Ferrari 599XX gets upgrade pack

That exclusive club of Ferrari 599XX owners — just 29 of the £1.2m track specials were made — can now upgrade their cars with more power, sharper handling and better aerodynamics.

Ferrari expects all owners to opt for the Evoluzione package, just as owners of the Enzo did when a similar package was made available for that extreme supercar. Power from the 6.0-litre V12 is raised 30bhp to 740bhp and torque to 516lbft thanks to new, freer-flowing side-exhausts. New to the 599XX are ‘opening gap’ aerodynamics on the rear wing. This features a pair of flaps that open and close to adjust the front-aft downforce, which in turn balances the handling during high-speed cornering. Linked to the engine management system, the flaps open and close according to steering wheel angle, speed and front/side acceleration. When combined with a modified front splitter and a new rear diffuser with more surface area and redesigned fences and foot-plates, the new aero package is said to boost downforce considerably.

NSX gets Hybrid V6 & AWD

Honda has revealed that it is working on a new concept that hints at a range-topping sports coupe. The Super Sports concept will follow the Small Sports EV Concept that will be unveiled at this week’s Tokyo motor show. The Super Sports concept will be unveiled at Detroit in January next year and is likely to be powered by a 300bhp-plus, all-wheel drive, petrol-electric hybrid system dubbed ‘Super-Handling AWD’ (SH-AWD). Using a new 3.5-litre V6 petrol motor to drive the front wheels and an electric motor to power the rear wheel, the car benefits from a torque-distribution system on the electric rear axle and improves handling safety and response. It’s also possible that a new seven-speed double-clutch gearbox will be fitted as standard.

Audi's five-door A1 unveiled at Tokyo Motot Show

Audi has unveiled the promised five-door version of its A1 supermini at the Tokyo motor show, and plans to have it in UK showrooms early in 2012. Called Audi A1 Sportback, the five-door is identical in size and style to the three-door, but designers have found an extra 6mm in both height and width, which they say improves rear-seat room, one of the few major points of criticism in the three-door.

The Audi A1 was an instant success when launched late last year, exceeding a planned annual sales rate of around 18,000 cars.

The company believes volume should increase further with the launch of the Audi A1 Sportback, which should eventually account for about 70 per cent of total sales.

Nissan commits to 370Z's future

The Nissan 370Z does have a long-term future in the Nissan’s future product line-up and any future smaller, lighter sports car would likely to be all-electric, Nissan product planning chief Andy Palmer has confirmed.

Speaking to Autocar at the Tokyo motor show, Palmer said Nissan would not follow Subaru and Toyota into making a smaller, lighter BRZ/GT 86-style sports cars as the 370Z was “one of the pillars of the brand, it won’t disappear”.

Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo Unveiled

The Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo Coupe has moved firmly into Porsche 911 GT3 territory with this motorsport-inspired GTS special edition, unveiled at today’s Tokyo motor show.

Nismo Plan to produce hot Nissans

Nissan's Nismo tuning arm will have an expanded role with the firm's road car projects, starting with the Juke. The Nissan Juke Nismo Concept, revealed ahead of its Tokyo motor show debut tomorrow, is a Nismo-fettled more powerful, more focused version of the compact crossover and company sources have revealed to Autocar there is a desire to bring a production version to Europe.

Nissan is remaining coy on the exact power and performance details of the concept, but has said that the turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol unit will be retuned to give more power. i have to say in my own opinion the Nissan Juke looks well out of shape, but with Nismo sorting it out, it will stand out much better on the street giving it thumbs up!

Subaru BRZ production car revealed

These are the first official images of the Subaru BRZ production car, which have been revealed on the eve of the Tokyo motor show. The BRZ is mechanically identical to the Toyota GT 86, which was revealed earlier this week, but has different body work and a different, more stripped down interior.

Subaru UK has also recently confirmed that the BRZ - short for Boxer, engine, Rear-drive, Zenith - will come to the UK next spring, although the adverse exchange rate of the Yen versus the Pound is forecast to keep prices high and limit sales to around 500 cars a year in the UK.