Best limited edition deals ahead of EOFY

End of financial year drive-away deals aren’t the only bait to lure customers into dealerships this month.

Special editions are another tool for brands to extract extra cash from buyers of popular models and there are three at play this month.

The pitch with the specials is simple: the promise of a lot more equipment for a “nominal” increase in price.

There’s no point in spending the extra if other drivers don’t know about it.

Honda says its CR-V LE adds $5500 of kit at a premium of $1700 over the VTi model on which it is based.

That brings the drive-away price to $32,990 for the front-wheel drive version and $35,690 for the all-wheel drive. Premium paint adds $575.

The front-drive VTi is Honda’s most popular CR-V with private buyers, having found more than 1200 homes since it launched in October last year.

Key upgrades to the LE variant include 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, side steps, roof-mounted rear spoiler, fog lamps, auto headlamps and wipers and the camera-based blind-spot monitor.

The image is projected on to the seven-inch multimedia screen — but covers only the passenger’s side, meaning a head-check is still obligatory when shuffling to the right (and it should be a compulsory double-check even when merging left).

Toyota has spruced up its Camry sedan with the launch of 1100 sports-themed RZ versions, which essentially add the dynamic package found standard on the Atara SX.

This adds 18-inch black alloy rims with 45-series rubber, sports suspension and dual exhausts to liberate an extra 2kW/4Nm from the 2.5-litre engine. Blacked-out radiator grille, headlamp inserts, mirror caps, spoiler and rear diffuser give the RZ an appropriately aggressive look, while inside there’s dual-zone aircon, 4.2-inch TFT display and RZ-branded front mats.

Keyless entry and start and front/rear parking sensors complete the additions, which Toyota values at more than $4000. The company says the RZ carries a $2000 premium over the volume-selling Altise variant on which it is based, for a recommended retail price of $28,490 plus on-roads.

The RZ can be had in white or cherry exterior colours. Upgrading to silver pearl, graphite or black adds $450.

Subaru has given its Forester SUV a handling and style overhaul by handing it off to its performance STI division for a raft of updates.

The Forester tS is based on the range-topping XT Premium and the priced is $54,990 plus on-roads.

That’s a $7000 increase but Subaru says the 30 additional items represent $12,000 of value.

The XT Premium’s sunroof gets the chop but the tS includes upgraded Brembo brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, STI-spec suspension and body stiffening, black front grille with a red stripe, black mirror caps and roof spoiler and the obligatory STI badging — there’s no point in spending the extra if other drivers don’t know about it.

Interior updates include STI logos on everything from the steering wheel to the start button, leather and suede-trimmed seats, suede door panel inserts, red stitching in selected areas and a black roof liner. The tS will be sold in white, black or blue.

Do these EOFY limited edition specials tempt you? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.