Subaru will introduce a new version of the WRX S4 called SporVita at the Tokyo Motor Show that will open its doors later this month.

Designed for buyers who want a more luxurious WRX, the SporVita gains model-specific seats designed jointly by Subaru and renowned Italian leather manufacturer Mario Levi. The black and brown two-tone upholstery that covers the seats, the steering wheel, the door panels and the center console helps make the WRX S4 SporVita one of the most upscale cars Subaru has ever built.

The posh interior is complemented by model-specific 18-inch alloy wheels that feature a satin silver finish.

Subaru has not made any mechanical modifications to the SporVita, meaning it’s powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter flat-four that spins all four wheels via a CVT. The four-cylinder produces nearly 300 horsepower — over 30 more than the mill that powers the U.S.-spec WRX — thanks in part to Japan’s high-octane fuel.

The Subaru WRX S4 SporVita will go on sale across Japan shortly after it makes its global debut in Tokyo. However, at the time of writing it doesn’t sound like the stylish WRX will be offered on our side of the Pacific.

The WRX S4 SporVita won’t be by itself on the Subaru stand in the Japanese capital. It’ll share the spotlight with a close-to-production design study called Impreza 5-Door Concept that accurately previews the next Impreza, and with a rugged-looking concept dubbed VIZIV Future that hints at what Subaru’s next off-roader might look like.

A new report finds Porsche will introduce a limited-edition model dubbed 911 R in the not-too-distant future.

Billed as a tribute to the original 911 R that was launched as a homologation special in 1967, Porsche’s next limited-edition model will be equipped with the same 3.8-liter flat-six engine that powers the track-ready 911 GT3 (pictured). Its output will likely remain pegged at 475 horsepower and 324 lb-ft. of torque but it will be bolted to a manual transmission, a feature not offered on the GT3.

Although further details are being kept under wraps, it’s not too far-fetched to speculate the gearbox will be a seven-speed unit. Rear-wheel drive will be the only configuration available.

Don’t get the wrong idea, the 911 R won’t simply be a GT3 with a stick. It will ditch its automatic counterpart’s sizable trunk-mounted wing for a more streamlined appearance, it will ride on skinnier tires and it is expected to weigh noticeably less. In short, the R is shaping up to be the long-rumored driver-focused 911.

If the report is accurate, Porsche will unveil the 911 R online in the coming weeks and the coupe might greet the public for the first time next month at the Los Angeles Motor Show. However, well-heeled enthusiasts who want one might already be out of luck because an anonymous source close to Porsche told Road & Track that the entire production run has already been spoken for.

To demonstrate its regenerative braking technology to a public still largely unclear on how hybrids work, Toyota recently cooked breakfast for 171 people with its TS040 race car.

The stunt, called Toyota Barista, invited 171 people (actors?) into a room lined with tables, coffee pots, toasters and frying pans. Then its 1,000-horsepower Le Mans racer pulled into the room with driver Kazuki Nakajima behind the wheel.

All the cooking contraptions were then “connected” to the race car, which accelerated on a rolling dyno to what, according to the screen, was 176 mph in a virtual lap around Sarthe Circuit.

6 million joules are generated each lap of the 24-hour race. In competition, this would be made stored in on-board capacitors and fed back into the powertrain for extra speed when needed. However, if you chose to cook breakfast with that energy instead, you’d get 171.4 cups of coffee, 83.3 slices of toast, and 57.7 fried eggs.

Clearly, it’s just a marketing stunt, but it’s a clever demonstration of how regenerative braking works for less technically minded car buyers.

Specs regarding the Toyota S-FR sports car concept have been leaked ahead of its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The S-FR’s existence was announced only earlier this week, but there is already an online forum devoted to the car. SFRforums.com has obtained specs about the apparently close-to-production sports car from a Japanese document and translated it into English.

First and foremost, the S-FR (or whatever the production name turns out to be) will be powered by a 1.5-liter, twin-cam inline-four. It’s a tuned version of the Japanese market Toyota Corolla‘s, upgraded with direct injection and a new port design.

According to the translation, the engine will generate be 130 PS (128 hp) and 109 lb-ft of torque. The sole transmission will be a 6-speed manual, and no automatic will be offered. Paried with a curb weight of just 2,160 pounds, it will be capable of 47 mpg in the Japanese testing cycle. The S-FR’s suspension will consist of front struts and an independent double-wishbone rear.

The pricing is expected to be only an astounding $12,500 in the Japanese market. It’s not clear whether any of this will translate to the US market when (or if) it comes here. Clearly, though, enthusiasts are excited about the idea of a close-to-production, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive, and affordable sports car.

Nissan will introduce a new concept called Teatro for Dayz during this year’s edition of the biennial Tokyo Motor Show.

The curiously-named, Cube-esque concept was designed to put digital natives behind the wheel, a task that Nissan stresses is easier said than done. The Japanese car maker’s research shows that many young adults are reluctant to own a car because they find driving stressful. Part of the problem is that they can’t stay connected to their friends and their social media channels while they’re on the move.

“What share natives want from cars is not the joy of driving or their own private space, but a better way to connect with friends and share experiences. What’s important is not whether something is experienced personally or virtually. What matters is the process of sharing,” explained Nissan in a statement.

The Teatro for Dayz’s seats, dashboard, steering wheel and door panels are all white when the car is turned off. However, when the ignition is on, all of the aforementioned components can be configured to display a nearly endless selection of patterns including leather, leopard skin, wood or even an artsy, multi-colored design.

