New Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition Unwrapped Ahead of Chicago Auto Show

Do you remember the MX-5 Sport Black Edition launched in Britain last summer or perhaps its twin from Japan, the MX-5 Black Tune Edition released this past October?

If the answer is yes, we would like to congratulate you on your excellent memory and tell you that the 2012 MX-5 Miata Special Edition that will be unveiled at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show is more or less the U.S. market version of those two models – hence the RHD pictures released by Mazda.

The main difference is that the American model will not be offered with the Spirited Green Metallic that's available on the Japanese and British variants, as buyers will have to make do with two color options, Crystal White Pearl Mica or Velocity Red Mica.

Like its two siblings, the MX-5 Miata Special Edition features a black-only Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) with matching color 17-inch alloy wheels and exterior accents such as the mirrors.

Inside you'll find black heated leather seats with accent stitching, piano black interior finishes and alloy pedals.

The special edition will be available with either the six-speed manual gearbox with or a six-speed Sport automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, both linked to the regular 167HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The manual gearbox model gets Bilstein shocks, limited-slip rear differential and sport-tuned suspension.

Mazda said production of the MX-5 Miata Special Edition would be limited to 450 units with pricing to be announced.

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Audi Expands A5 Range with 134HP and 161HP TDIe Diesel Engines in Europe

These days, downsizing doesn't occur only to engine displacement but also to engine outputs. Case in point, the introduction of two new entry-level diesel engines for Audi's A5 Sportback and A5 Coupe models.

The new 136PS (134bhp) and 163PS (161bhp) 2.0-liter TDIe diesels will be offered in parallel to the existing 143PS (141bhp) and 177PS (175bhp) 2.0-liter TDI units, the difference being that the 'e' engines are less powerful but more fuel-efficient.

The 2.0-litre TDIe 163PS is available on both the A5 models, linked exclusively to six-speed manual transmission.

It propels the Sportback from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 9.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 132mph (212km/h), while returning up to 62.8mpg UK (52.3mpg US or 4.5lt/100km) with a CO2 output of 118g/km.

In the Coupe, the 163PS engine pushes it to 62mph in 8.4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 140mph (225mph), and raises fuel economy up to 64.2mpg UK (53.5mpg US or 4.4lt/100km) and taking CO2 to 115g/km.

The 136PS TDIe is only available on the Sportback, which it accelerates to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 132mph (212km/h), while recording a fuel economy of up to 64.2mpg (53.5mpg US or 4.4lt/100km) with CO2 emissions of 117g/km.

In the UK, on the road prices start from £27,320.

Audi A5 Sportback and Coupe TDIe models – UK Pricing
A5 Sportback 2.0 TDIe 136PS
Standard £27,320 OTR
SE £29,090 OTR
SE Technik £30,090 OTR
S line £31,390 OTR
A5 Sportback 2.0 TDIe 163PS
Standard £27,825 OTR
SE £29,595 OTR
SE Technik £30,595 OTR
S line £31,895 OTR
A5 Coupe 2.0 TDIe 163PS
Standard £28,775 OTR
SE £30,545 OTR
SE Technik £31,045 OTR

MINI Introduces New Convertible Highgate Special Edition

Leave it to Mini to present a special edition model every two weeks. After the "Baker Street" and "Bayswater" hatchbacks, it's the convertible model's turn to gain a new moniker.

This one is called is called "Highgate" and is offered with four engine variants including the 122HP Cooper, 184HP Cooper S, and for those markets that get diesel versions, the 112HP Cooper D and 143HP Cooper SD.

Regardless of the engine, power is channeled to the front wheels through a standard six-speed manual or an optional automatic with the same number of gears.

On the outside, the Highgate Convertible is identified by the new Iced Chocolate metallic hue for the body with brown/black bonnet stripes with blue edging, the brown soft-top and the 17-inch Double Cross light-alloy wheels. Mini also offers Midnight Black and White Silver metallic paintworks for the body as an option.

The same color theme continues inside with the leather seats finished in Dark Truffle with light contrast stitching and light blue piping. Stainless steel pedals, Suntouched Brushed Alloy interior trim elements, and the Chrome Line Interior package come as standard.

The new Mini Convertible Highgate will go on sale worldwide in April.

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New Toyota GT 86 Priced from £24,995 in the UK, Puts it Between the MX-5 and the 370Z

One of the most strongly anticipated sports cars of the year has been priced in Britain. Toyota revealed today that the new GT 86 coupe will carry an on-the-road price of £24,995 (equal to €30,206 or US$39,550) when sales start in June. This puts the GT 86 between two other popular Japanese sports cars in terms of pricing, the Mazda MX-5 that starts from £17,990 for the 124bhp 1.8-liter soft-top model, and the Nissan 370Z that begins at £29,950 for the 324bhp 3.5L V6 Coupe.
For the record, the base GT 86 is £2,000 more expensive than the Mazda MX-5 with a retractable hardtop and the 158bhp 2.0-liter engine.
Toyota said it will announce further pricing and specification details closer to the time of launch, though it is already accepting advance orders in the UK.
The four-seater coupe is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated boxer-engine delivering a maximum output of 197bhp at 7,000rpm and a peak torque of 205Nm (151.2 lb-ft) at 6,600rpm, linked to a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission.
Power is distributed to the rear wheels through a standard limited slip differential.

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