New Toyota Vitz / Yaris to be introduced in December

According to Japanese magazine Best Car, the third generation Vitz / Yaris will be introduced in December in Japan. The illustration above shows how it's going to look like.

[Source: Best Car magazine]

Nissan March (Micra) to get Smart badge for US

MB wants to push the sales and has declared that a Yaris rival will be launched in the States by the end of 2011. The small hatch will be based on a Nissan vehicle and as you can clearly see from the sketches, this vehicle will be the new Nissan March/Micra.

Source: Indian Autos Blog

Even more scale models coming from Japan!

Additionally to the models arriving in November from Japan (earlier post), six more models will arrive this month! I really look forward getting them!!!

• Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R (PGC10) – White by Ebbro
• Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R (KPGC10) 1971 – White by Ebbro
• Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R (KPGC110) – White by Ebbro 
• Nissan Skyline 2000 Turbo RS-X (R30) – Red/Black by Kyosho
• Nissan GT-R Motul Autech Super GT 500 2008 No.22 by Ebbro 
• Toyota Supra 2.5GT Twin Turbo R 1990 – Dark Green by Ebbro

Nissan reveals a sketch of the new Tiida (Versa)

Nissan announced today that the next-generation Nissan Versa (sold as Tiida in Europe and Japan) will be sold in the States. The sketch shown above was also revealed.

Now, Nissan has to do much better than the current Tiida if it's serious in selling it in Europe.

Prius V and C to be the new additions to the Prius family

You might already know that Toyota will be releasing two new Prius models into dealership showrooms by the end of 2012, and you might also know that those two models are going to be a MPV-style wagon and a smaller, compact sized Prius. According to PriusChat's anonymous dealer tipster, the names of the two new Prius models are the Prius V and the Prius C.

Guests at the 10th Anniversary celebration for the Prius (U.S.) put together the puzzle pieces that revealed the 3rd Generation Prius with the Prius V behind it.

Source: PriusChat

Next-gen Honda Civic 4-door (2HC) fully exposed!

CAR Middle East has provided the first pictures of the next-gen Civic sedan, 2HC (earlier post), completely naked of all camouflage!

Now you have a clear picture of what to expect and I have to admit that I was hoping for something better than this. As an owner of the current generation (FD1), I was looking forward for the next-gen and I am rather disappointed.

I think that CAR is right when writing "Now Honda looks to be losing faith in its daring design direction, delivering a cheese-wedge sedan that could easily be mistaken for – whisper it – one of the equally wedgy Koreans that are flooding out of South East Asia. Or perhaps it’s merely a reflection of these austere times where sobriety is a virtue. Either way: we want our old Honda back".

Source: CAR Middle East

Honda begins sales of refreshed Fit and Fit Hybrid in Japan

Honda begins today sales in Japan of the refreshed Fit model together with the all-new Fit Hybrid, a new addition to the Fit lineup.

The new Fit Hybrid will be offered at the starting price of 1.59 million yen making it the most affordable of all Honda hybrid vehicles. The battery for the hybrid system is located under the rear cargo area which enables the Fit to share the same flexible seating configurations as the rest of the lineup without sacrificing interior comfort that is unique to Fit. 

Since the introduction of Fit in June 2001, cumulative sales in Japan reached the 1.5 million-unit mark in September 2010. Fit is currently produced at ten production plants in eight countries/regions including Japan and is sold in approximately 115 countries. The model has been appraised by customers around the world and cumulative global sales exceeds 3.5 million units.

• Key features of Fit

13 G/13 L

• New and sophisticated exterior design which contributes to the reduction of air resistance and improvement of fuel economy 
• Excellent fuel economy of 24.5km/liter and improved practical fuel economy achieved through the adoption of ECON Mode 
• Enhanced features and improved usability achieved through a thorough review of the previous model
• Honda Smart Parking Assist System which enables easier parking

15 X

• Exclusive exterior design which offers a more upscale look and feel with special features such as a chrome-plated front grille and rear license plate garnish 
• Exclusive interior design which highlights a superior-quality feel through adoption of brown-toned seat color and surface material, chrome-plated trim and highly-luminous metallic color painted panels
• High level of quietness achieved through the CVT setting that leverages spare torque of the 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and improved sound absorption/insulation capability

RS

• Exclusive and distinctive sporty exterior design 
• Exclusive interior design with enhanced sporty image achieved through adoption of black and orange seat surface material and other features such as a leather-wrapped sports-type steering wheel
• Dynamic driving performance achieved through special settings for suspension, EPS, exhaust system, a 6-speed manual transmission adopted for the first time for this model, and paddle shifters which is a standard feature for a CVT model

 

• Key features of Fit Hybrid

• Exclusive exterior design which pursues an "advanced and clean" concept through features such as headlights and front grille painted and/or plated with clear blue paints 
• Exclusive interior design which pursues an advanced and clean image through features such as a special interior panel painted in champagne metallic color as well as ambient meters unique to a hybrid model which displays the status of high fuel efficiency driving
• The hybrid system, a combination of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine and compact and lightweight IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), achieves an excellent fuel economy of 30km/liter
• Placement of the IPU under the rear cargo area enabled the vehicle to maintain interior comfort and flexible seating configurations that are unique characteristics of the Fit
• Eco Assist (Ecological Drive Assist System) which will help driver achieve highly fuel efficient driving was adopted to improve practical fuel economy
• Honda HDD Inter-navi system, an exclusive manufacturer's option package, comes with Linkup Free service which offers various information services free of telecommunication fees

Upcoming scale models from Japan!

Updated on Nov 02

The "Mazda RX-7 FD3S AMEMIYA ASPARADRINK JGTC 2004 NO.7" model was replaced by two other RX-7  (SA22C & FC3S) models

 

The latest additions to my model collection will arrive in November from Japan, including the following 1/43 scale models:

• ARTA HSV-010 SGT500 2010 SUZUKA 700km Winter by Ebbro

• Toyota 2000GT Prototype (White) by Ebbro

• Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) V-Spec 1996 (Red) by Ebbro

• Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32) V-Spec 2 (Crystal White) by Kyosho

• Mazda Savanna RX-7 (SA22C) Limited 1979 (Mach Green) by Kyosho

• Mazda Savanna RX-7 (FC3S) Infini (Shade Green) by Kyosho