around the block

Taking A Spin In A JDM Nissan Skyline

The new Nissan GT-R may be stirring up a lot of hype, but before the R35, Skyline lovers on this continent had to have their cars independently imported. The problem is, since the gray-market heyday of the '80s, the American import laws have been pretty dang strict. So, we decided to make our way up to Toronto, to check out how hoons in great white north do things. This particular operation, ONI JDM, has brought in everything from kei cars to fully-modded RX-7s, Supras, and of course Skylines. They offered to take us for a ride in their drift-spec R32 Nissan Skyline, so we bolted down the video camera and strapped ourselves in.

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In Memoriam: Subaru Offers Hero-Edition Impreza in the UK

When famed rallyist Richard Burns lost a battle with cancer in 2005, two years after a brain tumor ended his WRC career, the Subaru enthusiast community raised millions in his name for cancer research. Now, Subaru is kicking in with a memorial of its own for the once Subaru World Rally Team star. Dubbed the RB320, this limited-edition Impreza WRX STi gets some tweaks from motorsports tech firm Prodrive, including a performance pack that boosts horsepower to 316 at 6,000 rpm and torque to 332 lb-ft at 3,700 rpm. the RB320 comes in one paint scheme — obsidian black — with 18" alloys and a Prodrive-tuned suspension kit of Bilstein dampers, a sporting spring kit and rear anti-roll bar. Ride height's been lowered by 30 mm in the front and 10 mm at the rear. Each car in the numbered series also includes a chrome mesh grille, front lip spoiler, shift kit, sill plates and branded interior features. A limited number of buyers will get their cars at a track-day launch event on Prodrive's test track in Warwickshire, UK. The Impreza RB320 will cost 29,995, or 3,500 over the base STi. Don't bother with the exchange, Yanks, it's only available to Burns's countrymen. [Thanks to Stephen for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli More »