The Tokyo Auto Salon is an annual show that showcases aftermarket parts and technology displays think of it as SEMA but with taste, and also with parts well likely never see in North America.This year (or, rather, next year) Honda will be bringing an upgraded S2000 sports car to the Salon to celebrate the models 20th anniversary, but be warned the car comes with a few tweaks to bring it into the 21st century.This particular car started life as an AP1-generation S2000, to which a new front bumper was added, along with side skirts, more prominent fenders and a rear spoiler. Only one teaser image of the upgraded vehicle has been released, but it does show off the new front fascia, which kind of makes it look like a Renault Alpine. We can see the splitter is now a little lower, and there are also side skirts to give the vehicle a lower appearance.Honda said the S2000 is also sporting a new suspension system, as well as an upgraded stereo. A set of 17-inch Advan RZ2 wheels adorn the sports car, and the windshield frame has been painted black and made thinner to give the car a more sleek appearance.The sun visors and rearview mirror also appear to have been deleted, and the outside mirror caps have been darkened, too. Could this perhaps be a speedster concept? Well have to wait until January to find out.Honda has brought a modified S2000 to the Auto Salon before in the form of the S2000 Modulo Climax, in 2013. It featured a chrome front bumper that echoed the eyebrow styling of current Hondas, as well as a custom red paint
Origin: Honda’s readying new S2000 kit to celebrate the sports car’s 20th anniversary
Anniversary
Aston Martin celebrates 50-year anniversary of Bond film
There’s a lot of hype going around these days when it comes to the world’s favourite super-spy: 007. Bond 25 is currently in production, and Aston Martin themselves are building replicas of the DB5 featured in Goldfinger, machine guns and all. Now Aston has decided to add another special model to the lineup to commemorate a lesser-known Bond car. 1969 was the year that saw Sean Connery take a break from being Bond, and male model George Lazenby step in, and lucky for Lazenby, he got one of the coolest Bond cars ever: a 1969 Aston Martin DBS. Aston Martin is celebrating 50 years of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by creating the OHMSS special edition of its current DBS Superleggera. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Aston Martin is synonymous with James Bond and the DBS from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has provided great inspiration to the team tasked with creating this very special edition. This new DBS Superleggera will be an extremely distinguished ‘brute in a suit’, designed to capture the essence of the iconic DBS from the 1969 film but with a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, 715-bhp engine!” The OHMSS edition features more carbon fibre, along with a new front splitter, aeroblade, and diamond turned and forged wheels. The exterior colour has been matched to the same olive green of the original 1969 DBS, and the horizontal lines in the grill have been accentuated to mimic the original as well. Deliveries of the 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera OHMSS will take place in the fourth quarter of 2019. Only 50 will be built, at a price of 300,007 pounds. Really. If you plan on getting married soon, we recommend that you leave the DBS in Q
Origin: Aston Martin celebrates 50-year anniversary of Bond film
Rolls-Royce to auction one-off 115th anniversary 2020 Phantom
Rolls-Royce is marking its 115th anniversary with a one-off 2020 Phantom to be auctioned off online by Canadian firm RM Sotheby’s later this year. R-R and RM Sotheby’s announced the special build during a five-course dinner and anniversary celebration held at RM Sotheby’s recently revamped NYC gallery. Fittingly high-brow. You can’t really see what you probably can’t afford yet, though, as all Rolls-Royce has given us is the above artist’s drawing. The colour is probably close, as it did disclose the bespoke car will be red. The interior will play home to “an original hand-crafted leather work of art” of some sort, and there’ll be multiple anniversary markings like numbered door sills, plaques and perhaps some limited-ed badges on the exterior. Rolls-Royce’s 115th birthday was actually May 4. On that date in 1904, Henry Royce and Charles Rolls got together at a hotel in Manchester and formed the company that would bring us cars like the Corniche, the Ghost, the Wraith and of course the Phantom. “While Roll-Royce motor cars have a history of crossing the block at RM Sotheby’s, tonight we are looking to the future of the brand,” said Martin Fritsches, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas, at the NYC event. “The eighth-generation Phantom will carry the longest running name in luxury motoring into a new era. Built on the ‘architecture of luxury,’ this new Phantom commission offers one special owner the chance to enjoy a motor car that is bound to be a classic over the next 115 years.” As to how much would such a classic cost, there’s been no official word. The base Phantom comes in at over half a million dollars, and that’s before the options. A bespoke anniversary edition Phantom like this has the potential to be the feather in the cap of some immensely wealthy individual’s collection. It will not go cheap. The one-off 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom will go up on the auction block at Sothebys.com this
Origin: Rolls-Royce to auction one-off 115th anniversary 2020 Phantom
Nissan reveals retro-inspired GT-R 50th Anniversary edition
Nissan has celebrated 50 years of the GT-R sports car line with the launch of a special 50th Anniversary Edition at the New York motor show. The GT-R 50th Anniversary Edition celebrates the anniversary of the GT-R (Gran Turismo Racer) badge, which was introduced in 1969 as a variant of the Skyline. The GT-R became a standalone model in 2007. The special edition will be offered in three ‘heritage-inspired’ colour schemes, which are all based on liveries from Skyline GT-R cars that competed in the Japan GP series. That includes ‘Bayside Blue’, a colour retired since the R34 GT-R model. The interior features a special grey colour, and features unique steering wheel trim, Alcantera headliner and sun visors and seat trim. The 50th Anniversary Edition, along with other 2020 model year GT-Rs, retains a hand-built 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 powerplant, which produces 562bhp and 467lb ft, and Nissan says new turbochargers help improve low rpm response and improve efficiency. There is also a revised six-speed dual clutch transmission, which also features a reworked ‘R mode’ performance setting