Mishimoto At Tokyo Auto Salon
Konnichiwa! That’s “hello” in Japanese. Why are we greeting you in another language? Mishimoto went to Tokyo Auto Salon, of course! One of the most highly anticipated car shows of the year, Tokyo Auto Salon features some of the most creative and innovative vehicles in the industry. Some cars show off form, some show off function, and some are just … because! Check out some of our favorites below:
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Mishimoto Interviews at SEMA!
While at SEMA, Mishimoto caught up with some our sponsored car owners. It’s always a pleasure meeting these guys (and girls!) face-to-face and hearing their stories. These cars are incredible, and we couldn’t be more proud to have our products make them even better. Check out the interviews below, with even more to come.
Nic Ashby gives a guided tour of the convention.
Ashton Stander and the Hillbank Motorsports HBR Mustang!
Ching Ching and the Infamous Scion xB!
Ed Stikeleather and the Felony Z!
James Gill and the 2005 “Butters” Scion xB!
Jeremy Hancock and the 1997 Honda Odyssey!
Mike Bonanni and the 2009 Nissan 370Z!
Michael Ma and the 2011 Ford Fiesta!
Patrick Widner and the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR!
A Familiar Name in NSCRA Tuner Challenge 2K12…
We just downloaded the NSCRA Tuner Challenge 2K12 game and saw a familiar name pop up (And yes, we lost this race… don’t laugh). Download it for your iPhone or Android phone and play, too!
Here's a screen shot!
Want more? We certainly do! Here’s a preview of the game:
Still not convinced? Here’s a review:
We highly recommend this game. Go download it NOW!
Team Hybrid at the 2011 Motor Trend Las Vegas Auto Show
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, November 25-27, Team Hybrid’s Las Vegas Chapter took the Motor Trend Auto Show by storm! The Motor Trend Auto Show differs from SEMA in that auto show attendees can sit in the cars and experience what life would be like behind the wheel, all the while getting information on the new technology and vehicle models ready to hit the showroom.
Check out the gallery below!
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A Look at What’s to Come in the Very Near Future….
We here at Mishimoto pride ourselves with “being in the know” when it comes to new vehicles being released. Whether these are only concepts for future design or if they are full blown production cars, we love them both the same. Below is just a small collection of what the future holds in the automotive world. Try not to let your jaw hit the floor when you come across something you have yet to see!
We’ll start off “mild”. Just as the Fiat 500 has hit our shores, they will soon be releasing a beefed up version titled the “Abarth”. 160HP in a car that weighs nothing….. Go cart.
It seems after many years of similar designs, Mini has decided to switch things up a bit with the Coupe. Love it or hate it, it will be hitting dealerships soon.
Audi has added a new model to their already popular fleet and it comes in the form of a sportback, introducing the S7. Now all we need is the S3.
Staying on the topic of European cars, check out the 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS with its fresh facelift.
It is now time to let the bullies come out to play… The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is packing 650 horsepower , while the 2013 ChevroletCamaro-ZL1 Convertible is no slouch at 580 horses. One thing is for sure, these two cars are menacing.
Every year multiple manufacturers release concept vehicles that are just works of art and a brief look into the future of automobiles. Below are just a few examples.
Starting off with Subaru…. The highly anticipated BRZ Sti Concept.
The Audi E-Tron Spyder Concept is a one off vehicle based loosely off the R8. The Spyder boasts a 300 horsepower twin turbo diesel V-6, as well as two 44 horsepower electric motors and still manages to weigh in at 300 lbs lighter than the 8 cylinder R8.
Mercedes Benz is allowing us to look into the future with their F125 Concept. This is the company’s vision of the 2025 S-Class.
Last, but certainly not least we have the BMW i8 Concept. Not only is this concept vehicle beautiful to look at, but it features a 1.5 liter gasoline engine and an electric motor working simultaneously to propel it from 0-62 mph in under 5 seconds! It is also featured in the upcoming movie, Mission Impossible 4.
These are just a few select examples of what is to come in the automotive world. What does everyone think? Does the future hold positive things for us, or are manufacturers heading down a downward slope?
Looks Like Someone Is Popular………..
Hello again from SEMA! It seems like we just can not keep the celebrities away from our grafitti covered 370Z hood. Everyone is waiting for their turn with the marker to immortilize their name in ink. With an organization like The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada receiving all of the proceeds from our upcoming auctioning off of the hood, who could blame them from wanting to participate. Check out the images below to see who has had that opportunity so far!
