Honda, Nissan and Toyota Donate $3.75 Million Each for Earthquake Relief in Japan

The massive earthquake followed by the even more devastating tsunami that struck the north-east coasts of Japan last week has brought together the country’s biggest automakers including Honda, Nissan and Toyota, which announced today that they will donate $3.75 million each for relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the disaster.

In addition to the contribution in money, Nissan said it is also studying further relief efforts including complimentary provision of vehicles, such as trucks and forklifts, donation of medical supplies and daily commodities including blankets, antiseptics and masks, gift matching donation from Nissan employees, promotion, and support of blood donation activities.

Honda announced that it will donate a total of 1,000 power generators along with 5,000 gas canisters to the people left without electricity, while Toyota is considering the provision of goods and services as needed.

The three automakers have also announced the closure of some of their factories in Japan. From March 14 through March 20, Honda will suspend all production activities at its plants in Sayama, Saitama, Ogawa, Tochigi, Hamamatsu and Suzuka, plus all facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious. From March 15 through 20, Honda will also suspend production at the Kumamoto factory.

Nissan announced that operations at the Tochigi and Iwaki plants are suspended until March 18, while the Oppama, Kyushu, Shatai and Yokohama plants will be closed until March 16. As for Toyota, officials announced that the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Miyagi and Iwate plants are closed, with all employees having been evacuated to safe areas. The factories will remain closed at least until March 16.

Other automakers affected by the earthquake include Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki, which have either suspended or slowed down production because of supply shortages.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Subaru Concept Car: RWD sports car with boxer engine - Transparent Edition

The concept car is being developed jointly with Toyota. The boxer engine is a quote from Subaru. Toyota is contributing the technology for the rear-wheel drive. This is Subaru's RWD Sports Car first front-engine rear-wheel drive model. In the spring of 2012, it will come on the market.
The modified motor position allows a lower hood, and thus a lower driving position. Thus, the Sports Car only 1.27 meters high. With a length of 4.20 meters to ensure the short wheelbase of 2.57 meters held for a sporty driving performance.

2013 Subaru Impreza Concept Live from Geneva 2011 : the face of future Impreza

Since its launch in 1992, the Subaru Impreza enjoys an undisputed reputation worldwide, it is true extent by the victories of version WRC World Rally Championship. However, the current generation has somewhat disappointed the fans of the model. The mark had to react. She first decided to import again in France 4-door version to boot, the favorite of our citizens. And she now presents this promising concept that foreshadows and suggests the features of the future generation.

It comes in the guise of a 4-door coupe and 4 seats, the roofline very elusive, so the rear door handles hidden in the posts. The overall style is both class and dynamic, muscular and athletic, especially when looking at the bow and stern. The sharp edges on the shields, the air extractor to contrast with the sides, plus plates. Everything is totally realistic. The color "Silver Sky" concept of the passage could be found quickly in the range.

Inside, a large multifunction display is located on the center console, while a touch screen dominates the bottom of the wheel and provides access to various applications. This concept is also equipped with "Eyesight", a driver assistance system that includes a camera that transmits its shots at the driver but also an anti-collision technology

Technically very little information since this concept focuses on design. We only know that the boxer engine is a 2.0 atmospheric works in combination with a CVT automatic transmission and AWD Symmetrical AWD.

Subaru Trezia New Small MPV Live Geneva 2011 Photo with interior

Less than 4 feet long, FWD, once is not usual with Subaru that did not fit wheel drive based on Verso-S, a gasoline engine and diesel taken from the organ bank Toyota The Trezia is a true mechanical clone. Only aesthetics can therefore tip the balance of potential buyers to her rather than the Toyota. I must say it is not bad for a minispace quite sharp and dynamic.
The petrol engine is a 1.3 to 99 hp, a 1.4 diesel 90 hp. Prices start at 22,500 Swiss francs or about € 17 350 in petrol and 24 500 francs or € 18 900 for diesel.

How Not To Customize: New Hampshire’s Subaru Impreza WRX STi Cabriolet

There was a special guest at Manchester Subaru in New Hampshire last week, and it wasn’t some B-list celebrity slumming it for a free car. No sir, it was a one of a kind 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi convertible. You read that correctly, and we have the gallery to back it up.

And all I can say is wow. Remember when the boys over at Top Gear UK converted an old Renault Espace into a convertible? This is like that, but better. It’s somewhere between the ASC Helios (nee Chrysler 300C) and the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet in the, “so crazy it’s just might be cool” category.

I don’t know what’s better: that ‘80s style convertible row bar or the whopping big spoiler on the back. It’s the car you never knew you wanted! We don’t have any information on who built it or why; just this neat-o image gallery to sate your WRX STi convertible craving ways.

Check it out, and don’t forget to leave your bit in the comments section below!

Hat tip to Pauly!

By Tristan Hankins

Source: ManchesterSubaru

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Geneva 2011: Subaru Brings its Trezia Toyota Clone to Europe

Daihatsu isn't the only Japanese brand to add a rebadged Toyota model to its European lineup as Subaru did the same with the Trezia which is nothing more than a Toyota Verso-S with different logos. With a length of just under four meters, the small MPV is Subaru's newest proposal in the European minivan B-segment.

Subaru's designers only made a few changes to the front of the car, adding the brand's signature grille, a revised bumper and rounding up the headlights. As for the rest, it is virtually identical to Toyota's Verso-S. On the inside, changes are hard to spot too, with only the logos differentiating the two models.

The Trezia offers 429 liters of boot space, which can be extended if the rear bench is folded (60/40). With all seats in place, the car can accommodate five passengers plus “three large suitcases” (Subaru's claim). Buyers have a choice of two engines, none of which being a boxer - a 1.3-liter petrol and a 1.4-liter diesel unit. Both are sourced from Toyota and offer 99 and 90 horsepower respectively.

The naturally aspirated gasoline engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox which enables it to post an average fuel consumption of 5,5 liters/100 km (42.7 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 127 g/km.

As expected, the turbo diesel is even more fuel-efficient, returning 4.3 liters/100 km (54.7 mpg) and 113 g/km. In base trim, the diesel is also linked to a six-speed manual, but on higher trim levels it gets the Toyota six-speed multi-mode automated manual gearbox (M-MT) which has the clutch operated by an electric motor fitted to the transmission. In manual mode, the driver can change gears from paddle shifters.

The Trezia will not replace the similarly-sized Justy, as Subaru says the two models target different customers.

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