The Fast & Furious Franchise: Why It’s So Great

I love the Fast & Furious franchise. Yes, they’re supremely campy and about as realistic as spotting Bigfoot in the wild, but for most car guys of my generation, they occupy a special place in our nostalgic, petrol-filled hearts. The Fast and The Furious the first time that I was properly exposed to “tuning culture”. Sure I was reading Import Tuner, Super Street and had a loose understanding of modification, but I was only in 8th grade and a long way from owning my own car. The Fast and The Furious made owning an exciting car a realistic possibility for all of us. The characters in the film weren’t driving Ferraris and Porsches, they were driving Hondas and Nissans. They were cars you’d see on a daily basis and it made the dream of owning something flashy, loud and (potentially) fast, attainable.

6 films later and the franchise is still going strong. Fast Five was the highest grossing and in my opinion, the best film of the series. I only see the sequel doing better. A 60 second teaser aired during the Super Bowl and the following day, there was a 3 minute extended trailer online. Judging by the footage, Fast & Furious 6 looks to be another 2 hours of car porn coupled with the most unrealistic plot imaginable. I think it looks fantastic.

The Fast & Furious franchise doesn’t care about winning awards or pleasing critics. It’s only goal is to have as much fun as possible. With ticket prices bordering the obscene, there are few ways to get better value for your money at the theater. One of the reasons the franchise is so successful is because it sticks to a recipe that works: exciting cars, attractive women and plenty of action. The Fast & Furious films aren’t concerned with our perception of reality or even with their own. The character Han died in Tokyo Drift, yet he’s still part of Toretto’s crew 7 years later. If director Justin Lin wants to bring a character back, he just does it. Who cares if their return makes no sense within the context of the film. You get the vibe that most of the cast are friends with each other and hanging out for 3 months on set is just as important as doing another film. Think Ocean’s Eleven.

Fast & Furious 6 is to Hollywood what drifting is to motor sports. They’re both about showing off and doing so in the loudest, flashiest way possible. Once we understand what the films are trying to achieve, we accept them for what they are. Once that happens it all begins to make much more sense. A decent plot is just icing on the cake.

There will be plenty of naysayers and I’m sure many of you reading this completely disagree with my argument. The thing us though, you’re all going to see it, regardless of how much you hate the franchise. There are plenty of bad films out there. Many of us choose to avoid them, but the Fast & Furious franchise is unique in the fact that we still pay our hard earned dollars to see the films, even if they look awful. We get nostalgic about them and yearn to journey back to that alternate reality, were everyone is good looking, drives a fast car and doesn’t have to pass a smog test. As an audience, we know beforehand we’re not about to whiteness cinematic excellence, but we see them nonetheless because we know we’ll be entertained. See the funny thing about entertainment is that it can be good, even great, but it’s never bad. That’s what these films are all about.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2013

It’s early Monday morning in Japan and this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon has officially come to an end. Here’s a sampling of all the rest of the cars present at Makuhari Messe.

As always Nissan had a very big presence at this year’s show. While the GT-R remains the king, Silvas and Skylines have not been forgotten.

TAS needs more builds like this fantastic 180SX from SPIRIT Rei.

It’s hard to go wrong with a white R32 on Advans. Funny enough it’s the simple builds that stand out most at TAS.

Phoenix’s Power had the GT-R well represented at the show including this lime green example on BBS LMs.

Next door to Phoenix’s Power was Top Secret. They also showed up with a few different GT-Rs as well as their Rocket Bunny kitted 86.

This year could be the biggest ever turnout for imports, both European and American at TAS. Ferrari had a large presence as did Porsche and BMW amongst others.

The Ferrari F40 was given a very nice display this year. The Japanese have always been obsessed with European cars and as exotics get older and become cheaper, we’re going to see a lot more tuners working with them.

Despite strong showings from Nissan and Toyota, Mitsubishi didn’t fare as well in 2013. The Evo X is now 5 years old and it’s beginning to show. It’s disappointing to see a car which once littered the show floor at TAS, suffer the same fate as its Subaru rival. With Mitsuibshi moving towards EV production, the CZ4A may be the last of the great tuner cars from the brand.

Varis continues to dominate the market. I’m disappointed that Voltex never created their own Evo X wide body kit to compete.

Unsurprisingly, Toyotas dominated the show in 2013. The 86 is the new darling of the Japanese tuning industry, massively overshadowing its sibling the BRZ.

A JZX100 with strange lights inside of the wheels. This was a trend seen on a number of cars at TAS.

Original Runduce was present with their 86 demo car kitted in Varis aero. This car just looks so good and is probably my favorite 86.