Our very own sponsored driver, Chris Rado of WORLD Racing, was the very first person to ink their name.
You are looking at World Champion racing legend, Mario Andretti’s signature…… Yeah, “The” Mario Andretti.
Our hood got a little “Overhauled” with the addition of Chip Foose and Courtney Hansen’s autographs. (Doesn’t Chip Foose have the coolest signature?!)
MMA/Strikeforce Superstars, Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett and Cris “Cyborg” Santos took a break from grappling with their opponents to lend a hand to charity.
2010 Formula Drift Rookie of the Year, Driver of the Team Need for Speed Scion tC and Team Need for Speed Japan Auto Toyota Supra, Fredric Aasbo, “drifted” over to our booth to lay down his signature.
Sneak Peak from Behind Closed Doors
Have you ever wanted to see what goes on during Mishimoto product research and development? Well now is your opportunity to push aside that opaque curtain of secrecy and do just that. Our Engineers here at Mishimoto have been hard at work developing a Direct Fit Oil Cooler for the Nissan 370Z and we have some top secret spy shots of their progress. Stay tuned for future developments and keep your eyes peeled for this and other new quality Mishimoto products in your favorite shop very soon!
Our Engineers getting down and dirty as the test fit begins!
Mocking up a support bracket for the Mishimoto 19 Row Oil Cooler Core.
Running and connecting the stainless braided hoses over the OEM power steering cooler.
Just look at those high quality Mishimoto -10AN fittings and Sandwich Plate Adapter!
You can not deny how aggressive that oil cooler looks behind the grill. Not to mention the HUGE amount of airflow it will receive.
One of our extremely talented Engineers using our Romer CMM (Coordinate Measurement Machine) to enter information into the design program.
Here is a much more clear view of what was going down in our Design Lab.
Behind the Scenes at the Mishimoto Booth at SEMA
We here at Mishimoto wanted to give everyone out there the “inside scoop” on what’s going on at our SEMA booth, #23428! We enlisted talent from Hydro74 to do a live transformation of our 370Z right in front of everyone’s eyes during the convention. For those of you who couldn’t make it, check out the awesome progress these incredible artists have made so far utilizing only Krink Markers! Stayed tuned for more updates from SEMA 2011.
Carbon Fiber Skis
If you like to go skiing, or just can’t get enough of carbon fiber, you’re in luck. Audi is now making carbon fiber skis. What do you think? According to a press release, “The Audi Carbon Ski may become available already in winter 2011/2012.” Would you buy them?
Cars in reverse (Not the gear…)
These car photos were posted on Sub5zero.com, and they’re pretty interesting. If you think they look like typical cars, think again. Oh, the wonders of Photoshop. Did any of these make you look twice?
Not your average electric car…
Over at Jalopnik, they are reporting that Nissan will unveil the ESFLOW concept at the Geneva auto show in March. The ESFLOW concept is a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive EV, and looks more like a 370Z than your average electric car or hybrid. This sports car/electric car combo can go from 0-60 mph in under five seconds…and also go 150 miles before needing to be recharged. If you thought you’d never consider buying an electric car, check out these photos and tell me if this one could possibly change your mind.
(Photos from Jalopnik!)
How does this happen?
Courtesy of Gizmodo, a snowy and strange image of a car crash on RT 93 in New Hampshire yesterday, February 1, 2011. If you’re in one of the many states being hit hard by these blizzard conditions, try not to do this.
What is life like for a blind mechanic?
What is life like for a blind mechanic? This video of Bart Hickey, found on Jalopnik, might give you some insight. Hickey, who runs Bart’s Automotive and Towing in Alsip, Ill., has been a mechanic since he was a teenager… and blind since birth. If you’ve ever had trouble with something under the hood with your eyes open, check out this video. What a cool story.
“Intimidator” from Jim Quattrocki on Vimeo.
Buying A Car? Bring A Fridge Magnet.
The genius minds over at Lifehacker came up with some handy tips to remember the next time you are buying a car. Among the most useful? Bring a refrigerator magnet.
If there is rust damage to the car or filled in areas, the magnet will not stick to the part of the car where work was done. This is an easy and pretty effective way to tell the truth about where a car has been or what kind of damage it has been through. So if you have an obnoxious amount of magnets on your refrigerator for no reason, now you know another use for them!
