So we’re at Mitsubishi’s LA Auto Show press conference. And MMC President, Osamu Masuko starts in about the all-new 2010 Outlander GT. And we start checking our Facebook (oooh, someone liked our status and a friend of ours is taking a road trip. Hmmm, maybe we can tag along).

Suddenly this shot of a Lawson Mart flashes on the screen and visions of CC Lemon, Pocari Sweat and onigiri dance in our heads. But is that chica charging an i-MiEV at Lawson Mart? Sho nuff. It seems Mitsubishi has sold some 800 examples of the quirky little EV since it went on sale in Japan last summer. Mitsubishi also plans to have an EV on sale in North America in as early as 2011. As part of the promotional push the automaker will lease four JDM-spec i-MiEVs to Best Buy as part of it’s Geek Squad fleet (note to the nerd herd: watch those left hand turns!). There are more i-MiEV images as well as other big news from Mitsubishi after the jump.

In addition to the iMiEV Masuko-san spoke of the PX-MiEV, which will probably be the next-gen Outlander. The PX concept first bowed at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and it’s a range-extender hybrid.

While all this was happening Autoblog’s Jonny Lieberman was actually working as a journalist (as opposed to the ones we play on TV) and he got the scoop that Mitsubishi is planning to bring the JDM Colt stateside. Looks like small is the new big as the Colt will join this micro class along with the Fiesta, Fit, Mazda2, Versa and Yaris to name more than a few. In the meantime peep these shots of that crazy i-MiEV.

Aaaah, the allure of the garage sale and its free-spirited sister, the yard sale. Such expeditions normally involve a bit of work to unearth the really good finds such as the finest costume jewelry, a master collection of Meg Ryan films or even a ceramic Chihuahua adorned with a comically oversized sombrero. But what’s that in the corner? Is that a PRofec Type-S boost controller?! Well, it is if you get your sweet fanny to the upcoming GReddy
Garage Sale.

This is an annual affair where the JDMest tuner of them all opens it’s So Cal-based North American HQ doors to the public. Among the available treasures are one-of-a-kind R&D parts, hard-to-find JDM pieces and open box items all for insane Crazy Larry, everything-must-go deals. There will also be raffles as well as GReddy’s gorgeous project cars on display. Hit the jump to get more info and to see a video from last year’s GReddy Performance Festival (think performance enhanced garage sale).

This video was produced by those kinks at RiceBoyTV. While that host looks shady to us it should give you an idea how GReddy does garage sales right. If you want to score extra special exclusives on GReddy’s gear at this year’s Garage Sale you can follow their Tweets here. It all goes down on Saturday, December 12th with two bonus Friday Tent Sales on December 11th and 18th. We’ll be there trying to talk the GReddy guys down on an RB26 T88 single-turbo upgrade. After which we’ll only need to find a deal on an R34.

I’ve been on the road a lot lately visiting some amazing people in some equally amazing places. Just this month I’ve jumped from Las Vegas to Dubai to Bahrain to San Francisco with a day or two spurts home in Los Angeles in between travels. Next up I’m off to Arizona, and then Japan (pre-Auto Salon and then again for TAS of course!). I apologize for the lack of my personal posts lately, the traveling has made it impossible to keep my regular blogging pace. I’m going to make it up to you, I promise! Continue reading at the Real JDM.

I had been up all night, late into the morning, searching for the cheapest tickets to Japan. Where in Japan? Narita Airport. With the trip already planned, and all the stops laid out, I just knew I had to get started planning where I was going to go next. I had a lot of stops to make if I wanted to please the CarDomain crew. The trip was planned for January 15th, after the holidays. I had been looking for tickets within my budget for before that, but to no avail…

Originally I had made the plans for personal reasons, and although this is still true, I’ve decided that now is the best time to do some good photos and reports on some great places in Japan. With a brand new Panasonic Lumix in hand, and a heck of a lot of cash to spare, I think I’m set. After all, I had neglected to grab some photos the last time I went to Tokyo, so this time, it’s payback time.

The stops? Rauh Welt, Top Secret, RE Amemiya, Zele International, and a few private dealers. Of course I have to do some sightseeing, and I’ll be reporting every once in a while on the interesting cars I see driving around. In the meantime, here’s your chance to throw out some more ideas on good shops I should visit!

Thanks to all the participants in the “Guess the JDM Minivan” posting here on CarDomain. We do have a winner, and its noname666, who happened to guess it almost when the posting went live. So much for the experts here at SEMA! Continue reading after the jump!

