Hinting at a possible tuner version of the new March/Micra sub-compact, Nissan has revealed a NISMO concept model at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Standing alongside similar NISMO-tuned versions of the Leaf and Juke, the March NISMO Concept gets the expected goodies.

Included in the package are lighter forged wheels and an upgraded (and lowered) suspension, not to mention a custom aero package with a rear spoiler. Inside the car gets sports seats and an upgraded steering wheel, while outside it’s coated in a pearl white paint with red highlights.

Similar packages were revealed for the Juke NISMO and Leaf NISMO which were unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in December. The Leaf NISMO is transformed into somewhat of a futuristic jellybean in the process, while the aero kit and lowered suspension make the Juke a mean looking sport-cross.

Check out all the cars below, as well as the Leaf NISMO RC race car and find AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon coverage here.

GALLERY: Nissan March, Leaf and Juke NISMO Concepts

GALLERY: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Race Car

To say there’s a strong tuner car culture for hybrids in Japan might be a bit too generous. Oh, there’s no doubt the Japanese love to modify the cars, but perhaps the term “customization” is more accurate.

At this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon there was the usual selection of Prius model with wild bodykits and big wheels. And while most take a step towards the extreme, the Lumiere Prius Hybrid Interceptor police car still looks pretty mean. At the opposite end of the we’d-drive-it spectrum is the DAD Prius v, complete with oversized wheels blinged out with Swarovski crystals.

Along with conventional Prius models, the aftermarket has expanded to include the new additions to the Prius family, like the Prius v wagon and even the smaller Prius c.

See all the cars below:

GALLERY: DAD Toyota Prius v

GALLERY: Avant Prius

GALLERY: Euro Labs Design Prius

GALLERY: Lumiere Prius Police Car

GALLERY: Tommy Kaira Prius

GALLERY: Modelista Toyota Prius c

At Japan’s annual Tokyo Auto Salon, they’d call our list of the Top 10 Worst Cars of SEMA tame. Sure we documented some atrocities during our time at North America’s largest aftermarket expo, but it’s hard to compete with a diorama of an army soldier apparently shooting baby dolls on the tonneau cover of a pink pickup truck. And have those babies been run over, or are those supposed to be tattooed?

Like you, we can’t resist gawking at a good train wreck. Just remember, once you’ve taken a look, these car’s can’t be unseen – no matter how hard you try.

GALLERY: Crazy Cars of the Tokyo Auto Salon

Seethe rest of AutoGuide’s Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage Here

Aftermarket wheel manufacturer TWS Forged obviously liked what they saw when Toyota unveiled the Nurburgring Edition Lexus LFA. Sporting a more track-oriented aerodynamic kit and a functional rear spoiler, that package (even in its shocking orange paint scheme) now looks tame compared to the modified LFA on display at the TWS booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Along with that huge spoiler out back the LFA gets a custom set of TWS wheels, as well as an ultra-aggressive rear diffuser setup to further improve aerodynamic flow over and around the supercar.

GALLERY: Lexus LFA by TWS Forged

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage here

Nissan has announced an extensive 10-car lineup for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon including everything from modified minivans to GT-R race car. Following roughly a month after the Tokyo Motor Show, the salon is in many ways Japan’s version of SEMA, giving aftermarket tuners and race shops a chance to show their wares.

In the brand’s NISMO motorsports-derived area will be four models, including the 370Z NISMO and NISMO Juke Concept, as well as a NISMO-tuned version of the Leaf EV and the Leaf NISMO RC race car. In addition, Nissan will display the Motul Autech GT-R, which won five of eight races in last season’s Super GT series, where the S Road MOLA GT-R team captured both the team and driver’s titles

In-house tuning brand Autech will show off three modified vans, including a custom NV350 Caravan Rider, the Serena Rider Performance Spec Black Line and the Elgrand Rider High-performance Spec Black Line – a wild looking version of what we call the Nissan Quest.

GALLERY: Nissan’s Tokyo Auto Salon Models

After taking the championship in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge street tuner challenge this year, Kia is announcing further commitments to the world of motorsports.

In addition to the 2012 Rio B-Spec racer, built by Kia Racing and Kinetic Motorsports, Kia has unveiled an Optima Hybrid pace car for the United States Touring Car Championship. The Optima, built by GoGoGear.com, actually replaces the modified Soul that severed last year.

