Tanaka Heavy Industries (田中重工業) | OLD VERSION!

Aaron.W · 2 April 2019 16:20

The 3rd Generation Tanaka Aventis (1980-1985)

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 Turbo shown

The 3rd generation Tanaka Aventis was released. The car featured a very boxy 80s styling. This made the car look like the 80s, but the car has a lot of drag. Combined with the low power, the car has a very low top-speed. Its fuel economy is also not up to par with some other cars with the most economical version getting 21.4mpg and the thirstiest version getting 18.3mpg. Reliability was improved from the previous generations. This generation is most famous for its longitudinal front-wheel drive drivetrain in the sedan versions. This is the only rear-wheel drive generation other than the 1st generation. It was nicknamed “the block” because of its boxy shape.

Tanaka Aventis 1.8 B shown

This is the 1.8 B, the base model. It is equipped with the B18MPEFI-A1 unit (a 1.8 litre NA SOHC I4) making a mere 100HP going to the front wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission with an open differential. It has 13-inch steel rims, a semi-clad undertray, drum brakes on the rear, a standard interior with a basic 8-track and a hydraulic power steering. It can do 21.4mpg.

Tanaka Aventis 1.8 G shown

This is the 1.8 G. It has the same engine, same manual transmission (for the manual version), a 4-speed automatic transmission (for the automatic version), disk brakes in the rear, a standard 8-track and a variable hydraulic steering.

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 S shown

This is the 2.0 S, introduced in 1982. It is only available in a coupe form. It has a new 5-speed manual transmission, the same interior as the 1.8 G, same equipments as the 1.8 G, a sportier suspension setup, wider 14-inch alloy rims wrapped around sports-compound tires, a new body kit, the rear seats ripped out, mechanical LSD, and vented brakes. It also has the BA20MPEFI-A1 unit (2 litre DOHC NA I4) producing 139HP going to the rear wheels. Yes, it is now RWD. This version is often used by drifters and street racers and have appeared in some animes.

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 Turbo shown

This is the 2.0 Turbo, introduced in 1984. It is quite similar to the 2.0 S, but has a journal-bearing turbo on it. The BA20MPEFI-A1 T unit (2 litre DOHC tubocharged I4) producing 204HP. It has a 2.0 Turbo exclusive side skirts, a 2.0 Turbo exclusive hood (the hood scoop is on top of the turbo), and 14-inch magnesium mesh rims. Even with all this power, it only has a top-speed of 130mph. It can do 0-60mph in 7.14 seconds. Even with that problem and because the 2.0 Turbo is very affordable, a lot of college students still bought these. One thing they don’t like is the massive turbo lag due to having single journal-bearing turbo.

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 Turbo X shown

This is the 2.0 Turbo X, the absolute pinnacle of the 3rd generation Aventis. It was released in 1985 and only 500 are ever built. Tanaka put every single technology from their Group B rally experience into the Turbo X. It is standard with AWD. Most of the turbo lag is now fixed with a single ball-bearing turbo. This version also bring new a 3-way high-flow catalytic converter, which makes this engine (this version is the BA20MPEFI-A2 T) more powerful (now making 228HP). It has vents on the bumpers and side skirts. It also has a new fully-clad undertray, shorter gear ratios for better acceleration, a standard cassette player and better aerodynamics. The result of all of that improvement is 0-60mph in 6.66 seconds and a top-speed of 132mph.

Aaron.W · 7 April 2019 09:34

2nd Generation Tanaka Atlantis (2010-2018)

Tanaka Atlantis 3.0 T used as an unmarked police car in the anime ‘Detective Conan’

The 2nd generation Tanaka Atlantis was released in 2010 to replace the very outdated 1st generation Atlantis. This is currently the best-selling generation with 3,162,693 cars sold worldwide from the 8 years of production. This was the first ever Atlantis to feature a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as Tanaka wanted to put the EarthBoost technology to more and more models. This was also the last generation of the Atlantis to use a multi-point fuel injection.

Pre-facelift (2010-2014)

Tanaka Atlantis 2.0 B shown

The 2.0 B is the base version. It is only available with the FE20MPEFI-A2 EarthBoost unit producing 166HP. It has a 5-speed manual transmission, viscous LSD, 17-inch steel rims and standard interior with a standard CD player. It can do 34.8mpg.

Tanaka Atlantis 2.0 G shown

The G versions can be either equipped with the same Inline-4 engine as the 2.0 B or the TC30MPEFI-A1 V6 engine (the smaller version of the T-Series engines found in the 7th generation Aventus) that produces 207HP. The changes are having a 7-speed advanced automatic transmission, a sunroof and 18-inch alloy rims. A way to differentiate a V6 version from an Inline 4 version is to look at the back. The I4 versions have a double exhaust while the V6 has 2 seperate exhaust on the left and right side of the rear of the car.

Tanaka Atlantis 3.0 L shown

The L versions are just G versions but with a premium SatNav system.

Facelift (2015-2018)

Tanaka 3.0 G Facelift shown

The 2015 facelift gives the Atlantis a new LED headlight unit, standard and premium infotainment system (for the B and G, and L versions consecutively), parking cameras as standard and panoramic sunroof as standard (only for the G and L versions) with the roof painted black to blend in. The 4 cylinder versions of the Atlantis had a completely new engine. The J-Series engines use in the 7th generation Aventis is also used in the Atlantis (the Atlantis version is the J20MPEFI-C1 EarthBoost) and now makes 204HP, making it more powerful, but also more economical. The V6 engines are also more powerful, now making 215HP. AWD were also optional. However, the facelift brought a new trim, the 3.0 T.

