‘Add Lightness‘ were the words Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, lived and died by. I’m sure right now, Mr. Chapman is looking down on Jimmy Wong’s Elise with a smile and approving nod.

Jimmy Wong, of Hong Kong had this killer vehicle built in six months with help from TW Auto Limited, a local Lotus specialist. Everything you see, from the front end, to the roof, to the doors are dry carbon fiber and along with ‘adding lightness’ (80lbs to be exact) this carbon fiber conversion adds pure sex appeal.

The motor remains fairly stock, although the suspension and wheels have been upgraded.

It is now Day 9/10 of the 2009 Dakar Rally and there’s already more than enough to talk about. Currently, Volkswagen is holding the top three spots with Mitsubishi nipping at the heels of third place. On a more somber note, the course has already claimed a victim; French motorcycle rider Pascal Terry who had been missing since the second stage of the race.

This year’s Dakar Rally was relocated to Argentina-Chile after threats from terrorists derailed the traditional France-Senegal route the race takes. The race kicked off on January 3rd and will wrap up January 17th.

The Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) was this past weekend and there’s is a TON of coverage floating around the Internets (sic). Not only did Nissan choose this forum as the kick off for the new Nissan GT-R Spec V, many manufactures rolled out new models sporting new parts for the coming year.

I have to had it to one page in particular for fantastic coverage; SpeedHunters did a bang up job and has become my ‘go-to’ for TAS 2009 coverage. Check out some of the links below.

If you are an avid (or even occassional) viewer of Top Gear then you know that some say The Stig was forged out of steel and fire in the devil’s own pit garage, however you don’t know his identity… [cue Jeremy Clarkson voice] until now.

Well, kinda. Telegraph UK is reporting that The Stig is a married man, in his 30s, living in a £300,000 house, driving a ‘boring’ car.

See what I mean by ‘kinda’? Those facts don’t exactly narrow down The Stig’s true identity, but some other facts dug up by Telegraph UK may provide insight into who he actually is.

GTSPEC really is proving to be the ‘Future of Bracing Technology’ as their mantra states. With their latest press releases they have announced a plethora of parts for the Infiniti G35/G37 and the Subaru Impreza WRX/STI.

In the Infiniti G35/G7 department, the following part #s have been released:

• GTS-SUS-1320 – Front Strut Brace
• GTS-SUS-1348 – Front 4 Point Subframe Brace
• GTS-SUS-1347 – Front 2 Point Subframe Brace
• GTS-SUS-1332 – Left/Right Subframe Tie Brace
• GTS-SUS-1350 – Rear 6 Point Subframe Brace
• GTS-SUS-1087 – Rear Lower Tie Brace
• GTS-SUS-1349 – Rear Lateral Brace
• GTS-SUS-1346 – Fender Reinforcement Brace

On the Subaru WRX/STI side of things, the following part #s have been released:

• GTS-SUS-1322 – Front Strut Brace
• GTS-SUS-1355 – Rear Strut Brace
• GTS-SUS-1327 – Front Chassis Brace
• GTS-SUS-1328 – Mid Chassis Brace
• GTS-SUS-1329 – Rear 4 Point Subframe Tie Brace
• GTS-SUS-1339 – Rear A-Arm Chassis Brace
• GTS-SUS-1344 – Fender Reinforcement Brace
• GTS-SUS-1345 – Rear Trunk Cage System (Include Rear Strut Brace)

Well, the Dakar Rally might be in South America this year, but that doesn’t mean the Middle East has to go without racing. The Toyo Tires 24 Hours of Dubai is now in full swing.

Eighty-One cars showed up representing Twenty-One different brands, each to get a run at the first race of the new year. Everything from Aston Martins to Mitsubishi Evolutions to One-Off-Porsche-Powered-Monsters are in the mix, which should make for a fantastically entertaining event.

As if the 2009 Nissan GT-R wasn’t enough for you, the SpecV might end up being more your cup of tea. The car stays relatively similar to it’s non SpecV counterpart; 3.8L Twin Turbo V6 Engine, AWD Drivetrain and Telepathic Handling. However, the SpecV goes one step further by dropping weight with the addition of Carbon Fiber… lots of it. Think, Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler, Grill and Brake Ducts, not to mention Carbon Fiber Recaro Seats, and what the heck Carbon Fiber Instrument Panel and Interior Trim.

In additional, a titanium exhaust, tweaked suspension and 20 inch NISMO wheels add more umph, to an already capable machine.

UPDATE: Live Video (also below)

Although a fair amount of companies are pulling (have pulled) from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, there are a handful of debuts scheduled.

Scion for instance is bringing out the latest xB from their ‘Release Series’. Draped inside and out in a color called ‘Absolutely Red’ and sporting a trick CD player, front grill and a exclusive set of… hub caps?

Well, I guess that makes the guys selling wheels and tires happy. =)

Autocar, the self claimed, ‘world’s oldest car magazine’ is reporting some unsettling news. On the heels of the announcement that Honda was scrapping the future NSX supercar, more reports are seeping in claiming Honda will ALSO cancel their S2000 replacement, the CR-Z Coupe and a V8 engine slated for top-of-the-line Honda and Acura’s.

On the brighter side of things, in an effort to reduce development costs, Honda is tossing around the idea of combining American/Australian/European/Japanese Spec Accords to a single model. Even though the overseas Accord is still technically sold here as the Acura TSX, it be cool to tell people you now drive the Euro-Spec Accord.

AEM is proud to announce the release of its Water/Methanol Injection Pump & Jet Kit (Part#: 30-3002). This kit comes with all of the components needed to do a complete water/methanol injection system excluding a reservoir. So in the case you’d like to use a custom reservoir or an existing reservoir in your vehicle such as the windshield washer reservoir, you’ll get exactly what’s needed!

AEM includes all the components to assemble and install a complete water/methanol injection system (excluding reservoir). You’ll get the powerful 150-PSI pump, nozzle with three different sized jets, progressive controller, check valve, vacuum line, methanol-safe tubing, and an LED indicator light.

Also available is the One Gallon Tank Kit (Part#: 30-3011). AEM’s one-gallon tank is constructed of high-density polyethylene which is compatible with a mixture of up to 50% methanol. Ideal for plumbing your own water/methanol injection system or using for an auxlilary reservoir.