Last year's reports about the demise of the Lexus LF-A may have been greatly exaggerated, and according to the fabulists at AutoExpress, Lexus' long-awaited supercar is due to be revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

Toyota insiders told the Brit pub – in so many words – that the LF-A's delay was due to a series of engineering tweaks to boost the sleek supercar's top speed. Initially, the LF-A topped out at 199 mph, which ToMoCo execs decided was too slow considering the supercar's competition, so after some fettling with the engine and bodywork, the revised coupe is expected to hit 218 mph or beyond.

In addition to the revised top speed, the R&D team's exterior tweaks will be obvious when the wraps come off in Tokyo, with a new fascia, headlight design and reworked rear end. Underneath that long hood lies a revised version of Lexus' new V10, displacing 4.8-liters and sending all 550 hp through a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

Production of the LF-A will be limited to 500 examples, and that will supposedly include a higher performance version equipped with wider body panels, a track-oriented suspension and aerodynamic components pulled from the Nurburgring racer (pictured above).

Pricing is still rumored to be somewhere in the $200,000 range, and if the LF-A does debut in Tokyo – likely alongside the rear-wheel drive Toyobaru sports coupe – it could be on sale as early as 2010.



[Source: AutoExpress]

What if one of the world's preeminent auto nations threw a party and nobody came? That's the question on everyone's minds today as the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has announced that most of the world's major automakers have decided to sit out this fall's show.

We already knew about the Detroit 3 taking a pass, but now, word from Automotive News is that Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen and Volvo will apparently be skipping out as well. In a news conference that JAMA chairman Satoshi Aoki called a "once-in-a-hundred-years crisis," the organization confirmed to media members that just 122 exhibitors will hawk their wares – nearly half of 2007's total of 241. The departure of those manufacturers represents a loss estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars for JAMA and the local economy (if not more), as costs associated with mounting a single show stand often reaches into seven-figures.

Of those 241 parties that still remain, Japan's eight primary automakers have signed on (Daihatsu, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota), and Hyundai will join as well. On the high-end front, only Alpina, Lotus, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche have committed.

Rumors swirled as recently as in January that the show might be canceled altogether, but organizers have evidently decided that a scaled-down show is better than no show at all. Other outlets are reporting that JAMA will reduce the event's Makuhari Messe footprint from four show halls to two. Additionally, public days are reportedly shortening up as well, with the original run of October 23 to November 8 being cut down – the show will now close November 4.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req]

Although Volvo has already said that it would not participate in this October's Tokyo Motor Show, the Swedish automaker's German contemporaries are reportedly dragging their feet on similar public announcements in an effort to not be the first from their country to do so. According to a brief Automotive News item, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are "unlikely to participate" as part of an effort to limit expenditures, and Volkswagen AG and supplier Bosch are among those said to be on the fence.

Speaking about the pullout possibilities, an unnamed Automobilwoche (AN's Germanic sister publication) source has said that "No one wants to be in the unpopular position of being the first to announce their exit." Perhaps, but that didn't stop Volvo from letting some air out of Tokyo's balloons, nor did it keep the Detroit 3 from doing the same before them.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

There have been countless attempts to translate the Ferrari spirit from four wheels to two, ranging from sport bikes to choppers and everything in between. But this is the first we've seen with three wheels. That's right, in case your eyes couldn't adjust from the endless see of crimson contours, what you're looking at is a Ferrari trike.

Mirroring the "styling" of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 car, this one-off trike was spotted at the banzai Tokyo Auto Salon by the same people who brought us the no-less-bonkers Lamborghini ATV. Based around a 1.3-liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine and frame, this (thankfully) unique example was built by Trike Japan in order to showcase what they can do. We certainly hope the rest of their portfolio is a bit more tasteful than this showpiece, but we won't be holding our breath. If you're feeling a little masochistic today, have a look in the gallery below and the pair of videos after the jump.


[Source: Carzi]

The 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon was loaded with the usual assortment of wild and wacky tuner fare – same as always. But tucked among the cars are hidden treasures like the wee beastie shown above. Liberty Walk/LB Performance are Japanese Lamborghini tuners, and in addition to showcasing a selection of the supercars they've worked on, they also showed off a couple of ATVs they re-bodied to look like super deformed little Murcielagos. Miniaturized dimensions, big alloys, low-profile tires – this is what Power Wheels would look like if they made 'em for grown-ups and cost $20,000. Dad, can we have one? Pleeeeeeeeeeease?


[Source: Carzi]

You'd have to go to great lengths to improve on the Nissan GT-R, but judging by the number of R35s on hand at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's top tuners are making a serious attempt. One GT-R that caught our attention comes from the aftermarket firm Blitz, which ditched Godzilla's all-wheel-drive system and fitted a manual gearbox in an attempt to make the GT-R a credible contender in Japan's D1 drift series.