Could Four Loko Have A Purpose?
Apparently Four Loko will soon be recycled into ethanol for gasoline and used to power your cars, according to FuelFix. Now that the FDA has banned these alcoholic energy drinks, truckloads of Four Loko are being sent to MXI Environmental Services in Virginia. At MXI, they distill the alcohol from the drinks and then sell the fuel to be blended into gasoline. (They also recycle the drinks’ water, cardboard packaging and shipping pallets, and sell the aluminum cans to recyclers.) I can only hope that when it’s filled up on Four Loko, my car doesn’t speed around uncontrollably, crash on the neighbors lawn and then forget how it got there.
Photo: Paul Sakuma/AP
Choose Your View – Subaru WRX
Check out this video of Subaru Rally Driver Pat Richard and navigator Alan Ockwell taking on the tough Stage 4 of Rally of the Tall Pines in a 2011 Subaru WRX STI. With four HD camera views, you can choose which one to watch (or watch all four at once if you can multitask…)
Auto Show Fever
It’s officially January 2011, and that means a lot of great auto shows are happening this month. (Check out Mishimoto’s January desktop calendar to see this month’s auto events.) I’ve got a few I’m keeping an eye on and I know you do, too. What’s your favorite thing about going to the auto show, and what are you most excited to see?
Watch the blog or follow us on Twitter for great pictures and updates. Jalopnik will of course be updating from the Detroit Auto Show with tons of insider info and great photos like the one above of the new BMW 1 Series M Coupe, revealed today. Leave comments and let us know what you want to see!
Can You Pass This Chinese Driving Test?
In China, the driving exam that you must pass in order to get your license is a lot different than the American one I took back in high school. Drivers have to study 1,000 questions and 100 of those are used on the exam. To pass, you need to answer at least 90% of them correctly. Here are a few of those questions from Jalopnik. These were translated from a 2003 test taken by Ash Sutcliffe of the China Car Times website (where you can find the full quiz and all of the answers). Take the quiz and post your results!
The Roads in Road Traffic Safety Law of the Peoples Republic of China refers to _____
__ Expressways and highways
__ Highways, urban streets, and places belonging to residential quarters or establishments where motors vehicles are allowed to pass, including public parking lots and other places open to traffic.
__ Asphalt roads, concrete roads and gravel roads
__ I don’t know
When driving motor vehicles, drivers…
__ Is allowed to smoke
__ May smoke when tired
__ Must not smoke
__ I don’t know
How should two vehicles meeting each other do when there is an obstacle on one side of the road?
__ The vehicle not influenced by the obstacle should let the other vehicle pass first
__ Whoever wants to passes first passes first
__ The vehicle influenced by the obstacle should let the other vehicle pass first
__ I don’t know
Before driving motor vehicles, drivers….
__ May drink a little alcoholic drinks
__ Must not drink alcoholic drinks
__ Are only allowed to drink beer
__ I don’t know
Running along a dark or dimly-lit road, vehicles should turn off the long-range light and turn on the small light when meeting a vehicle_____ meters away
__ 150
__ 50
__ 200
__ I don’t know
Take The Ridiculous Chinese Driving TestWhen passing a zebra crossing….
__ Vehicles must slow down or stop to avoid the pedestrians
__ Vehicles should closely follow the vehicle ahead and pass quickly
__ Pedestrians must avoid the vehicles
__ I don’t know
When vehicles break down…
__ They should be moved to places where they will not hinder traffic and the danger warning flashing light should be turned on
__ They should be repaired on the spot as soon as possible
__ Drivers should ask passengers and passers by to push the vehicle to the side of the road
__ I don’t know
Which of the following rules must a vehicle driving on an expressway act upon?
__ It cannot reverse, drive in the opposite lane, cross the central dividing area, or make a U-turn
__ It can make U-turn or turn by crossing the central
__ Test drive or learning to drive is allowed there
__ I don’t know
When a road accident happens, the driver must stop the vehicle and protect the scene. In case of casualties, the driver must ______ while rescuing the injured
__ Find out the cause of the accident at once
__ Move the vehicle to a place where it does not affect the traffic
__ Report the accident to the traffic policeman on duty or traffic authority at once
__ I don’t know
What obligation do the persons involved in a traffic accident undertake when the accident is being investigated?
