Nissan, NASA Partner on Self-Driving Tech

Nissan, NASA Partner on Self-Driving Tech
Hyundai Motor Group Investing $73B by 2018
Suzuki Alto RS Turbo is a Pint-Sized Hot-Hatch
Toyota Vitz Transformed Into a Convertible Crossover Eyesore
KUHL Racing Nissan GT-R Has Engraved Metal Paint
NATS Extreme Toyota GT86 Has A Vent, A Door?

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Nissan is partnering up with American space exploration firm NASA to develop autonomous vehicles.

The two companies have announced a five-year research and development partnership to advance self-driving car technology and prepare it for the mass market. Outside of autonomous technology, engineers from both companies plan to focus on human-machine interface solutions, network-enabled applications and software analysis and verification.

Actual test vehicles will be on the road before the end of 2015 at NASA's Ames research center. Nissan is still promising that it will have a self-driving vehicle on the road by 2020 that can handle even the most complicated of driving situations, including city driving.

"The partnership will accelerate Nissan's development of safe, secure and reliable autonomous drive technology that we will progressively introduce to consumers beginning in 2016 up to 2020," said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.

NASA will use the research to help improve its Mars rover software, robots onboard the International Space Station and to help develop the next generation air traffic management system. "We look forward to applying knowledge developed during this partnership toward future space and aeronautics endeavors," said director of Ames Research Center, S. Pete Worden.

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Hyundai Motor Group Investing $73B by 2018

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The world's fifth-largest automaker is preparing to make heavy investments over the next four years.

The Hyundai Motor Group has said that it will spend $73 billion by 2018 to expand capacity, build a new headquarters and develop new vehicles. The company will break down its investment with $44 billion on capital investment and $29 billion on research and development.

The announcement comes as Hyundai and Kia prepare to build factories in Mexico and China and will focus on developing more eco-friendly vehicles and self-driving cars over the next four years. In a statement, the Korean automakers said that 75 percent of the investment will be made within South Korea to help re-energize the local economy.

GALLERY: 2015 Hyundai Sonata

[Source: Automotive News]

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Suzuki Alto RS Turbo is a Pint-Sized Hot-Hatch

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Suzuki may no longer sell cars in North America, but that won't stop us from wondering about what might have been.

The Japanese automaker is still going strong in its home country and at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon it debuted a turbocharged version of its ultra-tiny Alto hatchback. Dubbed the Suzuki Alto RS Turbo, the hot hatch uses the standard 660-cc gasoline engine but pairs it up with a turbocharger for additional performance, though it's unclear just how much. The naturally-aspirated Alto produces 48 or 51 hp depending on model so it's likely the turbo variant gets closer to 100 hp.

2015 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage

Making the Alto RS Turbo even hotter than the standard model is a set of 17-inch OZ wheels, Recaro seats on the inside and graphics throughout the body of the car. There's also a bit of chrome treatment on the front end while the side mirrors and front spoiler has been painted red to match the wheels.

The Suzuki Alto is a kei car, which is a popular segment in Japan and while subcompacts are catching on in North America, it's unlikely these city cars will ever make their way to the U.S.

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Toyota Vitz Transformed Into a Convertible Crossover Eyesore

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You might want to rub your eyes one more time because what you're looking at started its life as a Toyota Vitz.

The Vitz is known as the Yaris in North America and we wouldn't blame you if you can't see the resemblance with the above photo. The project, which is called TES-CROSS, was created by the Toyota Engineering Society (TES) and is a four-seater that was built to incorporate fun and driving while comfortably taking the entire family along for the ride. According to the team members creating the project, the focus word for the TES-CROSS was "bend" and the goal was to make the Vitz more fun to drive.

2015 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage

The body is nearly eight inches wider than the standard Vitz, leaving room for larger and wider wheels along with modified suspension to give it better handling characteristics and a more fitting stance. According to the website, the roof can be folded away and the Vitz went on a slight diet while the standard 1.0-liter engine was tossed out for a supercharged 1.3-liter mill.

If the project reminds you a bit of the TE-Spyder 800, it should because that was also created by the Toyota Engineering Society.

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KUHL Racing Nissan GT-R Has Engraved Metal Paint

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The Tokyo Auto Salon is well known for its wild and crazy creations, but this Nissan GT-R might top it all.

For years, KUHL Racing has been synonymous with crazy paint jobs sporting a unique metallic-like finish which is done by Artis and is called "3D Ultimate Engraving Metal Paint." So when the finish finds its way onto a Nissan GT-R, it's no surprise that the company didn't stop there but instead went well over-the-top to create a machine like no other. On the interior is an Aero Monster body kit by Love Lark that was designed and created by KUHL Racing itself. To accompany the widebody are Work Wheels on all four corners while performance has been boosted with a plethora of goodies from Blitz.

2015 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage

Perhaps what's even crazier than the project car itself is the fact that KUHL Racing will manufacture the wild body kit and offering it to consumers worldwide. Naturally it doesn't look as extreme without the fancy-named paint job and don't be surprised if a few GT-Rs in the U.S. start showing up with the same styling as this car in the near future.

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NATS Extreme Toyota GT86 Has A Vent, A Door?

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What happens when you cross a Lamborghini with a Toyota GT86? You get the NATS Extreme 86 at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon.

As a project from the NATS Japan Automobile School, this Toyota GT86 (Scion FR-S in North America) is inspired by Lamborghini styling, with sharp angles and aggressive body lines that look a bit out of place for a sports car that has a curvaceous style to begin with. Nonetheless, you have to applaud the effort and craftsmanship that went into the project that sports 19-inch wheels wrapped with Hankook Ventus V12 evo rubber and JIC Magic suspension.

2015 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage

Unfortunately the performance of the GT86 doesn't match its aggressive looks as the engine has been kept stock. According to the website listing for the car, the idea behind the build is to have a "four-seater to go out shopping with family luggage also packed." Its referred to as a "super car," which hints that it was inspired by Lamborghini styling – and if that was the goal, then it's hard to argue that it wasn't achieved.