Any way, I did an interview with the creator of this one-of-a-kind custom (I say one-of-a-kind, because unlike Japan, there are virtually no JDM Minivans available in the US). Introducing Mr. Shin Okamoto from AirRunner Suspension Systems. Mr. Okamoto was kind enough to give a presentation of his van, and his product at the DUB Booth.

This is a follow-up to our What is this JDM Minivan post earlier. Introducing Mr. Shin Okamoto from AirRunner Suspension, and the Toyota Vellfire.

I have been having a real hard time trying to identify the JDM Minivan that has been displayed in the DUB Booth since Monday. I have asked the (real) booth professionals with no luck. I left a phone message with the Air Runner Systems distributor in Anaheim to no avail. I even threw out the question to other Bloggers here at SEMA. So now its time to throw out the question to our readers. Identify this wild custom JDM van, and win some CarDomain Swag. Read more after the Jump!

This car is the very definition of SEMA. It has the aforementioned Air Runner suspension system, over-sized wheel and tire package, and a couple of unique features. Notice the finish; This thing has every body panel covered in red vinyl, grained like the vinyl roofs offered during the 70’s. Instead of vinyl graphics proclaiming who’s products lie within the car, it is actually embroidered on the vinyl. And what is with those red headlamps?

Here’s what you do. Post a comment below, not more than three comments from each member. By the time I get back to Connecticut, I will know what it is, so you won’t get away with wild ass guesses.

ASI Japan has released this image of what their Prius aerodynamics package will look. According to ASI, this is the confirmed final version of the design. In other news, ASI has launched a sub brand called ASI Green to release this Prius kit. More at The Real JDM

There has been some buzz about this car ever since the rendering came out. After looking at the above picture, I think you can understand why the buzz is so strong. This car is hot!

So the deal is that Original Runduce came to Varis with a collaboration idea on this upcoming demo car. Since the Varis full bumper (pictured) is offered in two pieces already, this project is relatively simple to produce. The standard Varis aero kit is retained and an original Runduce front diffuser is added to the Varis bumper to create an aggressive new look (reminiscent to the R35 GT-R Amuse front diffuser).

This topic plays nicely into the conversation we were having recently on this blog about the Voltex 3pc prototype bumper for the S2000. The idea of mixing and matching bumper/diffuser options is always a nice thing. In the case of this Original Runduce car they take it a step further by offering two different looks/functions by two different brands that are both designed on the same base bumper design in collaboration. Top Secret and Ings did this same very thing with the G35 Coupe, with Ings+1 producing the full kit and Top Secret making a front bumper designed to go with the Ings+1 kit for those who wanted more sporty design and function.

On another related side note, we’ve been doing the same thing with the R35 GT-R which features a two piece front bumper from the factory. Since bumper replacements like Zele utilize the stock front diffuser (if desired), we’ve done combinations for customers such as the Zele front bumper and the Amuse front diffuser. We’ve even taken that further and added an Esprit front intercooler duct to the Zele bumper with the Amuse diffuser. Mixing and matching can be creatively fun and multi piece bumpers definitely help to make it easier.

Below you can see the Varis Demo car. How about that Runduce car with the Varis twin canards on it!? I think that would look perfect!

There is one thing about Japan that you’ve just got to love. No matter how many tuning shops and modified cars there are out there, finding something very special and most importantly of all, different, is not as hard as some may think. It all comes down to a need to be unique and stand out from the crowd, something that becomes very evident if you spend a little time in Japan. This need to be different is precisely what drove the owner of the exceptionally clean JZX80 you see here to go out and create something very special, a car that would satisfy his personal tastes and objectives without following any preset guidelines. From the outside it might just look like your regular twin-turbo powered JZA80 Supra, spiced up with some nice touches like these TRD Sports T3 5-spoke wheels. But one turn of the ignition key is all that’s needed to reveal that there is something a little strange going on under the hood. Continue reading at Speedhunters

By Dino Dalle Carbonare

What makes a classic car? Is it a pre-war Bugatti, a ’57 Chevy, ’32 Ford or perhaps anything slathered in British Racing Green and stuffed with a rat’s nest of Lucas electronics? But what about our automotive brethren across the Pac Rim, from the island nation most known for the Camry and Accord? There’s some deep history here such as Honda’s S600, Toyota’s 2000GT, Mazda’s Cosmo or this – Nissan’s OG “Hakosuka” Skyline spotted at the Japanese Classic Car Show held on Saturday, October 3 at Irvine, California’s Hidden Valley Park. This was the fifth anniversary of the show, which is open to any pre-1985 Japanese car. This particular PGC-10 is a 1971 model owned by Mickey Castillo. JDM urban legend says that of the handful of C-10 Skylines in the States only a few are authentic GT-R models. I really don’t care if Mickey’s car is an R because it’s chock full of sick Sonny Chiba style. Hit the jump to see more tasty morsels from JCCS.

