Meet the latest and greatest

Both the eastern and western hemispheres were abuzz with car industry activity this week, with the Los Angeles and Tokyo motor shows kicking off last weekend.

It's one of the biggest times of the year in the auto world, certainly at least in terms of numbers - over a million people were expected to have walked through the turnstiles to see the latest in production models ready to hit showrooms and also concept vehicles which open a window into where companies may be headed in years to come.

The Guangzhou Motor Show was also held in China. However, it isn't recognised as an official international auto show by world body Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.
Most of the action was therefore at Tokyo and LA.

While the Japanese event is typically the largest of the shows and saw most of the country's brands deliver key models, there were also many unveilings of note in the US.

SUBARU
Despite having a show in its home country, Subaru decided some Hollywood razzle-dazzle was required for the much anticipated unveiling of the fourth-generation WRX. The iconic all-wheel-drive racer has a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxer engine, which is smaller than the outgoing 2.5-litre unit. However, the new powerplant will offer slightly more power (199kW) and torque (343Nm) than the outgoing model. These figures are for the US-spec version of the car though, so could change slightly in the Australian model when it arrives. The new Rex has a reinforced body and has put on about 20kg, meaning its 0-100km/h time of around 5.5 seconds in the manual and 5.9 in the CVT are about the same as the current model.

Poor sales have seen the hatchback model dropped. However, it could see something of a return in the guise of a production model of the Levorg sportwagon concept which also met the public in LA. Subaru also used the show to preview the next generation of its Liberty sedan.

PORSCHE

The luxury German brand split its cars among the three shows but it was LA which scored arguably the biggest reveal. It saw the debut of the Macan, which Porsche calls the "most dynamic vehicle in the compact sports utility vehicle segment" and which will make it to Australia mid-next year. Certainly, the numbers are impressive: a 3.6-litre bi-turbo V6 tops the range, putting out an intimidating 294kW and 550Nm which will get the big rig up to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. It's joined by a 250kW 3.0-litre V6 petrol and a 190kW 3.0-litre turbo-diesel. Australian pricing for the Macan is expected in a matter of weeks.

TOYOTA

Despite hydrogen-powered vehicles seemingly taking a back seat in recent times to various hybrid technologies, Toyota used its home motor show to unveil its FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) concept. More interestingly, the company said the car would go into production in about a year, before being introduced into Tokyo, Chukyo, Kansai and Fukuoka in Japan, plus select areas of Europe and the US. The four-seat sedan is longer, taller and narrower than a Camry, has a range of at least 500km and an output of at least 100kW. It's expected to cost roughly $108,000. Also of note from the Japanese giant was yet another glimpse at the long-rumoured 86 convertible. The FT86 Open Concept was the first right-hand-drive convertible 86 to be unveiled and has an electrically operated roof.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Competing in the performance SUV battle is Mercedes-Benz, which uncovered its Concept GLA 45 AMG. It won't be in production as early as Porsche's Macan but the concept boasts similarly impressive stats. Though its 265kW four-cylinder engine is smaller and less powerful than the Macan's, Merc says it will still go from 0-100km/h in under five seconds. Also boasting extraordinary power is the new S 63 AMG, which has a 6.0-litre 12-cylinder behemoth under the bonnet, launching it to 100km/h in a claimed 4.4 seconds. However, the coolest-looking car at the show was arguably the Vision Gran Turismo. It was designed for the Gran Turismo 6 video game but, looking this great, many will be hoping some design cues are used in future models.

LEXUS

Like its parent company Toyota, there was significant activity among the Lexus camp in Tokyo. In fact, the usually staid brand even got a little bit sexy - that was the key word it used to describe the new RC Coupe, which has been confirmed for Australia. The exact engines that will make it here are yet to be finalised but the C-Class and A5 rivalling RC (short for Radical Coupe) will hit overseas markets with a choice of a 234kW/380Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit in the RC350 and a 162kW/221Nm hybrid in the 300h, which combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a 105kW electric motor. Lexus also hinted at adding to its SUV range, and engine range, with the LF-NX Turbo concept.

NISSAN

Nissan showed off what could be a hardcore version of the Pulsar sedan in LA. Despite already having a hotted-up SSS version of the Pulsar hatch, the Sentra Nismo showed off just what could be done with the longer-bodied variant of the small car. A 1.8-litre turbo engine throws up 180kW and 325Nm of torque through the front wheels - more than 40kW and 85Nm more than the SSS hatch. Given the SSS is expected to hit the local market as a sedan sometime next year, it's unclear whether the Nismo will also reach our shores. Also at the show was a Nismo version of the GT-R, with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 throwing up a ridiculous 441kW and 652Nm.

FORD
LA saw the covers lifted from the Edge Concept SUV, which will likely be the replacement for the locally made Territory when the Blue Oval's Australian manufacturing ceases in 2016. In keeping with the company's One Ford global program, the previously North American-focused Edge will cater to a global market with the next generation. Should it be chosen over the forthcoming Explorer SUV as the Territory's replacement, it will sit between the mid-sized Kuga and the larger, Ford-Ranger-based Everest SUV. It is yet to be confirmed whether it will carry the Territory badge in Australia.