My Book World Edition II
Now that disk space goes for a song, it's easy to find plenty of room for your collection of adorable kitten photos or Norwegian slasher films. Backing these precious memories up, though-that's a little more difficult. Enter an external hard drive that kills both birds with one stone, providing continuous and mirrored digital archival, readily safeguarding against data corruption and serving as a warehouse for treasured files. Even cooler, content can also be accessed online, ensuring you'll never have to leave precious info behind.
www.wdc.com / $399.99 (2TB); $699.99 (4TB)

Enkei Racing PF01
The Enkei PF01 is one of two new Racing Series wheels added to Enkei's 2010 wheel lineup. Utilizing Enkei's MAT flow-forming technology, the PF01 is designed as an ultra light-weight wheel that uses a unique roulette-pattern process, grooved on inside flange of the rim to reduce the slippage ratio between tire and rim, achieving the highest performance during extreme acceleration and deceleration. Check it out at SEMA booth #46045.
www.enkei.com

Round 6: Sonoma, CA
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, is close to the heart of California's wine-making industry. But it was the piquant aroma of melting tires that filled the air during Formula D's sixth round. The event was rescheduled to accommodate a double date with the IndyCar circus, a great way to pick up more fans for both series and a sign that drifting is becoming a bigger part of America's motorsport culture.inline_mediumwraptextright25926653/events/impp_1001_formula_drift_sonoma_californiaimpp_1001_01_o+formula_drift_sonoma_ca+main_view.jpgTrue

Nopi To Head D1GP In The U.S.?
The closing ceremonies of D1 Grand Prix USA's Englishtown, NJ, event brought a close to the newly formed stateside drifting offshoot's first season-an arguably tumultuous one, can now safely be said. The final event not only saw the continued protest of Japanese aces Kazuhiro Tanaka and Nobushige Kumakubo (over a judging dispute at the previous round in Chicago that nearly cost fans their event's final runs; the two didn't drive at all in New Jersey), but also came on the heels of the organization's split from promoters Driven Concepts. Coincidentally, it marked the return of NOPI, who hosted the E-town event's bikini contest and car show, leaving us wondering if the move was a sign of things to come. Spectator turn-out was bigger than anticipated, and the drifting that went down on E-Town's road race course was arguably the best of the year, especially the underdog performance that earned American 240SX pilot Sal Campo the Third Place spot on the podium (we don't know him either, but we're betting we'll be seeing more of him next year.). Daigo Saito's second First-Place win earned him Champ status for the season (and a cool $18,000) and Yoshioka landed in Second. Nomura claimed Second in the Champ chase, followed by our boy Forrest Wang in Third, each with some large fake checks and even larger cheeses for the cameras.
www.d1gp.cominline_mediumwraptextright27122791/events/impp_1001_mitsubishi_day_englishtown_njimpp_1001_01_o+mitsubishi_day_englishtown_nj+bww_drifting.jpgTrue

• Owner: Sebastian Juslin
• Dynamometer model: SP Engineering Dynojet Chassis Dyno 248E
• Installation: Scott Tsuneishi

Think of all the places you might find a 1,600whp Supra. We've got three: On a dyno at a TX2K highest-hp pissing contest; at any given drag strip within a 50-mile radius of MSP Racing in the Baltimore area, Titan Motorsports in Orlando, or L.A.'s SP Engineering; or on a trailer en route to said destinations. It wasn't until we met Jamie Carter that we'd expect to find one in Ohio, in the quaint Cleveland suburb of Chagrin Falls . . . at an elementary school soccer practice.inline_mediumwraptextright27116797/features/impp_1001_1998_toyota_supraimpp_1001_20_o+1998_toyota_supra+front_view.jpgTrue

Chances are you've never been to Romania. But if you're from certain parts of America, it would likely remind you of home. Its four distinct seasons render much of the year cool and wet-like that of the American Northwest. Dense vegetation in Romania's Carpathian foothills merges with farmland plains outside cities like Brasov in much the same as our Blue Ridge Mountains meet Appalachian lowlands in western Virginia. Dilapidated, forgotten-about industry in post-Soviet mining towns like Petrosani and Rosia Montana could blend seemlessly into the rural eastern-central Pennsylvania landscape. And while we might not have to deal with crumbling roadways that likely haven't been re-paved since the cold war, motorists in popular parts of Illinois, Arkansas or New York would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Likewise, Romania is just about the last place on Earth you'd expect to find this GT-R treading ground.inline_mediumwraptextright27074920/features/impp_1001_2009_nissan_skyline_gt_rimpp_1001_01_o+2009_nissan_skyline_gt_r+right_side_shot.jpgTrue