Tanaka 3.0 T shown

The 3.0 T was famous for being a sleeper. The only giveaway that this Atlantis is different from the other Atlantis is the intercooler behind the lower grill, the ducktail spoiler on the trunk, the slightly different body kit and the alloy rims which by the way, are optional for the G and L versions, only that this one is gray. The tires are wider and are now medium compound. The car sits lower and the suspension is slighly stiffer. But the biggest change is the engine. The engine is now twin-turbocharged as you can probably see from the intercooler. The TC30MPEFI-A2 EarthBoost unit now makes 417HP with only 91 RON pump gas. This engine was the first V6 engine to have a flex-fuel management. AWD is optional. The interior is just standard leather with standard infotainment system Safety equipments are reduced to standard 10s to reduce weight. For the FWD version, it can do 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 189mph. As for the AWD version, it can do 0-60mph in 5.95 seconds and has a top speed of 181mph. But just because of all of this, doesn’t mean that this car is a sports car. In fact, it is just a stupidly fast midsize sedan. It cannot corner as good as sports cars and it is very bloated. However, the 3.0 T was also famous partly because it was featured in the anime ‘Detective Conan’ and several Asian detective movies. The 3.0 T was often internationally known as the detective’s car.

Tanaka Atlantis 3.0 T AWD shown with the S-Package

The S-Package was introduced in 2016 because car journalists were dissapointed that the normal 3.0 T cannot compete with real midsize sports sedans in terms of cornering ability. Tanaka dealed with that by adding 19-inch magnesium rims wrapped around sport compound tires, making it only 4 seats, a fully clad undertray, mechanical LSD, 7-speed DCT, carbon ceramic brakes and a sportier suspension setup. The engine was left untouched. The result, 0-60mph happens in 4.9 seconds and the top speed is 189mph and it now has a way better handling. It can do 1.10 g’s. But the package costs an approximate extra of $9000 and it is only available for the AWD version of the 3.0 T. This however, made the journalists happier as they can now have a sleeper can destroy sports cars both at the straight line and in corners.

Aaron.W · 14 April 2019 11:01

2nd Generation Tanaka Osaka (2015-Present)

Tanaka Osaka 2.0 G shown

This is the 2nd generation Osaka, introduced in 2015 to replace the outdated 1st generation. This is the 1st Osaka to ever feature a multi-link rear suspension, making it quite comfortable, the first Osaka to even have LEDs, let alone they are standard and the first Osaka to receive the 2.0 Active trim (making this version a sub-compact crossover). Tanaka wanted to push the EarthBoost technology worldwide. All versions of the Tanaka Osaka in all countries sold in have the EarthBost technology to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

Tanaka Osaka 2.0 B shown

This is the 2.0 B, the base model. It is equipped with the J20MPEFI-A1 EarthBoost unit producing 160HP and 174 lb-ft of torque. It is FWD. It has a 7-speed advanced automatic transmission and a viscous LSD as standard. The rims are 16-inch steel rims with a hudcap on it wrapped around hard long-life compound tires. The interior are standard cloth with a basic infotainment screen on it. Every Osaka comes with all the latest safety technology except for autopilot, some of these features are not available in other countries like the Middle East and SouthEast Asia. It can do 41.5mpg.

Tanaka Osaka 2.0 G shown

This is the 2.0 G, the mid-range version. The changes for this version are standard infotainment system, 17-inch alloy rims and a fully-clad undertray. This can do 41.3mpg.

Tanaka Osaka 2.0 S shown

This is the 2.0 S, the sportiest version currently. It has a new body kit, sportier suspension, The J20MPEFI-B1 EarthBoost unit producing 171HP and 179 lb-ft of torque, vented brakes, a 6-speed manual transmission, a mechanical LSD and a wider sport compound tires. The 2.0 S was said to be quite fun around the corners from journalists. There is however an even sportier trim coming soon…

Tanaka Osaka 2.0 Active shown

If you don’t need sporty, the 2.0 Active is for you. It is now a crossover instead of a normal hatchback. It has a more rugged look to it. The market trend forces Tanaka to release this car, it was sold from 2016 until now and it is the one of the best-selling Tanaka model ever. it has an AWD system with a mechanical LSD, thicker tires and a higher suspension to improve its off-roading capability. The 2.0 Active was advertised for people who wants to go basically everywhere and the car has its capability to literally go off-road, unlike some of its competitors who just makes their cars look more rugged.

Sales Figures

The Tanaka Osaka has been a hit to the world. Majority of its sales comes from Europe and Asia. 1.6 million cars were sold in Europe, 2.5 million sold in Asia, 1.1 million sold in Australia (63% of its sales comes from the 2.0 Active), 1.2 million sold in the USA (the only version available in there is the 2.0 Active). The Osaka proved to be very popular. With the crossover craze skyrocketing, the 2.0 Active sales are also skyrocketing

CorsicaUnknown · 14 April 2019 13:59

Woah, I’d just like to say that the Osaka really is one of the most realistic looking cars i’ve seen in this thread and perhaps even the entire forum. The front lights look very nicely detailed and the custom “floating roof” design you’ve made works really well!

