Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Toyota Camry Sprint: Sporty Looks, Same Sensible Soul

Remember when the Toyota Camry was the poster child for sensible car buying? It was the one your accountant uncle drove to the office, the one your parents bought because “it’ll last forever,” and the one you forgot was even parked in your driveway because it blended into the background like a beige filing cabinet.

Well, that same Camry is still alive and kicking, despite SUVs having eaten everyone’s lunch over the past decade. In fact, Toyota flogged nearly 600,000 of them in 2024. That’s more cars than most brands manage across their entire lineup. Clearly, the Camry is still the default setting for the world’s middle managers.

But in India, Toyota thinks the Camry could do with a little more… spice. Enter the Camry Sprint Edition, a car that looks like it’s just binge-watched Fast & Furious and ordered a matte-black wrap at 2am.

The Sprint Edition takes the regular hybrid Camry and slaps on a Matte Black hood, roof, pillars, and bootlid, so the thing suddenly looks like it’s trying out for the role of “mildly intimidating Uber Black.” You can pair this stealthy two-tone with one of five rather dramatic paint jobs—think Emotional Red (that’s actually the name, not a Tinder bio), Cement Grey, or a very moody Dark Blue Metallic.

To complete the transformation, Toyota’s local arm—Toyota Kirloskar Motor—has bolted on a new set of black alloys, added a lip spoiler, and given it bumper extensions that make it look angrier than it really is. From some angles, it’s almost convincing. From others, you’re reminded this is still a Camry—a car whose wildest party trick is offering ventilated seats.

And here’s the rub: while it looks friskier, the mechanical bits are completely unchanged. Underneath, it’s the same 2.5-litre hybrid, churning out a respectable but hardly thrilling 227hp and sending it all to the front wheels only. So, despite the “Sprint” badge, don’t expect Nürburgring lap times—this Camry’s idea of a sprint is probably just overtaking a tuk-tuk.

Still, the equipment list is nothing to sneeze at. Dual 12.3-inch screens? Check. 360-degree cameras? Check. Head-up display, wireless charging, ventilated thrones, and the full Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 nanny system? All present and accounted for. Basically, you’re getting a luxury car dressed up as a sporty one.

The kicker? The Sprint Edition costs ₹48.50 lakh (around $55k)—the exact same as the boringly named Hybrid Elegant trim. Which means you can pick: do you want your Camry to look like it’s sipping tea at the golf club, or like it’s sneaking out at night to race a Honda City? Either way, your wallet takes the same hit.

So, is the Sprint Edition revolutionary? Of course not. But it does prove that even the most sensible, beige, dad-spec sedan can have a go at dressing up for the party. The Camry may never be a Supra, but at least now, it’s not just your uncle’s car—it could be your uncle’s car with a matte-black hood and a secret Instagram account.

Source: Toyota Kirloskar Motor

NEW CARS

Subaru Impreza S-Edition: Rally DNA, or Just Fancy Shoes?

Ah, the Subaru Impreza. Once upon a time, it was the four-wheeled equivalent of a snorting rally hero—spitting flames, bouncing over gravel, and wearing gold wheels like a crown. But fast-forward to today, and the sixth-generation Impreza has become the sensible family hatchback of choice for people who like the idea of AWD but think horsepower is something you measure in lawnmowers.

Still, Subaru Australia seems determined to sprinkle some nostalgia dust on the humble hatch. Their latest concoction is the Impreza S-Edition, a special edition that looks like it got lost on its way to the Tokyo Auto Salon—and that’s not entirely a bad thing.

From the outside, it certainly talks the talk. The most obvious change is the new set of 18-inch Enkei alloys, finished in black and adorned with a cheeky red STI emblem—just in case your neighbours weren’t aware that your Impreza is, in fact, a bit special. Add a gloss-black front splitter, rear skirt, and roof spoiler, and you’ve got yourself a hatchback that looks like it’s trying out for a cameo in Gran Turismo. Subaru even throws in a unique sports grille, which is corporate speak for “it’s the same grille, but with fancier mesh.”

You can have it in just three colours—Pure Red, Crystal Black Silica, or Crystal White Pearl—basically, Ferrari, stealth mode, or stormtrooper. Inside, there’s an STI-branded start button and shift knob, because nothing says “performance” like red letters staring at you while the CVT hums like an electric toothbrush.