With the complex ATESSA-ETS setup and rear-to-front drivetrain removed, Blitz has created the first rear-wheel-drive GT-R and addressed one of the main complaints about the R35 – it's weight. While the stock seats remain (Blitz plans to fit a set of Bride buckets later on), it's nixed the air-conditioning and a number of other components, along with replacing several interior panels and the hood with carbon fiber pieces. A Hollinger sequential unit replaces the dual-clutch gearbox and a NISMO GT R34 LSD resides in the rear. The twin-turbo'd 3.8-liter V6 remains unchanged, but the exhaust has been swapped in favor of a Blitz cat-back.

In addition to a set of gauges to keep tabs on boost, oil temperature and oil pressure, Blitz fitted its own ZRR dampers at all four corners, along with a set of BRW09MAG forged magnesium wheels, sized 20x9.5-inches (+38) up front and 20x10-inches (+18) in the rear. Each is shod in super sticky Dunlop SP Sport DSST Ctt (we think 600s) rubber, with 255/40s on the front and 285/35 out back.

The Blitz GT-R is still under development, so it won't be campaigning in D1 until 2010. Not that it matters, we're just enamored by the sight of an R35 with a clutch pedal. Check out the gallery below for some shots under the Blitz GT-R's body.


[Source: Blitz, Autoblog Chinese, GTRBlog]

With the NSX successor officially cancelled, Honda tapped long-time motorsports partner Mugen to create a one-off coupe to commemorate the everyday supercar that ended production in 2005. The Mugen NSX RR is stretched to 177.95 inches (almost four inches more than the '94-05 model), and widened by 5.5 inches and features a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum body panels. A set of upgrade brakes and GT-style body kit, join a new rear wing, hood-scoop and diffusers, while the stock 3.0-liter V6 remains and is mated to a revised six-speed manual gearbox. Mugen hasn't released any power figures, but informed speculation pegs output between 350 and 380 hp.

While it's highly-doubtful that Honda or Mugen will sell the NSX RR in the States, there's a good chance that the tuning firm will acquire some low-mileage NSX-Rs in Japan to produce a limited run of the RR, similar to the NISMO R34 GT-R Z-Tune Nissan produced at the end of the Skyline's production run.

UPDATED with live images.

With the Detroit Auto Show finally winding down, we can turn our attention to the east (or west, depending on your continental perspective) to take in the motoring madness and engineering wizardry coming out of the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Each year, Japan's top tuners descend on the Makuhari Messe to show their wares to the public and press, and with over a year to develop, modify and produce components for the Mitsubishi Evolution X, Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the new darling of the aftermarket scene – the Nissan GT-R – this year's show had the potential to trump anything we've seen out of Tokyo in the last decade. By many accounts, it did, and with the help of Autoblog Chinese and some of our favorite JDM-obsessed sites, we'll be bringing you the best TAS has to offer.

Since we'll be focusing almost exclusively on the products that make you go faster and stick harder, we'll get the weird out of the way right now. Behold the NATS GT-K. Captured by our friends at LeBlogAuto, the GT-K is based on the Suzuki Cappuccino, and aside from the GT-R duds, the Kei car features a modified version of the 657cc DOHC inline-three equipped with a larger turbo and intercooler, along with a coilover suspension, upgraded brakes and a set of gloriously hideous 18-inch chrome wheels. We were able to keep our dinner down long enough to look at NATS' 911-inspired Cappuccino, at which point we grabbed the nearest trash can and heaved away. Ambition: 1. Execution: 0. More to follow. Stay tuned...

Nissan's press release on the GT-R SpecV left a lot of unanswered questions, particularly the geeky tidbits that we thrive on. So with the help of our friends at GTRBlog who were on hand for the unveiling in Japan, and a few of our super-secret sources abroad, we were able to scrounge up some of the more salient details on Nissan's upgraded Godzilla. Follow the jump to find out the inside scoop on Nissan's most super of supercars.

After nearly a year of speculation and spy shots, it's official: the Nissan GT-R SpecV has arrived. The limited edition GT-R is a subtle evolution of the super coupe that's set the world on fire after its introduction last year, and Nissan claims that it offers race car-levels of performance in a street-legal vehicle.

The body mods consist of a carbon fiber rear spoiler, grille and brake ducts, along with an exclusive Ultimate Black Opal paint job. On the inside, a set of carbon fiber Recaro buckets are fitted up front, while the rear seats have been nixed to save a few pounds. Carbon fiber also adorns the center storage box, instrument panel and replaces the majority of the interior trim.

The only substantive engine modification is a new high gear boost controller that increases the amount of compressed oxygen entering the twin-turbo'd 3.8-liter V6 to deliver more torque in mid- to high-range revs. A titanium-coated exhaust and a reworked suspension is fitted underneath, and carbon ceramic brakes hide behind 20-inch NISMO wheels that conspire to reduce unsprung mass and improve braking performance.

Sales begin in Japan at seven pre-selected dealers, with pricing set at 15,750,000 yen. There's no word on whether the GT-R SpecV will make the trek across the Pacific, but we're not holding our breath just yet.

UPDATE: 30 more images added to the gallery below.