Sunto Gun, Shizuoka prefecture. Round 9 of the 2008 SUPER GT took place at Fuji Speedway (1 lap: 4.563kms). In light rain, the CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (#12 Tsugio Matsuda/Sebastien Philippe), which started on slick tyres after qualifying in twelfth position, took the win. In the series points’ battle, the Xanavi NISMO GT-R (#23 Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer) finished 9th, netting the series’ championship title. Making its debut this year, the NISSAN GT-R took seven victories from nine rounds, and in the process won the Driver’s Championship Title.

Amidst thick clouds, 47,100 fans gathered to witness the title-deciding race. At 2:00pm, low-hanging clouds emitting sprinkles of rain made it a gamble for teams trying to make the optimal tyre choice for the start. Many teams expected conditions to deteriorate, thus choosing intermediate tyres. However, TEAM IMPUL principal Kazuyoshi Hoshino insisted on installing slicks. “I based this decision on my many years’ experience racing at Fuji. Matsuda just needed to be patient for the first five laps,” he said. Soon after the race started, the rain stopped and water drained off the circuit, as had been expected. Therefore, a lot of teams had to make several pit stops for tyre changes. By the sixth lap, Matsuda in the #12 GT-R had risen to 2nd place. Thereafter, the #39 Lexus SC430, which had been running top, was caught and passed on lap 17. Matsuda then held onto the lead, returning to the pits on lap 32 to hand the car over to Philippe. It began to rain again, and Philippe, who had returned to the track on intermediates, immediately ran in the top position. From this point, the team settled down as they were running with a gap of 30 seconds, concentrating on taking their second victory of the season after their win at the 1000-km event in August at Suzuka. From the front row, Oliveira took the start in the #24 WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R (Joao Paolo de Oliveira/Seiji Ara), but had drive train trouble after coming in for a tyre change on lap 3, immobilizing the car in the pit garage for 16 laps. On lap 20 the car returned to the race, and finished in 15th place.

Choosing to run on intermediate tyres at the start, Treluyer took charge for the first half of the race in the #23 GT-R. An aggressive drive in the unstable conditions saw him rise as high as third at one point. However, from around lap 18, tyre grip decreased and on lap 22, the car came in for new rubber and a simultaneous driver switch to Satoshi Motoyama. During his long stint, Motoyama returned to the pits for another set of tyres along the way. From that point, he saved his tyres and maintained a constant pace as he ran down the laps. During the latter half he picked up the pace a little, running in 9th place to the flag and earning points. With the 2 championship points for the position, their win in the Driver’s championship was put beyond doubt. The #23 GT-R took a resounding debut win in the opening round of the season, and then followed that up with victory in the 2nd race also. Victory in the race at Auto polis in October (Round made it three wins this season. Satoshi Motoyama returned to the champion’s circle or the first time since 2004. The MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (#22 Michael Krumm/Masataka　Yanagida) finished in 11th, while the YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R (#3 Ronnie Quintarelli/Naoki Yokomizo) ended the race 13th.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2008/_STORY/081110-01-e.html

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that sales in Japan of the all-new Life will begin on November 7, 2008. Continuing a tradition of superior comfort and utility, the new Life offers enhanced drivability and is the first minicar in Japan to include an audio system with a backup camera as standard equipment.*1 In addition, a special mobility-assistive version of Life with lift-up frontpassenger seat will go on sale December 5.

The all-new Life was developed with the concept of “daily smile technology” to achieve a level of drivability and utility customers can enjoy in their everyday lives. Based on this concept, Honda evaluated every aspect of the vehicle from the customer’s point of view to develop a minicar that will put a smile on the customer’s face every day.

Customers may select from three Life variations to express their individuality and lifestyle: the Life G-type is simple, modern and practical, the Life Diva is perky and sporty, and the Life Pastel* is refined, elegant and fashionable. With an emphasis on advanced safety technologies, the Life is also the world’s first automobile equipped with a driver-side i-SRS airbag system with continuously staged inflation, which accommodates a broad range of occupant positions and potential collision situations.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4081106All-New-Life/

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Special Mobility Assistive Vehicles, Japanese Cars

More than 16 Honda project, concept, and accessorized production vehicles are on display at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced. Specially featured in the display are a 2009 Fit equipped with MUGEN accessories, the Civic Honda Factory Performance™ (HFP™) Concept and the 2009 Ridgeline Powersports Concept.