Really, do keep it up please, can’t wait to see more!

Aaron.W · 17 April 2019 07:23

2 New Releases in 2 Auto Shows!

Take a look at the 2020 Tanaka Aventus EV in the 2019 Auto Shanghai.

Take a look at the 2020 Tanaka Okanawa in the 2019 New York Auto Show.

Aaron.W · 18 April 2019 14:24

The 4th Generation Tanaka Aventis (1995-2005)

The first car of many teenagers around the world, a Tanaka Aventis 2.0 S

The 5th generation Tanaka Aventis released in 1995 to replace the old 4th generation Aventis. When the car first hit the market, it was an instant success. It was very affordable and “quite-ish” reliable, perfect for a teenager’s first car. This was the first Aventis hatchback ever. People loved it because it is more spacious than previus generations because of being a hatchback. A new engine was also developed for the Aventis, the H-Series. It was made to replace the old and underpowered B-Series. This generation was also praised for having a very good fuel economy. Because Tanaka ditched the boxy styling and make the car look blobby, the car is now more slippery in the air.

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 B shown

This is the 2.0 B, the base model. The H20MPEFI-A1 unit produces 109HP. It has 14-inch steel rims wrapped around hard long-life tires, a standard cloth interior with a basic cassette player, a hydraulic power steering, a 5-speed manual transmission, a viscous LSD, solid disk brakes and a semi-clad undertray. It can do 31.2mpg and weighs only 1085kg.

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 G shown

This is the 2.0 G, an improved version of the 2.0 B. The changes are 15-inch alloy rims, a 4-speed automatic transmission for the automatic version and a standard cassette player. It can do 30.1mpg (for the manual version) and 28.3mpg (for the automatic version) and weighs only 1123kg (for the manual version) and 1128kg (for the automatic version).

Tanaka Aventis 2.0 S shown

This is the 2.0 S, the sporty version of the Aventis. The H20MPEFI-B1 unit produces 135HP. The biggest difference is that it swtiched to a 2-door hatchback. The rear seats are now seperated into two, not a bench rear seat. This version is the most popular as it is only slighly more expensive than the 2.0 B, but cheaper than the 2.0 G. There is only a 5-speed manual transmission available. It has 16-inch alloy rims wrapped around sports compound tires, a rear spoiler, vented disk brakes, a mechanical LSD and a lowered and sportier suspension. It can do 29mpg. 0-60mph happens in 7.99 seconds and has a top speed of 128mph. The 2.0 S were a tuner’s dream as the car was very modifiable.

This is the 2.0 TR, the ultimate version of the 5th generation Aventis. It was released in 1997 as the third model to receive the TR treatment. The 2.0 TR has an exclusive new engine from Tanabe Racing themseleves, the K20MPEFI-A1, which produces 168HP and can rev all the way up to 7500RPM. It has an even sportier suspension, a new body-kit, stripped out rear seats, a new rear wing, magnesium rims, wider arches, wider tires, a fully-clad undertray and reduced safety features. The result is 0-60mph in 6.43 seconds, can achieve 1.11g’s of cornering and a top speed of 138mph. The 2.0 TR only weighs about 965kg. The Aventis 2.0 TR was praised for its incredible handling by journalists, racing drivers and customers. Tanaka only made 5000 of these and these cars would go down as one of the great 90s Japanese cars.

abg7 · 18 April 2019 15:20

I can imagine an Aventis 2.0 S or TR being used quite often in the Sunday Cup, FF Challenge or even the Clubman Cup in either of the first two Gran Turismo games… it just looks and feels so right for these lower-level events!

Aaron.W · 30 April 2019 15:09

Announcement from Tanaka Motors

Tanaka pulled the plug on the production of the 3rd generation Atlantis from the US and Europe. The few thousand cars made will be sold with heavy discounts to give way for a new inventory. The Tanaka Atlantis will only be available in Asia.

After 5 years of production of the 7th generation Aventis, Tanaka plans to introduce a new generation for 2020. It hopes to be sportier, bigger and better than the very popular 7th generation. Its new chassis supports both hybrid and electric applications. More information is not available yet.

A new midsize SUV from Tanaka will be revealed soon. It uses the shorter chassis of the recently revealed Okanawa fullsize SUV. An EV version of both the Okanawa and the midsize SUV will be available too.

Aaron.W · 3 May 2019 13:39

The Brand-New 2020 Tanaka Ereceta

Tanaka Ereceta 2.0 G shown

New for the brand, the Tanaka Ereceta was introduced as a 7-seater premium midsize MPV only for Asia. Tanaka went brave for the styling of this car. It looks upscale, but also aggressive at the same time. These rims are used for the first time. The rims suit the car quite well. The Ereceta is based on the long-wheelbase version (2.8m) of the upcoming 8th generation Tanaka Aventis platform. The Ereceta and the upcoming Aventis will both be produced at Tanaka’s newly purchased Xi’an Plant for China for the first time.

Tanaka Ereceta 2.0 G shown

The 2.0 G is the base model, but also the most luxurious model. It has the J20DI-C1 EarthBoost unit producing 218HP and 201 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a 7-speed advanced automatic. The interior is made of premium leather with premium wood trim and a premium infotainment system. The rims are 17-inch alloys. An AWD system is optional. It can do 39.3mpg (for the FWD version) and 38mpg (for the AWD version). The starting price is $24701 (without mark-ups). The AWD system is an extra $1000.