After all these years, the Mazda RX-7 continues to be one of the very best looking Japanese cars.

Last but not least there’s Subaru. As with every year, I was disappointed in the turnout for Imprezas. While the STi fights to remain relevant, the tuning industry seems to be moving on. I blame Subaru for not giving the car the AYC and extra 30-50 horsepower it so deserves.

D Language came out with a very large booth featuring their STi, Evo and 86 demo cars.

Blitz was also on hand with a GVB STi showing off some of their latest electronics and performance parts, including this 6-pot brake kit.

Despite filing for bankruptcy in 2012, Zero/Sports was on hand with a GVB STi. They’re hardly the dominant force they once were at TAS.

I’ll end with this truly awesome looking wide body GVB STi from Varis. This kit has kind of gone under the radar with all the attention on the 86.

That about does it for TAS coverage on A Class. If anything else exciting comes my way, I’ll be sure to post it. Overall I’m disappointed by this year’s show. There’s a real lack of variety right now in the Japanese tuning industry. I suppose it’s been a long time coming. With major players like Honda, Mitsubishi and Mazda failing to produce exciting cars like they once did, the industry has been forced to rely on Nissan and Toyota. Subaru can be happy with their role in the 86 and their own BRZ but as the Impreza continues to get heavier and slower, we may see another great fall by the wayside. On the bright side, the amazing reception the 86 has gotten has shown other manufacturers what’s possible. Hopefully in the next few years we’ll see more of the affordable, fun cars the Japanese automotive industry so desperately needs.

Photos courtesy of GTNET.

Blitz BRZ At TAS

I’m thinking of turning A Class into an 86 & GT-R blog because they’re about all that’s worth posting from Tokyo Auto Salon this year.

Apparently Blitz has mistakenly thought they’ve become part of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

I’m sorry but this car just isn’t working. The wheels don’t look right, the vinyl wrap is hideous and what’s up with that aero?

I’m having difficulty with TAS this year. Granted, my entire window into the show is from a computer at home, but I can’t help but be disappointed. I’ve spent the better part of the weekend checking out dozens of blogs and Japanese automotive websites and there’s just not a whole lot to talk about. If anything TAS is (worryingly) reminding me of another car show which will not be named. Have you ever seen so many badly modified exotics, European imports and American cars at TAS? I sure haven’t.

I’ll keep digging around the Internet to see what else is out there, but things are looking pretty sparse.

Photos courtesy of CarWatch.

JUN GT-R At TAS

JUN’s been a big name at Tokyo Auto Salon for over a decade now. They’ve always got something up their sleeves and this year is no exception.

Yes folks, another BenSopra kitted GT-R has come among us. It’s been no secret on A Class that I absolute despise this kit in every way. Don’t take that out of context however. I have loads of respect for Miura-san and everything he’s been doing in the tuning industry lately.

Like Top Secret, JUN was always known to produce their own aero parts. They made what is probably my all time favorite bumper for the GDA Impreza. Yet in 2013 we’re seeing less of a variety of products from these shops. Maybe it’s a return to doing what they’re truly good at and in the case of JUN, it’s all about power.

They offer any number of options and different levels of tuning for the GT-R’s VR38. This is an example of the same 4L motor that’s in their demo car.

Regardless of BenSopra kits and Top Secret making less original parts, it’s really good to see how many shops are still working with the GT-R. This car’s been around for 5 years now and the following is just as strong, if not more so. It’s popularity in the tuning industry gives Nissan another reason to keep making it, which is something many have questioned in 2012.

Photos courtesy of CarWatch.

Top Fuel At TAS

I’m having one hell of a time finding any sort of Impreza presence at Tokyo Auto Salon. People must have forgotten about the STi in the midst of all this 86 & BRZ chaos. I’m also doing my best not to repost the same cars you’ve been looking at all day long.

Top Fuel showed up with a few demo cars this year including this 86.

Black cars have really been appealing to me lately, with the 86 being no exception.

While it’s hard to see on a black car, I could do without the INGS aero for which I’ve never been a fan. I’m sure this car will be fully kitted in Voltex once they get their aero finished sometime this year. The Advan RS-IIs however are working very nicely.

The car’s been dubbed the 0-1000 Type RR something or other and I’m not quite sure why. With the supercharger kit, it’s putting out 250 horsepower which is good for an 86 but hardly a monster.

Top Fuel also brought out their S2000 Time Attack car which will be in Australia at the WTCC later this year.

Leave it to Voltex for producing pure insanity! It’s a shame they’re no longer part of Team Cyber…

The engine’s been boosted to over 700 horsepower. That’ll do just fine!