It may be a hybrid, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring, already deliver over 200-hp in stock form the car gets a Magnaflow exhaust system and air intake kit. So it’s not sloppy when out on parade laps the car also gets a coilover suspension, and looks the part with a new aero kit (including front splitter and rear spoiler), plus the usual light bars. And no SEMA car would be a SEMA car without an over-the-top 2400-watt Infintiy audio system.

Look for the Optima Hybrid Safety Car to first hit the track at the USTCC in March of 2012.

GALLERY: Kia Optima Hybrid USTCC Safety Car

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show coverage here.

Along with the debut of a new B-Spec budget race car, Kia is looking to showcase its updated 2012 Soul at the 2011 SEMA Show.

In total, the Korean automaker will display six sports-themed vehicles. The first of the group has already been teased (above) and is a colorful creation inspired by pro golfer Michelle Wie – whom Kia has used before in its ads. In addition, Kia has announced a second of the six cars will be themed around NBA star Blake Griffin. As for what that car will look like, and the remaining four vehicles, we’ll have to wait for SEMA to find out.

Look for full coverage on AutoGuide’s 2011 SEMA Show coverage page here, starting November 1st.

While most of the cars at the SEMA Show are built to be over-the-top displays of horsepower and gaudiness Hyundai is preparing to showcase at least one of its new Veloster models that takes a different approach.

Make no mistake, the car created by marketing agency PM Lifestyle and the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) will display a full suite of modifications, but it’s designed to be representative of what the average tuner could do with his or her car. The message is clear: Hyundai is betting the Veloster will be a hit with the tuner crowd and with auto enthusiasts and is working to showcase just how attractive a platform it can be.

Far more than just IHE (Intake, Header, Exhaust), the ‘Versatile Veloster’ will get a Sequence-X body kit, Konig wheels and plenty of Seibon carbon fiber goodies, including the hood and trunk, with a custom blue paint job covering the rest of the car. Performance upgrades include an AEM Cold Air Intake, Magnaflow exhaust and a custom header, while KW was contracted for a full coilover suspension and SSBC is supplying the brakes. Making an expected 163-hp (up from in the stock car), there’s also a Nitrous Express system for some added power.

On display at the 2011 SEMA Show from November 1-4, the PM Lifestyle ‘Versatile’ Veloster will then go on a three-year show tour with UTI, making appearances at 120 autocross, supercross and demonstration events.

Get a full rundown of the modifications after the jump and see AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show preview here:

Discuss this story at Veloster.org

Mechanically, PM Lifestyle plans to customize the following:

Ÿ  AEM Cold Air Intake

Ÿ  Autometer Phantom Nitrous Pressure and Air/Fuel Ratio Gauges

Ÿ  Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator

Ÿ  B&M Hi-Tek Oil Cooler Fan

Ÿ  B&M Launch Control Unit

Ÿ  Chasebays Engine Ground Kit

Ÿ  KW Full Coilover Suspension

Ÿ  Magnaflow Exhaust

Ÿ  Magnaflow Hi-Flow Racing Catalytic Converter

Ÿ  Flex-A-Lite Radiator/Racing Thermostat

Ÿ  Nitrous Express Piranha and Purge Systems

Ÿ  Nitrous Express Automatic Bottle Heater

Ÿ  Royal Purple Fluids

Ÿ  SSBC Big Brake Kit

Ÿ  SPEC Clutch

Ÿ  Custom Racing Header and Chassis Brace

Ÿ  Optima Battery – 8022-091 75/25 Dual Terminal

Ÿ  Konig Deception Wheels (18×8)

Ÿ  Continental Extreme Contact DW Tires

Interior modifications include:

Ÿ  Cipher Auto Peanut Butter Leather Seats

Ÿ  Infinite Auto Design Peanut Butter Leather Center Console and Rear Seats

Ÿ  Infinite Auto Design Custom Suede A-Pillars and Headliner

Ÿ  Custom Snap-On Tool Storage Unit in Rear

Ÿ  Custom Harness Bar

Ÿ  Kicker 10-inch Solo Subwoofer

Kicker 400-watt Class D Amplifier

Ÿ  Kicker Audio Door Speakers

Ÿ  Kicker PES19C Substation Enclosure

Ÿ  Panasonic Toughbook

Ÿ  Status Seat Belt Harnesses

PM Lifestyle will also make exterior enhacements to the Veloster, including:

