Motor shows

Two Subaru starlets headlined a Hollywood-style LA premiere at the city’s motor show. The WRX has the leading role and the coming Liberty is playing support with a pointer to a fresh showroom contender early in 2015.The production-ready WRX is a predictable revision of a Japanese classic, still with a turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive but in a new body with a new approach, while the Legacy Concept hints at a significantly bigger and tougher looking Liberty for Australia. There have been all sorts of heady predictions about the new WRX, but the reality is much less adventurous than it could have been - particularly in the styling. And there is no hybrid boost.There is direct fuel injection on a new-age 2.0-litre boxer engine (199kW/349Nm) and Subaru's SI drive adjusts the driveline response. A six-speed manual is standard but, as generally hated by Carsguide, the WRX now comes with a constantly variable automatic. The four-door sedan body is well watered down from the WRX concept that got hearts pounding around the globe, but Subaru says it's much more rigid and has significantly more cabin space.It has a much curvier roofline than the Impreza sedan but there are only two common body panels, the boot being one of them. Inside, it gets a flat-bottom steering wheel for the first time and lots more soft-touch plastic. Safety improvements include an airbag for the driver's knee. The WRX will hit Australia early in 2014 and the STI hot rod will follow within six months, with a likely first appearance at the Detroit motor show in January."The biggest difference for the new WRX is in the driving experience. There is a step change to the driving response," says Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior. "From day one, the engineers have concentrated on the driving experience. It's in the chassis, the suspension, and even the body, to elevate the driving experience. And it's got the direct-injection turbo for the first time." Senior also says WRX buyers can expect more than just a $20,000 car with a lot of go-faster gear."This is, without a doubt, the biggest change since we launched the WRX back in March 1994," he says. "It has stepped away from an Impreza as a donor car. There is a dramatic uplift in the quality of the interior, which is where customers have shown the most tolerance in the past."It's been benchmarked against some top European names, in terms of earning its stripes." The new WRX is the final piece in a three-pronged small-car attack by Subaru, joining the XV compact SUV and Impreza.It will only be sold as a four-door sedan in Australia because only 16 per cent of local deliveries in the outgoing model were hatchbacks. Senior refuses to talk pricing yet but admits it could be difficult to hold the showroom sticker at the current level. "It's going to be very tough with the additional specification in the car," he says. He confirms there will be several levels of equipment in the new car."It will be late in quarter one next year. For the last 10 years we've had a basic WRX and a premium model, so that will continue," he says. "We're hopeful the STI will be a couple of months later. There won't be a huge gap. I'm reluctant to talk too much about it." But Senior is certain of the bottom line on the WRX. "It's a car, not a badge," he says bluntly.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover_______________________________________ 

The new-generation Toyota Corolla range could potentially expand to include hatch, sedan and wagon body-styles. Toyota Australia has already launched the new-generation hatchback, and the sedan is due to arrive at the end of 2019. But the brand has currently ruled out the so-called ‘Touring Sports' wagon version of the Corolla range, primary because it's built in the UK for the European market.Toyota Australia product public relations manager, Orlando Rodriguez, told CarsGuide that as it currently stands, the Corolla wagon "is definitely off the radar", but that could change if production was available out of Japan instead of Europe.The Corolla hatch is built in Japan, while the current Corolla sedan comes out of Thailand - both of which are considerably more affordable than Europe when it comes to sourcing vehicles. The new-generation sedan will switch back to Japan.It's not a simple task to ‘switch on' wagon production ex-Japan, according to Rodriguez. He told us the factory would need to be modified to build the wagon.This news comes on the back of a new rugged-looking wagon version of the Corolla Touring Sports wagon, known as the Trek, which is set to make its public debut at the 2019 Geneva motor show in early March. The model is a tie-up with bicycle maker Trek, and the new model is said to appeal to "people who enjoy active lifestyles and outdoor pursuits".It gets a 20mm suspension hike, wheel-arch flares, new model-specific wheels, roof racks, underbody protection and rear privacy glass. There are Trek badges, too, while inside there are model-unique two-tone fabric seats and "wood deco" elements.It isn't the first time Trek has tied up with a car maker - in the late 1990s the cycle company aligned with Volkswagen for the Polo Trek, which came with a mountain bike included in the purchase price. As far as we can tell, there are no Trek bikes included with the Toyota.With Toyota set to introduce an all-new RAV4 model in May this year, the appearance of any rugged wagon in showrooms is slimmer than that of a standard version, were one to be made in Japan. We'll have to wait and see what happens on that front.

Nissan has teased its IMq Concept ahead of the car's Geneva reveal, releasing a teaser image of its new crossover that looks part-Batmobile and part-cubist artwork.

Following a teaser last week, Citroen has lifted the lid on its Ami One concept, a minuscule pod-like vehicle that represents the French brand’s vision for urban mobility.

Bugatti has come up with a farewell gift that’s just a little bit more special than a gold watch; a one-off, $25 million Chiron to be named after, and given to, former Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech.According to a report in TheSupercarBlog, the one-of-a-kind hypercar, which will be on the brand’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show next month, has been built for Piech as a very special thank you for his role in bringing VW and Bugatti together, back in 1998.The Piech will no doubt be based on a Chiron and powered by an even more ridiculous version of the engine that is often called his brainchild, the 8.0-litre W16.And let’s face it, anyone who comes up with the idea of jamming two V8s together to form one engine, and sets the ambitious goal of building a road car capable of 300mph (483km/h) deserves some kind of recognition.It has also been speculated that it might look completely different, perhaps a rebodied version of the Chiron, similar to the Bugatti Divo that was shown at Pebble Beach last year.Bugatti will be marking its 110th year of operation at Geneva this year and will also unveil a special-edition 110Ans Bugatti, based on the Chiron Sport.There should be around 20 of those for sale, whereas Piech’s car, notionally valued at $25 million but effectively priceless, will not be, at any price.

The Audi Q4 e-tron concept will showcase what the German luxury brand's first compact electric SUV will be like when it makes its debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show on March 5.

Subaru has chosen the 2019 Chicago Auto Show to unveil the seventh-generation Subaru Liberty, which is now based on the same SGA (Subaru Global Architecture) platform as the new Forester, Impreza and XV. Yet surprisingly, it’s not yet confirmed for Australia.

A new hyper-SUV with a uniquely Australian twist will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, with the GFG Style unveiling its new Kangaroo Concept ahead of its official unveil.

Mazda has teased a new SUV ahead of its Geneva debut, promising the mystery model will be "a brand-new addition to the Mazda line-up".

The first design sketches of Skoda's upcoming Kamiq SUV have been released ahead of the vehicle's official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.