And here’s the rub: beneath all that cosplay, this is still the regular Impreza AWD 2.0S. Same 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer, same 154 horses, same Lineartronic CVT. In other words, plenty of grip, but not much go. Subaru calls it “racing spirit from grille to tail.” We’d call it “STI in appearance only.”

At least it’s a sensible deal. Only 100 units will be made, each costing AU$42,490—about AU$3,500 more than the standard Impreza AWD 2.0S. But here’s the kicker: you’re getting about AU$6,500 worth of goodies, which means, on paper at least, Subaru is paying you to look fast while being… not fast.

And because Subaru loves to share, there’s also the Crosstrek Onyx, which gets its own set of dark alloys and a black rear spoiler. That one will set you back AU$43,890, which is basically a grand and a half extra for paint and wheels.

So, what have we learned? The Impreza S-Edition is the car equivalent of wearing a rally jacket over your office clothes. It looks the part, feels a bit special, and makes you smile in the mirror—but don’t expect it to suddenly turn into a WRX when the traffic lights go green.

It’s Subaru giving enthusiasts a wink, not a punch.

Source: Subaru Crosstrek Onyx

NEW CARS

INFINITI QX65 Monograph: The FX Spirit Reimagined, or Just Another Pretty Face?

Monterey Car Week has a way of turning concepts into conversation pieces, and INFINITI clearly wants in on the noise. At The Quail, the brand unveiled the QX65 Monograph, a sportback SUV concept designed to resurrect some of the daring that once made the FX a design icon.

INFINITI says this sleek two-row, midsize SUV pushes its “Artistry in Motion” philosophy forward, and if nothing else, the QX65 makes a statement. The proportions are bold, the stance is unapologetically athletic, and the detailing is far more ambitious than what’s been rolling out of INFINITI showrooms lately. If the FX was once the rule-breaker in the luxury crossover space, this Monograph wants to remind us that INFINITI still knows how to color outside the lines.

A Roofline That’s All Attitude

The defining feature here is the fastback silhouette. The roofline arcs dramatically before plunging into the tail, a design flourish that gives the QX65 an instant sense of speed, whether parked or in motion. Wide fenders and wheels shoved to the corners further amplify its stance. INFINITI calls it “muscular elegance.” We’d call it “FX with a 2025 haircut.”

Twilight in Motion

Then there’s the paint. The Twilight finish—an evolution of INFINITI’s Akane hue—shifts between reddish purple and shimmering gold depending on the light. It’s flashy, yes, but it works. Paired with gloss black trim and bronze accents that trace the roofline and grille, the QX65 looks properly exotic in the California sun.

The grille itself nods to Japanese bamboo forests, though this time INFINITI’s designers have “stirred the trees in a storm,” creating a more aggressive texture. A glowing badge sits dead center, flanked by piano key LED lighting that stretches nearly the full width of the nose. It’s dramatic, bordering on theatrical, but it’s the kind of theater that might actually get people to look twice at an INFINITI again.

Jet-Inspired Details, Designer Wheels

Around back, jet-inspired taillights extend outward with vertical fins, a design cue meant to add depth and speed. The rest of the tail is deliberately clean, letting the LEDs carry the drama. Massive 22-inch wheels with twisted, layered spokes mirror the roofline’s sense of movement and detail, proving that INFINITI is sweating the small stuff.

Concept Today, Reality Tomorrow?

Of course, all this concept-car bravado raises the usual question: how much of this makes production? INFINITI execs insist the QX65 Monograph is more than vaporware. “It’s a signal,” says Tiago Castro, VP of INFINITI Americas. The brand, which has spent the better part of a decade chasing relevance, clearly sees this as a pivot point.

The challenge will be execution. Will the Twilight paint, sculpted body, and bold roofline survive the translation to a real showroom model? And will the production QX65 carry the hardware—engines, tech, dynamics—to back up the design, or will it be another case of style over substance?

For now, the QX65 Monograph is a refreshing reminder that INFINITI hasn’t forgotten how to dream. Whether it can deliver on those dreams in the very crowded midsize luxury space remains the bigger story.

Source: Infiniti