Tag Archives: Japan

Mazda3 And CX-30 Get Mild Updates In Japan Including New Special Editions

After the Mazda CX-3 Super Edgy, the automaker announced a series of special trim levels of the Mazda3 and the CX-30 in Japan, alongside small updates on the e-SkyActiv X motor.

Those include tweaking the intake port and exhaust silencer of the gasoline engine to produce a richer sound for spicing up the driving experience during acceleration. Additionally, engineers have updated the gas pedal feel for a greater “sense of unity with the car”. As a refresher, the e-SkyActiv X is a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 183 hp (137 kW / 186 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque.

Read Also: Mazda3 And CX-30 Updated In Australia With MX-30’s Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

In terms of the new trim levels, the Smart Edition is available for models equipped with the e-Skyactiv X engine. It brings more comfort and safety equipment including an active driving display, smart brake support, high beam control system, lane keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Meanwhile the Black Tone Edition, which is available for all powertrain variants of both models, is visually differentiated by the black 18-inch aluminum wheels, the gloss-black mirrors, and the red stitching inside the cabin.

Read Also: We Drive The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo, A Luxurious Performance Crossover For The Masses

The pictured Mazda CX-30 Black Tone Edition is fitted with optional aero components including the bumper and side-sill extensions.

Following the example of the more recent CX-30, all Mazda3 models get a new dimming turn signal which, according to Mazda, gives “a sense of life” in the car. Last but not least, the Platinum Quartz Metallic is a new color option for the Mazda3 and the CX-30, while the Polymetal Gray Metallic is added to the palette of the Mazda3 Sedan.

Orders for the mildly updated Mazda3 and CX-30 are open in Japan as of today, with vehicles arriving in dealerships in late November.

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Modellista Unveils Eye-Catching Parts For The Toyota Corolla Cross

Modellista has introduced a number of accessories for the Toyota Corolla Cross that’s available in Japan.

Two different kits are available, the Aero Parts Set and the Cool Shine Kit. Of the two, the Aero Parts Set is the more striking and perfect for Corolla Cross owners who want to make a statement, while the Cool Shine Kit is slightly more restrained.

Found at the front of the Aero Parts Set is a unique front spoiler that easily affixes to the bumper of the crossover, giving it a muscular new shape. At the sides there are body-colored wheel arches and beefed-up rocker panels, while spats have been added to the rear bumper.

Read More: Toyota Launches 2022 Corolla Cross In Japan With Different Styling And Hybrid AWD Option

Meanwhile, Modellista’s Cool Shine Kit for the Corolla Cross includes a unique chrome garnish on the front grille, side vents, tailgate, wing mirrors, and door handles.

A number of individual parts are also available. For example, Modellista offers 17-inch wheels with black and silver spokes and 18-inch wheels with slightly more complex spokes. The crossover can also be equipped with an upgraded JBL audio system, a carbon-like film on the recessed part of the door handle to prevent scratches, a two-way cushion/tote bag, scuff plates, new license plate bolts, an LED tailgate light, and LED door lights.

All Modellista parts will be available from Toyota dealerships across Japan; at this point, it is unknown if they will be offered in other markets as well.

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Lamborghini Urus Completes A 4,000-Mile Trip Across Japan

Even though it caused some fuss when it was launched three years ago, the Urus is Lamborghini’s best-selling vehicle, so they celebrated it by setting two examples loose across Japan in an epic road trip.

The journey started on April 26 in Fukoka and ended on May 23, after 17 different stages, in Tokyo. During the trip, the super SUVs passed through some jaw-dropping scenery and had their pictures taken in different locations, including the Pacific Long Beach, Urashima Flower Park and Great Seto Bridge.

Also Watch: Is The Lamborghini Urus Still The Best Performance SUV On The Market?

“The project communicated the beauty, dynamism and other charms of Japan while demonstrating the absolute versatility of the Urus: the first Super Sport Utility Vehicle in the world to merge the soul of a super sports car with the functionality of an SUV”, Lamborghini said. “As the quintessential representation of freedom, the Urus enables drivers to unlock any road to explore any terrain, from track to sand, ice, gravel or rocks.”

In all, the route was more than 6,500 km (~4,000 miles) long and posed no threat to the two SUVs, one of which was finished in Blu Astraeus and the other in Giallo Inti Pearl Capsule. Customized by the brand’s Centro Stile department, they pack a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 650 PS (641 HP / 478 kW) and 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) of torque. The nought to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint takes 3.6 seconds, according to the Italian automaker, and top speed is 306 km/h (190 mph).

The Urus will receive its mid-cycle refresh presumably early next year. The facelift will bring the usual design revisions and a rumored EVO track-focused version that should be lighter and more powerful. A hybrid variant is also on the cards, allegedly with over 800 HP.

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What Just Happened Here? Minivan Is Suddenly Tossed Into The Air In Japan

A scary dashcam footage has emerged out of Japan that shows a white minivan being propelled off the pavement while driving through a ferocious storm.

According to the description of the video posted on Twitter, the incident happened close to Gifu Park in the town of Gifu, near the city of Nagoya. It shows a white minivan making a right-hand turn when a sudden gush of water fills the screen and the rear end of the vehicle is lifted high off the ground.

Watch Also: Seconds From Disaster – Flying Reliant Robin Plummets To The Ground

When watching the video for the first time, we were left truly stunned at what we had seen, unable to explain why the minivan was lifted off the ground the way it was. It’s as if it was pulled into the air by a piece of string. However, a bit of digging on social media posts about the video might explain what happened here.

One possible answer is that the storm drain running under the road likely became flooded, leading to a build-up of pressure and water. It appears all this air and water escaped from a manhole cover just before the minivan started to make the right-hand turn. It looks to have then driven directly over the hole and been blown upwards from all the air pressure.

Making the incident all the more weird is the fact that, just as the minivan is lifted off the ground, a ladder flies up out of the manhole cover before falling to the pavement.