It seems that BMW is really spreading the love with the many special edition M3 models they’ve scattered all over the world. Just a few weeks ago the Chinese market received the M3 Tiger Edition and Australia received its BMW M3 Pure Limited Edition. This time, BMW felt the need to provide the Japanese with their own special M3. It is called the M3 Competition Package, and yes it is painted in the same Fire Orange metallic paint as both the Tiger and GTS models.
Other than the paint job that customers will either love or hate, the M3 will receive black 359M styling wheels (19 inches in size), black painted air intakes on the bonnet, black kidney grills, and chrome exhaust tips. BMW has also not left carbon fiber out as the material was used in the exterior mirrors, rear spoiler, and the inserts on the interior.
The BMW M3 may look a faster with all of these extras, but under the hood you’ll find the usual 420 HP, 4.0 liter V8 engine. There hasn’t been any mention of how many units will be produced for the Japanese market or how much it’s going to cost, and speculation based on previous models offers a variety of options. There were only 50 of the M3 Pure Limited Edition models built, each priced at $135,000-$148,300, but the BMW M3 Tiger Edition got 250 units with prices yet to be revealed.
They say that beauty comes from within, and it seems Toyota is taking that statement to heart as they are providing the iQ with a facelift consisting solely of a modified interior just in time for the Paris Auto Show. But before that, Toyota will unveil a special edition iQ just for the Japanese market.
This special edition is called the iQ 130G and is distinguished by a revised bumper, exterior mirrors painted in a gray finish, and a revised exhaust tip. On the interior the 130G will get a new color combination for the leather finish and piano black trimming. Japanese customers will also be able to choose from a long list of options in order to customize their car.
The iQ 130G is powered by a 1.3 VVT-i engine that can produce 95 HP in JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) spec. The engine is mated to either a manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission.
Considering this special edition was made specifically for the Japanese market, not everyone will be able to enjoy it. We guess we will just have to wait for the Scion iQ to be launched on the US market in 2011 before we get to see any iQ action.
Believe it or not, the much-maligned Mitsuoka Orichi can now be rented out in Japan. We don’t want to believe it, but apparently – and unfortunately – it’s true.
The decision was made to rent out the Orichi by its manufacturer Mitsuoka – no surprise there – for anybody looking for a cheap sports car to drive around in Japan. And by cheap, we mean $390 a day.
It’s not as pricey as most rental sports car we’ve seen in the past, but then again, we don’t know anybody who’d shell out $400 a pop per day to be seen in this hideous sports car. There is that other option that we think is a little more palatable. For $177 a day, you can navigate your way around the streets of Osaka in a Himiko, the company’s not-as-powerful-as-the-Orichi-but-definitely-more-pleasing-to-the-eye roadster.
Either way, you could do a lot better than renting out these two cars. But if you’re going to play the ‘I’ll do it for the experience’ card, then, by all means, give it a go.
We’ve lost count on how many special edition models Fiat has of the 500 mini hatchback, although it’s not really a question of having one too many. Besides, it’s their car, and if they think that it’s a good idea to churn out limited edition upon limited edition of the same model, then more power to them.
The latest one that’s going to be released is being called the 500 Arancia and, similar to other special edition 500 models in the past, it’s going to be limited to just 300 units. And as for the Arancia, the car will have an exclusive home in the land of Toyota and Honda, Japan. It’s fitting too because the model takes its name from the Japanese translation of ‘orange’, which, in case you haven’t noticed, is the color of the car.
As far as what you can expect from the 500 Arancia, well, it comes with a chrome package and 15-inch allow wheels on top of the orange paint finish and the customized orange and white interior. Apart from that, the only thing that makes this car ‘limited’ in the sense of the word is that it’s only going to Japan and only 300 buyers will have a chance to own one.
Last week, the guys from GT-R Blog brought the first details of the 2012 Nissan GT-R. Today they are offering new details on the future sports car, but this time, the details surround the Spec-M version.
According to the blog, the R35 GT-R “Gentleman’s Edition” will be launched as the Nissan GT-R Egoist on the Japanese market. We have no idea why they would do this, but the name does sound pretty cool. However, this nomenclature will only be used on the Japanese market, the other markets will be keeping the usual Spec-M version.
The current Nissan GT-R develops a total of 520 HP, but the 2012 GT-R Egoist is rumored to be boasting an output of 540 HP. Add that black exterior paint and the gold wheels, and you have the perfect recipe for an amazing sports car!
The 2012 Nissan GT-R will come with a modified front bumper, rear diffuse, and rear underspoiler, offering 10% more downforce. There will also be modifications made to the suspensions, brakes, wheels, and tires.
Mitsuoka, the Japanese auto replica maker, became infamous within the auto industry for their off shoot concept, the hideous, piranha-looking Orochi sports car.
