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Motorsports Subaru

VIDEO: Subaru BRZ GT300

Subaru BRZ GT300

The Toybaru project has been all about bringing passion and fun back to motoring. Relatively lightweight, rear-wheel drive and at an affordable price. What’s not to like?

We suspect both Subaru and Toyota have deliberately under-engineered these cars to a degree, which will allow aftermarket tuners to tailor cars to specific customer requirements. Naturally, the manufacturers will want on in this aftermarket action, too.

What better way to promote one’s abilities than through the wheel-to-wheel action of high level motorsport. As such, here is Subaru’s first effort at reeling the aftermarket dollars in with this promo clip for the BRZ GT300. As its name suggests it will race in the Japanese Super GT category.

Visually, at least, we think the BRZ has made the transition from road car to racecar with spectacular success. Check out the video after the break and see if you agree.

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BMW Honda Mazda Mercedes-Benz Motor Shows Nissan Porsche Subaru Suzuki Toyota Volkswagen

2011 Tokyo Motor Show photo gallery

2011 Tokyo Motor Show

Like us you couldn’t make it to the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show either? Fear not as we’ve assembled a variety of images from the show featuring the usual suspects, such as the Toyota 86 and it’s close relative the Subaru BRZ. There’s also the weird and wonderful, too, in the form of the Daihatsu FC Case, the Nissan TOWNPOD, the Suzuki Q-Concept (pictured) and more.

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Motor Shows Subaru

Tokyo 2011: Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206

Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 NBR package

Subaru has given a public debut to two special Impreza WRX STI models at the Tokyo Motor Show—the S206 and S206 NBR Challenge Package (pictured above).

Only available for sale in Japan, and in strictly limited numbers, the S206 duo have been tuned to offer 235kW/431Nm. There will be just 300 S206 models built, which includes a maximum of 100 NBR models. As it happens the NBR Challenge Package—built to honour the company’s success at the Nürburgring 24 hour race—has already reached its maximum, with 100 pre-orders already confirmed by Subaru.

In addition to the engine, suspension and cosmetic mods already introduced to the S206, the NBR adds a carbon fibre roof, adjustable rear spoiler and lightweight 19″ BBS cast aluminium wheels.

It’s a shame these are JDM models only and no surprise the NBR package has already sold out.

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Audi Motor Shows

Tokyo 2011: Audi ‘A1 Samurai Blue’

Audi A1 Samurai Blue

For reasons best known to themselves Audi has rocked up to the Tokyo Motor Show with an A1 dedicated to the Japanese football team. Called the ‘A1 Samurai Blue’ the one-off concept model will be sold with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

Audi say they plan to release a special limited edition A1 based on the Samurai Blue. Which is just as well, because the concept model features “sports suspension with 225 millimeter wide, 18-inch wheels give the car the agility of a top league soccer star.” And we’d hate an opportunity like that to go to waste.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Ferrari and Red Bull quit FOTA

2011 German Grand Prix

Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have lodged notice to quit the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) amid concerns over the Resource Restriction Agreement.

The news emerged after a meeting at the recent Brazilian Grand Prix and was confirmed by a FOTA spokesperson. “FOTA confirms it has received the resignation of two teams,” the spokesperson told Autosport. “Whilst considering its next steps, FOTA will continue to work on behalf of its members to achieve the aims of the organisation.”

At the Korean Grand Prix in mid-October both Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari) and Christian Horner (Red Bull) cast doubt on the relevance of FOTA.

Horner stated, “I think that FOTA has reached the crossroads where it needs to deal with some of the key issues moving forward or we’ll stop. It’s as simple as that.

“The principal issues are obviously the Concorde Agreement, the direction that goes in, and fundamentally the RRA (Resource Restriction Agreement). If we can’t find agreement within FOTA on that, then what is the purpose of FOTA?”

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Mercedes-Benz

Bugger, did you miss out too?

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Mercedes-Benz Australia informs us their limited run of 32 C63 AMG Coupé Black Series models have now sold out, with a queue quickly forming ready to pounce on any possible increase in allocation. By the time you add in taxes and on-road costs that’s around $8 million in pre-sold vehicles. Nice going for all concerned you’d have to say.

Richard Emery, General Manager Sales, Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars is already looking forward to spending his Christmas bonus, “I can’t say I’m surprised but we’re certainly overwhelmed by the quick response. We’ll continue to work with AMG to secure more vehicles as not only have we sold out of our C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series allocation, but we now have a wait list.

“At this stage we don’t know how many more we can secure, but I know the number of additional vehicles won’t be high due to global demand”, concluded Emery.

