Ford Australia's Falcon Wagon to Bite the Dust in June, Replaced by Mondeo Wagon

In an ominous sign for the rest of the Falcon range, Ford Australia announced that the Falcon Wagon will be axed in June. Ironically, the announcement comes a few months before the company celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Australian Falcon that was launched onto the market in June of 1960.

Many Australians had anticipated the demise of the RWD Falcon Wagon after Ford's decision to tweak the older BA/BF version instead of presenting a new model based on the latest FG Falcon series.

"It's time to retire the Falcon wagon," said Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela said. "We have moved on."

And by "moved on", the Ford exec means that the company's Australian / New Zealand division will concentrate on the new FWD Mondeo station wagon.

Wide-body 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan and Hatch Live from New York

Subaru is closing the styling gap between the Impreza WRX and STI models with the release of the wide-body 2011 Impreza WRX sedan and hatchback that had their world premiere today at the New York auto show.

By adopting the styling lines of the high-performance STI with the wider body look, including a wide track front and rear as well as beefier 17-inch alloys and 235/45R17 tires, the 2011 Impreza WRX boasts a more aggressive road presence than its predecessor.

Both the four-door sedan and 5-door hatchback models continue to be powered by a 265-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine teamed with a 5-speed manual transmission.

In the U.S., sales of the revised 2011 Impreza WRX are schedule to start in the summer.

[Photos by Phil Alex]

All-New Scion tC Coupe with 180HP 2.5-Liter Engine Revealed in New York

Making its world debut at the New York motor show alongside the N.A.-spec iQ mini, is the second-generation of Scion's tC compact coupe that is scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealerships later this fall. Highlights include a new chassis and a more powerful 2.5-liter engine with new transmisions.

Following a similar formula with the first-generation tC that was first launched onto the market in 2004, Scion's coupe model features a new exterior design with certain styling cues like the helmet-inspired cabin shape said to be adopted from the Calty-designed Scion FUSE concept shown at the 2006 edition of the NY Show.

The car also gets protruding fender flares that house larger 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in wider tires.

Inside, the cabin has been designed from scratch and features an old-school bimmer-like driver-orientated cockpit with the instrument-panel, gauge cluster and center-console all facing inward in a V-shape.

Toyota said that the cabin has been lengthened thus improving passenger space, while utility is enhanced with reclining rear seats that split 60/40. The panoramic moonroof remains standard in the new tC.

The 2011 tC rides on a new platform and gets a revised electronic power-steering and retuned suspension featuring MacPherson struts up front and double-wishbones at the back. It also rides lower than the previous model and comes standard with larger 16-inch disc brakes on all corners.

Scion's 2011 tC coupe benefits from an all-new 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with dual VVT-i that generates 180 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 19HP and 11 lbs.-ft of torque over the previous model.

Power is transferred to the front wheels through a revised six-speed manual gearbox or a new six-speed automatic with sequential-shift.

Scion has yet to release performance and fuel economy figures for the new tC.