Fortunately for BK, show judges don't subscribe to that old fashioned dictum, "blue and green should never been seen", to the point where they have awarded him and his ride Best JDM Aftermarket at Hot Import Nights, Tampa, 2009. "I got the car finished the day before HIN and drove nine hours straight down to Florida with no problems," says BK. Other accolades include Hottest Ultimate Acura.inline_mediumwraptextright31266003/features/impp_1001_2003_acura_rsx_simpp_1001_20_o+2003_acura_rsx_s+front_view.jpgTrue

"So you ready for your interview and the subsequent thousand Facebook stalkers?" I jokingly rib.inline_mediumwraptextright31215930/models/impp_1001_sumlee_anderson_import_modelimpp_1001_02_o+sumlee_anderson_import_model+front_view.jpgTrue

Dynamat Sound Deadener
Dynamat SuperLite is the newest addition to Dynamic Control's family of sound damping products. The new, electric-blue SuperLite is for vehicle owners who want great sound damping, while keeping weight and price to a minimum. Designed in the same fashion as Dynamat Xtreme, SuperLite is a composition of light-weight aluminum, two-thousandths of an inch thick (.002"), and a low-density synthetic core, making it very pliable for installation. SuperLite is available in 12 sq. ft. and 48 sq. ft. kits, to fit the needs of a wide variety of consumers.
www.dynamat.cominline_mediumwraptextright27007330/reviews/impp_1001_sony_xplod_cd_receiverimpp_1001_01_o+sony_xplod_cd_receiver+dynamat_front_view.jpgTrue

Gurkha
No New Year's celebration would be complete without the proper stogie, bottle of bubbly, and midnight Frenchie-lip action. While you can't buy the latter (for a decent price, anyway), you can get it on with an Archive cigar from Gurkha for less than the price of four gallons of premium. Smooth, tasty and in commemoration of Gurkha's 20th anniversary, lighting this bad boy up might be the most action you'll see all NYE.
www.gurkhacigars.com / $10.00inline_mediumwraptextright25837718/reviews/games/impp_1001_halo_3_odstimpp_1001_01_o+halo_3_odst+gurkha_front_view.jpgTrue

You can watch live coverage of our backback camera as we walk around SEMA 2009. Join us back here at 2:30 PST Tuesday for live coverage.

* Owner: Mitsubishi Motors
* Dynamometer Model: Dynojet Dynamometer

My Touch 3G
First came the G1. Now we get the next smartphone to utilize Google's open-source Android platform. Beyond hundreds of downloadable apps, adding a range of functionality from social networking to restaurant recommendations, bonuses include a sharp 3.2-inch touchscreen display and 3.2mp camera. Speedy Internet surfing is also a given, as is WiFi capability and video playback/recording, with support for enjoying music and photos integrated, too. Slightly above-average feature readout aside, extensive third-party support really makes it worth keeping on speed dial.
www.t-mobile.com / $199.99

When it comes to increasing performance, two steps forward often come at the cost of one step back. Decreasing body roll and lowering ride height can come at the cost of a harsh ride and poor streetability; increasing power can decrease fuel economy or driveline longevity, raise engine temps, impact emissions and a whole host of other baddies; even outfitting your ride with higher-friction brake pads likely means you'll be replacing them more often. But can increasing traction through the addition of a limited slip differential (LSD)-a modification long-embraced by tuners for having little to no apparent drawbacks-actually decrease power output and make you slower?

