The biennial Tokyo Auto Salon will feature a number of firsts from Mazda and many other carmakers, including a new range of 'Circuit Trial' track-ready concepts. The Tokyo show will be running in opposition to the similarly-timed Detroit Auto Show, explaining Mazda's absence from the U.S. exhibition.
Mazda's overall theme for the Tokyo show will be the rather ornate 'Driving-oriented environmental technologies for endless driving pleasure'. The Circuit Trial cars, including the RX-8, Demio (Mazda2) and Atenza (Mazda6), will certainly land further toward the 'endless driving pleasure' end of the spectrum.
Only concepts so far, the Circuit Trial cars combine what Mazdaspeed's tuners call "everyday driving comfort" with the right equipment for a fun and fast day at the track. The primary upgrades are M'z Custom (Mazda's Japanese tuning arm) aerodynamic parts, Recaro bucket seats, larger alloy wheels and sticky Yokohama tires.
No other information on the trio of track stars has yet emerged, but the photo of the RX-8 Circuit Trial (pictured) reveals as range of stickers plastered along the side sill, including: Advan, the brand-name of one of Yokohama's highest-performance tire lines; 5Zigen, a prominent aftermarket parts company, known for exhausts and accessories in addition to wheels; Espelir, known primarily for exhaust system elements and coil springs; Endless, a well-known racing brake manufacturer; and Kreuzer Series V, the name of the wheels on the RX-8 Circuit Trial Concept.
Exactly how the balance of parts will play out in the final cars will have to wait until the show, which runs from January 9-11, 2009. Whatever the final configuration, however, it's clear that Mazda is putting together a range of cars with more than superficial modifications.
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