Tokyo Auto Salon - Event

Studie AG displayed this Schnitzer-kitted M3 with LM-R wheels in the BBS booth (www.studie.jp, www.bbs-usa.com)

When faced by a large enemy force, it's best to have reliable intelligence about the size and strength of the opposition. This is the attitude we adopt when dealing with the deadly hordes of import fanatics who populate our streets, the show scene and even the offices in which we work.

We share our space with the team from Super Street magazine and hear them talk in hushed tones about the temple at which they worship: the Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS). It's where all the hardcore JDM tuners assemble on home territory to flex their collective muscle.

And there was plenty of muscle to flex. The show saw the first outing in modified form of the new Mitsubishi Evo X, Subaru Impreza STi and Nissan Skyline. All of these represent a real threat to European dominance of the prestige performance market, so it was imperative for us to get to know the enemy.

All three cars are a significant step forward over their predecessors, although all are visually challenging as well, raising a question over their long-term success.

For a performance perspective, we were able to drive the Evo and STI at a Yokohama tire testing session a few days later, and you can read about that elsewhere in this issue.

Striking Ericsson M480 Concept made big splash online when first seen. M3 Coupes dressed in carbon hood, trunk and front splitters, with skirts and bumpers added. Using Titan exhaust and damper kits, the cars sat low on 20x9" ET8 front and 20x10" ET18 BBS LM-R wheels with Conti rubber (www.webericsson.jp/bmw_e92-m3)

We made our first raid behind enemy lines last year (et 4/07) when Yokohama invited us to sample its tires and visit the Auto Salon. We got to repeat the insurgency this year and the good news is that while TAS was crammed with the latest Japanese performance cars, the Euros have a firm foothold. It seems nobody can resist a quality European car.

BMW was the dominant marque, although Mercedes with minimal mods were also plentiful. However, Audis were thin on the ground and VW was almost non-existent - surprising in a land where the hatchback is king, but it's possible the domestic products offer sufficient value and performance to prevent the GTI making a significant impression on the tuner market over there.

Our thanks once again to Yokohama Tires for treating us like royalty. You can read more about our fascinating trip to Japan, including the heated toilets and wine-filled hot spa, in the blogs section at www.eurotuner.com

Sleeping With The Enemy
Just when we thought we had the measure of the import infidels, a new crop of cars comes from Japan to provide new ammunition against us. Top of the list must be the new Nissan Skyline GT-R. With its 480hp twin-turbo V6, it's going to cause Porsche owners a headache. But at $70k, who wants a Nissan badge on the back?

The new Impreza STi boasts 305hp from its 2.5 liter motor and a high-tech AWD system. But at $36k and with a face only a mother could love, it'll be interesting to see how this car catches on.

The Evo X is also completely new. Its 295hp motor and AWD chassis are revised but the Evo's lost its hard edge and may again suffer from a loss of focus.

All three cars were well presented at TAS and it won't be long before we're seeing modified versions in the US, so beware.