with more aggressive downshifts. Nissan has also tweaked the electronically controlled suspension in a bid to improve ride comfort and cornering stability. Nissan has also unveiled the new race-honed GT-R Nismo, which uses a turbocharger from the GT3 race version to boost output to 592bhp and 481lb ft. It also gets the revised transmission, R mode and suspension from the regular GT-R. The GT-R Nismo features revised bodywork, with greater use of carbon fibre to save weight and new downforce-generating front bodywork based on the GT-R GT3. The model features a new carbon-ceramic braking system to improve reaction times and durability. It sits on 20in wheels, and uses new Dunlop tyres which offer an increased contact patch with the road. Nissan has yet to confirm pricing for either model, but an increase from the current starting price of £76,875 is anticipated, particularly for the 50th Anniversary Edition. The current NISMO model costs £148,820. Nissan has also launched a limited edition variant of the 370Z to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Z performance
Origin: Nissan reveals retro-inspired GT-R 50th Anniversary edition
Nissan unveils retro-themed 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition
The exterior of the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition mimics the livery of the original BRE race car and is available in two different paint schemes: white with red accents, or silver with black accents. In 1969, the Nissan (then-Datsun) 240Z was unveiled at the New York auto show. It so impressed show-goers that waiting lists to buy the car soon formed, and the Z forced the rest of the world to take Japanese cars seriously. Fifty years later, Nissan is paying tribute to the sensational 240Z with the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition. The first thing that catches your eye is the trés cool retro racing stripes. They’re an homage to the BRE ((Peter) Brock Racing Enterprises) racing cars of the 1970s. The white car features contrasting panels in red with two large hash stripes on the doors. The same stripe scheme is available on a silver car with black stripes. But we feel the classic white/red combo is definitely the way to go. The exterior of the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition mimics the livery of the original BRE race car and is available in two different paint schemes: white with red accents, or silver with black accents. Underneath the stripes, you’ll find the 332-hp 3.7-litre V6 which has faithfully powered the 370 since 2009, and is in danger of becoming a classic itself. Nonetheless, it still has that naturally aspirated character and six-cylinder soundtrack we love so much. Shifting the Anniversary Edition is your choice of a 6-speed manual (good!) or a 7-speed automatic (bad!). Curiously, the Anniversary edition is not based on the top-of-the-line 370 or on the super-racy Nismo trim. Instead, it’s based off the mid-level Sport trim as it represents the true enthusiast spirit of the original model, says Nissan. The exterior of the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition mimics the livery of the original BRE race car and is available in two different paint schemes: white with red accents, or silver with black accents. The model also comes with 50th anniversary wreath sticker around the front marker light; and a unique 50th anniversary badge out back. You also get 19-inch alloy wheels with red accents to match the stripes, no matter if you choose the white/red or silver/black colour scheme. Inside you’ll find numerous suede-trimmed components and special seats with – you guessed it – 50th anniversary logos embossed into the back rests. Interestingly, none of the anniversary models can be ordered with a spoiler, Nissan preferring to sell the car with a more classic shape. The exterior of the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition mimics the livery of the original BRE race car and is available in two different paint schemes: white with red accents, or silver with black accents. The 370Z Anniversary Edition also promises to be more rare than an un-cracked dash pad on a 240Z. Just 50 will be coming to Canada, so if you want one, you better act quickly. The package adds a dose of retro cool to a car we already know and love. Just like the 240Z in 1969, this one may become a future classic—especially if the next Z is a
Origin: Nissan unveils retro-themed 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition
Nissan unveils retro-themed 50th Anniversary Z
In 1969, the Nissan (Then Datsun) 240Z was unveiled at the New York auto show. It so impressed show goers that waiting lists to buy the car soon formed and the Z made the world take Japanese cars seriously. Fifty years later, Nissan is paying tribute to the sensational 240Z with the 370Z 50th Anniversary Edition. The first thing that catches your eye is the trés cool retro racing stripes. They’re an homage to the BRE (Peter Brock) racing cars of the 1970s. The white car features contrasting panels in red with two large hash stripes on the doors. The same stripe scheme is available on a silver car with black stripes. But we feel the classic white/red combo is definitely the way to go. Underneath the stripes, you’ll find a 332-hp 3.7L V6 which has faithfully powered the 370 since 2009 and is in danger of becoming a classic itself. Nonetheless it still has that naturally aspirated character and six-cylinder soundtrack that we love so much. Shifting the Anniversary Edition is your choice of a 6-speed manual (good) or a 7-speed automatic. (bad) Curiously, the Anniversary edition is not based on the top-of-the-line 370 or on the super-racy Nismo trim. Instead, it’s based off the mid-level Sport trim as it represents the true enthusiast spirit of the original model says Nissan. The model also comes with 50th anniversary wreath sticker around the front marker light and a unique 50th anniversary badge out back. You also get 19 alloy wheels with red accents to match the stripes no matter if you choose the white/red or silver/black colour scheme. Inside you’ll find numerous suede-trimmed components and special seats with, you guessed it, 50th anniversary logos embossed into the back rests. Interestingly, none of the anniversary models can be ordered with a spoiler, Nissan preferring to sell the car with a more classic shape. The 370Z Anniversary Edition also promises to be more rare than an un-cracked dash pad on a 240Z. Just 50 will be coming to Canada so if you want one, you better act quickly. The package adds a dose of retro cool to a car we already know and love. Just like the 240Z in 1969, this one may become a future classic. Especially if the next Z is a
Origin: Nissan unveils retro-themed 50th Anniversary Z
All about car 