When you think of annual Japanese tuning shows, the big ones like Tokyo Auto Salon or Osaka Auto Messe probably come to mind. But there is another tuning show held every year in Tokyo that is very much worthy of a look. The show is called Tuning Powers and unlike TAS, this show is geared strictly towards hardcore gearheads who are interested in seeing the latest in performance technology. At Tuning Powers you won't find any flashy VIP sedans or crazy wagons, nor will you see any campaign girls surrounded by photographers. What you will see are some of the most impressively built performance machines from all over Japan. With a select mix of domestic and imported cars of both classic and modern styles, Tuning Powers is more about the technical aspects and ingenuity of tuning than outright flashiness.
Tuning Powers actually has close relationship with the annual PRI show in the United States which is more hardcore than the glitz, glam, and celebrities seen at the SEMA show. Scale-wise, Tuning Powers is much smaller than Auto Salon and is held in two small exhibit halls at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center not far from Haneda Airport. After a quick ride down Tokyo's monorail, I arrived at the Ryutsu Center to have a look at the show. You might be thinking that the small number of cars would make this show pretty boring, but all of the cars at Tuning Powers are the type that me and I'm sure plenty of you guys love. We are talking RWB Porsches, classic cars with crazy engine swaps, Garage Saurus GT-R's and much more.
Let's have a look.
Like I said, there were plenty of tuned foreign machines on display at the show. There were BMW 3-series of all generations and all of them were tuned in different styles. Japan's Carboy and Drag Magazines both put a strong emphasis on hardcore, grassroots level tuning and many of the cars at Tuning Powers have been featured in the pages of those magazines. The silver E36 M3 with the Ray's RE30 wheels runs in the 1:07 range at Tsukuba.
Garage Saurus' famous carbon R32 GT-R was on display at the show looking better than ever. Unlike the madness at Auto Salon, the relaxed atmosphere at Tuning Powers allows show goers to get up and close and personal with cars and talk to the owners and builders. There are also special seminars led by various well known tuners who discuss new breakthroughs and other tuning related subjects.
Fighter Engineering's car is another one of those Cappucino track beasts I have been talking about recently. I have seen this car in action at Tsukuba and it goes like stink. I'm loving the use of the Weds MA86 wheels as well.
I'm not much of an expert on Mercedes, but I was digging this tuned 500E that runs high 12's in the 0-400.
I also loved this two-tone stock-bodied S13 Silvia with really mean stance. A much different look than the typical slammed drift cars with stretched tires. It also helps that the car was literally in showroom fresh condition.
This lightly tuned R35 GT-R was displayed by Pro Stock Racing. Lately Pro Stock has also been doing very well in the Z-Master race with their tuned Nismo 380RS Z. This is definitely one of Japan's up and coming tuners.
Somehow I don't think Antonio will approve of C&Y Sports tubbed AE86 drag car. Check out the six lug rear wheels wrapped in the GIANT Goodyear rubber. If you look closely you can also see the Simpson parachute mounted in the back. The rear axle on this car is from Strange in the United States.
Providing the power for those huge rear tires is this single turbine RB26 that has been wedged into the engine bay. This fully tuned RB is cranking out 900ps. Yep, a 900ps AE86. The car has been dubbed the "RB86".
And a look inside reveals the car's drag-spec tranny and all buisness cockpit.
This flat black beast is one of RWB's flagship cars and I'm sure you have seen photos of it here in the past. I have seen this car many times now, but my jaw still drops every time I lay eyes on it.
Here's a cool S14 Silvia drag car. Like many drag cars in Japan, this car has a very heavy American influence.
On the outside this car looks like any other typical UCF20 Toyota Celsior you would see parked outside a convince store or pachinko parlor in Japan.
But a look under the bonnet reveals this custom twin turbo kit. It doesn't get much cooler than a 4.0L quad cam twin turbo V8. Talk about a sleeper.
ASM brought out a couple cars including one of their Z33's and their S2000 circuit car (not to be confused with their full on time attack S2000).
Scoot's Four Rotor, custom-bodied RX7 turned heads when it debuted a few years ago and still does today. An amazing car to say the least.
More high-powered drag cars on display.
This cleanly done Z32 was one of several at the show. I still think these are one of the overlooked cars in the Japanese domestic tuning scene. Although the twin turbo V6 is harder to work with than the RB, you can't argue with the handsome styling of the Z32.
Top Fuel may be known for their work with turbocharged Hondas, but they also have this cool-looking S15 Silvia drag special.
And I think I'll finish the first half of the show coverage with this old school, blower-sticking-through-the-hood drop top Camaro drag car from the properly named "Team Beast". I want to take a cruise through Roppongi Hills in this car. It even has a number plate! God bless the USA.
I will finish up the Tuning Powers show coverage tomorrow. Stay tuned.
-Mike Garrett