__ Making up a story about the accident
__ Complaning of the fault the other party
__ Making a true statement of the accident without concealing the truth
__ I don’t know
Motor Vehicle driving licenses carries the following information of the holder: Name, sex, date of birth, address, ID card number (motor vehicle driving license number) and _____
__ Ethnic Group
__ Citizenship
__ Bloodtype
__ I don’t know
Driving on a road covered with ice or snow, try your best not to turn the steering wheel lest the vehicle should _____
__ Skid
__ Slide
__ Slip
__ I don’t know
What kind of change will driving too fast bring about in the drivers observing power?
__ His observation will get incomplete and his vision narrower
__ His observation will be quick and his vision wider
__ His vision will get too narrow
__ I don’t know
When there are puddles on the road ahead, the drivers….
__ Should accelerate and pass
__ Should drive slowly and lest the water should be splashed onto the pedestrians
__ Drive at the normal speed without the need to slow down
__ I don’t know
What is the right thing to do when the motor vehicle breaks down on any elevated way, bridge cross the river or tunnel of Shanghai?
__ The driver should set up a warning 20 to 30 meters away from the rear of the vehicle and turn on the danger signal light (as well as the width indicator and rear light at night)
__ The driver should wait for the mechanic.
__ The driver should turn off all the lights to save electricity.
__ I don’t know
Chris Forsberg in Action
Check out this cool video of Chris Forsberg from VIMBY and let us know what you think.
Click here to watch the video.
Cyber Evo Returns
World Time Attack just announced that the Cyber Evo will be returning to defend its World Time Attack Champion title. After winning World Time Attack Challenge 2010 it hasn’t been seen too much, but the team said they had a “fantastic experience” last year and this is the only event they will be doing in 2011.
The Time Attack website also says that the team will be upgrading the engine for more horsepower and strengthening the rear wing assembly after losing it at Eastern Creek in the final session. So, for Time Attack fans who want to see the Cyber Evo again, you will in 2011 at Eastern Creek on August 5-6.
How to Charge Your Car Battery With Red Wine!
Next time you go to start your car and realize you have a dead battery, go grab a bottle of wine. This video tutorial shows you how to charge your car battery with red wine.
You’re welcome.
Mazdatrix brings rotary power to Gymkhana Grid Invitational
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mazdatrix brings rotary power to Gymkhana Grid Invitational
December 15, 2010 (Signal Hill, Calif.) – One of the more unique events for the Mazdatrix team in the 2010 season was the Gymkhana Grid Invitational, held December 3-4 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in Irwindale, California.
Spurred by the worldwide success of Ken Block’s Gymkhana videos, the Gymkhana Grid Invitational featured two classes of cars – all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive, enabling Kyle Mohan to bring out his Mazdatrix / Nexen Mazda RX-7 FC3S for one last 2010 competition. The former Formula Drift Pro Championship car contested the west coast Redline Time Attack season, as well as an IDRC drag race.
Gymkhana would bring together two of those elements, as the two mirrored courses began with a drag race from a Christmas tree before drivers had to navigate the tight course consisting of figure eights, a box, slalom, and a 720 degree corner before crossing the finish line. Calling upon all of his skills as a Formula Drift and Redline Time Attack driver, Mohan wheeled his RX-7 to sixth in qualifying.
In the first round of eliminations, he would go up against Japanese driver Toshiki Yoshioka. The two drivers ran time staggeringly close to each other, putting on the best head-to-head battle of the day, but Yoshioki emerged victorious after two runs with a combined advantage of a little more than one second.
“Gymkhana is really fun, and even though we lost by a small amount we still had a great time,” said Mohan. “It will be interesting to see what happens next season with Gymkhana Grid. Having completed this event, we now have a long list of changes we would make to our Mazdatrix / Nexen Mazda RX-7 to pick up some more time in a Gymkhana event.”
Mazdatrix promoted rotary performance throughout the day with the team’s RX-8 that competes in Redline Time Attack, as well as the team’s 1983 Mazda RX-7 FB that is a former SCCA and NASA race car.
With the racing season now officially wrapped up, the team at Mazdatrix will now retire to their metal building in Signal Hill to make their Mazdas even faster for the 2011 racing season. Keep an eye on mazdatrixracing.com for announcements on their 2011 racing plans.
