Tokyo Motor Show
Press days are underway at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show. This is what we’re seeing so far. Lexus premiered the "LS+ Concept". Their "Highway Teammate" allows automated driving from the time you enter a highway to the exit ramp. They expect it to be on the road in 2020.
Toyota is revealing the Fine-Comfort Ride concept. The fuel cell vehicle runs on electric power using hydrogen as an energy source. Toyota says the range is 621 miles, and refueling takes about three minutes.
We’re also seeing the latest additions to the "TOYOTA Concept-i" series. Along with the model revealed in January, they’re adding the smaller two seater Concept-i RIDE. There’s also a scooter type called Concept-i WALK. They all use artificial intelligence to work with the driver.
After weeks of teasing, we’re finally seeing the MITSUBISHI e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT. The all-electric concept includes an onboard Artificial Intelligence Personal Assistant. Three motors propel the 4WD system, one up front and two in the rear.
We’ll have updates throughout the day, so stay connected to motorweek.org
Porsche 911 GT3 Manthey Kit Coming Stateside
May 25, 2023The Porsche 911 GT3 is already one of the most track-focused sports cars on sale; but, for those who want to extract even more out of their machine, Manthey-Racing is now offering their performance kit to American GT3 owners. This kit allows the Type-992 911 GT3 to lap Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack 4.19 seconds faster than a stock GT3– all without voiding the car’s existing warranty.
Shaving a few seconds off your lap will come at a cost– $57,300 for the base kit, to be exact, tacked onto the $170,000 or so for a base GT3.
The package contains several aerodynamic modifications, the most major of which are found in the rear. Riding atop the swan-neck supports is a wider rear wing with a Gurney flap and Manthey-branded endplates. The rear diffuser fins have also been extended, now made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The same material is used to craft the aerodiscs mounted on the rear wheels. The front sees a little love, too, incorporating a larger spoiler lip and side flaps.
The aero treatment, while a standout feature, isn’t the entire picture. Manthey saw fit to mount four-way adjustable coilover suspension jointly developed with Porsche. It can be adjusted without the use of tools, and has increased spring rates of 10% in the front and 7% in the rear, intended to improve handling. Included with the kit are braided steel brake lines, though racing brake pads can also be optionally fitted. Speaking of optional, those flashy wheels are not standard equipment either. These lightweight forged wheels reduce unsprung mass by about 16 pounds total, costing a cool $15,500 on top of the kit’s base price.
For prospective buyers who want to see and even feel the difference for themselves, Porsche will be offering comparisons of GT3s with and without the Manthey kit at their Experience Center test tracks in Atlanta and LA. The performance gains are certainly there, but for some buyers, exclusivity alone may be enough to sell it.