What’s so interesting this year is just how much the tuning industry is changing. So many of the big players have faded into the background. Maybe it’s the move to more eco-mentalist motoring or maybe it’s the fact that the Japanese automotive industry just isn’t as exciting as it was 5-10 years ago. The golden era of turbocharged street monsters seems to be giving way to a more eclectic range of small displacement cars built for handling and a resurgence of vintage motoring. Granted I’m hardly in a position to summarize a show I haven’t even attended, but the landscape (even from abroad) is certainly changing. Whether for better or for worse, I’m not too sure…

Photos courtesy of CarWatch.

Top Secret 86 At TAS

Lets be honest, we haven’t heard or seen much from Top Secret lately. The once premier tuning shop in Japan has fallen off in recent years. There are a number of factors for this, including bad financial decisions and an even worse Japanese economy, but that’s a story for another day. I’m encouraged to see Top Secret rolling out their own 86 demo car at Tokyo Auto Salon.

Last year the tuning world had their love affair with Nakai-san and RWB. However this year’s “it man” is undoubtably Miura-san from Rocket Bunny. His FR-S demo car made news for the second half of 2012 and to look around TAS in 2013, he doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Even Top Secret, longtime purveyors of their aero kits have elected to suit their 86 in Rocket Bunny.

The infamous black and Olympic gold is always a welcome site at TAS.

For many it was the bonkers, low mounted rear wing that gave the Rocket Bunny kit its unique look. It still looks pretty decent without the wing. Maybe Top Secret eventually plans to go a different route with this build?

Under the hood it’s Top Secret business as usual. The car’s been boosted with a turbo kit from Greddy. I’m not sure of the power output but it’s surely no slouch. This could also be the shop’s first demo car with a boxer engine!

Up front, more business as usual with an AP Racing brake kit and Enkei wheels.

Things are looking very good for the 86 and BRZ in 2013. Hopefully we’ll be seeing that long rumored STi version of the BRZ at this time next year! More to come!

Photos courtesy of CarWatch.

Kansai Service 86 & BRZ At TAS

One of the things that’s so fantastic about the 86/BRZ is the car’s versatility when it comes to tuning. For those looking for moderate power with an emphasis on handling, there are limitless options out there. On the other side of the coin, those in search of high power output are getting treated to more and more options with superchargers and turbos. The car was always intended to be an everyman’s sports car and it hasn’t disappointed. I always look forward to seeing what Kansai Service are up to at Tokyo Auto Salon. This year they’ve unveiled both an 86 and a BRZ with varying levels of tuning.

Kansai Service cars are never over the top in terms of exterior styling and always serve as nice examples of street tuning.

Their 86 is fitted with the usual allotment of HKS, Advan and in house parts.

Under the hood is an HKS supercharger kit which should be perfect for some extra power on the street. It makes sense as the car has been dubbed the “86 Super Tourer”.

Parked next to the Toyota is the Subaru BRZ.

While relatively simple, this is easily one of the best looking BRZs I’ve seen yet. Kansai Service have a way with injecting just enough aggressiveness into the looks of their cars. Those Advan RS-IIs where made for this chassis.

The rear quarter angle gets even better. I believe the carbon wing is their own design and it looks fantastic!

Under the hood things have been left mostly stock with an HKS intake pipe being the only addition. It provides a nice contrast to the 86, as some may be looking to retain the car’s naturally aspirated power plant.

A couple very clean builds from Kansai Service and certainly no shortage of 86s and BRZs at Tokyo Auto Salon. More to come!

Photos courtesy of CarWatch.

Back In Action?

What’s the deal with the Cyber Evo? The iconic car was retired last year after being the undisputed Time Attack king. However, we were all thrown a curve ball when a wildly different looking Evo IX was seen at the World Time Attack Challenge earlier this summer.

The car bore the name but resembled little else from its original performance and appearance.

At Tokyo Auto Salon Team Cyber announced a new partnership with C-West and their Cyber GT-R project. But what about Voltex? Surely Team Cyber wouldn’t part ways with the aero parts designer that made them famous? Their lack of involvement in the “new” car seems very strange.

Maybe I’m creating a story where there is none, but I’m genuinely interested in what happened. If I know anything about Japanese tuning shops it’s that they’re hardly how they appear on the surface and there’s always some kind of drama going on.

Throwback Thursdays: X30 Chaser

Is there a more versatile car, than the Toyota sedan? It is as much beloved as it is loathed by so many. Here in the states, it would be nearly impossible, not to see a Camry out and about. Fortunately, we’re not talking about watered down, ex-pat Toyotas; we’re talking about quite possibly, the most important Toyota sedan of all, the Chaser.

