A new Legacy sedan and Outback wagon will be released in 2009; the cars will be fitted with a 3.0-litre boxer and reworking the 2.0- and 2.5-littre engines to increase efficiency and power. The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre will supposedly produce 200 hp, while the current turbocharged 2.5-litre will exceed 300 hp. A new Legacy STI is on the way with a turbo 3.7-litre producing close to 450 hp. Subaru fans in states are hoping it will come to their shores.

Subaru Impreza WRC 2008

Subaru has released the details on its all-new Impreza rally car. a 1994cc turbocharged flat four, running an IHI turbo equipped with the WRC-mandated 34mm restrictor plate and Subaru's own anti-lag system to produce 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 479 lb.-ft.@ 3,000 rpm.

It has a 6sp electro-hydraulic transmission, with an electronically controlled centre diff and down to the wheels through mechanical differentials Bos shocks are being used in conjunction with the front and rear MacPherson setup, while AP Racing, 310mm discs are clamped by six-piston calipers both in front and in the rear.

BBS wheels are fitted at all four corners, with 15-inchers used for gravel stages and 18-inch rollers for tarmac attacks. King Richard kindly take note. The car also came 2nd in the 2008 Rally of Greece.

Toyota goes clean-diesel

Toyota engineers have been working hard on a 4.5L clean-diesel power plant that will greatly improve fuel economy. The 4.5L engine is reportedly scheduled to arrive by 2010. Toyota may be delivering a monstrous 7.0L diesel for a commercial-grade Tundra, with a possible production date around 2011-2012. Toyota still hasn't given the go-ahead for a heavy duty Tundra, so the king-sized diesel power plant likely will arrive only if the larger Tundra does.

Subaru RWD coupe will be sold worldwide, Toyota version only in Japan. The new, RWD coupe is being developed by Subaru and Toyota will only be sold as a Subaru in markets outside of Japan, while the Toyota version will remain exclusive to Japan.

The coupe will be based off the Subaru Impreza and that power will be provided by a naturally aspirated, 2.0-litre boxer engine producing 220 hp at 6,500 rpm.

Toyota and Subaru are using the Integra Type-R as the performance benchmark for the new coupe, with a 103-inch wheelbase, a 2+2 seating layout and a curb weight of 2,866 pounds. As reported before, the coupe will debut in 2011.

Honda Freed

The new Freed shares its platform with one of Honda's best-selling vehicles, the Jazz/Fit. This vehicle is capable of carrying up to eight people. The new Freed will be made in Brazil.

Equipped with the same 1.5-litre engine used on the Fit VTEC, it is 4.22 m long, 1.72 m tall and 1.70 m wide, with a very good wheelbase of 2.74 m. In Japan, it can carry eight people, seven people or five people, with increasing luggage capacity as the number of people inside the car diminishes. In Brazil, it would certainly be offered only in its seven or eight people configuration, with the possibility of taking out the third row of seats to have a better cargo volume. What is not very certain is the offer of this vehicle outside of Japan.

Audi R10 TDI will use biofuel at 08 Le Mans

The Audi R10 TDI will surely be among the favourites to take the title once again after two successful victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but Audi is hardly a company who would rest on its laurels. The 2008 prototypes entered will be powered by the next generation of biofuel, which has been manufactured from biowaste, and we are told emissions have been reduced by almost 90% compared with traditional diesel.

Over the past two years, the victorious 650+ hp R10 TDI has used Shell V-Power diesel which is created from Natural Gas in a process called Gas To Liquids (GTL). Providing the base for the next generation biofuel, a small amount of the old GTL biofuel is mixed with the new generation biofuel, called BTL (Biomass To Liquids). Both GTL and BTL synthetic fuels are practically Sulphur free and odourless. BTL is created by extracting Biowaste that is unfit for food use such as waste wood. Biofuel has proved to be a highly efficient and powerful alternative. Its use in a top performing racecar reinforces the high performance potential.

Infiniti G37 sedan coming to US in 2009?

The word out is that the new Infiniti G-series G35 sedan will get a name change due to the upgraded 330hp 3.7 litre VQ engine with VVEL technology found in the G37 Coupe and it will be mated to an electronically-controlled 7-speed automatic transmission. The sedan will also roll on new 18'' alloy sport wheel also confirmed for august 2009 which will also have the retractable hardtop G37 coupe in its range.