Toyota Goes 'Initial E' With These Electric AE86s

[Hypedrive] January 19, 2024 Weekly Digest 🔋 Toyota Gazoo Racing Unveils AE86 Restomod Pair at Tokyo Auto Salon TLDR: Blending both innovation and nostalgia at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled a pair of AE86 Corolla restomods — one powered by electricity and the other by hydrogen.⁠Why It Matters: The first of the duo, the AE86 H2 Concept, is a venture into hydrogen power. Drawing on experience from Toyota‘s participation in Japan’s Super Taikyu racing series with a hydrogen-powered car, the AE86 H2 Concept is designed to retain the sensory experience of an internal combustion engine. The AE86 BEV Concept represents Toyota’s foray into battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This concept aims to maintain the AE86’s celebrated lightweight build and balanced weight distribution while harnessing the robust drive force characteristic of electric vehicles. As a bonus, it even comes with a manual transmission.⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🤫 Inside the Private RAUH-Welt Begriff Pre-Tokyo Auto Salon Party in Roppongi TLDR: We got invited to the private RAUH-Welt Begriff meeting the night before Tokyo Auto Salon. Simply put: It was incredible.⁠Why It Matters: Naturally the annual gathering is the largest meet up of official RWB Porsches on the planet, and this year didn’t disappoint. For those unaware, RAUH-Welt Begriff is a private tuning company situated in Japan, who builts custom-made kits for Porsches. The body enhancements largely revolve around an extremely widened set of front and rear fenders, giving the Porsche an ultra-wide stance complete with extra-large wheels and tires. Over 50 of Japan's RWB cars and easily quadruple the spectators arrived to the Roppongi parking lot, and every car was as incredible as the one tightly parked next to it. Check it out [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 💎 Rare 1980 BMW M1 Surfaces For Auction TLDR: A piece of automotive history, the 1980 BMW M1, is currently up for auction on Bring A Trailer and is expected to fetch an exorbitant amount of money.⁠Why It Matters: Notably, this M1 underwent a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic refresh before its showcase at the 2017 Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in California. It features a white finish adorned with the iconic BMW Motorsport tri-color stripes, complemented by a blue leather interior. Under the hood, the car boasts a 3,453cc M88 straight-six engine, known for its Kugelfischer-Bosch fuel injection, six individual throttle bodies and dry-sump lubrication system. For enthusiasts, the M1’s allure is elevated by its ZF five-speed manual transaxle, limited-slip differential, servo-assisted ventilated disc brakes and 16” Campagnolo alloy wheels. Modern touches include air conditioning, power windows and a Becker Europa cassette player, making it a blend of classic design and contemporary comfort.⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🏔️ Toyota Evolves the GR Yaris With Driver-Centric Cockpit, Rally-Style E-Brake and More TLDR: Toyota has evolved its JDM-only GR Yaris, all in the name of motorsport – it's so much more than just a facelift.⁠⁠Why It Matters: For starters, the new GR Yaris receives a minor aesthetic upgrade in the form of larger lower intakes for more air flow. Inside, the cockpit has been altered to cater more to the driver. The dash, control panel, infotainment and operation buttons have all been tilted 15º, essentially wrapping around the driver and within reach even if harnessed into the seat. ⁠Perhaps the most intriguing change however is the new vertical parking brake. Toyota is offering the RC trim a factory-installed option for the e-brake to be positioned forward and in a vertical orientation, inspired by rally cars and the need to lock the rear wheels for hairpin turns and drifts. Toyota even states in the press release that the reason for this design is for "reducing operational burden."⁠⁠⁠Check it out [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎬 Behind the HYPE: How Mercedes-Maybach Heralded a New Era of Luxury Automotive TLDR: In the latest episode of Behind the HYPE, the Mercedes-Maybach brand goes under the spotlight as we uncover how its generations of luxury cars came to be associated with the travels of high profile celebrities, creative icons, and even royalty.⁠⁠Why It Matters: The design blueprint that comprises Mercedes-Maybach’s vehicles – particularly its archetypal S-Class – is established as a recognizable silhouette across the globe. With elongated lines and a typically vast grill, its distinctive aesthetic has been retained through its long line of nuanced iterations, all of which root back to its ostentatious W3 car invented by the proclaimed “King of Constructors” Wilhelm Maybach. Today, the brand’s continuously evolving range has been tapped by forward-thinking creatives such as the late-Virgil Abloh. His ‘Project MAYBACH’ embodied a seamlessly integrated luxury identity within a contemporary setting. This project featured an off-road coupé show piece as well as the limited edition Maybach by Virgil Abloh, a fully equipped Mercedes‑Maybach S680.⁠Read the full article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Hypebeast] [Download the Hypebeast App]( On iOS & Android Devices [hypebeast instagram]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Manage Subscriptions]( Policy]( You are subscribed to Hypebeast’s marketing emails with the address: {EMAIL} Contact [subscription@hypebeast.com](mailto: subscription@hypebeast.com) for assistance on any enquiries. 2023 Hypebeast Limited. All Rights Reserved Hypebeast, 40/F, Cable TV Tower, No.9 Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong