The vehicles steadily digested the running-in on the first day of the latter half of the rally.

Valparaiso to La Serena Connection 245 km, SS 294 km, Connection 113 km, Total: 652 km

The second half of the Dakar 2009 has begun. The course was set to drive north from Valparaiso to La Serena, 652 km along the Pacific coast. The course was gravel and narrow and winding, and full of challenges for camions. There were some corners so sharp and narrow, which required to turn back and forth in order to go around them. Perhaps for this reason, the SS for the camions on this day was finished partway, at the 179 km CP1 (Check Point 1), shortened from original distance of 294 km. Car 2 (with Teruhito Sugawara and Seiichi Suzuki), the Hino 500 Series of Hino Team Sugawara, put up a good fight, marking 16th position in the Camion division. It became 10th overall, calculated for the accumulated time of all SS, and kept top place among vehicles with an engine displacement of less than 10 liters. Moreover, Car 1 (with Yoshimasa Sugawara and Katsumi Hamura) which strove to drive particularly prudently, came in 36th. It was also so steady that it obtained 25th overall. The next three days will be the climax stages of this rally including courses with many dunes. However, it is anticipated that the latter half of the SS will be slightly shortened tomorrow, and that the dune section will be shortened as well (this should reduce the degree of difficulty).

Yoshimasa Sugawara (Car 1 Driver) “Today’s course was dangerous for the camions, as we had to drive along mountainous roads facing the cliff. We were lucky we could drive with better visibility without dust, as the distance between the vehicles had increased. We suffered no trouble whatsoever, so the real race starts tomorrow.”

Katsumi Hamura (Car 1 Navigator) “We had no problem with navigation on the first day of the latter half of the race. As the dunes in the latter half of the SS will be difficult to drive through, it would perhaps be good if the courses were shortened.”

Teruhito Sugawara (Car 2 Driver) “It was like WRC — mountainous roads with hard surfaces. Although we allowed a fast camion which came from behind to overtake us, we actually caught up with and passed it when it was still in the sharp turn.”

Source: http://www.hino-global.com/news_release/132.html

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Hino Japanese Trucks

Buenos Aires (Argentina) - Santa Rosa de la Pampa (Argentina) Connection 196 km, SS 371 km, Connection 166 km, Total: 733 km

The race started on January 3rd, after the starting ceremony on January 2nd. The 2009 Dakar Rally, held in Argentina and Chile for the first time, has at long last started. The starting schedule of this rally is slightly different from that of the conventional Dakar Rally, as it held its starting ceremony only in Buenos Aires on January 2nd. The following day, without a “prologue run” on the 3rd, all participating vehicles sped towards Santa Rosa, the state capital of La Pampa, covering 733 km including the SS (Special Stage) of 371 km. The first SS was the section in which all vehicles could drive at highest speed over the course of the rally, as they drove over flat, unpaved roads (referred to as “piste”) across grass plains known as “pampas” covering the same area. It was a risky stage, as road surfaces were slippery due to fine dust which accumulates on the hard clay mud surfaces. Clouds of dust created by the vehicles ahead also increased the severity of driving conditions. The two Hino 500 Series vehicles of Hino Team Sugawara drove steadily through this section by keeping up a good pace with composure. Car 2 caught up with the Car 1 at a village located at the mid 180-km point. Car 2 (with Teruhito Sugawara and Seiichi Suzuki) which led from there reached the goal 18th in the Camion division, and Car 1 (with Yoshimasa Sugawara and Katsumi Hamura) completed the first day right behind, in 19th place. Although water and oil temperatures rose due to heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, the vehicles arrived safely at a bivouac in Santa Rosa before sunset, after driving the remaining 166 km connecting section.

Source: http://www.hino-global.com/news_release/123.html

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Hino Used Trucks, Japanese Vehicles

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a new limited-production Nissan GT-R SpecV model, which goes on sale at seven specially selected Nissan dealers throughout Japan on February 2, 2009. The GT-R SpecV is targeted specifically at enthusiast drivers who desire race car-level performance in a street-legal vehicle.

Developed around the multi-dimensional Nissan GT-R sports car, which was introduced just more than one year ago to universal global acclaim, the new SpecV model builds on the original’s “ultimate supercar that anyone can enjoy driving anywhere, at anytime” philosophy - taking it to an entirely new level of “oneness between man and machine.” The SpecV model includes unique body, interior and performance equipment and modifications, raising the GT-R’s unmatched performance to even higher levels.

The GT-R SpecV’s new exterior features include a carbon fiber rear spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts. The SpecV is available exclusively in Ultimate Black Opal (RP) body color. Inside, the SpecV’s unique two-seat interior (non-SpecV GT-R models also include a two-place rear seat) offers special Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats, while carbon fiber insets embellish the rear center storage box, instrument panel and other trim areas.

Performance is enhanced with a new high gear boost control device, which momentarily increases boost of the engine’s twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide a more powerful feeling of acceleration, while also allowing the engine to operate at a lower speed for improved fuel economy. Other modifications include a titanium-coated exhaust system and carbon-ceramic brakes that provide powerful stopping performance.

The GT-R SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminum wheels that were developed for this model and have been sold by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO) since September 2008. The lighter unsprung weight provided by the new wheels, together with the enhanced braking capability, an exclusive suspension and high-grip tires, combine to deliver the SpecV’s exceptional performance.

The SpecV will be sold at the following seven dealer outlets, each of which is staffed by mechanics with special GT-R SpecV training and who are knowledgeable of racing circuit driving.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_STORY/090108-01-e.html

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Nissan Sports Cars

Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) and Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (Daihatsu) announce today the nationwide launch of a seven-seater compact vehicle with three rows of seats that will be sold in Japan under the Toyota brand as the “Passo Sette”1 and under the Daihatsu brand as the “Boon Luminas”2.

The roomy, user-friendly and stylish compacts are small enough to make handling easy and big enough to accommodate seven people.  Featuring the driving-assistance features and comforts often favored by female drivers, the Passo Sette and Boon Luminas offer added flexibility for mothers with young children and help support active and exciting lifestyles.

For the Passo Sette and Boon Luminas, TMC and Daihatsu combined their product-planning know-how, with Daihatsu putting to use its extensive experience in compact vehicles to be in charge of development and production.  Daihatsu will supply the Passo Sette to TMC on an original equipment manufacturer basis.

Source: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/1225.html

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Seven Seater Compact Vehicles