Nissan Leaf wins European 2011 Car of the Year award

Nissan Leaf has won the European 2011 Car of the Year award and for sure it's a first for an EV! In total, the Leaf scored 257 points, while Alfa Romeo's Giulietta came second scoring 248 points and the Opel Meriva third by scoring 244 points. 

Well done Nissan!

New Suzuki Solio to be launched Dec 24

I had reported in my previous post about the new Solio (YK8) that it is expected to be released in February 2011. Well, today Suzuki has published a teasing image and states that the new model will be introduced on Dec 24. As already reported, the new Solio will share its chassis and engine with the new Swift.

Subaru launches new Trezia in Japan

Subaru has today launched the new Trezia (earlier post) in Japan. The car is actually Toyota Ractis' (aka Verso-S) little brother and it shows the close corporation between Toyota and Subaru.

The Trezia will be available in seven different grades with the usual choice of a 2WD or 4WD powertrain in conjunction with a 1.3L or 1.5L engine. Both engines are available with a CVT gearbox. Prices range from 1,428,000 ¥ (1.3i) up to 1,832,250 ¥ (1.5i TYPE EURO 4WD).

New mighty Nissan Sylphy SSS on its way?!

Nissan Bluebird Sylphy (日産シルフィ), codenamed G11, uses Nissan's B platform and it is equipped with the same 1.5L engine as the Nissan Tiida / Versa (HR15DE), as well as the MR20DE (2.0L) engine. Unfortunately though, very few countries get it, besides Japan of course. For us, the Tiida is enough... 

Anyway, the specific photo is from a magazine claiming that Nissan will bring back the "SSS" version, which will come with Juke's MR16DET (1.6L) engine. The model shown is the next-gen one, as the current model is totally different, and it makes me wonder whether we  will get this as Tiida's successor and not the Chinese version we have already seen... Check out also my previous post about it.

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Toyota FT-86 / Subaru 216A: Likely spec of FB20 engine

I just came across with some likely spec of the FB20 engine, which will power the FT-86 / 216A (earlier post). The following data could well be fiction... but in any case I don't reckon it's far from the reality.

Engine displacement (L)
1.994

Bore/stroke (mm)
92.0 / 75.0

Compression ratio
12.5

Maximum output
200PS / 7,100 rpm

Maximum torque
21.0kg-m / 4,500 rpm

Fuel

Premium unleaded petrol – hm, I don't like this bit at all...

Next-gen Mazda MX-5 to come with 1.6L engine

Just an update on my previous post regarding the MX-5's successor (ロードスター). According to information from a Japanese magazine, the new model will be equipped with a 1.6L engine featuring SKYACTIV technology (earlier post) producing around 130hp and don't be disappointed... in conjunction with a weight of 995kg, it should be still fun! The new model will be slightly smaller and lighter, a back to the basics approach!

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Fancy a Honda CR-Z Roadster?

If you really fancy a Honda CR-Z Roadster, Honda may let you down since such a version is not in the plans, but you can have a scale model of it!

Rendering of next-gen Subaru Impreza

Subaru has presented an Impreza concept car at LA, previewing what we should expect (earlier post) and it seems that at last they came up with a proper design language. The latest Mag-X issue has a rendering of how they believe the production car will look like.