Motor Australia — January 2018

14 january 2018 motormag.com.au

The News

Hot stuff coming soon

IN A slightly confusing move, Subaru

and Toyotas’ limited edition BRZ

and 86 models have now made their

way onto their regular price lists for

the 2018 model year.

If you were one of the 60

customers who forked out $41,

for one of Toyota’s hi-viz 86

Limited Edition models, you might

be slightly miffed that that car’s

upgrades – Sachs dampers, 17-inch

10-spoke wheels and Brembo

brakes – are now available for all

86 models for a very reasonable

premium of $2200 on the GTS and

$2900 on the GT.

GT variants also now include

satellite navigation as standard

and both models benefit from an

updated infotainment system with

Toyota Link, though prices have

risen by $650 and $150 for the GT

and GTS respectively.

Subaru has taken a slightly

different tack to offering essentially

the same package by introducing

a new range-topping model called

the BRZ tS. It uses the same Sachs

dampers and Brembo brakes as the

86 performance pack but adds STI

New 86 range-

topper includes all

performance bits

and Moon Slate

paintwork for

$39,

coil springs, 18-inch STI wheels

wrapped in high-performance

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, chassis

bracing, unique front bar and red

interior highlights for $39,

(manual) or $41,894 (auto).

The tyre fitment is particularly

interesting, as it marks the first time

one of the Toybaru models have

been offered in standard form with

a high performance tyre, rather than

the low-grip eco tyres usually fitted.

In addition, all BRZ models now

include a seven-inch touchscreen

infotainment unit including sat-nav

and smartphone mirroring.

Toyota 86 sales are down 21.5 per

cent year-to-date as of November

2017, whereas the BRZ has had a

great year with 2017 sales of 708 up

over 180 per cent on 2016. – SN

86, BRZ spruce up

Model year 2018 Toybaru twins score chassis goodies

NEW COMMODORE VXR TO START AT $55,

HOLDEN has released details and pricing for its 2018 Commodore range, which

kicks off at $33,690 for the LT 2.0-litre front-drive turbo, while the cheapest V

all-wheel drive model starts at $40,790.

The sportier RS 2.0T starts at $37,290 with the Calais 2.0T costing $40,990.

As mentioned, V6 AWD pricing starts at $40,790 for the RS, ascending

through RS-V ($46,990), Calais-V ($51,990) and range-topping VXR

($55,990), which comes with Brembo front brakes and adaptive suspension.

Sportwagon variants of the LT and RS 2.0-litre turbo and RS-V V6 AWD are

available for an extra $2200.

A driveaway offer at launch allows customers to score an LT for $35,990,

while the RS V6 AWD is offered at $42,490. We’ll have extensive drive reviews

of the ZB Commodore range from its launch in early 2018. – SN