Tanaka Ereceta 2.0 S shown

The 2.0 S is a sportier version of the 2.0 G. It has the J20DI-D1 EarthBoost unit producing 224HP and 234 lb-ft of torque. The AWD system is standard. The tires are switched to wider medium-compound tires. The suspension is slightly stiffer and sportier. The brakes are vented. It can do 33.9mpg. 0-60mph happens in 8.7 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph. The price is $26547 without mark-ups.

Tanaka Ereceta EV shown

The Ereceta EV is the electric version of the Ereceta. It uses 50kWh batteries for the front and back. It has a range of 205 miles. It weighs 2112kg. Everything else is the same as the 2.0 G. The price is $26844.

Tanaka hopes to see very good sales number for the Ereceta. The biggest market for these type of cars are China, Japan and Indonesia. The Ereceta will be on sale at late May for China and Japan, early June for Indonesia, and late July for the other Asian countries.

Sad News about Life...

Sad news: I will not post any new cars in the forum for approximately 2 weeks from now. I have an exam for 2 weeks and I need to study and prepare for the exam. So, I guess this will be my last post of a new car for 2 weeks.

Aaron.W · 10 May 2019 10:09

Some Success Stories May Not Have a Smooth Start

Tanaka GCR-1 #8 Racecar shown

Tanaka entered the Group C racecar with this, the GCR-1, for 1990 until the end of 1992. The GCR-1 was engineered by Tanabe Racing, Tanaka’s new race team. Tanaka raced for one goal, to win a championship. The car was originaly designed for 1985, but the engineering took a heck of a long time. In 1990, the GCR-1 made its debut at several races. The GCR-1 was okay, but the thing is that the GCR-1 is very hard to drive with over 800HP going to the rear wheels with tons of turbo lag. The cars climbed through the leaderboard until finally in 1991, the #8 car was in podium position. By that time, the drivers knew how to control this beast. Then at 1992, the #8 car driven by Nakaya Akura won a race at Suzuka Circuit. The team was very proud of this achievement and this exact car was then stored away inside the Tanaka Museum in Tokyo after the 1993 Championship was cancelled.

Tanaka GCR-1 #5 Racecar shown

This is the #5 car. This particular car raced at the 24 hours of Le Mans. There were also the #2 and the #4 car at there. Three of them was used to race at Le Mans. In 1991, #4 car was totaled. Then in 1992, the #2 car was totaled as well, leaving only the #5 car, However, it finished in 3rd at the same year. The car didn’t do as well as Tanaka thought to be. They have plans to race it again for 1993, but the championship was cancelled. That’s the end of Tanaka’s Group C story.

Specs

This is the bare bones chassis of the Tanaka GCR-1. It is has a carbon-fibre tub with push-rod suspension for the front and rear of the car. The engine is a 3.5 litre twin-turbocharged V12 (called the ‘XX35MPEFI-A1 T/R’) producing 804HP and 607lb-ft of torque. However, it has tons of turbo lag. In fact, peak power is at 7800RPM and peak torque is at 6500RPM. That means that drivers must shift into a lower gear than usual, or constantly pressing the clutch. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission going to the rear wheels.

This is the High Downforce version, the one that the #8 car is. It featured an extreme body kit with all the complete lips, canards, splitters, diffuser and a massive rear wing. They are equipped with 20-inch magnesium rims wrapped aroung very T H I C C racing slicks (let’s just pretend because it is actually semi-slicks…). Brakes are 3 piston vented for the front and smaller 4 piston vented brakes for the rear. It has a fully-clad undertray. The interior has only 1 seat and no radio at all. The car also has no traction aids, just like what the rules said. It can do 1.34 g’s (on a 20m radius circle) and 1.61 g’s (on a 200m radius circle). It can do 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 196mph. This one is the most recognizable one.

This is the low downforce version. The wing is now smaller and the canards are now gone, therefore create less downforce and less drag. This version was used by the #5 car. This one is exclusively made for Le Mans. Other than that, it is the same as the High Downforce version. It can do 1.32g’s (on a 20m radius circle) and 1.30 g’s (on a 200m radius circle). It can do 0-60mph in 5 seconds flat and can do 229mph.

The effects of he GCR-1’s victory

The GCR-1’s victory have made an impact to car sales. Global car sales have increased by 5% and the company has increased their cool factor. The GCR-1 is one of the most significant car for Tanaka because most other Tanaka models in the 80s were boxy and boring, the GCR-1 stood out from all of them and lead Tanaka to become cool again. This has encouraged Tanaka to build cool cars in the 90s. The GCR-1 inspired the Tanaka TR2 Turbo, the 2nd gen Tanaka Trinity and Tanaka’s supercars of the 2000s until now. The GCR-1 is now a legend.

Aaron.W · 11 May 2019 05:33

The Purchase of The Graham Bauer Company

Date: 20 January 2018

After 10 years of bankruptcy since 2008, Tanaka Heavy Industries bought Graham Bauer, a British-German mix based luxury car company. They injected $150,000,000 into the company in hopes of bringing the company back alive. Ever since Graham Bauer gone bankrupt in 2008, one designer from the company, Alex Hartmann, has already sketched a design of a car. After the company was bought, he brought the design to life. This also coincided with the development of the W-Series V12 engine from Tanaka. The chassis of the Graham Bauer was also new, which would inspire the chassis of the 2020 Tanaka Aventus.

