Top 6 Japanese Tuners: #1 Power House Amuse

Power the House with Electricity

Well the final one is here Amuse was my final pick for the top six (according to me). Everything that this company represents, I find that it follows what needs to be molded into a car or the mechanics behind it. The styling, quality, and passion that is concentrated put in their work exceeds my expectations. This legendary tuning company of Japan started around the 1990’s with the brains of the late Hideki Tanabe behind it. Tanabe-sama brought a revolution in Japan on how cars should be tuned and the quality needed to obtain this vision. Its very tragic that he had to leave us at such a early age.

They have a wide variety of ECU products and high quality Titanium exhausts that look superb as well as Dry carbon hoods and body kits. I was very surprised that U.S. based company’s still don’t have much knowledge on Amuse besides the infamous Carbon R GTR. Tanabe-sama was only mentioned higher trafficed websites such as theREALJDM, GarageMeister and Farm of Minds. Surprisingly no one else has written an article about them that has surfaced like tuners such as HKS or RE-Amemiya. I’m not quite sure why, because I have heard nothing but good stories about this company yet nothing really stands out here in the states. As far as I know, their U.S. tuning company shut down a while back about the same time Best Motoring decided to fall out. Its seems that sponsorship and popularity just haven’t hit U.S. tuner interests that much to sustain these companies or maybe too many replicas out there. Whatever the case tuners such as Amuse and HKS have closed branches in the U.S. based on financial and interest on product orders.

Whatever the case the company is still breathing in Japan with Tanabe-sama’s wife giving it all she can. They also have a sub group called Ericsson that tunes Euro sports cars, just like Tommy Kaira does. I can’t get enough of their cars, they are amazing. So Thank You, Tanabe-sama and I hope your wife keeps doing her best to keep this company in the headlines.

Pretty 2012

#5 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

So pretty

The v12 Vantage is one of my favorite cars in the world with another can from Aston Martin as well that will be on this list as well. Its shape, style, and powerful engine make it look like a sleeper Aston Martin–if thats even possible–driving on the street. Everything about this car is remarkable and I’m glad Aston Martin reshaped their brand to bring back cars we always loved. I’m not a big fan of roadsters, except for the S2000 and other select few cars; but I can live with the V12 Vantage it looks good.

Engine: v12 -5935cc DOHC frontmid longitudinal

Power&Torque: 510 bhp/ 420 ft.lbs

0-60: 4.4 sec

Top Speed: 190 mph

Price: $~195,000

Check out these sounds!

Top 6 Japanese Tuners: Respected List

The ones I feel bad for not having on the list, I know some of you guys might also give me sh*t about some on the list lol. Get ready for number one!

Greddy

Ings

VeilSide

Fujita

MCR

HKS

Ben Sopra (more of a new company though)

Top 6 Japanese Tuners: #2 Mine’s

Simple, Beautiful, & Fast

That is the philosophy of Mine’s

Michizo Niikura opened the doors of his beloved company around 1985, to establish this philosophy of building daily street cars with the ability to be used on the track as well. I honestly believe their cars are works of art. So simple yet unique; their modifications aren’t too over the top yet they excel for the purpose they were built for. Niikura-san is a very confident man in his products, but is not quick to boast on the quality and achievement of his vehicles, he instead wants the driver to feel that experience. My favorite build from them is the BNR34, such a quick and agile machine that isn’t too heavily tuned that you can’t drive it every day.

I enjoy seeing these cars on videos such as best motoring as well as on gaming platforms like GT5. It seems that they focus more on what parts are restricting the production model of the car and build from there. I know that might seem trivial but most tuners also change the exterior dramatically to achieve this where Mine’s doesn’t focus on the exterior until internal components are accomplished. Its very important to understand how to improve the quality and power of the car, without having to remove/modify most of its components in order for it to be compatible on the street.

Seriously check these guys out, they provide simple upgrades to your ride producing outstanding performance. Although the upgrades might set you back, it will be worth the investment for you to build a quality ride with quality parts that won’t cause major damage to your engine.