Ÿ  D-BASF Custom Paint Mix

Ÿ  GReddy Carbon Fiber Hood Dampers

Ÿ  Hyundai Genesis LED Door Mirrors

Ÿ  Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood

Ÿ  Seibon Carbon Fiber Trunk

Ÿ  Seibon Carbon Fiber Lower Rear Diffuser

Ÿ  Sequence-X Body Kit

Ÿ  V-LEDS HID Fog Light Kit

Ÿ  V-LEDS Complete LED Light Conversion

The SEMA Show is sneaking up on us again and one of the first vehicles we’re learning about is the ARK Performance Hyundai Veloster.

Set to be unveiled at the Korean automaker’s stand at the annual aftermarket expo and built by ARK Performance, the rally-car styled Veloster will get some massively flared fenders and a custom interior – with the obligatory blinged-out audio system like no one told them it’s not 1998. Perhaps more exciting is a twin-scroll turbocharger under the hood helping the Veloster make 210-hp. While not breathtaking performance, it’s a solid hint at the amount of power a rumored factory Veloster Turbo could make. Sadly, this isn’t a production engine, but a custom turbo setup.

This latest show car marks the third time Hyundai and ARK Performance have teamed up for SEMA, with a Genesis Coupe on display last year and a Tiburon before that.

GALLERY: ARK Performance Hyundai Veloster

Discuss this story at Veloster.org and read AutoGuode’s 2012 Hyundai Veloster review here

See after the jump for a full list of the car’s planned modifications:

Mechanical components ARK plans to customize include:

-  ARK Turbo Charger and Intercooler System

-  ARK Intercooler Piping System

-  ARK Custom Oil Cooler

-  ARK Turbo Manifold

-  ARK Lightweight Pulley System

-  ARK Six-Pot Big Brake Kit

-  ARK Eight-Point Chromoly Rally Style Roll Cage

-  ARK DTP Track Coilover System

-  ARK Upper Strut and Front and Rear Sway Bar

-  ARK Camber and Control Arms

-  ARK GRIP Dual Exhaust

-  ARK RSEPC Downpipes and Test Pipes

Interior enhancements include:

-  JPM Coachworks Custom OEM Seats with Alcantara Interior

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Alcantara Shift Boot

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Alcantara Dashboard

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Alcantara Headliner

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Alcantara Doors and Visors

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Floor Mats

-  JPM Coachworks Custom Alcantara Audio Finish

-  Image Dynamics Q450.4 Amplifiers

-  Image Dynamics Q600.1 Amplifiers

-  Image Dynamics XS65 Component Speakers

-  Image Dynamics ID10D4 Subwoofers

-  ARK Racing Pedals

-  DSG Performance / Password JDM Shift Knob

-  DSG Performance / SUN Automotive Eco

-  DSG Performance / SUN Hyper Voltage System GT

-  DSG Performance / SUN Automotive Gauss System

-  DSG Performance / SUN Automotive Hot Inazma Pocket

-  DSG Performance / SUN Automotive Hyper Ground System

-  Jason Noren Fabrications Custom Rally Cage

-  Adam Perry Custom Audio Setup

ARK Performance will also make moderate exterior modifications to the Veloster, including:

-  ARK CFX Designs Front Lip

-  ARK CFX Designs Side Skirt

-  ARK CFX Designs Rear Bumper

-  ARK SFX Designs Wide Front and Rear Fenders

-  ARK CFX Designs Grille

-  ARK SFX Rear Wing Mount

-  OneEighty Custom Headlights

-  OneEighty Custom Taillights

-  OneEighty Custom Fog Lamps

-  Rally Armor Custom Veloster Mud Flaps

-  Rally Armor Custom Veloster Mounts

-  DSG Performance / Password JDM Chromoly Lug Nuts

-  Yokohama Advan RZ Gunmetal x5

-  Nitto NT05 x5

-  Beyond Autobody Custom Paint and Finish

The much maligned styling of the Nissan Juke is in many ways overcome by its impressive driving characteristics. Still not convinced? Then perhaps the Nissan GT-R powered ‘Super Juke’ will help change your mind.