Graham Bauer Clayton (Series 7)

Graham Bauer Clayton Executive Specification shown

This was the result, the Clayton. The first thing Graham Bauer wanted to resurrect was the Clayton. The car was introduced in mid-2018 and went on sale on quarter 3 of 2018. Journalists thought that the car was smooth, comfortable and quite fast. It has a top speed of slighly over 200mph. The interior is made of high-quality leather which was hand-stitched to perfection. It looked subtle, handsome, clean, minimalistic, understated and most importantly, looked German.

Under the skin is a glued aluminium monocoque chassis. The Tanaka Aventus chassis is quite similar too. It has double wishbone suspension for the front and multi-link in the back for maximum comfort. The body is made of full aluminium. The engine is the W65DI-A1 EarthBoost unit from Tanaka which produces 485HP and 766 lb-ft of torque smoothly and effortlessly.

Graham Bauer Clayton Cotemporary Specification shown

Buyers could choose between the ‘Executive’ or the ‘Cotemporary’ specification. For 2020, there will be a ‘Speed’ specification. But these are the options for now.

A ‘Tailored’ Graham Bauer Clayton Cotemperary Specification shown

In early 2019, the ‘Tailor’ program was born. The ‘Tailor’ program is like a personalization program. You can do anything you want in the car. You want your signature embroidered on you headrest, done. You want to have stiching matched to the colour of your exterior, done. You want to put the rarest wood in the world as your interior trim with diamond stripping, done. Real silver exterior trim, done. The ‘Spirit Wave (R)’ on the hood, done. Any details you want to add, the ‘Tailor’ program will do it for you with full craftsmanship.

This is a direct quote from the Graham Bauer Website:
“Our delivery experience is unique. Your car will be delivered to you right in front of where you want it to be. Whether if it is in front of your house, a park, anything that would surprise you. The service experience is also the same. Our people will pick up the car if your Graham Bauer reached the service period. We can do it whenever you want us to come pick it up. Just enjoy life.”

Everything about this company is new, and the Graham Bauer is heading to a bright future. The company is moving forward.

NOTE: All Graham Bauer models will be featured in this thread. Stay tuned for more.

Aaron.W · 14 May 2019 08:45

Tanaka C30X (1975-1980)

1980 Tanaka C30X Turbo shown

This is the Tanaka C30X, the successor to the C20X and the predecessor of the 1st generation X-Series. Tanaka wanted to create a replacement for the C20X. This was a good oportunity because the new S-Series engine was used in the new 1st gen Aventus. Origninally, the engineers wanted to use the same engine from the C20X, a carburreted 2.8 litre SOHC Inline 6. However, when Tanaka planned to release it in 1973, the oil crisis began. Tanaka C30X engineers went back to the drawing board. When the S-Series Inline 6 engine was in developent, the engineers saw that the engine has a potential. Not only does it have a better fuel economy, but it is also DOHC and uses a mechanical fuel injection. This means that the engine is more reliable and can potentially make more power than the C20X’s SOHC carburreted Inline 6. Unfortunately, it was actually less powerful. The oil crisis meant that Tanaka needed to sacrifice power for fuel economy.
Then, there was the design. Tanaka didn’t spend that much on aerodynamics R&D. Earlier concepts shows that the C30X has a fixed headlight. However, the front was quite blocky. So, they decided to scratch that and put pop-up headlights. The advantage of this is that the headlights allow for a low-slung design. This is what made the C30X so memorable. This also meant that the low-slung design allows the car to have a lower drag coeficient.

Tanaka C30X S shown

This is the S trim, the base model. It is equipped with the S30MFI-B1 unit producing only 154HP and 155 lb-ft of torque. It has 15-inch rims, a 5-speed manual, an open diff, solid disk brakes on the front and rear, a fully clad undertray, a premium leather interior with a premium 8-track player, hydraulic power steering, and advanced 70s safety features. It can do 0-60mph in 8.35 seconds and has a top speed of 119mph.

Tanaka C30X L shown

This is the L trim, the luxurious model. It has the same equipment on the S except for the 8-track player, which is replaced by a luxury 8-track. This is the only trim level where buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. However, not many people bought the C30X L, especially in automatics, because the C30X was meant to be a sports car, not a GT.

Tanaka C30X Turbo shown

This is the C30X Turbo. It was released in 1980, which is also the last year the C30X is in production. This was Tanaka’s first turbocharged car and first turbocharged Inline 6 car. The changes from the normal S includes a turbo (the engine inside is the S30MFI-B1 T, it now makes 245HP and 260lb-ft of torque with journal bearing turbos), a louder exhaust setup, vented disk brakes, 15-inch mesh magnesium rims, wider tires (now a staggered setup), lighter seats made from aluminium, lowered suspension and sportier setup. It is able to do 0-60mph in 6.78 seconds and has a top speed of 143mph. The Turbos are highly sought after as only 850 Turbo versions were ever made.

This is one of the Tanaka C30X that went through Tanabe Racing’s upgrade program (note that this is an EU spec, hence the rear fog lights.)

