Nagoya Exciting Car Showdown - Japan

When it comes to shows in Japan, nothing attracts a bigger turnout than the Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS). New product releases and high-profile show cars litter the halls of the Makuhari Messe Exhibition Center as people from around the world flock to check out what's new for the year. But those searching for a little more - how shall we put it - focus, should probably be looking to hit the Nagoya Exciting Car Showdown (NECS). It might be low profile compared to TAS, but the tantalizing selection of cars on display will be enough to make most enthusiasts weak at the knees. Now in its third year, the NECS is a gathering organized by none other than Daijiro Inada himself, the man behind TAS, D1 and the Option magazine family of publications. Inada's idea was to create more of a get together of friends in the tuning industry to help smaller shops scattered throughout Japan show their best creations. The event is strictly invitation only, with Inada-san hand picking the 300 or so cars that will be put on display under the Nagoya Port Messe dome. High-profile shows like TAS may have shifted toward the show-car side of the spectrum, with the emphasis being put on looks rather than oily bits, but we can rest assured that all is still well in the land of the hashiriya!

This Abflug JZA70 Supra is primarily used as a show car, but also has an impressive series of modifications to go with its looks. Revolfe took care of transplanting the 2JZ and 6-speed box from the JZA80 and getting slightly more power, 460 hp, from a few choice modifications.
This Abflug JZA70 Supra is primarily used as a show car, but also has an impressive series
SS Works are the masters of all things front-wheel drive, and this CR-X is its most prized creation. The B16A powering it has been stroked to 1,850cc and breathes through FCR motorcycle carburetors, which allow it to develop 230 hp at 8100 rpm.
SS Works are the masters of all things front-wheel drive, and this CR-X is its most prized
This Pit-Crew JZX100 Chaser was voted one of the top 10 best cars of the show, thanks to its striking gold-leaf exterior.
This Pit-Crew JZX100 Chaser was voted one of the top 10 best cars of the show, thanks to i

Seamlessly integrated LED blinkers for side mirrors from G-corporation.
This S130 Fairlady Z by Active Automobile was sporting a very catchy black-on-orange motif with its aesthetics altered by a few custom-made parts like the front bumper and rear hatch. The latter dramatically alters the look of the Z by getting rid of the stock glass and giving it a midengine feel, thanks to the low-set louvered section.
This S130 Fairlady Z by Active Automobile was sporting a very catchy black-on-orange motif
This is - or rather, was - a legendary and respected car in the world of Japanese drifting. Built by motorFIX, it started life as a KE70 Corolla sedan but was turned into a wagon with a bit of ingenuity, cutting and welding. Its rusted-out and almost rat-rod-like exterior is joined by a blacktop 20-valve 4AG under the hood. Unfortunately, the car was rolled at the Spring Drift Matsuri in Ebisu a few weeks after the show and has been deemed totaled.
This is - or rather, was - a legendary and respected car in the world of Japanese drifting

Who said matte black is dead? From Ziek Power comes this 500hp grip-oriented S15 Silvia wearing full C-West Aero and black Work Emotion 11R wheels for that mean black-on-black look.
Who said matte black is dead? From Ziek Power comes this 500hp grip-oriented S15 Silvia we
It might not be pretty, but it sure is different. On top of the full Abflug kit, this GT-R has a remapped the ECU and an OS Giken rear LSD to help handle the extra power through the corners.
It might not be pretty, but it sure is different. On top of the full Abflug kit, this GT-R
Forget pink, maybe this is Yashio Factory's new color scheme for the future! Okamura might be getting a little bored with the whole drifting thing, so he has recently built up this GRB STI Impreza pushing power to 400 hp, thanks to an HKS GT2835 turbine kit. We particularly liked the satin black 19-inch Yokohama RS-D wheels.
Forget pink, maybe this is Yashio Factory's new color scheme for the future! Okamura might

It may sport one of the nicest bodykits ever to be created for the RPS13, but this GP Sports demo car had nothing impressive to show under the bonnet.
It may sport one of the nicest bodykits ever to be created for the RPS13, but this GP Spor
The famous "Yamamoto Roadster" is a drift-spec NA6 that is owned by one of the writers at Drift Tengoku magazine, aka Doriten.
The famous "Yamamoto Roadster" is a drift-spec NA6 that is owned by one of the writers at

D1 driver Ken Nomura, aka Nomuken, is the man responsible for this astonishing engine swap. He wanted to give a Ferrari feel to his URAS S13 demo car, so he got rid of the SR20 and dropped in a 5.0-liter V-12 from a Toyota Century! It's apparently easy to drift, but admittedly a little front heavy.
D1 driver Ken Nomura, aka Nomuken, is the man responsible for this astonishing engine swap
How about this for an unusual track car. This Nissan Stagea has been completely stripped out and fitted with a lightly tuned RB26DETT by the Osaka-based garage Final Motion. With 450 hp on tap, the owner of this carbon-Kevlar-bodied wagon can have a great time out on track.
How about this for an unusual track car. This Nissan Stagea has been completely stripped o
Dangun Racing teamed up with ST Garage to create this matte-black and carbon JDM Civic Type-R. The exterior is actually wrapped in 3M vinyl.
Dangun Racing teamed up with ST Garage to create this matte-black and carbon JDM Civic Typ

Leg Sport really did a great job transforming the looks of its RX-8 demo car because of its GT-A Club Sport widebody kit. The Weds Sport SA-55M wheels are also a great match.
Leg Sport really did a great job transforming the looks of its RX-8 demo car because of it
A naturally aspirated 2JZ might not be big news, but this particular unit is fitted in the engine bay of a KGC10 Hakosuka. It develops a rather unimpressive 230 hp in its stock form.
A naturally aspirated 2JZ might not be big news, but this particular unit is fitted in the
These are the kind of cars that make the NECS so exciting. Not only is this Civic running an F20C engine from an S2000, it has been converted into RWD and into a proper drift machine.
These are the kind of cars that make the NECS so exciting. Not only is this Civic running

PAC took home one of the ten "Best of Show" awards, thanks to its extensive aesthetic modifications. The front fenders are styled to mimic the ones used on the GT1 FIA GT R35 race cars.
PAC took home one of the ten "Best of Show" awards, thanks to its extensive aesthetic modi
Possibly the cleanest AE86 engine bay in existence, by drift shop Looking.

Wacky Mate showed up with this 600hp R32 Skyline GT-R. The simple lines of the R32 were highlighted with a series of subtle Varis carbon aero parts, not to mention the massive GT-wing.
Wacky Mate showed up with this 600hp R32 Skyline GT-R. The simple lines of the R32 were hi