We were supposed to pick up an Infiniti FX for this Eid-Al-Fitr, so it was a surprise when we were handed the keys to the QX56. Confusing letters aside, we never drove it before, and it is going to be an interesting exercise driving what it possibly the largest passenger vehicle that isn’t a bus. Less obnoxious than the Hummer H2, but still quite a bit longer, it is at least easy to drive.
Subaru has unveiled the new STI version of the redesigned Impreza WRX. It is powered by a 2.0-litre boxer-four with a twin-scroll turbo mated to a 6-speed manual. SI-DRIVE, multi-mode Drivers Control Center Differential (DCCD) and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) are also standard.
Lexus has released the high-performance 2008 IS F in Japan. The IS F’s 5.0-litre V8 engine is derived from the Lexus LS600h engine, and makes 417 hp at 6600 rpm and 504 Nm of torque at 5200 rpm. It also has the 8-speed automatic transmission from the LS, but programmed to shift quicker, taking as little as 100 ms to shift gears using the paddle shifters.
Mitsubishi has officially launched the Lancer Evolution X in Japan. The trims announced are the standard GSR model and the stripped-down RS model.
Nissan is going to unveil its best ever sports car at the end of next month during the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. Dropping the “Skyline” name, it will be called the Nissan GT-R, and will be equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 powerplant, pumping out an estimated 480 hp to 530 hp. Shown above is the disguised working prototype. The surprising part is it has unofficially been proven to be quicker around a track than a Porsche 911 Turbo, which costs twice as much as the GT-R.
A number of new cars were launched this month, although not all of them had the fancy launch party that Nissan had. BMW didn’t even have a party for their Rolls and Mini models.
We’ve come across full press photos of the all-new 2009 Honda Jazz, also known as the Fit in other markets. This car will be released at the Tokyo Auto Show this year
The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser has officially been unveiled in Australia and the United States, each offering different engines.
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. We just picked up a brand new Toyota FJ Cruiser, and after the Mini, Hummer and Corvette, this is our fourth yellow car in a row. Yellow! Never have we seen so much yellow! Yellow fever aside, the FJ really is the Japanese answer to the Hummer. We found its back-to-basics off-road equipment to be adequate, while its power leaves the seriously-slow H3 in the dust. Both are rated at around 240 hp, but the FJ has more torque and is somewhat lighter, with an extra speed in the auto gearbox.
We’ve just been invited to the launch of three all-new Nissan 4WD vehicles – the Qashqai compact crossover 4WD, the Xterra midsize five-door offroader and the Navara offroader pickup.