Vintage 1960's Nos Hurst Mastershift 3 Speed Shifter Kit on 2040-parts.com

Tokyo Auto Salon pits performance autos against hybrids

The world's other big January auto show, the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, opened its doors to tuner enthusiasts in mid-month with a record 402 exhibitors. The Auto Salon fuses numerous styles, but the overriding theme this year was hybrid cars, with customized Toyota Priuses and Honda Insights at every turn. Good old-fashioned engine tuning is alive and well in Japan, where even new sports cars are being heavily modified, with cars such as the KRL Mitsubishi Evolution X and the HKS Nissan GT-R both boasting in excess of 600 hp.

MAZDA5 RESIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS 'BEST KEPT SECRET'

A NEW diesel version of the Mazda5 MPV has stormed onto the market with the best residuals in its class. Used car valuation expert CAP has described the 1.6-litre diesel model as a "best kept secret" and has predicted that the Sport model will retain 32 per cent of its value after three-years and 60,000-miles. The TS2 model also performs extremely well, with a 31 per cent retained value predicted.

Who's Where: Sangyup Lee to join VW Advanced Design

Sangyup Lee, designer of the acclaimed Chevrolet Camaro, has recently resigned from General Motors to accept a position as Chief Designer of Exterior at the Volkswagen/Audi Advanced studio in California. Lee is scheduled to begin work mid-January 2010, reporting to Jens Manske who was appointed  Executive Director earlier this year. His role is to inspire a newly merged Volkswagen and Audi design staff in the Santa Monica studio.  Mr.