Car news, 9 July ’24: The Honda Prelude will makes its return to Europe, BMW’s 1 Series priced for Australia, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Tuesday July 9th 2024. Notably in car news today: Honda has announced it will make a production version of its Prelude sports coupe for the European market, and BMW Australia has confirmed pricing and specification for its fourth-generation 1 Series.

Browse this issue:

• Honda to bring new Prelude coupe to production
• BMW 1 Series pricing announced for Australia
• Toyota likely to introduce eight-speed automatic GR Corolla
• Alpina Australia confirms pricing and spec for local range 
• Reviewed: 2024 Subaru BRZ tS

Honda Prelude confirmed to return to Europe as sports coupe 

• Honda has announced the return of the Prelude model with a new concept that will be shown at this weekend’s upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

• Set to be introduced around 2025 or 2026, the new production Prelude will be a hybrid sports coupe and is likely to use a very similar 2.0-litre e:HEV system as found in the current Civic hatch. 

• Intel from a recent Autocar report states that the Prelude will use largely the same chassis as the Honda Civic, but with a wider rear track and a lightweight aluminium subframe. 

• The Prelude hasn’t been sold globally since the fifth generation, which was last produced in 2001. 

• Announced for Europe and the United Kingdom, the Honda Prelude has not yet been confirmed for Australia.  

BMW Australia announces pricing for its new ‘F70’ 1 Series 

• BMW Australia has confirmed it will be launching its fourth-generation ‘F70’ 1 Series in Australia from the fourth quarter of this year, priced from $56,500 before on-road costs.

• The entry price into a 1 Series has increased by $7432. The 118i M Sport grade has increased by $1700, while the top of the range M135i has been priced from $82,500 before on-road costs, or $5900 more than what it was before.

• The 118 variant will be powered by a 115kW/230Nm turbocharged three-cylinder engine, while the flagship M135i will use a 233kW/400Nm turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The M135i features BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. 

• Standard equipment for the 118 M Sport includes 18-inch alloy wheels, updated 10.25- and 10.7- screens, adaptive M suspension and adaptive LED headlights. The M135i adds larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a Harman Kardon sound system, M sport brakes, panoramic sunroof and an M rear spoiler. 

Toyota GR Corolla set to gain eight-speed automatic: report 

• Toyota is almost certain to add the long-awaited eight-speed automatic transmission to its GR Corolla hot hatch model, according to a leaked document reported by Carscoops.

• The document reveals that, at least in Canada, the addition of a new eight-speed self-shifting unit, along with a peak torque increase from 370Nm to 400Nm. 

• The GR Corolla is set to follow on from the mechanically-related GR Yaris, which was confirmed in January 2024 to receive an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

• Its 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine outputs were raised to 224kW/400Nm, so it’s expected to be the same for the GR Corolla in the coming months.  

• Both the GR versions of the Corolla and Yaris currently use a six-speed manual transmission with intelligent rev-matching. 

Alpina Australia announces 2024 prices for tweaked BMW models 

• Alpina Australia has confirmed pricing and specifications for its 2024 B3 and B4 models, which are now available locally.

• Pricing starts from $181,900 for the B3 GT sedan, $184,900 for the B3 GT Touring, and $189,900 for the B4 GT Gran Coupe, all of which have been priced before on-road costs. 

• All three models use a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six petrol engine that produces 389kW/730Nm. This is 14kW/80Nm more than the outputs of the current BMW M3 and M4 Competition. 

• Standard specification across the board includes Alpina 20-inch alloy wheels, Pirelli P Zero tyres, adaptive dampers, 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and Vernasca leather Alpina sports front seats, among others. 

• Individualised options for buyers include Alpina blue or green paintwork, full Merino leather upholstery, leather dashboard, sunroof, adaptive LED headlights and wireless phone charging. 

Subaru BRZ tS reviewed

• Chasing Cars digital production specialist Tom Place’s Youtube video review of the 2024 Subaru BRZ tS was published, including his thoughts and first impressions on the more track-honed version of the Subaru sports car.
  
• Positive points to note included manual variants now gaining autonomous emergency braking, strong Brembo brakes and track-honed suspension. 
  
• Points to improve for the Subaru include loud road noise in the cabin, some ergonomic interior issues and the need for 98-octane premium fuel.
  
• Place concluded the review by recommending the BRZ tS grade to keen buyers, even with its $3500 price hike. 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Wednesday 10th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.