Targa Tasmania is an annual race held in Tasmania, Australia. In 2008, the said competition included cars from all over the world—Ferrari, Lamborghini, Renault, Fiat, BMW and Peugeot to name a few of the European cars that participated in the race. Also, Japanese cars were present—Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and others.

The outcome of the race surprised everyone. Mazda 3 emerged as the champion, brushing aside other well known sports vehicles such as the 997 Porsche GT2 (second placer) and another Japanese car, the Subaru WRX STI (third placer) made by Fuji Heavy Industries.

The Targa Tasmania rally is not just about speed. It’s a five-day non-stop race that requires the cars to prove that they can endure the whole competition.

Photo taken from http://www.mazda-3-mps.co.uk

People’s choice of cars is greatly affected by different factors such as personal preference, finances and trends. While many prefer small cars, there are those who play it safe and prefer a more friendly type of vehicle such as large SUVs.

Over the years, the large SUV market has remained robust and ever-growing. In fact, large SUVs have been a vehicle of choice by most families and companies. And as if to widen their choices, here comes Toyota’s Sequoia Platinum 4WD. CNNMoney.com reports that this new Toyota model has good interior and even better utility throughout. It is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine that guarantees quick throttle response and fast speed.

When it comes to full-size offerings, it is said that Toyota’s Sequoia can equal that of GM’s big SUVs and even Ford Expedition which makes it a safe choice.

In a recent press release, Honda has announced that its 2009 Fit will make its first North American appearance at the 2008 New York Auto Show slated next month.

The car is powered by a 1.3L or an optional 1.5L engine, has a choice of either front or all-wheel drive, and has spacious interior and other standard features, all in a compact, fuel-efficient and affordable package.

Honda has yet to release pricing for the 2009 Fit. However, in Japan where it has been launched last October, prices range from Y1.14 million ($9,800) to Y1.7 million ($14,600).

Honda’s Dick Colliver announced proudly that “the all-new Honda Fit will reconfirm that small can, in fact, be big.” Enough said.

The green concept is the trend today and the international automotive industry is one among the many that have heeded the call. Japanese car manufacturers, for instance, have already started producing cars that run on hydrogen, which many experts believe will be the fuel of the future.

Mazda, one of Japan’s car producers, has its own green car in RX-8. It is powered by a hydrogen rotary engine (HRE) and operates in a bi-fuel capacity, meaning it can shift to gasoline in just a touch of a button. Currently, there are only eight RX-8s.

The CarConnection.com reports that as part of its global advertising campaign and despite of its limited resources, Mazda is working to develop a sustainable car technology that will facilitate the production of more green car vehicles such as electric and gasoline-electric hybrid kinds.

Well, I just thought this is something worth sharing. Did you know that the new Subaru boxer diesel for Legacy and Outback models is set to be unveiled at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show slated next month? Yes, that’s true. This was according to a press release by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles.

The Subaru boxer diesel is a 2.0L engine that can produce up to 110kW (150 PS)/3600 rpm and has a maximum torque output of 350Nm/1800 rpm. To maximize fuel efficiency and ensure fun driving, the Legacy and Outback will have electric power steering.

I am sure this long-awaited super engine will impress a lot of people because of its high driving performance standards. For more information, you may visit Subaru.com.

The advancement of Japanese technology is unstoppable as of the moment. It’s as if every minute, they produce a new breed of technology. In the competition aspect of car making, they have had many cars that won contests, like the European Car of the Year. Concept-wise, the Japanese are said to innovative. They have many robots that cater the different needs of the people (elderly and the like).

If innovation is the key issue here, then nothing beats “i-unit” by Toyota. Toyota claimed that the vehicle was made not to be used like the usual car (travel great distances), but for mobility purposes. However advanced it may be, still, many critique the said vehicle.

Photo taken from http://www.space.com

The 2008 Infiniti EX35 officially hits the US market yesterday, according to an Infiniti press release. Mark Igo, Infiniti vice president and general manager, is proud to announce that the availability of EX35 in the US is �just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping.�

The EX35 is powered by a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. It has a classy design and interior flexibility.

It can be noted that the EX concept exterior includes many signature Infiniti features such as the double-arch grille, distinctive LED taillights and large L-shaped headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), among others.

The 2008 EX has four models — EX35 RWD (rear-wheel drive), EX35 RWD Journey, EX35 AWD (all-wheel drive) and EX35 AWD Journey. Prices start at $31,300 for the EX RWD and $34,850 for the EX RWD Journey. Europe will have to wait as the Infiniti EX series is reported to be available there in mid-2008.

The Inifiniti brand was first introduced in the United States in 1989.

For more information, visit Infiniti website.

Honda cars have always been at the limelight for decades now due to their high performance, durability and affordability. Recently, Honda has added another feather to its cap when it bagged five spots in the 2008 rankings of American magazine U.S. News and World Report for the best cars and trucks.

Here is the complete list of winners courtesy of WorldCarFans.com:

Best Economy Car: Honda Fit
Best Midsize Car: Honda Accord
Best Upscale Small Car: Volkswagen GTI
Best Upscale Midsize Car: BMW 3-Series
Best Luxury Car: BMW 5-Series
Best Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
Best Midsize SUV: Honda Pilot
Best Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Best Luxury Midsize SUV: Lexus RX 350
Best Full Size Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Best Affordable Sports Car: Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5, Mazda Speed3 (three-way tie)

Honda got five citations while German cars got two. Two American cars made it on the list and the two others that tied with Honda for the best affordable sports car category were from Mazda, also a Japanese brand.

The cars and trucks were ranked according to different factors such as safety, reliability, comfort and design features, among others. The U.S. News and World Report gathered the opinions of respected automotive journalists to determine the best cars and trucks for 2008. And they had Honda in mind most of the time, which only affirms Honda�s growing presence in the international automotive industry today.

Congratulations to the people behind Honda for a job well done.

I stumbled upon the news that the 2008 Mazda6 is now the leader in the mid-size sedan segment. I�d like to believe that. The 2008 Mazda6�s unparalleled performance, refinement and practicality are what earned it big sales success in the United States.

It was reported that the range-topping 3.0-liter V6 engine is responsible for its strong performance. Imagine, it can produce 212 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm) and 197 lb-ft torque (at 5,000 rpm). It is the only sedan with a six-speed automatic transmission that enhances performance, drivability, smoothness and gas mileage.

This new addition to the sedan family has a new standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), 17-inch alloy wheels (i Sport models), security alarm system (Sport VE and Touring) BOSE� stereo system and two exterior colors (Volcanic Red and Silver Metallic). What more can you ask for?

By 2006, the Murano leveled in-between the Xterra and Pathfinder, which champed over the Murano in size since 2005, wherein it immediately soared by becaming Nissan’s best-selling SUV, finally beating the Pathfinder off the top of the charts.