Matt tests a Subaru BRZ with a Vortech Centrifugal supercharger making about 325 horsepower. It has a host of suspension, brake, wheel and tire upgrades as well.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has finalized development of the GT86 CS-R3 rally car and has revealed full details of the rear-wheel-drive racer which will debut this year.

Since tests started in August 2014, the CS-R3 prototype has completed an extensive program to optimize design and define the final specification of the kit which will be sold to private competitors and teams.

The CS-R3 is powered by a 1,998cc boxer engine which produces 238hp and 230Nm (170lb-ft) of torque at 6,800 rpm. The unit is mated to a six-speed sequential transmission.

The first cars will be delivered to customers in May, later than originally forecast so that Toyota can implement the improvements highlighted during testing.

As a consequence, TMG has extended its introductory discount, with the CS-R3 kit costing €79,000 for orders made before April 24, 2015. That’s a €5,000 discount on the standard retail price of €84,000. Prices are the same for both specifications (tarmac or gravel) and don’t include VAT.

For this considerable amount of money, the CS-R3 kit includes the GT86 body shell, powertrain and all mechanical components required to build the car. Homologation to FIA R3 regulations will be certified at the beginning of July, after which all CS-R3 cars will be eligible for national and international rallies, including the World Rally Championship.

The GT86 CS-R3 will have its competition debut on July 4 at the Rally Niedersachsen near Hanover, Germany, where 10 cars will participate.

“We have put a huge amount of effort into our testing and development programme in order to deliver a fast, reliable and spectacular car for drivers and fans alike. As always, there are a number of challenges with a new-car development; in this case we had quite some work to adjust our rear-wheel-drive car to regulations which were written with front-wheel cars in mind,” said Nico Ehlert, TMG Principal Engineer Customer Motorsport.

Subaru's BRZ coupe has been updated for the 2015 model year in Japan, benefitting from tweaks to the chassis and equipment.

Without getting into specific details, the Japanese carmaker said it made some changes to boost chassis stiffness and improve the feel of the electric steering.

On the inside, there's new decorative satin silver trims, while Subaru also added two new exterior colors, including "Lapis Blue Pearl" and "Pure Red".

For 2015, the no-frills BRZ "R" grade is joined by the self-explanatory "R Customize Package" that allows buyers who aren't only interested in motor or drifting sports to add select amenities such as air-conditioning, a "floor silencer" and a trunk mat.

Finally, the top "S" grade gains a new cruise control system and an 8-speaker audio system. Sales of the updated BRZ will start in Japan this April.

Remember Toyota’s 86xStyle Cb Concept unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon? Well, the automaker has decided to bring it to production, but only for the Japanese market.

Marketed as the Toyota 86 style Cb, the model has a restyled front end which sports a friendlier face thanks to the rounder headlights and grille – apparently aimed at attracting women buyers. The rear end stays largely the same as that of the standard 86.

The interior features some changes as well, with the center console and dashboard getting a wood grain finish, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel gains the Cb emblem. Additionally, the instrument cluster sports white needles.

Nothing changes under the hood, as the 86 style Cb is powered by the same 200hp 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-four engine, offered either with standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic.

The Toyota 86 style Cb is offered with five exterior colors, including two two-tone schemes that combine Nuance Beige and Demitasse Brown. Customers will be able to order the car from April 23 at Toyopet, Corolla and Netz dealers across Japan, with prices starting from 4,180,582 yen (approximately $34,882) for the manual version.

2015 Subaru BRZ | 5 Reasons to Buy | AutoTrader

Toyota Australia has announced plans for a new Toyota 86 Pro-Am race series.

Set to kick off next year, the series will feature up to five professional drivers who will "mentor and compete against a larger field of amateur drivers who will qualify to get onto the starting grid." They will use a modified Toyota 86 and race exclusively at select V8 Supercars events.

Toyota was coy on specifics but the race car will feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that has been equipped with a sports exhaust system, a remote oil cooler and a programmable ECU that will provide an "increase in performance" over the road-going model. The car will also have an adjustable coil-over suspension, high-performance brakes and a roll cage.

While Toyota declined to release detailed performance specifications, they confirmed the development car has lapped Mt Panorama in 2:42.6, Wakefield Park in 1:08.7 and the Winton Motor Raceway in 1:37.8.

According to Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing, Tony Cramb, "The Toyota 86 Pro-Am series will present genuine, dynamic and entertaining racing to a broad audience, including big crowds at each round and a large audience on free-to-air and pay TV." He went on to say "The dynamic abilities and fun-to-drive characteristics of the 86 provide a credible platform for motorsport - and many owners already compete regularly in tarmac rallies, lap dashes and other events."

Scion and A$AP Illz release “Scion x A$AP Illz Driven,” a short commercial pop art film by the wunderkind designer of the famous Harlem hip-hop mob. The video is Illz’s contribution to the Scion Artist Partnership Project, an ambitious year-long culture initiative wherein a mix of fresh talent and recognized legends each create videos reflective their work.

Now that the hype surrounding the BRZ has died down, we're left with a very pure, but pricey, sports coupe.

In this clip, the Drift King sets a benchmark time at the Touge with his personal AE86 and then the crew takes the new Power House Amuse 86 out for some runs. Which will perform better?