“From cars to light trucks, Honda products have always been great platforms for customization,” said Jim Roach, senior vice president of Parts and Service for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda Genuine Accessories offer our owners the ability to personalize their vehicles while enhancing appearance, performance and functionality.”

A 2009 Fit equipped with MUGEN accessories was revealed today along with the announcement that beginning next spring, Honda will make a complete new line of MUGEN accessories available for the 2009 Fit on an a-la-carte basis through authorized Honda dealers. Available MUGEN accessories for the Fit will include: 16-inch alloy wheels, aluminum oil filler cap, front sports grille, front under spoiler, side spoiler, rear under spoiler, sports silencer, rear emblem, quick shifter, shift knob, sports pedals (MT), sports floor mats and a mirror cover. MUGEN, under license by M-TEC Co., Ltd., of Japan, has been closely associated with Honda for decades in the design and manufacture of racing and premium performance components. Further details, including pricing, will be available at a later date.

Honda also revealed a Civic Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Concept sedan that represents a new approach on performance improvement. With more consumer concern about fuel prices, future customers may want to maximize the performance of their vehicles without compromising fuel economy. Honda Access America, Honda’s accessory development company, took on that challenge. Through aerodynamic improvements to the next generation HFP body kit, super-light alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers, a lighter HFP exhaust system and an upgraded HFP suspension kit, this concept offers the possibility of improving both fuel economy and performance. In fact, a very similar package has proven its worth on the race tracks of Japan on the Civic Type R race car, which campaigned in a spec series called the Super Taikyu Series.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2008/4081104SEMA-Show/

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Honda Reveals Accessory, Japanese Cars

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation will display the Mazda MX-5 (known as the Mazda Roadster in Japan) at the “Japan Car” exhibitions to be held in London and Paris during November 2008.Intended to showcase Japanese culture and innovative Japanese design and technology to Europe, the exhibitions will focus on Japanese car design. Seven automobile manufacturers and several famous artists will contribute to the display, which will include 14 vehicles. The exhibitions will explore the concept of the vehicle in terms of “size,” “the environment” and its role as a “mobile urban cell.”

First launched in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 design features elements with a sense of harmonious beauty that has universal appeal. This was achieved on the first generation MX-5 by incorporating a traditional Japanese sense of beauty through a Noh mask design motif. This design has helped to boost the MX-5’s popularity all over the world; it currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s highest production two-seat open top sports car, with over 800,000 units built. From the first to the current third generation model, 854,554 units have been produced as of September 2008, demonstrating the global popularity of this iconic sports car.

The Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight modern sports car that offers maximum driving pleasure with eco-friendly features and the latest in safety technologies, developed under Mazda’s technology vision, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom.

Opening first in Paris at the “Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie,” the exhibition will run from November 1 through November 9, 2008, at which time it will move to the Science Museum in London for the period November 29, 2008 to April 19, 2009.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2008/200810/081031b.html

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Japanese Automobile Manufacturers

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that Honda’s cumulative worldwide motorcycle production reached the 200 million-unit milestone at the end of September 2008. Honda achieved this milestone in the 60th year since the company began motorcycle production in 1949 with the Dream D-type.

The history of Honda’s motorcycle business began with the start of mass-production of the Dream D-type in 1949. Production outside of Japan began at Honda’s motorcycle plant in Belgium in 1963, and since then Honda has been expanding its local production to many countries around the world based on Honda’s commitment to “build products close to the customer.” Honda first cultivates new markets and establishes a business foundation with motorcycles, which later serves as the foundation of automobile business. Honda currently produces motorcycles at 32 plants in 22 countries around the world. Moreover, Honda established local motorcycle R&D operations in the U.S., Germany, Italy, Thailand, China, and India dedicating its effort to develop motorcycles that meet the needs of local customers.

Honda’s annual worldwide motorcycle sales exceeded 10 million units in 2004, and 2007 sales reached 13.47 million units, a 7% increase from 2006. Honda envisions sales of more than 18 million units in 2010. Toward this end, Honda will continue offering products which fulfill the diversifying needs of customers around the world.

Source:http://world.honda.com/news/2008/c081030Motorcycle-Production-Reaches-200-million-Units/

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Honda Cumulative Global Motorcycle Exporters