-liter petrol engine model with 2WD and a CVT with the dress up content including a protruding front apron, side skirts, rear apron, 19-inch alloys, tailgate spoiler and a chrome kit, plus the use of LED lamps inside and a lowered suspension.

Both studies will likely end up being offered as standalone trim models in Japan.

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