Strong WRC vibe for Japan’s auto display.

SPECIAL stage vibes have influenced editions of cars from a brand that now dominates the world rally championship and another that used to hold that status.

Toyota and its Gazoo Racing equip and Subaru Corporation and its motorsport subsidiary Subaru Tecnica International (STI) have captured attention at the Tokyo Auto Salon currently under way.

The latter appears to be tantalising something it said it wouldn’t build, a potential performance package for the latest Impreza sedan and wagon – which still sells as a Levorg domestically.

The cars have been showcased as a specially customized version of the Japan market  model, with “STI parts in development equipped.” In addition, it has shown off a WRX that will contest this year’s Japanese Rally Championship.

In addition, Subaru has displayed two design studies, the Crosstrek Boost Gear Concept and the Rex Boost Gear Concept  “scattered with features which excite a more active and positive adventurous mind.”

 Toyota, meantime, has wowed by delivering two special-edition versions of the GR Yaris to celebrate the company's back-to-back wins in the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The Kalle Rovanpera Edition and less overt Sebastien Ogier Edition are respectively named after the works drivers who nabbed back-to-back world titles in the car – Rovenpera securing the 2022 campaign in New Zealand in October, the day after his 22nd birthday, so becoming the youngest-ever world champion. Ogier took the brand to honours in 2021.

The two special editions have been branded as concepts for now, however it is suggested they are previews of future limited-edition models. Toyota says "the release date and vehicle details of this model will be released in the future." The cars could be easily built as they are based on the special edition GR Yaris Rallye, which with 200kW and 390Nm has more grunt than the already fiery standard car.

Toyota has also given new life to an old hero that also has lots of motorsport cred: The  1980s’ AE86 rear-drive Corolla coupe. The make showed off two cars, one with electric and the other hydrogen-powered. It says the rationale is to show how it plans to keep old collector cars on the road by fitting them with modern zero-emissions power.