Australia-Exclusive Limited Editions Ranked: A Countdown
In the world of performance cars, Australia has a rich and varied history. Over the years, several iconic models have graced the country's roads, each with its unique story. Here's a look at some of the most memorable performance cars that have left a lasting impact on the Australian automotive landscape.
In 2002, Mazda Australia unveiled the MX-5 SP, a hotter version of the beloved MX-5 roadster. Developed to compete in the Targa Tasmania, the MX-5 SP was driven "as hard as possible" and managed a very creditable 20th place outright. The car's performance was enhanced by a turbo upgrade, which increased the outputs of its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine from 113kW/181Nm to 150kW/280Nm.
The same year, Toyota introduced the TRD Aurion, a performance sedan with a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 241kW/400Nm. The Subaru WRX WRP10, a special edition model celebrating 10 years of the Impreza WRX in Australia, was also introduced. With a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, it delivered 175kW/302Nm and was positioned between the standard WRX and the hotter STI.
Fast forward to 2007, and Toyota attempted to prove that front-wheel drive could produce a red-hot, dinky-di Aussie performance car with the TRD Aurion. Meanwhile, Subaru continued to push the boundaries with the WRX WRP10, building it in a limited run of 200 units, all in Crystal Grey.
The 2017 BMW M140i Performance Edition was another Australia-only hot hatch, featuring parts from the M Performance Parts catalogue. The following year, BMW released the M140i Performance Edition in a limited run of 60 units, with 3/4 being automatic and 1/4 being manual.
In the mid-1990s, the BMW E36 M3R was produced in Australia for local production car racing. This rare and raw version of the M3 featured increased outputs, stiffer suspension, bigger front brakes, and a lighter flywheel. Fifteen E36 M3R cars were sent over in their lightest form, with the final car supposedly 100kg lighter than a standard M3.
The Mazda RX-7 SP, produced in 1995, was developed in response to Porsche's import of 10 993 RS CS cars. The RX-7 SP, with increased outputs, weight reduction, a larger fuel tank, stronger and shorter-ratio Torsen limited-slip diff, bigger brakes, and other modifications, proved to be a formidable endurance race car. In the same year, the Mazda RX-7 SP won the 12-Hour race at Eastern Creek with John Bowe and Dick Johnson behind the wheel.
The Nissan R32 GT-R, imported to Australia in 1990, underwent extensive modifications to meet local regulations. Despite a high price tag, a total of 100 Nissan R32 GT-R cars were imported, but they were not popular among local buyers.
In recent years, Ford has entered the Australian performance car market with the Mustang R-Spec, a special edition muscle car produced in a run of 500 units in 2019. Most recently, Porsche celebrated its 70th anniversary in Australia with the 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 70 Years, a market-specific model built in a limited run of 25 units.
While the leaders of some programmes, such as the R-Spec program for the Ford Mustang in Australia, remain unknown, their contributions to the Australian performance car scene cannot be underestimated. These cars, each with their unique stories and performances, have left a lasting impact on the Australian automotive landscape, continuing to inspire and excite car enthusiasts today.
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