[quote=Mystery Man,80218]Today our local car dealers met to present the current models. Most of them are already on the site and the all-new ones were besieged by people, so I couldn't take pictures. But of one car, the probably most interesting one today, I could take some pics: a 2022 Honda HR-V pre-production vehicle, directly from Japan (!)
/quote]

I've actually seen a few of them (or rather the Vezel... as that's what they're sold as) on the road already, so they're bound to turn up in a J-drama or movie in the coming years (can't say the same for Anime though... Vezels in Anime are rare for some reason)



I don't know if the rights lapsed, but Toyota stopped selling the Corsa in around 2000 so that may be why.

Lotus built the last of it's three current models at it's plant in Hethel, The Elise, Exige and Evora. The final one of each model will now go to Lotus's Heritage Collection.



Joining the collection will be the last Elise, a Sport 240 Final Edition finished in Yellow and the last of 35,124 cars; the last Exige, a Cup 430 Final Edition in Heritage Racing Green – number 10,497; and the last Evora – a GT430 Sport finished in Dark Metallic Grey – the last of a production run of 6,117.

They are retrofitting the plant to make the new Emira, Lotus's last ICE model. They also have plans for an electric sports car and SUV.


https://jalopnik.com/pour-one-out-for-the-lotus-elise-evora-and-exige-1848265523

Soon in japanese films & TV series ? The LEVC TX is now on sale over there. Although the official website doesn't seem to have been updated since 2020.

https://levc.jp

I've discovered it through a short test-drive published at Response.jp a couple days ago.

https://response.jp/article/2020/12/30/341766.html

They liked the short turning radius and the panoramic roof, but the biggest drawbacks are the price (11 million yen) and the width (194cm, mirrors excluded), which is fiscally expensive over there.

Chevy Avalanche is back in showrooms.... kind of
2024 Chevy Silverado RST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2eh579mG60

will also include a lower trim work version
Probably the concepts in the video but ads here say we can already order one ... for those who have enough pocket change of course...

We've seen Peugeot vans branded as Fiat, recently. In Brazil, the opposite is happening. Meet the Peugeot Partner Rapid.

https://www.autoweb.com.ar/2022/05/12/peugeot-lanza-la-partner-rapid-en-brasil-el-clon-de-la-fiorino/

Yes, it's a rebadged local Fiat Fiorino.

The DeLorean concept in the link is very very interesting...

we previously talked about the Integra's return.. here's a little bit more

If the production model follows the concept car it will be pretty much an " Acuratized " Civic hatch ... still very nice but i'll admit that with the Civic coupe being gone , i did hoped and expected a 2-doors sport coupe...
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/g38228373/acura-integra-prototype-reveal-photos/?slide=1

Raptorizing the Bronco ..



More info here
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2022-ford-bronco-raptor-first-drive-four-wheeler/

Hyundai has killed the Veloster N, the Accent and the Ioniq Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid for the US for 2023. The Veloster N was the only version left here. They are going to focus on crossovers and the Ioniq is going fully electric.

https://jalopnik.com/dead-hyundai-accent-and-hybrid-ioniq-1849132118

https://jalopnik.com/hyundais-veloster-n-production-to-officially-end-1849088944

Accent is already gone here , 2019 was last year for sedan, 2020 for the hatch

Look what they have done to the Toyota Crown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FWZTzlv9kw

Yes, it's now a jacked-up crossover sedan. It will also come to North America.

https://www.theautopian.com/the-toyota-crown-is-back-after-50-years-and-is-bringing-up-to-340-hp-with-it/

But there's a whole Crown family coming next year in Japan. There will be a "Sport type" Crown that looks like a shorter crossover, a Sedan, which looks like a facelifted Mirai, and an Estate, which looks like an SUV.

https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/37540641.html

only me, might be because i'm tired or don't know what but the Sport Type one in your last link makes me think of a mini-Urus..

Not sure why we need a bajillion Toyota SUVs... not that my opinion matters because of my taste in cars

i think cars themselves are getting on the endangered species list... everything is getting SUV-tized now....

Even so, and despite the fact that the Camry is also a thing, I'm not entirely sure why we'd need yet another Toyota SUVs... If I wanted a Toyota SUV that's more upper class than a C-HR (or Corolla/Yaris Cross), I'd just buy a Harrier (our version of the Venza)!

... And people wonder why more people are buying E-Klasses and 5-series nowadays.

From the "No Big Surprise Department", the US Nissan Maxima will end production in 2023.

https://jalopnik.com/dead-nissan-maxima-1849371955

The next model to die in the US, The Mercedes Benz Metris (Vito) vans, after 2023:

https://jalopnik.com/dead-mercedes-benz-metris-van-1849401290

Was I living under a rock? When did Mercedes start selling the Vito in the US?

2015-2016, something around that

you were not living under a rock but sadly for Mercedes, buyers were.... i think we got it on same time as US and i probably saw about 10-12 so far...

No one trusts to take a Mercedes to a construction site, huh? They're too busy with their Expresses, Econolines and Savanas.