No HR Blog is not dead, our fellow blogger’s just took a little vacation (or just being lazy), but now we are back!

So to start things up again here is a awesome build thread of a AE86 N2 car from Japan. Enjoy!

Yes that’s right boys and girls! We are bringing the HR AE86 Annual to South Australia on the 23rd and 24th of October this year! Like last year, we are inviting all RWD Corolla owners to come along with the regular AE86 crew for an awesome weekend!

After the  2009 Annual (the year of the conspiracy) where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, we decided that its about time we pay a visit to Adelaide. In the past and even despite last year’s shmozzle, we had dedicated AE86ers come all the way from Adelaide!

The reason why we are coming south is simple. We’ve never been there! We have been to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, but never to the city of ‘The Hills’!

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For those of you out there who are as excited as we are about the FT-86,  head on over to the FT86club forums and check out a bunch of new shots released of the original concept and a bunch of its development art from the creators of this masterpiece; Toyota Europe Design Development!

FT86Club Forums

The senior designer of the FT-86 project Jaromir Cech talks to Autocar UK about the design philosophies and ideals behind the European-designed Toyota concept. Interesting to see the enthusiasm for the concept to go directly into production ‘as-is’ from Toyota Japan’s directors, with the hope of not changing much (if anything) from the concepts exterior look.  Lets hope they can get it past pedestrian safety checks and onto the road!

[Via 86ers]

Ever wondered what power your car makes? Ever wondered who you could talk to you possibly gain a couple of extra horses in the paddock? Want to check out some hot Toyota metal? This will be the place to do it!

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In extra FT-86 news is another nifty feature from those tech-heads at Polyphone Digital.  On display at the Toyota stand at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon is the Toyota FT-86 G’s Sports, which boasts an even sharper exterior and a world-first “GPS-track day” unit co-developed with the creators of the Gran Turismo franchise and automotive technology giant Denso.

So what’s so special about the unit, you ask? From what we’ve learned, you will be able to drive your real FT-86 around a real track — the Nurburgring, for example — and then remove the memory card from your car, plug it into your PS3 unit and either “watch” your lap virtually or race against yourself, as your real car appears as the “ghost car” that you battle against.

The GPS unit was tested in a fully race-prepped Lexus IS F at the Nurburgring last October. If you look closely at the FT-86′s dashboard in previous press photos, you will see an outline of Fuji Speedway, a lap timer and an altimeter — which hints at where Toyota is going with this technology.

Word from inside Toyota is that they plan to roll out the technology on “most” future models, with the first of course being the FT-86 in late 2012. Also, as has been previously reported, the Gran Turismo developers are also working on launching a 3D version of GT5 as soon as 3D TVs become available on the market. We’ve taken a quick demo spin of the 3D version, which looks fantastic in early builds. Of course, that assumes GT5 will ever be finished. Latest intel we have is late summer of this year at the earliest.

Check out the gallery at MotorTrend.

[Thanks, Nye!]

Since Tokyo Auto Salon is happening right now in Japan, we thought a special weekend update was in order!  The boys over at 7TUNE have the scoop on the latest FT-86 devleopment – the FT-86 G Sports Concept. It’s a turbocharged special tuned edition of the ‘revival hachiroku’, the FT-86 Concept. Is this the first time a concept has had its own tuner version before the actual car was released?

Adam from 7TUNE writes:

G’s and Toyota have been kind enough to offer me a closer look at the car so a feature is to follow but for now, let your minds wander over the huge proposition this car represents to the future of the aftermarket tuning industry.

Check the rest of the pics at 7TUNE and the live walk-around video from GT Channel after the jump.

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Alexi posted the latest cover of Option Magazine on his blog. The only think I there is anything that I would like to add to this rendering!  I surely hope the red panda scheme would also be available for the FT-86!

Hit up Nori Yaro to see the larger image!

What is that first big step im talking about? Is it just getting a 4A-GE engine in your car? Is it your first track day? No this is that one big step that not everybody embarks on and only very few can really say they got it right.

It’s the engine rebuild.

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Yes, you did see that correctly: a Honda steering wheel inside a hachi!  RA64 Freddy spotted this US Corolla GT-S on a meet in a local car park called Tropical Park. It turned out to be a 90% Honda/Acura meet but he thought he stroke gold when he spotted a hachi among them!

This Hachi was one of two ’Yotas at the meet..ehhh..but it had a Honda soul…I was looking for 4AG with ITB’s..

When he looked inside he saw that even the steering wheel had been swapped…

But is it that bad? No, I think not. The hachi is now powered by a F20c so its heart is already a Honda anyway so go with the flow!

Read more about the Tropic Park meet here.