In 1990 (10 years after the production of the C30X has stopped), owners of the C30X Turbo (needs to be the original owner who still have the original car), were invited by Tanabe Racing for an upgrade program. This upgrade program was to switch the original journal bearing turbo to a ball bearing turbo (which made the car make 258HP and 273lb-ft of torque), a longer gearing, and a full engine restoration. Only 169 of the 850 C30X Turbos went through this upgrade program. These 169 C30X Turbos were also given a certificate of approval from the chief engineer of Tanabe Racing, Wataru Tanabe, brake calipers painted red, the rims are now sandy gray and a stamp of approval inside the glove box. The result is that 0-60mph still happens in 6.78 seconds, but now has a top speed of 144mph. The numbers may not be special, but the rarity is what made it special. These ugraded C30X Turbos are now very highly valuable and sought-after with high mileage examples selling for $90000. They are truly special.

Pop Up Up'n Down Headlights By James Pumphrey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1J42mnKho

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POP UP HEADLIGHTS!

Aaron.W · 15 May 2019 06:28

The 1st Generation Tanaka X-Series (1985-1995)

Tanaka 300X Facelift shown

Since the death of the C30X, fans have been asking for another sports car. With the SFM4 and the Trinity filling that gap, Tanaka just needed a GT. In 1985, the 1st generation Tanaka X-Series. It was a 5-seater GT car. The front suspension was double wishbone with rear double wishbone suspension, the same setup as the SFM4. It uses the same Inline 6 as the 4th generation Tanaka Aventus. The car was beautifully designed. This is also the first Tanaka to have a sunroof, not even the Aventus had one at the time. The X-Series was the spiritual successor to the C30X.

Tanaka 300X shown

This is the 300X, the base model and the only model until 1989. It uses the F30MPEFI-B1 unit making 207HP and 197lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual (or an optional 4-speed automatic) to a mechanical LSD. It has 16-inch rims wrapped around quite thin sport-compound tires (180mm thick to be exact on both sides), 2 piston vented brakes, a semi-clad undertray, premium leather interior with a premium 8-track player, a variable hydraulic power steering, an ABS system and advanced 80s safety. A hydropneumatic suspension is optional. It can do 18.4mpg, 0-60mph in 7.14 seconds and has a top speed of 133mph (only for the manual version without the hydropneumatic suspension).

Tanaka 300X Turbo shown

This is the 300X Turbo, introduced in 1989. People complained about the 300X that it was very underpowered, especially for its weight (which is 1277kg) and its size. The Turbo was here to solve the problem. The engine is now turbocharged (now with the engine code, F30MPEFI-A1 T) which now makes 273HP and 277lb-ft of torque. The rear tires are now wider by 10mm and the suspension is lowered. Other than that, nothing has changed. It can do 23.2mpg (ironically…), 0-60mph in 6.18 seconds and has a top speed of 147mph. However, this spawned another problem, the 300X Turbo will fade its brakes from sporty driving.

1990 Facelift

Tanaka 300X Turbo Facelift shown

At 1990, the X-Series had a facelift. The changes are slightly different headlights, a different bumper, traction control and advanced 90s safety. The engine of the 300X and the turbo version is more powerful, with the 300X making 222HP and 197lb-ft of torque and the 300X Turbo making 274HP and 278lb-ft of torque. The 300X Turbo now has better brakes to stop the brake fade.
These are not the only changes. The facelift also introduced 2 more trims, the 300X L and the 300X TR.

Tanaka 300X L shown

This is the 300X L, the luxurious version. The 4-speed automatic is now standard. The tires are medium compound with a new rim design, the interior is now made of luxury leather and the hydropneumatic suspension is now standard.

Tanaka 300X TR shown

This is the 300X TR, the holy grail of the 1st generation X-Series. The same engine was shared from the Aventus TR, the F30MPEFI-B1 T, which makes 342HP and 298lb-ft of torque. It was only available in 5 colours: Pearl Blue, Metallic Blue, Red Mauve Mica, Tanabe Racing Blue and Tanabe Racing Midnight Purple (all dark colours). The TR may be available from 1990-1995, but only 50 were only made each year, totaling 250 300X TR’s. It has a longer final drive ratio, wider fenders, a different body kit, a big single exhaust, wider sports compound tires (for both front and rear), 17-inch darker Dark Metallic Gray magnesium rims, larger brakes, a fully-clad undertray, removed rear seats, a sports interior with aluminium seats, standard 80s safety, a lowered and sportier suspension. It can do 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 160mph. The TR versions are extremely sought after when compared to other versions.

abg7 · 15 May 2019 08:12

The 300X must have been one of the sleekest-looking cars at launch, but it would have seemed dated towards the end of its lifespan as curves took over and angular wedge shapes (such as the 300X’s) fell out of favor. Even so, the TR would still have been competitive against its contemporaries.

I also remember the regular pre-facelift 300X being entered in CSR99 - it looked the part but was rejected for being too slow and boring to drive compared to some of its rivals. Still, it was quite comfortable, so at least it had some merit.

Aaron.W · 16 May 2019 08:31

The 3rd Generation Tanaka X-Series (2005-2007)

Tanaka 300X GT shown

The 3rd generation X-Series was introduced in 2005. It was now a fully-fleged GT car. However, while people loved the 1st and 2nd generation of the X-Series, the 3rd generation was quite hated. It ended up being quite short-lived since sales were very low and the economic crisis in 2007. It used the V30DI-A1 unit producing 412HP and 367lb-ft of torque. This was the first ever X-Series to use a direct injection and the first to use AWD. It was a rear-biased AWD system. Many people complained about the quite bad reliability and its slighly muscle car looks.