Under development by Nissan Europe, the car will use the very same twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine as Godzilla, making around 480-hp. With a stripped down interior this wildly modified machine should be able to hot 60 mph in less than 4.0 seconds. Who needs a Bentley-powered VW Golf anyway?

Look for the car to sport flared fenders, a new front splitter, rear diffuser and some upgraded wheels, tires and brakes.

Built as a one-off project, the car is expected to debut before year’s end. We just hope it makes its way across the pond for SEMA.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Nissan Juke Review

The World Time Attack Challenge, held at Australia’s Eastern Creek International Raceway near Sydney, has attracted a deep field of local and international competitors including top American teams Sierra Sierra Enterprises and their Mitsubishi Evo 8 and Factor X Motorsports Development and their awesome Acura NSX.

It may be an easier commute for the Japanese tuners, but it’s no less impressive that world-class Time Attack machines like the Sun Cyber Evo, Tomei/Cusco Subaru Impreza STI, and both the PanSpeed and R-Magic FD Mazda RX-7s will also be in attendance at Eastern Creek this weekend.

Hoping to put home field advantage to good use are top Australian teams Hi-Octane Racing and their stunning R34 Nissan GT-R, APC Racing’s Evo 8 MR, and Notaras and their lightweight 590-hp Mitsubishi Evo.

With an intriguing mix of the best Time Attack teams and drivers in the world, all vying for the title of World Time Attack Challenge champion, we’ll be following the action this weekend very closely and will report back on Monday with a full account of all the on-track action. In the meantime, wet your Time Attack whistle after the jump with a video of Mark Berry piloting Australian favorite Hi-Octane Racing’s GT-R around Eastern Creek in preparation for the WTAC.

[Source: World Time Attack Challenge]

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Racing legends Peter Brock and John Morton will fly their famous #46 red, white, and blue pattern on a classic Japanese roadster once again. But rather than on the Datsuns that made this livery so renowned, it will be on the most popular roadster ever sold or raced, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The car will fly the BRE colors next weekend as part of Round 2 of the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup at Road Atlanta.

After the decision was made to honor Peter Brock of BRE at the upcoming 2010 Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta, one of the biggest vintage racing weekends of the year on the east coast, Mazda sketched up a BRE graphics package for the MX-5 and then got Morton and Brock onboard.  With 2010 being the 40th anniversary of Morton’s SCCA C Production (CP) Championship at Road Atlanta in a BRE prepared racecar and his racing career including more than a few race wins with Mazda, the connection was strong.

As Peter Brock stated, “It’s been some 37 years since a factory supported car in BRE livery sat on a racing grid.  Seeing the new MX-5 in our traditional colors almost brings tears to my eyes. It’s wonderful that Mazda, a company that really loves, understands and supports racing of all kinds, has seen fit to honor our team’s great racing history with this new spirit of competition”

According to John Morton, “This Walter Mitty weekend is very special for me because it is bringing together so many facets that were significant in my racing career.  First is the reunion and recognition of our championship winning BRE team that Peter Brock developed in the late sixties and that led me to two SCCA National Championships and two 2.5 Trans-Am Championships in the early seventies.  Second is the opportunity Mazda has given me to race in a professional race in my sixth decade of competition.  Twenty-six years ago I shared the BFG-sponsored, class winning Mazda Lola at Le Mans which was the beginning of a long relationship with both companies.  The Mazda Miata MX-5 I will be racing at the Mitty, the only real modern sports car in mass production, is a reincarnation of the cars that started this sport in America in the late forties.”

Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Mazda North American Operations, added, “Mazda is a team of enthusiasts.  Long before we began working behind the scenes for Mazda, we were race fans.  We love the sport and the heritage.  This opportunity to pay tribute to Pete, John, and the BRE team is something we did out of respect, with knowledge that there are others like us who appreciate the blending of heritage and modern sport.”

Mazda unveiled the BRE MX-5 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in the Mothers Polish display within the fan expo.  If you are a fan of BRE, we recommend you pack your best 70′s wardrobe and get yourself to Road Atlanta on April 29th thru May 2nd.

[source: Mazda]