If I can remember from "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain" last year, once person E-mailed saying that "...the Japanese made drifting a sport, but I can recall taking my Ford in the 1950s or 1960s and sliding out...so America came up with drifting."
Don't think that I have no respect for automobiles when I say this, but I think "Initial D" is a pretty cool Anime series. I seen the white Trueno take on the black R32 in the episode "5 Dangerous Hairpin Turns." It was too bad that the DVD couldn't be read after I seen the R32 (R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R, by the way). Anyhow, I wouldn't be surprised if this car makes it into GT4.
Now for some un-expertly commentary on the popularity of cars and their correlation to Gran Turismo. Now if it is one thing I'm getting a bit tired of, it's people who like to bash on young folk getting into Japanese cars in extreme situations. I never seen the movie, but "Gone in Sixty Seconds" had a GT500 known as the GT500E. "Dukes of Hazard" had that General Lee car. Now, I'm 21 years old. I know that I don't know much about cars older than 1983 or any movies or series back then. Now, is it because some young guy with a Japanese car showing off flashy moves is considered crap by American car fans? Well guess what? Some people are sick of V8s and ground-pounding heavyweights. Now sure, they aren't flashy. However, this is a double-edged sword. Some muscle car loverss are sick of some people who are into Japanese tuner cars and techno music. Likewise, some import/sport compact (when it comes to America) aren't really into ground-pounding American cars. Some even say they are ugly. Now me, I like all cars of all eras. So in my view, don't be surprised if the next best marketable Japanese compact or fire-breathing dragon inspired by the media makes it into GT4, car commercials, magazines, and the like. It's about marketability. If America is continually drawn into NASCAR since ALMOST EVERYTHING are the official whatevers of NASCAR, then Hollywood and/or Tokyo will use the same methods. It's all about the Benjamins. In closing, say what you want about the AE86 and any other media-inspired car or truck. How can it be countered? Market American cars in a way that attracts people like bees to honey. If you have to employ kiss-ass methods, so be it. Hopefully they'll make it into GT games. Maybe Japan has more "show and go" cars (in the perspective of a muscle car lover), but the marketability and exposure of the car is exceptional no matter if any American car will ever get such recognition.
As a note, even if there is a Honda Civic tuner that looks like crap, just remember. This is the young generation of today, not 1960 Fords in Riverside. The young generation are car fans too despite tastes. Give them respect, otherwise, this compacts vs. muscle/pony car rivalry will continue until one side finally raises the white flag.
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