Tanaka 300X shown

This is the 300X, the base model. The V30DI-A1 unit is mated to a 6-speed manual (or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission). It has 19-inch alloy rims wrapped around sports compound tires, vented disk brakes, a fully-clad undertray, a premium interior with premium satnav system, a variable hydraulic power steering, all the driving aids, advanced 00s safety and an active comfort suspension. It can do 23.3mpg, 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 181mph.

For 2006, Tanaka inroduced the 300X GT. The changes are 20-inch magnesium rims, a more agressive appearance, gloss black roof, slightly wider tires, sports interior (which makes it lighter), an active sports suspension and a sportier suspension setup. It can do 23.9mpg, 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 181mph.

abg7 · 16 May 2019 08:47

It’s not hard to see why in period - it really did look too much like a muscle car trying to be a grand tourer, which the 300X always was. However, the rarity of surviving examples could well lead to this generation of the model line being more sought-after - if not now, then soon. All that expensive tech (AWD, direct injection, etc) did little for its reliability or price when new, though.

Aruna · 16 May 2019 08:54

Oh man I love the styling of the 300X! It’s so dynamic and slick yet somewhat aggressive

Aaron.W · 17 May 2019 03:18

Tanaka Motors 10-year plan starting from 2020

Tanaka Motors has plans for the next 10 years. The company is now moving more upscale to improve its brand image. By 2030, Tanaka wants all models to have a premium infotainment system or better (for the G and L models). As for the B, S and TR (for some vehicles) trims, they will have a minimum of a standard infotainment system or better. S and TR trims will have the premium infotainment system as an optional equipment. Tanaka also said that the Aventis will move up from a compact car to a compact executive car. By 2030, Tanaka wants all their models to have AWD. The company also moves forward to be a more eco-friendly company. By 2030, Tanaka will replace all their plastics with bioplastics and cloth seats replaced by recycled fabric. For any soft-top models, the canvass top will be replaced with recycled waterproof fabric. Tanaka will try their best to keep their cost as low as possible while still maintaining its strict reliability standard (Over 60 reliability points…) and all the good things to keep budget buyers interested. Previous owners of Tanaka vehicles will be given a 20% discount for their next new Tanaka vehicles (2020 and above).

So in conclusion, Tanaka wants to be more upscale, have AWD for all its models, improve its brand image and be more eco-friendly by 2030.

Aaron.W · 23 May 2019 04:37

Tanaka Summita (2015-Present)

Tanaka Summita 2.0 G Facelift shown

With the ever growing market for a crossover, Tanaka released the Summit. It is a compact crossover from Tanaka for the first time. The front and rear design is quite simple and minimalistic. It uses the same platform as the 7th generation Aventis, the AA Platform. It is the first time that Tanaka shared platforms across multiple models. AWD is standard across all versions as expected to match its rugged looks. Since the lsoon to be revealed 8th generation Aventis will leave the C-segment and move on to the D-segment, the Summit is here to stay in the C-segment.

Pre-facelift Version (2015-2019)

Tanaka Summita 2.0 B shown

The 2.0 B is the base model version. It uses the J20MPEFI-A1 Earthboost unit producing 160HP and 174lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 7-speed advanced automatic transmission. The interior is made of standard synthetic seats with a basic infotainment system (like every other models, available with Apple Carplay and Android Auto). It has steel rims with a hudcap on it wrapped around hard compound long life tires. It has a semi-clad undertray. It has the advanced 00s safety to save money. It can do 38.2mpg.

Tanaka Summita 2.0 G shown

The 2.0 G is a better-equipped version of the 2.0 B. The changed are new alloy rims, advanced 20s safety and a standard infotainment system. It can do 37.9mpg.

Facelifted Version (2020-Present)

Tanaka Summita 2.0 B Facelift shown

The facelifted version is introduced for 2020 and will be on sale on late 2019. The facelift brought some changes. The car is now more reliable, the engine now uses direct injection (J20DI-B1 EarthBoost) which makes 209HP and 213 lb-ft of torque, a side body cladding (to make it look more rugged), new rim designs, an advanced 9-speed automatic transmission and upgraded infotainment systems (to follow Tanaka’s 10-year upscaling plan), which means that the 2.0 B will have a standard infotainment system and the 2.0 G and upper having the premium infotainment system. The facelifted versions can do over 40mpg very easily.
The Summita 2.0 B Facelift costs $21237 and the Summita 2.0 G costs $23050, both without taxes, shipping costs, optional extras and mark-ups.

Tanaka Summita 2.0 Active shown with optional off-road tires

The 2.0 Active is more than just an even more rugged looking Summita, it also hold some off-road goodies such as optional off-road tires, an off-road sway-bar, a more powerful engine (using the J20DI-C1 EarthBoost unit) which now produces 233HP, higher suspension, a locking AWD system and an off-road undertray. This is the type of car you want really get dirty in. Not only does it have this rugged looks, it also has the ability to back it up. Without options and mark-ups, the Summita 2.0 Active costs $23439. The optional off-road tires costs an extra $110.

Tanaka Summita EV shown

The EV version uses dual 50kWh battery. Its range is 270 miles. A range extender is optional for $1000. It extends the range to 305 miles. The undertray is fully-clad to reduce as much drag as possible. The base price $27460 not including optional extras, taxes, shipping and mark-ups.

