Shock Mounting Kit-strut-mate Rear Monroe 901951 on 2040-parts.com

Tokyo motor shows: past, present and future

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 20 August 2009 09:30 As bets in this topsy-turvy, unpredictable industry go, it’s a banker: of all the motor shows on the global calendar, the Tokyo exhibit is always the barmiest. Although the Chinese shows are rising in importance – and amusement value –  there’s something peculiarly bonkers about the biannual Japanese bash held in downtown Tokyo. So strange is the exhibition at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City to westerners, that you don’t bat an eyelid at talking cars, vehicles with feelings, or cars designed for dogs.

BMW M3 set to compete in DTM from 2012

It might have pulled out of F1, but the upshot is that BMW has announced plans to enter the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in 2012 with the M3, plus it’s developing a new racer and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, and will continue its other production car-based racing activities. ‘Following the withdrawal from Formula One, the realignment of our motorsport programme is raising our presence in production car racing to a whole new level,’ said BMW board member Dr. Klaus Draeger.

Nissan to build sporty crossover in the UK

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 03 June 2008 10:33 Nissan has announced it will build an all-new car in the UK from 2010, and released a sketch to whet our appetites. The model is an addition to Nissan’s current range and is described as an ‘innovative all-new compact car’. The new car is expected to be a crossover model, with Nissan previously having stated it wishes to expand its line-up beyond Qashqai, Qashqai+2 and the forthcoming Murano.