Automotive World

The A1 special is based on the three-door model with the 122HP 1.4 TFSI petrol engine and features the team's traditional blue and white colors accentuated by the red of the Japanese flag. It rides on unique 18-inch wheels painted in red.

Sadly, while Subaru released the first rendering of the BRZ GT300, the Japanese automaker is still holding back on the details (though we assume a boxer engine should be in the mix), but we'll keep you posted on any information we get in our hands.

The new CR-V, which we first saw at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this month, will be offered in Japan in two flavors, the 20G and the 24G.

Unlike the extremely radical Juke-R project, which features the inner works of the GT-R sports car including its twin-turbo V6 engine and advanced all-wheel drive system, the Juke Nismo concept is a very realistic study for a down-to-earth sporty variant of the regular model.

For some reason Toyota has decided to name the car simply 86 in Japan and GT 86 in Europe, while the same or possibly slightly different variant with the Scion badge will be marketed as the FR-S in North America.

The key facts about the 86 include a front-mounted Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter boxer engine pushing 200-horses towards the rear axle through a short-shift six-speed manual gearbox (or a 6-speed automatic) and an available limited slip differential.

Toyota has not yet released full specifications, but a leaked brochure revealed that the JDM version tips the scales at 1,210kg (2,668 pounds) in basic trim and at 1,230kg (2,711 pounds) in the second trim level.

In Europe, the new Toyota will be called the GT 86 in tribute to the Japanese firm's GT car heritage and especially the Corolla GT (or Levin) AE86, which inspired its creation. The Japanese domestic market version will be aptly called 86.

The GT 86 is the result of a joint Toyota and Subaru development programme that will spawn two more models, the global Subaru BRZ that will also make its debut in Tokyo next week in production trim, and the North American market Scion FR-S.

All three cars will share the same platform and mechanical hardware including the Subaru-sourced flat-four, with only minor styling differences between them.

The story of the GT 86 began in October 2009 with the unveiling of the first FT-86 Concept in Tokyo and was followed by the almost production ready FT-86 II concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show this past March.

The most fuel-efficient version of the Alto series is powered by Suzuki's new R06A 0.66-liter three-cylinder engine featuring a start/stop system borrowed from the third-generation MR Wagon. It produces an output of 52-horses at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 63Nm (46.5 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm.

Billed by Subaru as the "crown of STI tuned cars", the new Impreza WRX STI S206 follows on from previous “S” versions, such as the S203, S204 and S205.

So what's special about the new STI model? Well, for starters, the S206 employs exclusive Bilstein dampers, STi coil springs, a flexible front tower bar and draw stiffener, which promise to further improve the car’s precise and quick cornering response.

The S206 rides on a new set of 19-inch BBS aluminum wheels, which have been designed exclusively for this model, and are shod in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

If the two automakers reach an agreement, Mitsubishi will provide Suzuki with the new MINICAB-MiEV, a minicar-class light commercial electric van. The EV will be marketed under Suzuki's own brand name in Japan.

According to this video which may or may not be official, the updated GT-R with 550-horses under its hood recorded a mind-boggling 0-100km/h time of 2.84 seconds and a 0-60mph (96km/h) time of just 2.72 seconds.

For the record, last year's GT-R (2012MY in the States) with 530-ponies completed the standard sprint to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds while the 2010 GT-R (2011MY in N.A.) with 485HP, in 3.5 seconds.

The GS 250 is the third model in the new GS lineup, after the previously revealed GS 350, which is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 306-ponies and the GS 450h top-end model that links a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 to the Lexus Hybrid Drive for a combined system output of 338-horsespower.

At the heart of the new GS 250 lies Lexus' 2.5-litre V6 gasoline engine with D-4S direct port injection and Dual VVT-i intelligent valve timing.

It produces a maximum output of 209HP (154 kW/206bhp) at 6,400rpm and 253Nm (187 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,800rpm, accelerating the GS 250 from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 8.6 seconds en route to a top speed of 230km/h (143mph).

But alas; as soon as the flag goes down your STI stalls and the engine shuts off. Your friend chuckles but no worries, just turn the key and fire up the turbocharged flat four and let's take it from the start.

Okay, we're ready now and yes, 18 seconds later you've reached the final cone and you can unleash the awesome power of Subaru's boxer engine only to…crash into a wall! On the bright side, you may have just set a new track record for the fastest crash ever…

You can watch the short clip right after the jump.

With the Prius C, Toyota expands its lineup of Prius-badged hybrid models that already includes the regular Prius, the new plug-in Prius PHEV and the Prius V minivan. The new five-door hatchback model takes its place as the base model of the Prius family.

At 3,995mm (157.3-in.) long, 1,695mm (66.7-in.) wide, and 1,445mm (56.9-in.) tall with a wheelbase of 2,550mm (100.4-in.), the Prius C is marginally bigger than the latest generation of the Yaris (153.5" long, 66.7" wide, and 59.4" tall with a 98.8" wheelbase).

The Prius C features a compact and lightweight hybrid system that combines a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a high-output electric motor.

Then all of a sudden, the Japanese company went from no news to a flood of information surrounding the BRZ.

The Mirage is a new B-segment size model developed for emerging markets. The low-cost five-door hatchback measures 3,710mm long, 1,665mm wide and 1490mm high, with the company claiming that, it provides "a comfortable interior space for five adults".

Based on the latest generation of the Swift supermini, the EV Hybrid concept makes use of a similar powertrain setup featuring a range-extender gasoline engine to the Chevrolet Volt.

Believed to preview the looks and possibly an alternative powertrain option for the next generation of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Concept PX-MiEV II is a follow up to the PX-MiEV study displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

On the outside, there are some minor styling changes such as the higher roofline, larger mirrors, plus more conventional looking alloy wheels, lights and bumper designs, all of which suggest that the PX-MiEV II is pointing to the styling of the next Outlander.

No one knew who the man behind the wheel was. Only after he stepped out and formally introduced himself did they learn that it was the company’s CEO, Akio Toyoda. “I asked them if they like cars”, said Toyoda. “If they didn’t, they shouldn’t bother joining.”

When he assumed his duties in June 2009, the 55-year old grandson of Toyota’s founder said that he wanted his company to build cars that “made people happy”.

He did not know it at the time, but it was a rather unfortunate choice of words. Less than six months later, Toyota, which up to this point had built a reputation as a manufacturer of reliable cars, had to face the unintended acceleration safety issues in the U.S. that sprouted massive and costly recalls.