Sales number

From 2015, the Tanaka Summita was a huge sales hit. 3.3 million cars were sold in the USA, 3.1 million cars sold in Europe and 3.1 million cars sold in Asia. This is one of the best-selling Tanaka models ever since it has been introduced. Because the sales number were higher than the same class Aventis, Tanaka wants the Aventis to go up to a D-Segment to prevent sales being taken from the Summita.

Aaron.W · 23 May 2019 06:07

1st Generation Tanaka Raikan (2005-2015)

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 G Facelift shown

Tanaka wanted to get into the entry-level sports car market since they already have a supercar and a GT. So, they started developing it from 2003 and was introduced in the 2004 Tokyo Auto Show for the 2005 model year. The body was made from full aluminium with a monocoque chassis made of light AHS Steel. A front McPherson strut was originally planned, but because of the design, it couldn’t fit inside. So, Tanaka used double wishbones for the front. The rear is a multi-link setup. Since the 3rd generation X-Series uses a twin-turbo V6 at the time, Tanaka scrapped the V6 idea for the Raikan and replaced it with a modernized version of the Inline 4 from the 4th generation Tanaka Aventis 2.0 TR (the K-Series). The Raikan is only available in a coupe body style. While some people like the coupe, others complained that it needed a convertible model. The convertible model will be available for the next generation. Customers loved its sportiness, fun factor, its price and its very good fuel economy. When it first came out, the rear design was thought to be controversial. However, as time goes by, people got used to its looks.

Pre-facelift era (2005-2012)

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 B shown

The 2.0 B is the base model. It uses the K20MPEFI-A2 unit producing 177HP and 141 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission going to the rear wheels. The differential is a mechanical LSD. The rims are 16-inch 5-spoke alloys wrapped around medium compound tires. Despite the tires, it can still do 1.03 g’s. The brakes are vented as standard. It has a semi-clad undertray. The interior is made of standard cloth seats with a basic CD player. It has advanced 90s safety. It can do 0-60mph in 6.07 seconds, a top speed of 142mph, a fuel economy of 30mpg and a weight of 1014kg.

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 G shown

The 2.0 G was a fully-loaded 2.0 B. The changes are sports compound tires, a new rim design, a standard CD and advanced 00s safety. Acceleration and top speed is the same as the 2.0 B, but it is heavier (now 1046kg) and fuel economy is lower (now 28.9mpg).

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 S shown

This is the 2.0 S, the rarest 1st generation Raikan of them all. It is only available from 2007-2008. Only 350 of these were ever made because of the economic crisis. Originally, it was only for the JDM market. However, some people in Europe managed to get their hand on these cars. It was only available in RHD. What made this so special is that it is the only factory 1st generation Raikan to weigh under 1000kg (984kg to be exact). The engine is also tuned to make 203HP and 153 lb-ft of torque. The rev limiter was raised to 8200RPM to make sure that the power is better used. The exhaust is all straight through. The gearing was slighly longer. It has a fully-clad undertray with an active aero system and a rear diffuser. It has a basic CD player. The rims are made of magnesium to save more weight and the rear tires are wider. Safety features were reduced to save even more weight, the interior uses a little bit of carbon fibre and seats made of aluminium to save even more weight, the sway bars are now semi-active and the suspension is lower and stiffer. Camber was also more agressive. It can do 0-60mph in 5.34 seconds, a top speed of 149mph and can do 26.3mpg. Owners really loved these cars. As a result, only 88% of these cars were one-owner cars and thus, these versions are highly sought after. Although not a TR version, it is still few of the greatest Tanaka ever made.

Post-facelift era (2013-2015)

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 B Facelift shown

The facelift brought big changes. It includes a new front fascia, LED headlights, new rim designs, increased reliability, increased fuel economy (all versions can do over 30mpg very easily), increased satety features, new infotainment systems (to replace the outdated CD players) and most importantly, the K-Series engine is now direct injection (now called the K20DI-A1) which now makes 184HP and 147lb-ft of torque. The facelift also brought in 2 new trims, the 2.0 T (to replace the 2.0 S) and the 2.0 TR.

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 T shown

This is the 2.0 T. The K20DI-A1 EarthBoost unit (yep, it is turbocharged!) now making 246HP and 227 lb-ft of torque, all while also increasing fuel economy (it can now do 36.8mpg). The rim diameter is now increased to 17-inches. The suspension setup is sportier, and also lowered. It can do 0-60mph in 5 seconds flat and has a top speed of 160mph. The 2.0 T proved to be quite popular.

Tanaka Raikan 2.0 TR shown

This is the 2.0 TR, the fastest and best-performing version of the 1st generation Raikan. It was available only for 2014-2015. Only 500 of these were ever made. It uses the K20DI-B1 EarthBoost unit (the final iteration of the K-Series engine) making 267HP and 292 lb-ft of torque. It has a new body-kit, a hood scoop to cool the engine, a new rear wing, exposed intercooler, 17-inch magnesium rims, wider tires, a fully-clad undertray, a sports interior, a basic infotainment system, standard 00s safety, launch control, adaptive dampers and a lowered and sportier suspension setup. It can do 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds, a top speed of 160mph (drag limited) and can do 1.20 g’s of lateral grip in a 20m radius circle.