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The biggest update will be the availability of an automatic WRX (Impreza GT), we are unsure whether this will be a five-speed or the four-speed currently available in the lower spec Imprezas.

The all-new Impreza GT will keep the current 169kW 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine from current WRX but, the memo says the new manual MY09 model will have a massive power boost to bring it closer to 198kW!

We are not willing to say this is true, Subaru Australia has been contacted for comment, however, such a massive powerboost would put the car much closer to its more hardcore brother the Impreza STi (221kW).

 Although, given the Ralliart Lancer is expected to be powered by the EVO X engine and have nearly 200kW of power, we suspect Subaru may be preparing for a showdown.

The standard manual transmission models will also feature a new suspension system as well as an STI-type front grille (although given AU models have a slightly different grille already, this may not happen here). Other modifications include new alloy wheels and the option for a new moonroof in the premium package.

Would 198kW of power change your mind about the WRX?

Make sure you read the following reviews:

• 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi review
• 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX review

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It is rumoured the car will receive a front-end facelift in a style more we are more accustomed to, one that might resemble the more friendly B-class people mover. Whether or not a facelift will increase sales is still to be seen.

There are currently four variants of the R-class available in Australia. The R280 CDI, R320 CDI, R350, R500. The car retails from $80,835 for the entry model and goes all the way to $129,111 for the 5.5-litre V8.

Click through for more details on the current 2008 Mercedes Benz R-Class range.

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The car which will change it all for Honda is the new Honda Hybrid captured by our photographers yesterday (pictured). We currently have no name for the car as Honda has not released any details. But we do know its based on the FCX concept.

We also know it will cost less than the Civic Hybrid but will use the same so called Integrated-Motor-Assist-System IMA that already powers the Civic.

Honda is working on several other hybrid models as well, with the new CR-Z (CR-X) also expected to be powered by a hybrid powertrain.

Will the Honda hybrid dethrone the Prius? Unlikely, given the years of unchallanged publicity Toyota has enjoyed, but we’d like to be proven wrong!

Make sure you read our Toyota Prius .vs. Honda Civic Hybrid review.

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Not only that, it will do so, running on the green fuel E85.

If you think I’m kidding, think again. In the Swedish Touring Car Championship where it’s also the only E85 powered car, the C30 “GREEN RACING” entry has already scored three pole positions in just seven races. And just for the record, it’s also led almost half of all laps driven!

The C30 is still in the early stage of development and the Brands Hatch event should see it up against the best cars in the business. That’s strong teams from Honda (Accord Euro R)

BMW (320si)

Seat (SEAT Leon TFSI)

and Chevrolet (Chevrolet Lacetti)

The WTCC is an International Touring Car Championship sanctioned and organised by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’automobile) and kicked off in 1987 but only lasted a year due to the FIA’s concern that it’s popularity would steal some thunder from Formula I racing.

But by 1993 the Supertouring category had gained a large following so the FIA put together the World Touring Car Cup which was an annual event attracting drivers from around the world. Our own Paul Radisich, driving a Ford Mondeo, won that inaugural race. He won it again in 1994 again, in a Mondeo.

The current WTCC series is limited to cars of 2000 cc without the modern driver aids such as; traction control, ESP, ABS, VVTi etc.

Good luck to the C30. We’ll be sure to let you know how it goes in the race.

VOLVO C30 E85 SUPER 2000 – TECH SPECS
Body:
A standard C30 body reinforced by a safety cage and side impact protection on the driver’s side, developed in collaboration with Caran.
Aerodynamics:
Front splitter and a rear spoiler wing developed by Polestar in Volvo’s wind tunnel.
Engine:
All aluminium, transversely mounted, 5-cylinder, inline, four-valve, 1999 cc. Minor modifications on the cylinder block, and cylinder heads, while valves, cam shafts, pistons, connecting rods, and the crankshaft have been replaced by racing components.
Oil: Castrol 5W-30
Output/torque: 280+ hp at 8,750 rpm. 230 Nm at 7,300 rpm
Fuel: E85
Exhaust System:
Stainless steel with catalytic emission controls, manufactured by Ferrita.
Driveline:
6-speed sequential gearbox with straight-cut gears, manufactured by Hewland. Front-wheel drive. Mechanical differential with a torque controlled ramper and friction discs. SACHS 184mm two-disc carbon fibre clutch.
Weight: Min weight 1,134kg including the driver (58-60kg)
Front wheel suspension:
Ohlin’s McPherson struts developed with Polestar. Race-specific support arms and adjustable anti-roll bar
Rear wheel suspension:
Multilink system with coil springs and Ohlin’s dampers and adjustable anti-roll bar.
Front brakes:
Performance Friction, 4-piston callipers with radically and axially ventilated discs 332×32 mm.
Rear brakes:
Alcon 2-piston callipers with axially ventilated discs 290×10 mm.
Steering:
Servo-assisted rack and pinion.
Wheels:
17×10 BBS
Tyres:
Michelin 17” slicks or rain tyres

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Unlike the LS1 V8-powered MS8 derivatives, the all-new Type 5 will boast a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an expected power output of around 200kW and 350Nm.

