Canadians feeling like second class Americans will soon be able to purchase a car from Toyota’s Scion brand without having to import one privately. Toyota’s big wigs say the youth-oriented Scion brand will go on sale in Canada in 2010 - that’s seven years after the Scion started selling cheap and hip tC, xB and xD compacts in the United States. The Canadian line up will be no different from what’s available in the States.

The expansion might sound surprising given the fear of falling cunsomer confidence, but the relatively cheap Scion has brought Toyota success in the States where 70% of all Scion buyers are first time Toyota buyers. [See more→]

I was skeptic at first, but Toyota PR has confirmed these grainy photos are in fact shots of the latest Toytoa Prius set to debut in January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

This is not the first time we’ve seen this Prius and I expect this leak will mean clearer Toyota-sanctioned shots very soon . If you’re interested, spy shots from California have some photos worthy of attention. [See more→]

Japan will get a tweaked Evolution for the 2009 model year with revised interiors and a new GSR Premium model that borrows equipment from the top of the line MR model.

On the outside the GSR Premium option packs a set of 18-inch BBS wheels, Bilsten suspension and color-matching fender scoops. Inside, the GSR is fitted with a pair of leather wrapped Recaros and a Rockford Forsgate GPS and audio system hooked up to nine speakers.

As with most things from Japan, the updates are not available in North America. If you are in the area, the GSR Premium with five-speed manual will cost around $48,000 USD. The Twin Clutch-SST model will set you back almost $51,000 USD. [See more→]

A year ago Lexus dropped the SC430. Now it has come all the way to Paris to launch the 2009 Lexus IS250C featuring a three-piece aluminum folding hard top (which goes down in a record speed of 20 seconds).

The two-door convertible is powered by a 205 HP 2.5-liter V6 and receives extended overhangs to accommodate a back seat and more space in the boot. Speaking of which, the rear gets an awkward mix of SC430 and 335i design cues. As a whole though, the car is your typical Lexus: 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, speed sensitive climate control system that boosts heating during high speeds and enough room to pack a golf bag with the top down.

Is due to arrive in Europe in the summer of 2009. It’ll arrive stateside shortly after. The full press release follows. [See more→]

The gang at Porsche were never happy the GT-R ran around the Nurburgring in 7:29 - faster than either their 911 Turbo (7:38) or GT2 (7:34) - and they’ve bought a GT-R to see for themselves. Using a stock GT-R sourced from the United States they hit the Nurburgring for some tests of their own. The result? Porsche says the GT-R is a full 25seconds slower than Nissan claimed, and subsequently slower than either Porsche. Take into consideration that the Porsches pack more punch and less weight than the GT-R and their suspicion makes sense.

Porsche engineers claim the GT-R’s lap-time, which is videotaped from inside, could not have been from a production car. Instead, they suspect the car was tuned, at least when it came to the tires. Nissan has yet to respond.

[AutoBlog via CarsGuide]

Update: Video of launch presentation added below the jump.

Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Company, was in India to unveil the third generation Honda City to the people that first introduced us to Honda City spy shots. The latest Honda City has already been launched in Thailand, but the high profile Indian launch marks a significant appreciation of India’s new found automotive clout.

The all-new model is expected to broaden the City’s popularity among the country’s booming middle class in the forthcoming festive season. Priced between $16,700 USD and $19,500 USD (Rs. 7.70 lakh and Rs. 8.90 lakh), the Indian City is slightly more expensive than the $15, 000 asking price in Thailand. Similar to the Thai model though, India’s new Honda City comes with 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine and in three different versions with automatic and manual transmissions.

Honda’s bigwigs also used the occasion to announce the establishment of a Indian R&D division and the launch of a car smaller than the Jazz sometime in the near future. [See more→]

Suzuki’s best selling Wagon R has reincarnated itself for the 2009 model year and is now joined by a new funky looking Wagon R Stingray model. The new Wagon Rs, which are fan favorites in Asian cities, get a freshened look and stretched wheelbase while maintaining the signature kei-car formula space saving boxiness.

Both models get a friendly treatment up front with the standard Wagon R getting taller headlamps and the sportier Wagon R getting a chrome grille and slimmer headlamps. Under the hood there’s a turbocharged 660cc engine hooked up to either a 4- or 5-speed automatic or CVT depending on trim level. The Stingray version, when equipped with the CVT, even gets paddle shifters to tame the umph of 65-hp.

As I’ve said before, I’d love if North Americans looked to smaller cars as their solution to foreign oil dependence. Unfortunately I doubt this car will ever make it to North America. The latest Suzuki Wagon R is on sale in Japan right now and I expect it to reach key Asian markets like India by the beginning of next year. [See more→]

A new series of Honda City photos have been released, but this time they feature a left-hand drive version set to unveil at the Istanbul Motor Show this October.

While it’s not perfectly clear if the Turkish auto show signals a Europe-wide premiere for the City, the mechanics are not new to Europe: this particular econo car will be fitted with a 100PS 1.4 liter i-VTEC engine hooked up to a 5-speed or 6-speed i-Speed transmission out of its European Jazz and Civic cousins. The interior shots show the car will also be equipped, if you are so inclined, with steering-mounted paddle shifts for everyday econo-racing. The inside also gets an upgraded dash system with integrated digital displays and automatic climate control - something that was missing in the button-and-knob Asian variety.

On the outside, the car is aesthetically different from the Asian City we have seen. The mud flaps and door strips give the car a refined look.

I think it might do Honda good if they brought the City to North America. [See more→]