Just Cars #264 18-07

It’s been an open secret for months, if not years, that the Chevrolet Camaro is coming to Australia as a factory-backed product. This past December, GMH finally made it official, confirming not only that the Camaro is coming down under this year, but that HSV will be responsible for local conversion and compliance of the Chevy muscle car and other GM vehicles not currently offered in RHD. The focus will be on Camaros and Silverado pickups initially, but HSV will eventually be responsible for local conversions on all GM products not available here in factory RHD form. HSV Managing Director Tim Jackson said it was fantastic to see the new partnership cemented between the two brands. “This marks a new era for HSV and Holden and I hope our customers…

Holden has revealed pricing for the upcoming ZB Commodore, which will start arriving in February, also confirming that the Calais nameplate will carry over to the new, fully-imported range. Spread across LT, Calais, Calais-V, RS, RS-V and range-topping VXR variants (the latter replacing the SS badge), the new Commodore will come with the choice of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine or 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V6. A 2.0 turbo diesel will be an extra-cost option, while a nine-speed automatic will be the sole transmission available. All-wheel drive will be offered across upper model grades. List pricing (excluding ORCs) is as follows: Commodore liftback (sedan) LT 2.0-litre turbo * $33,690 Calais 2.0-litre turbo * $40,990 Calais-V V6 AWD $51,990 RS 2.0-litre turbo $37,290 RS V6 AWD $40,790 RS-V V6 AWD $46,990…

Subaru has released a new, range-topping version of their BRZ sports coupe, which arrives at the same time as an infotainment upgrade to the rest of the BRZ range. Sitting above the standard BRZ and BRZ Premium, the BRZ ‘tS’ is defined by suspension upgrades, parts from the STI catalogue and cosmetic changes. Suspension modifications start with Sachs shock absorbers, tuned by STI and matched to STI-tuned coil springs, that deliver what Subaru says is more linear steering response. Also from STI is a flexible strut tower bar. This v-shaped brace improves handling, reduces front end vibrations, as well as yaw rate and response time to lateral G forces when cornering. An STI flexible draw stiffener, attached to the front suspension crossmembers and subframe, sharpens chassis response after steering input,…

After offering a performance upgrade on their 86 as part of a limited edition back in June, Toyota have made the components of that kit a regular production option on the sports coupe. The performance kit, consisting of larger Brembo brakes, specially-tuned Sachs dampers and anthracite-coloured 17-inch alloy wheels, is available on both GT and GTS variants, as well as auto and manual transmission versions. Brakes are now ventilated 326mm x 30mm rotors at the front (standard GT: 227mm x 24mm; standard GTS: 294mm x 24mm) and 316 x 20mm at the rear (standard GT: 286mm x 10mm solid; standard GTS: 290mm by 18mm ventilated), resulting in a significant increase in swept brake area. “These performance components will add to driver involvement and enjoyment, whether on the road or the…

After three decades out of Formula 1 racing, Alfa Romeo returns to the sport this year as a partner of the Sauber team. Announced at the end of November, the “multi-year” partnership will see Alfa Romeo work with the Swiss team on a strategic, technological and commercial level, with both parties to share technical know-how and co-operate in all applicable areas to “provide additional opportunities for the two organizations in both Formula 1 and the automotive sector in general”. Sauber team cars (which currently run Ferrari engines) will wear Alfa Romeo livery, too, as the Italian carmaker will be the team’s title sponsor; part of a rebranding as the ‘Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team’. “This agreement with the Sauber F1 Team is a significant step in the reshaping of the…

This past December, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart unveiled a rare piece of their history in the form of an early-production ‘901’ from 1964. Better known as the 911, the now-iconic sports coupe was originally called the 901 when it was released, but a trademark dispute with Peugeot (who owned the rights to three-digit model names with an ‘0’ in the middle) saw the model designation changed after a handful of units had been built. Surprisingly, one of these early 901s was not in Porsche’s factory collection, so when the opportunity came to purchase one, the company took it. The car in question - 901 chassis #300.057 – was found in a German barn by the crew of a TV programme in 2014. It came to Porsche’s attention when the…