Undaunted by the overwhelmingly negative response to their concept car, Orochi has come out with a new creation, a special edition version of the company’s Mazda MX-5-based Himiko roadster, a soft-top version of the Mitsuoka Himiko Classic Edition.
Previously available with just a power-retractable roof, the new soft-top variant, which features a classic British look similar to what was running in the streets half a century ago, is powered by the Mazda MX-5’s 2.0-liter engine that produces in excess of 170 horsepower for the five-speed manual variant and 162 horsepower for the six-speed automatic transmission.
Aesthetically speaking, the car is treated with a boatload of the same features found in the hardtop version, including a similar color paint scheme with a two-tone, black and red color set-up as well as chrome strips that run on either side of the vehicle. As for the model’s interior, Mitusoka continued the entire black and red motif by putting in red-leather seats on the front and back and some additional ornamental wood trim to complement the car’s overall paint scheme.
All in all, the car doesn’t look as repulsive as the Orochi; it’s actually pretty sleek and comes with a classic feel to it. Just go past the fact that this car was made by the same people who gave us the Orochi and you’re going to begin to like the car’s overall set-up. And the best part is, while it’s limited to only 20 models, the model doesn’t come with a mammoth price tag - ¥4,880,000 (or $56,500) – making it a more attractive purchase to interested buyers.
After the release of BMW’s "Dynamic Edition" for the BMW 3-series and the X6 Performance Limited Edition, BMW has taken a stab at the BMW 120i Coupe. Destined only for the Japanese market, the BMW 120i will be a special edition limited to only 30 units.
For the "Dynamic Edition", the 120i will receive an M sport package including a blacked-out kidney grille, carbon mirror covers, a carbon rear trunk spoiler, and a set of M design 18" light alloy wheels. Exterior paint finishes will be available in White Pearl or LeMans Blue. Inside, the BMW will receive M sports seats and steering wheel covered in leather. The interior will also get aluminum pedals and handles and sporty and gloss black trims.
No performance upgrades will be made to the BMW 120i coupe so customers will have to be satisfied with the 2.0L engine that produces 170hp.
The BMW 120i Coupe will go on sale on July 30th for a price of 4,350,000 YEN, or 50,000 USD, but remember, this special edition will be limited to the Japanese market.
Alfa Romeo has had one heck of a year for 2010. They are right smack in the middle of celebrating their centennial anniversary and are taking advantage of that in a serious way. Part of their celebration was taking part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a “shine in the spotlight” kind of way. Not only did they bring their new Alfa Romeo 8C to the festival, but they also brought over 50 historic vehicles to showcase during the event and were given the honor of creating a statue to use as the ‘Central Feature’, a statue that’s prominently displayed every year in front of the Goodwood house. Another portion of their celebratory movement was bringing out their restyled and upgraded 159 sedan and station wagon models out to the market. Great things are happening at Alfa Romeo and they don’t want it to stop.
Now Alfa Romeo has decided to bring out a special edition model strictly for the Japanese market. It’s called the Alfa Romeo GT Quadrifoglio d’Oro (Golden Clover) and will feature custom gold badging. The exterior paint finish is a vibrant red that is mirrored in the red painted brake calipers. The exterior also features a chrome trim at the lower part of the front fascia.
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Yesterday we brought you the BMW X6 Performance Unlimited and today it is time for another special edition for the Japanese market. This time it comes in the form of a Mini called the Saville Row. It will be limited to 100 units and priced at ¥3,100,000 (around $35,000 at the current exchange rates).
The new Mini Saville Row special edition is distinguished by a Midnight Black exterior color combined with a black roof, chrome 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome mirror and filler cap, chrome interior, anthracite headliner, and many other chromed parts.
The Mini Saville Row also gets Bi-xenon headlights and privacy glass addition, white turn signal indicator, and a Saville Row logo. All units will be equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmissions.
This special edition was named after a shopping street in Mayfair, central London, famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring. So we guess this is indeed a car just for the Japanese gentlemen.
BMW has announced a new special edition for the Japanese market, the X6 Performance Unlimited. It will be limited to only 20 units and will go on sale today. Customers will get their cars at the end of July.
The new special edition comes with the new BMW Valvetronic system that combines high-precision direct injection and twin turbo power into a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, with hybrid technology and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The entire car is inspired by Motorsport BMW Performance. The entire exterior is covered in a silver pearl wrap with a delicate pearl glow. The X6 Performance Unlimited comes with BMW Performance 21-inch alloy wheels and a specially equipped BMW Performance aerodynamic package that includes a new front bumper, side skirts, rear diffuser, and blacked-out kidney grilles.
The interior gets Dakota leather, brushed aluminum pedals, aluminum trim, a numbered plaque, and a "BMW Performance Unlimited" logo.
This special edition is priced at 9,450,000 Yen (around $108,000 at the current exchange rates).