Local pricing was only announced last month. It seems the only GFC in Australia is the one winning AFL grand finals.

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Green Machines Motor Shows Volkswagen

Tokyo 2011: Volkswagen Cross Coupé

Volkswagen Cross Coupe

Volkswagen brings a glimpse into its future with the Cross Coupé concept SUV. Powered by an innovative hybrid drivetrain Volkswagen say the styling you see here will influence future production models.

The all-wheel drive Cross Coupé is built on the MQB platform and features a 110kW/210Nm petrol engine complemented by a 40kW/180Nm electric engine at the front and an 85kW/270Nm electric motor at the rear; making a peak power figure of 195kW overall. Fuel consumption can be as low as 2.7l/100km, while a firm right foot can bring you to 100km/h in a respectable seven seconds.

Pay particular attention to the front of the Cross Coupé and you’ll be looking at the ‘Volkswagen visage’. This styling, created by Walter da Silver and Klaus Bischoff, represents a link between past and future styling. While the connection between LED DRL and chrome grille details is a neat fit, at the moment, we consider the look to be an acquired taste. Overall the Cross Coupé is a bit of a mix between an Audi Q5 and a Range Rover Evoque. Which is no bad thing.

Inside the cabin we get a preview of some interesting dash technology, where user programmable options are the order of the day. We’ve seen similar thinking from BMW in the past and no doubt we’ll soon be playing with such tech in production models.

More detail is available after the break, including video footage from the Volkswagen display at the Tokyo.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Tokyo 2011: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

You’re looking at the Passat Alltrack which has just made its public debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. Volkswagen say the Alltrack has been created for buyers who “want a versatile, sporty and very roomy passenger car that has rugged qualities.”

At 4771mm long and 1820mm wide the Alltrack matches the size of its regular Passat Estate counterpart. However, ground clearance moves up from 135mm to 165mm. For context a current model Subaru Outback has 213mm ground clearance and the Alltrack follows the familiar Outback template of adding a few cosmetic changes to an otherwise standard wagon.

The good news for Australian buyers is that the Alltrack has been pencilled in for a 2012 release. Volkswagen Australia has said pick a date anywhere between January and December. That’s to say, they haven’t confirmed a launch date, but we would expect it to be the latter half of next year.

A familiar mix of four Volkswagen engines and two drivetrains are specified in the Euro press release below, noting that the company’s 4motion all-wheel drive system is standard on the 125kW TDI (diesel) and 155kW TSI (petrol).

More detail follows after the break.

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MINI

MINI Coupé Cooper S – Australian pricing

MINI Coupe JCW

MINI Australia has just announced pricing for its new Cooper S Coupé which will launch in February next year. You’ll need $42,990 to get yourself into the car, plus those unavoidable taxes, on roads etc.

Joining the 135kW Cooper S will be the 155kW John Cooper Works model (pictured). Pricing for the JCW is a closely guarded secret for now and we’ll bring you more closer to its launch, also in February 2012.

More detail from MINI after the break.

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Volkswagen

Does it look any good in pink?

Volkswagen Beetle convertible

Girls loving pink Beetle convertibles is as clichéd as girls loving Barbie Dolls. So much so you can buy a pink Volkswagen Beetle convertible for Barbie to play with. Now, Car magazine brings us an early look at the newest ragtop Beetle.

Volkswagen has been trying to make The Beetle more masculine. We can’t help but feeling this latest addition to the range will be a case of one step forward, two steps back.

It’s expected the Beetle Cabriolet will go on sale mid–late 2012. Follow the link below for more.

[Source: Car]

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Ferrari

VIDEO: A closer look at the Ferrari 599XX EVO

Ferrari 599XX EVO

Respected YouTube contributor Marchettino brings us closer to the Ferrari 599XX EVO with his video shot from the floor of the Bologna Motor Show. You get a much better appreciation for the aero package on the car as well as ripping view of the side exit exhausts.

Check out the clip after the break.

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Toyota

The sound of 86

Toyota 86 engine sound

Ever since the Toyota 86 was released people have wanted to know what the 2.0 litre Toybaru boxer engine sounds like. Now, thanks to a couple of official ringtones from Toyota, we have an idea. Check out the samples below and if you want to download them yourself, head on over to the Toyota Global website.

After the break you can watch a rather overproduced promo clip for the 86. It’s titled Full throttle and it’s certainly full on.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/Toyota-86-ringtone01.mp3] [audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/Toyota-86-ringtone02.mp3]