This incredible 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster is owned by Eric Straw and was created by Oregon’s Spriso Motorsports perhaps the preeminent Roadster resto shop in North America. This was a frame-off, acid dipped, bare metal restoration and the 16×7 Watanabe RS-8 wheels and red Lotus Elise seats just feel right on the car as for some unknown reason does the Acura Championship White paint.

But the biggest treat on this Roadster lay under hood. That pristine lump, my friends, is an SR20DET from a S13. This swap also happens to be a Spriso specialty. The T25 ball bearing turbo hangs on a custom exhaust manifold. I would say this build was unparalleled until…

I stumbled upon this 1600 Roadster sitting next to it. Another Spriso build, owned by James Standridge and this one is a 1967 ¼ (hey I’m just going by the spec sheet).

Another SR20DET. This one from an S15. The custom exhaust manifold supports a top mount turbo and this drivetrain flexes a six-speed transmission, which required a modified crossmember.

The crew at Spriso must love Watanabes as much as SR motors. Another set of RS-8s sized 16×7 front with a 25mm offset and 16×7.5 with a +6mm offset out back. The Spriso front brake conversion is a nice touch.

Within old school circles Tod Kaneko and his 1972 240Z need no introduction. Tod also has an orange 1973 510 coupe to match his Z car. The 510 has a street ported 13B and Tod has been known to time attack it with his nephew, Billy Johnson, who is becoming quite the motorsports stud in his own right.

Check the wheels. Super rare Chevlon Sports, 17×8 front and 17×9 rear. And yes, those are Porsche calipers peeking beneath the spokes. Tod upgraded the brakes on his 993 and he figured, why let the factory binders go to waste. Ziel Motorsports fabbed up the custom brackets.

The biggest treat on Tod’s Z is the L28 engine. The carbon fiber intake manifold is particularly tasty as are the TWM 42mm individual throttle bodies. Since Tod is a former engineer at Garrett this explains the Garrett prototype HKS GT3540 ball-bearing turbo. If you want to learn more about Tod’s Z as well as his 510 check out this Turbo Magazine feature.

Jojo Rumbaoa’s 1969 Corolla Sprinter is stunning with the 13×7 Compomotive three-piece wheels sitting flush on the flares.

According to the dyno sheet the hyper 2TG laid down 210hp @ 8400rpm and 140 lb-ft @6300rpm on a Mustang dynamometer. The motor has been stroked and now features a stratospheric 13.5:1 compression ratio with a ported, polished and Extrude Honed head, dual Weber 48s and TRD 320 cams.

The 1967 2000GT was Toyota’s first foray into the sports car segment. Even today the car is still stunning. Only 337 2000GTs were produced and of those only 54 vehicles made it to North America. The 6 cylinder DOHC mill threw down 150hp and the car’s $7,230 base price would be 46 Gs in today’s money provided you can find one for this price! I would so rock a 2000GT over a new Three Series (and I’m Persian!).

Check out the perfect body work on John-Paul Dagsaan’s 1970 510 . Gorgeous. I believe the wheels are from Fikse.

And here’s the motivation: a KA24DE. I like the smoothed engine bay and pinstriped firewall and classic HKS magic mushroom filter.

We’ll leave you with this TE37 Corolla. We’re not sure if this one was the best or worst thing at JCCS. The wheels are all wrong as are the Home Depot fender flares but discerning eyes may have spotted the custom dual (?!) exhaust and proper fuel cell under the boot. Our video producer, Chad Bang Shift Reynolds was using a tripod but he said this Corolla was not worthy of such polish – a statement expressed in the most endearing way.

Here’s another reason why this TE37 is eight pounds of awesome in a six pound sack. Pictured is one of Ford’s SVT superchargers but that is no mod motor underneath. This Ford blower was mated to a 1UZ-FE V8 via a custom manifold. This Corolla’s got Jungle Fever!

Obviously this build is still very much a work-in-progress and purists probably decry such a monstrosity but this is just one of the things we love about the Japanese Classic Car Show. We’ll also be posting a StreetFire.net original content video feature on the show in a few days. Stay tuned, Classic lovers.