y.m.m.v

Clarkson on Audi RS4

Other than this minor irritation I’m completely sold on the RS 4. It goes like a scalded cock, corners beautifully, sounds like God with a cold, looks like Achilles, and best of all, if you buy one, you won’t have to buy something else tomorrow.

Say no more!

If you do want a hands-on, see Fortitude for their article on the exceptional RS4.

^{props to Fortitude for the RS4 pic from Le Mans 24h}

VW EcoRacer

It’s Tokyo Car Show bonanza again!

There are dozens of cars I could talk about and bask in. But this one hits me square in the eyes.

The Car Connection’s pictures are very nice indeed, but their description, and those of many other reviewers seems to forget a small details I think matters:

This car should remind folks of the Porsche 914, sold in the US as the VW 914.

For an amazing article and pictures, check out VWVortex.com

It’s an old 914 … especially from this angle.
Oh, and I want one. Canary Yellow will do fine thanks!

Versa-tile

What’s from Nissan and smaller then a Sentra ? the 2007 Nissan Versa

Built in Mexico for the NorthAm market, the Versa will retail around 12000 US.

JapaneseCarFans.com has more pics.

Can Nissan compete against the Koreans (Rio, Accent) ? For the money, maybe.

Also, why can’t it have some of the gusto of it’s Renault sister, the Renault Clio ?

Maybe we will get lucky to get a hotter “Spec V” edition, like the Renaultsport Clio, but with a Nissan badge.

^{props to IGN for a fanboy page for the hot Clio}

Hot for Polo

Nope, not about horses, clubs and balls. The new little “caliente” Polo, miniature GTI of sort.

I don’t know why, but I want one. I even covet the “Interlagos” seats … that’s checkered “black & red” for you and me.

more pics below

Shooting Brake Concept

Tip of the hat to fortitude.com for the nice article on “another shooting break” design, this time from Audi.

Am I seeing things, or is the nose very Mazda RX-8 and the tail a Mazda 3 GT/Renault Megane. Or maybe some common DNA with the BMW 1 series ?

I know, somebody will claim that this is due to “pedestrian impact” or “crash worthiness” issues. Yes, designers are “forced” into seemingly similar lines. Sure.

But that said, I like the look. Too bad about the obvious high price.

Suzuki LC

The little Suzuki LC concept car harks back to the very first car by the well known maker, the 1955 Suzulight.

Darn cute and most likely useful in congested Tokyo!

Yaris

While waiting for my oil change this morning (3.5 hours, no kiddin’!), I had a chance to read a lot of newspapers and magazines.

What caught me off guard is that Toyota is introducing the new Yaris as the Yaris … not Echo Hatchback 2.0. In some strange alternate-reality scenario, the Echo Sedan keeps it’s name and original construction.

Wow. Why ?

FHI - GM + TMC

Fuji Heavy Industries left General Motors and joined Toyota Motor Corp.

Reuters

This is the end of Saaburu as we know it, maybe even Saab…

Speculation online is that Toyota wanted FHI for the batteries they developed with NEC.

October 5, 2005
Company Name: Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Representative: Mr. Kyoji Takenaka, President and CEO
Code number: 7270(1st section of Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Contact for inquiries; Mr. Shunji Yonekura General Manager of Administration Department.
Phone: (03)-3347-2005

Notice of dissolve of strategic alliance with General Motors Corporation

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (“FHI”) announces today that they dissolve the strategic alliance with General Motors Corporation (“GM”) that started on December 10, 1999 as described below.

Announcement

1. Background FHI and GM agreed upon a strategic alliance and capital relationship allowing a high level of management autonomy to establish win-win situation to develop steady and further growth for the future on December 10, 1999. Since GM purchased about 20% of FHI shares and became the top shareholder of FHI in April 2000, both companies worked together for various synergic effects.

The joint efforts over the past 6 years period resulted in achievements such as global procurement, OEM business, technology exchanges, etc. However, the two companies concluded that mutually beneficial large joint projects are unlikely in future, and came to agree to terminate their strategic and affiliated company relationship.

2. Contents FHI and GM will discuss on the future direction of ongoing cooperative projects. As for the joint development project of a crossover vehicle between FHI and Saab Automobile AB, which was announced last year, FHI and GM have basically agreed to stop the development.

GM will sell FHI shares of 157, 262, 925, and 20.1% of outstanding common stock, that they own through General Motors of Canada Limited.

3. Outline of GM Company name: General Motors Corporation Headquarter: 300 Renaissance Center P.O. Box 300 Detroit, MI 48265-3000 United States of America Representative: Chairman and CEO G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Business: Design, development, production and sales of automobiles, and auto related Finance & Insurance etc.

4. Effect to our financial conditions FHI has decided to record extraordinary loss of 5 billion yen, which is a part of the development cost, in this fiscal year.

Sportbacks Coupes

Something is going on in the car industry, the future shapes of the 80s are making a comeback. Swoopy, two-door, hatchback and aerodynamic. Tatted up with modern bling and engined with something high-tech and potentially fuel efficient.

Citroen C-SportLounge Concept

Subaru B5-TPH

Chevy Nomad

Sabb 9X Concept from 2001

There is a shape that becomes common: swoopy roadster meets hatchback/station wagon.