Track Suit
Recently, there's been a trend at shows that's ever-growing: the track look. Cars with roll cages, bucket seats and harnesses, over fenders accommodating wide wheels wrapped with wider tires, big brake kits with umpteen number of pistons, bumpers equipped with canards and diffusers, and engines built to the hilt. To the common passerby, they look like fully-prepped race cars-something out of a Super Lap Battle paddock. But odds are, the only track the car's ever seen is the one that leads to its trailer. How do you know? When's the last time you've seen a race car-let alone a street-driven one-with a front bumper without so much as a scratch? And no, Gran Turismo and Forza doesn't count

The love for Japanese muscle is evident across the globe. Yet again Import Tuner is snagging some of the best shots across the world and printing them right here. Wondering why you never got that reply to your Longshots submission? Because these guys are in your way. Congratulations Dave, Brenton, Daniele, and Andrew! Point, snap, click, and send your photos to longshots@importtuner.com

Blame it on the alcohol? Story of my life. That music video has some crazy cameos: Forest Whitaker, Samuel Jackson, T-Pain, and then they have Ron Howard and Jake Gyllenhaal which is super random. Where did the white guys come from?
I heard that Jamie asked them to make a cameo during Obama's Inauguration. The coolest part was that I ended up being in the scene with them during filming. Sitting on a couch between Forest and Jake Gyllenhaal-it was surreal filming with Oscar winners. They were all the nicest guys, too. Ron Howard is really down to earth and asked, "So do you do this thing often?" He had me laughing the whole time. It was a unique experience to get to see a director be directed by another director (Hype Williams). Jamie was a great entertainer and knows how to throw a party as well.

Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT In-Dash Navigation System
Pioneer Electronics unveils the AVIC-Z110BT, its flagship in-dash navigation system that allows consumers to simultaneously access mapping and route guidance information, enjoy both audio and video entertainment, control an Apple iPod/iPhone and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with natural voice commands and receive updated traffic, weather and local event information via an optional MSN Direct tuner. The AVIC-Z110BT navigation system provides instant location access, thanks to its fast processor and four gb of on-board flash memory, a motorized seven-inch touch panel display, CD/DVD Video playback, built-in Bluetooth and a customizable touch-screen interface for quick access to frequently used features.
www.pioneerelectronics.com

Hi Performance Silicone
Hi Performance Store unveils the next generation of high-temperature and pressure silicone hoses and couplers to suit your power needs. Available in a large variety of sizes and colors, Hi Performance Store also provides an extensive selection of vehicle-specific kits to help take your car to the next level.
www.hiperformancestore.com

When I hear the word "cube", thoughts of the geeky sort come to mind. Example: cube, as in dice, as in Dungeons and Dragons. Or cube as in Professor Erno Rubik, as in Rubik's Cube. A geometrical object, as far as shapes go, cubes weren't ever in vogue. Diamonds, stars and octagons have always stolen the show, while cubes, quite frankly, have always been square. And ever since the square peg first met the round hole, cubes have never been the same.

It's interesting how different mythologies seem to share a lot in common. From creation stories, to hybrid human/animal deities with multiple appendages, to gods from outer space, our favorite might be tales of a "wise old man". Traditionally perched under a tree or atop a mountain, and blessed with limitless patience and the skill to offer advice in adage, one could only find this peaceful master after years of searching and exhausting all alternatives. Pay attention to that last part. Because, as Eric Hsu might just be the tuning world's "wise man" with all the answers, his patience has quick limits, he only gives advice in unfiltered plain speak, and if you're foolish enough to call him "old" . . . you might find yourself battling an eight-armed Bruce Lee

Owner: Mitsubishi Motors

Dynamometer Model: Dynojet Dynamometer

2009 Mitsubushi Eclipse GTinline_mediumwraptextright26611126/tech/powerpages/impp_0911_2009_mitsubishi_eclipse_gtimpp_0911_01_z+2009_mitsubushi_eclipse_gt+rear_view.jpgTrue

We've all heard the arguments. Fans of drag racing will shout that theirs was here first-that it's the quintessential form of racing: a no-bullshit, mano-a-mano power contest with the clock as the judge. Those of drifting, that drag racing is narrow-minded and boring; drifting is more creative, interesting, and has more character. We're not taking sides. It's all one big shit storm that we'd rather not get caught in, and after a close look at these two S15 Silvias, a baseless one. Love or hate what either car was built for, the quality, craftsmanship and capabilities of each are worth a kidney from any one of us. One car churns out 1,400 hp at 11K rpm, and blasts 7.2-second quarter-mile passes. The other has bested the likes of Yamanaka, Takatori, and Verdier in competition, and has prompted drivers of big-budget, V-8-powered drift machines to re-think the potency of the modified four-cylinder street car that just took them out.inline_mediumwraptextright"Drifting is just a fad."26881837/features/impp_0912_1999_nissan_silvia_s15impp_0912_02_o+1999_nissan_s15+side_shot.jpgTrue