The Toyota Chaser was introduced in 1977, as a competitor to the Nissan Skyline. It was an every man’s car, offering the Japanese an attainable, luxury sports sedan.

It came as both a coupe and a sedan, powered by economic 4 and 6-cylinder engines.

While the X30′s following may not be as prominent as the Celica 2000GT or the Hakosuka, it’s still a unique looking platform, with plenty of potential. The round headlamps fit the front end perfectly, as do the gaping grill and fender mirrors.  It’s a relatively simple looking car, almost generic from the certain angles. But while other Japanese cars of the time, were mimicking American muscle styling, the Chaser remained Japanese. Painted black, you could even call it a noble.

The long, sweeping body lines have been carried through the line, since the days of the X30.

While most will immediately recognize the Skyline, as the most important Japanese car, it’s hard not to include the Chaser, as part of the conversation. Especially from a tuning perspective, the car has done it all. It’s been a drifter, competed in time attack and circuit racing, even had a steady foot in the VIP scene, before there was a VIP scene. It was the original car that was “too big” to slide and that made it beloved by the drifters. There are few sites more pleasurable, in the sport, than seeing a massive, JZX100 going sideways.

So there you have it, the X30 Chaser. Cetainly not the most popular, but one of the most interesting and definitely a classic.

Fresh Out Of Ideas

What the hell is going on with the tuning scene in Japan lately? I used to look forward to Exciting Car Showdown. It was kind of the more obnoxious, rural cousin of Tokyo Auto Salon. This year it looks like something from a HIN wet dream.

Japan has always set the benchmark for where the tuning world is headed; lately, I’m not so sure anymore. Tokyo Auto Salon was good this year and luckily I’m a fan of the GT-R, because that’s all that was there. But aside from the GT-R, where is Japan at? I get that the younger generation aren’t into cars anymore; they’d rather overcrowd the cities and hang out with their virtual friends. So the scene has been left in the hands of the older generation. Don’t get me wrong either, I think it’s brilliant the founding fathers, are still heavily involved in the industry, but it’s also keeping it (in many ways) from evolving.

Rather than continuing to innovate and steering things in a different direction, people have run out of ideas. Instead, they’ve resorted to building cars that are so unspeakably awful, it’s as if we’re backtracking to the late 90′s.

Lets talk about this car, which is ugly as shit on a carpet. Who likes this? Who’s trying to drive this? Yeah I heard they drove it all the way down from Tokyo, but look at those rear fenders! Christ, look at the rear tires! Besides the Hypebeast reporter standing behind the car, who’s actually digging this style?

The cars we see at shows, built by shops and privateers, serve as the scene’s inspiration. They give us a glimpse as to where things are headed. It’s like going to a tradeshow, to see what all your favorite t-shirt companies “brands” are previewing for the upcoming seasons. That way you’ll be first in line at Surpreme, for that Kate Moss drop.

The point is, I’ve been seeing a lot of these “builds” coming out of Japan lately and it’s kind of alarming.

HIN Pomona right here. Tribal vinyl, the classic Santa Ana swag.

There seemed to be a tend in cars, that had either been ruined or unfinished at Exciting Car.

No. I don’t want my 180SX to look like a Desert Storm tank. What was wrong with the car before someone attacked it with a spray can?

If the Tommy Kaira kit wasn’t enough to completely ruin you new GT-R, consider hitting up Axel Auto Corporation, for this steez.

Maybe I’m being too hard on Exciting Car Showdown? It’s not really their fault, they just plan the show. I think this is part of that bigger problem of being fresh out of ideas. Where’s that old JDM attention to detail; that endless pursuit for quality? Christ, even Ray’s can’t design a wheel that looks better than the CE28N, and those have been around since the Jurassic period. Varis’s wide body kit for the GRB STi? I can’t help but think they could’ve tried harder and made it look even better. They are Varis after all.

Outsourced manufacturing, Chinese knockoffs, a shitty Japanese economy and an ever-emerging scene in the US, are all factors as to why Japan doesn’t appear to be the benchmark lately. Over the last year, I’ve been more excited about the cars I’m seeing in the US, Australia and especially Canada.

Ultimately, this a small selection of cars I didn’t care for. Maybe you do care for these cars and that’s fine. Overall, there are still lots of good things coming out of Japan (90% of anything GT-R related, Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86, RWB, anything from Advan and Enkei, etc.) I just can’t help but be frustrated because I know they can do better. Then again, maybe I just like complaining…

Photos courtesy of Minkara.