Pretty 2012

#6 Gemballa GT McLaren MP4-12c

adding aggression

This was the dose of medicine that McLaren’s new super car needed. In all honesty the F1 looked perfect and performed well, as for its brother it has everything you would expect from McLaren, but greatly lacked in individuality. A perfect example was during a cars and coffee event; myself and other car enthusiasts didn’t even notice the McLaren besides the LFA–which was flooded with attention–until the owner started its engine and left. I felt sad cause I like the car, but knew why I didn’t even notice it was there! The name even lacks identity. Anyways Gemballa tries to revive it with this new 2012 package they offer; includes new aero-kit, outer and exterior accessories. Also look out for the spider edition, it looks much better. Oh and one last thing, I’m glad Gemballa got revived as well I always loved them!

Engine: V8 Twin Turbo

Power & Torque: 608BHP/ 442.5 ft*lbs

0-60: 2.9

Top Speed: 205 mph

Price: $241,800 (kit~30,000k+)

Next Lesson: Engine Types

The next lesson will pick up with the various engine types we have around. From I4 to V8’s and from rotarys to boxers!

Top 6 Japanese Tuners: #3 Top Secret

Nagata-san

Smoookkeeeyyyyy, one of a few names in the auto industry that I like to hear about, but a guy that I would think twice before getting in a car with him.

Top Secret was started by Kazuhiko “Smokey” Nagata in……..yes its really hard to find this answer, but I came up with a solution. Smokey seems to be a very soft spoken man and gets right to the point when talking about the work he does. His love for cars started while working at a family farm, then continued on when he began working for Greddy/Trust. Bear with me I’m getting to the point; he began spending time during after hours in the Greddy shop building up his car as well as parts for it. This almost ended when top executives found this out, but to his surprise they admired his work and what he had been doing for the company and ultimately deciding to keep this between the two parties. A few years later he opens his shop named Top Secret, due to the fact he gained his knowledge on building cars by the executives of Greddy keeping a secret between themselves. So to the point; Greddy was established around 1977, so most likely Nagata would have ended his work with Greddy around 1988-1992 (I believe he was born in 1963), so when he was 25-28!

I’m not going to keep giving out my opinions as if I know everything about they guy, but what I do know is that I love his style. Like his companys name it seems to me that’s exactly what kind of man he is, very secretive, not quick to answer, and very calm. Top Secret is a company that knows what they build is outstanding, but they don’t talk about why it is they let you see, feel, and hear this statement. Even the very few replicas out there cannot keep up with the brands standard, this being the reason why there are barely any replications of Top Secret products. I find them highly respectable in the products they offer and its disappointing that there isn’t that much information out there on the history of such a wonderful company. Maybe this is the way they want it, to only show their work to people who find the time to visit the workshop or hunt down Smokey as he travels testing out his insane car builds.

The cars they build are high power machines that can be used on the street, as you have probably seen the insane videos of Smokey with his 1000HP machines. He was also inspired by Amemiya-San so check them out, I like them.

Rotary Engine Power

Check out Isami Amemiya towards the end!

Top 6 Japanese Tuners: #4 Spoon

Giving Honda Fans a place to go

Here we go, Spoon Motorsports I swear all these tuner companys that I know and have grown to respect started out with Gran Turismo. In the case for spoon it was the well known yellow and blue S2000, which has been further improved as the company’s R&D team keeps doing more work on it. Spoon along with Mugen (more of a honda in house brand) help bring multiple tuning upgrades for Honda owners. Whether it may be the CR-X, Civic, or Accord these two tuning companies bring out the capability and potential of the VTEC engines.

Ichishima Tatsuru started the company in 1988, with a concept of bringing together cars with impeccable technology and power, but also being able to be driven during daily activities. The superb thing about this company are the products they offer for their customers. I can’t think of many company’s that offer engines that have been built as an item for sale, usually they will build from the platform you bring to them, but a personally built engine for sale is beyond me. At around 2000-2001, Spoon decided to open up Type One auto shop to help tune their customers cars and assist them with their everyday needs–only Honda customers–instead of just offering products made by them.
Tatsuru-san is a very confident man on what his brand stands for and the quality of the products. Watching the Hot Version and Import Bible episodes, you can tell he has a very cocky attitude about his company. At first I didn’t like the attitude he carried around, but then warmed up to it because its important to have someone who is confident on what they produce and accept criticism to some degree. So check out Spoon Sports, :p.