The instrument cluster is located on the huge touch screen that replaces the traditional dashboard, meaning the driver can move the gauges around, increase or decrease their size or simply swipe them out of the way. Alternatively, the dash can double as a screen for video calls.

Technical details haven’t been published yet, but what lies under the hood is presumably of little interest to a generation who thinks driving is stressful. All we know is that the concept is electric, and that its driving range is sufficient for short commutes. Interestingly, the panels right above the rocker panels are screens that can be configured to display how much juice is left in the battery.

Nissan hasn’t revealed what the future holds for the Teatro for Dayz, but we’d be astonished if it makes it past the concept stage.

Nissan has introduced a NISMO-tuned version of the 6,000-pound Patrol SUV in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Built to celebrate the launch of the NISMO sub-brand in the UAE, Nissan’s body-on-frame behemoth gets a 5.6-liter V8 engine that has been tuned to make 428 horsepower, 28 more than the regular-production model. Power is sent to all four wheels via an automatic transmission, but performance specifications haven’t been published yet.

The extra power is complemented by a sportier-looking front fascia that gains a deeper front bumper with a race-inspired splitter, a large air dam with mesh inserts and horizontal LED daytime running lights. The updates are directly inspired by the GT-R NISMO and the 370Z NISMO. Other add-ons include side skirts, black mirror caps, a rear air diffuser and 22-inch alloy wheels.

The cabin is spruced up with two-tone black and white leather upholstery on the seats and on the door panels, red accents, and a NISMO-specific instrument cluster with a red tachometer.

The first-ever Nissan Patrol NISMO will go on sale soon in the UAE, though pricing information and availability haven’t been released yet. At the time of writing it doesn’t look like the Patrol NISMO will be sold outside of the Middle East.

What’s in a name?

The Nissan Patrol patrol isn’t offered on our shores but Infiniti sells a re-badged — and luxed-up — version of it dubbed QX80. However, it goes without saying that a NISMO-massaged version of the QX80 isn’t coming out any time soon.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ underreporting of death and injury incidents is much worse than first thought.

“We identified it. They went back. It goes much deeper than I think anybody expected,” NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind told reports, according to quotes published by The Detroit News.

After receiving notification from the agency of an apparent discrepancy in its early warning reporting (EWR) numbers, FCA admitted to the underreporting and promised to participate in the subsequent investigation.

Rosekind declined to disclose an estimate of how many deaths and injuries were not included in FCA’s required EWR reports, though the results promise to be “pretty surprising.” The agency is said to be still uncovering more problems as it continues to look at the data.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” he said. “We find one thing and then it goes back further and so that’s what the challenge has been.”

In its lengthy dispute with the NHTSA over fuel-tank fire risk in older Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee SUVs, FCA persistently argued that both models were just as safe as segment rivals of the era. It is unclear if the company’s statistical analysis was based on numbers that may be affected by the EWR corrections.

Such behavior is not unheard of in the industry. Ferrari was hit with a $3.5 million fine a year ago for failing to comply with EWR regulations, while Honda paid $70 million this year. A recent independent analysis suggests Volkswagen’s acknowledged deaths are nearly 10 times below the industry average, though the apparent discrepancy has not yet been publicly addressed by the NHTSA.

Lincoln has confirmed plans to unveil the production Lincoln Continental early next year in Detroit.

Unveiled earlier this year at the New York Auto Show, the Continental concept introduces a bold new design language with a focus on luxury. Its front end features a glimmering chrome mesh grille, swept headlights with LEDs and lasers, and a sculpted hood.

The concept’s front fascia briefly sparked controversy over its similarity to Bentley’s own Continental Flying Spur, leading to sarcastic comments by the British automaker’s design director at the time.

Lincoln marketing manager Imran Jalal told Car and Driver the public reaction to the concept has been “very promising.” The production car will presumably be toned down slightly, however spy shots suggest most of the notable elements will remain.

The Continental will succeed the MKS, borrowing Ford’s front-wheel-drive architecture from the Fusion and MKZ. It will be powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost engine with all-wheel drive as an available option. A high-output engine and other sport-focused features are said to be unlikely.

“We have high-performance engines, but we are going for a luxurious feeling rather than sportiness,” Jalal added.

Additional details will likely be disclosed ahead of the Continental’s January debut.

The second tentative agreement between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and United Auto Workers officials includes a significant pay boost for Tier 2 workers and a better signing bonus for Tier 1 employees.

The lowest-paid group would be able to earn up to $28 per hour under the new terms, representing a significant increase over the $25 ceiling included in the deal that was rejected by the majority of FCA’s 40,000 organized members. The same tier is currently making a maximum of $19/hour under the deal that ended this year.

Senior employees already making Tier 1 wages will be eligible for alternating annual three-percent general pay increases and four-percent lump-sum bonuses. The bonuses and raises are said to represent gains of $20,000 for a typical production worker based on 2,080 straight-time hours.

Responding to apparent paranoia surrounding a proposed healthcare co-op included in the original deal, UAW leaders have warned that health costs are projected to jump from $8/hour to $13-14/hour by 2019.

“The company’s solution is for our members to pay more,” union presidents wrote in a letter to workers. “Over the years we have protected you from premium sharing and have been successful in this set of bargaining, too. But if we are going to maintain these benefits, we must be proactive and not wait for the problem to get worse.”

Instead of pushing forward immediately with plans for a co-op, the UAW has asked companies to share more data and support healthcare studies.

FCA’s workers must now vote again on the new proposal before it is finalized and adopted.