Welcome to The Drift where Jalopnik East rounds up the highlights from all around the Pacific Rim. In today’s headlines, Toyota reveals the new 86 GT “Yellow Limited,” Chinese automakers find that international markets no longer want their cars, and Mitsubishi teases another vehicle America won’t get anytime soon.
Countersteer
Toyota Motor Corp announced today, July 13, that the company will soon be accepting orders for a new version of the 86 (known as the Scion FR-S in North America) to be produced in November. The new 86 will be known as the GT “Yellow Limited” as it comes in the color “Sunrise Yellow.” The interior will be all black, except for “Sunrise Yellow” stitching and accents. Toyota says this will be to “highlight the sporty feeling” of the new specification 86.
There are two different “aero packages.” These are designated the “Yellow Limited Aero Package” which adds Bridgestone POTENZA S001 tires to BBS 18 inch forged aluminum wheels which cover high performance brake pads, and the “Yellow Limited Aero Package FT” includes all of the above, but also includes the body kit lips/side skirts, and the rear spoiler (which definitely, defintely reminds me of a Celica).
The price if you happen to be in Japan? 3,167,200 yen, with tax. That’s only $25,676. Hop to it!
Oversteer
China’s export auto sales are down because of worsening political and economic situations in target countries, while the weak South Korean won and the very weak Japanese yen make China automakers’ East Asian competitors much more attractive to international markets, according to the China Daily.
Shen Danyang, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said the major culprits are worsening economic and political situations in destination countries, most of which are developing markets....He said those countries’ sluggish economic performance and currency depreciation are dampening customers’ enthusiasm for consumption of necessities like cars....Meanwhile, depreciation of Japanese and South Korean currencies are making products from auto companies from these two countries more attractive to customers, said Shen.
It might also be because the Chinese cars are generally seen as inferior products, an issue that the China Daily states Chinese automakers are trying to battle by offering higher quality products to its international target markets.
Yeah, good luck with that.
Understeer
Mitsubishi is is previewing its newest Montero Sport, to be built in Bangkok, Thailand, according to Automotive News. Unsurprisingly, it is not expected to come to the United States in the near future. The Montero Sport is a go-to vehicle in Southeast Asia and Latin America where the terrain actually calls for it (unlike its potential use in America—namely the suburban, strip mall parking lot). AN’s Gabe Nelson cites dealer sources that say while the cost to meet U.S. rollover standards would cost about $50 Million (as Don Swearingen, executive vice president at Mitsubishi Motors North America said last month), there are ways in which the Montero Sport could be justified for sales in the US.
I’ll believe it when I see it at a dealer in Albuquerque.
Images via Mitsubishi and Toyota, modifications by Kat Callahan/Jalopnik.
Jalopnik East is your daily dose of the latest automotive news out of Asia, covering domestic developments and car culture in Japan, Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Just because you can’t drive it, doesn’t mean we can’t share it with you. You can usually catch us every day between 5am and 7am ET.