This is comparable to just 163kW for the Lotus Elise Supercharged and 147kW for the Caterham SVR 200.

Common sense suggests the motor will be a GM-sourced unit, likely the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from the HSV VXR considering Elfin’s roots in HSV with Tom Walkinshaw owning the bespoke manufacturer.

Not only does Elfin plan to keep weight down - with a target of just 750kg - but the price as well.

The Elfin Type 5 aims to be the first genuinely affordable lightweight road-going track car in Australia with an anticipated price tag around $65,000.

Source: PressPortal

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“Lack of education is becoming less of an issue, people are becoming more comfortable with the technology.” Mike Marshall, Power’s director of automotive emerging technologies said.

In the 2007 survey, the main reason  consumers weren’t considering hybrids was lack of familiarity with the technology, which this yeah is no longer the top concern.

What does worry consumers, however, is whether or not hybrid powertrains will pay for themselves over the period of ownership.

Another interesting find was the move away from E85 vehicles. Only 43 percent of consumers are still interested in the ethanol cars, the main concern being the affect it has on agricultural production.

 ”As agriculture starts shifting production to ethanol, prices are going up. People are starting to get that. It’s one of many solutions out there, but it has negative consequences as well, and these consequences show up in the grocery store.” Marshal said.

JD powers also released its annual Automotive Environmental Index, which indexes the top 30 models based on a number of environmental aspects including air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy.

Toyota and its luxury arm Lexus came out number one with a combined seven vehicles in the index: six Toyotas and one Lexus. General Motors which includes, GM, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn had its best year with a combined six vehicles, meanwhile Ford had three vehicles.

Are you considering a hybrid as your next car?

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The second most popular people-mover on the market - the Toyota Tarago GLi, costs an enormous $283.18 per week to run according to the survey - that’s over $53 more per week than the Carnival, and ranks a very close second behind the Kluger as the costliest vehicle to run.

“Kia Carnival’s low running costs and overall affordability have been clearly recognised by people-mover buyers across the country,” said Bill Gillespie, Director of Sales and Marketing at Kia Motors Australia. “Since 2004, Australian buyers have voted with their hard-earned dollars to make the Carnival range Australia’s most popular people mover.”

The exact model on test was the Kia Carnival EX with a 136kW 2.7-litre V6 with a 4-speed tiptronic-style automatic transmission.

The survey calculations were based on a five-year / 75,000km ownership period and took into account standing costs that include depreciation, loan interest costs, registration, licensing, insurance and RACV membership. It also considered operating costs such as fuel, tyres and servicing.

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The European Commission will need all German auto-manufacturers to reduce their average fleet emissions from 178 grams per kilometre to 138 g/km by 2012. Those that fail to meet the target wilo pay hefty fines.

“All our vehicles will have turbocharged engines in series production by the end of 2010 at the latest,” Thomas Weber, Daimler board member responsible for research and development said

Turbocharging petrol cars has till recently been a speciality of Japanese manufacturers, but demand for forced induction is growing as it provides a relatively cheap way to reduce fuel consumption without a performance loss.

Fans of BBC’s TopGear would remember Jeremy Clarkson mentioning some time ago, that since the Mercedes-Benz S class is the epitome of modern automotive engineering, the fact that it’s not a hybrid suggests that hybrids are not the way of the future.

Well, Clarkson may soon be eating his own words with the Mercedes flagship sedan expected to be offered as a full hybrid vehicle by end of 2009!

Mercedes says the final aim is to get to zero-emission driving which will require the use of fuel cells and electric-powered vehicles.

The company plans to build a full-electric variant of the Smart ForTwo from in 2010.

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It was found that the Toyota Aurion AT-X equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission costs an average of $226.20 per week to run - $13.24 less per week than its main rival, the VE Commodore Omega.

This figure equates to a cost difference of $688.47 per annum, with the AT-X already priced $1,635 below its main rival.

“Motorists are looking at running costs more closely than ever, so the RACV study underlines another dimension to Aurion AT-X ’s overall affordability as the least expensive vehicle to run in its class,” said Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.

From a field of five which took part in the same category - including an LPG-equipped Falcon and Dual Fuel Commodore - the Aurion AT-X also boasted the least depreciation, interest charges and total registration costs of any car in the survey.

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