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Watch a Subaru BRZ nail world-record tightest 360 spin

How much space do you need to execute a full 360? Less than two car lengths, as it turns out. But you'd need to be someone like Alastair Moffatt to pull it off. The British stunt driver added another Guinness-certified world record at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, England, the other day when he executed a complete 360-degree turn in just 21.3 feet. 14 of those feet were taken by the Subaru BRZ he drove to accomplish the feat – naturally with the ABS and traction control disengaged. That left just 7.4 feet (2.25 meters) of clearance to flip the car all the way around, which bagged him the record for the world's tightest 360-degree spin that previously stood at 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). He didn't manage the feat just once: after extensive practicing, Moffatt performed the stunt in front of a cheering crowd, and then repeated it under tightly controlled conditions for the record adjudicators. This isn't the first such world-record stunt that Moffatt has pulled off, either. He previously scored the records for the tightest parallel parking job and for the same in reverse. Watch him accomplish his latest in the video above. SUBARU BRZ GETS IN A SPIN FOR GUINNESS WORLD RECORD - Rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ sets new world record for tightest 360° spin - Stunt driver Alastair Moffatt secures record at 2016 Autosport Show Subaru has again demonstrated the agility and precision handling prowess of its rear-wheel drive BRZ sportscar by securing the Guinness World Record for the 'Tightest 360° spin'. The record was secured at the Autosport International Show over the weekend, with the BRZ in capable hands of former world record holder Alastair Moffat. Stunt-driver ace Alastair Moffatt broke the previous 2.5-metre Guinness World Record, which was achieved in 2014, by flicking the BRZ into a 360° spin between two obstacles in Autosport International's Live Action Arena. Moffatt has previous experience setting daring Guinness World Records, including 'Tightest Reverse Parallel Park' and 'Tightest Parallel Park', the latter established at the 2015 Autosport show. The 4.24-metre-long Subaru BRZ is renowned for its low centre of gravity – lower than many high-end supercars – and naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre 'Boxer' engine, making the BRZ one of the most exciting and engaging cars on the road In order for Alastair to have maximise control over the car throughout the manoeuvre, the traction control was switched off and ABS disengaged.

Subaru mulls motorsports return, nixes small CUV plans

The Subaru WRX STI breaking the automotive lap record at the Isle of Man might be just the beginning of the headlines trumpeting a Subaru racecar. According to the latest rumors, the Japanese brand is looking at taking motorsports more seriously in the future. That could possibly even mean endurance racing at Le Mans.
According to Auto Express, the brand is mulling a greater participation in motorsport, but the big question is where. The World Rally Championship isn't a certainty because it now favors smaller cars like the Volkswagen Polo. Subaru still competes in series like Rally America and Global Rallycross, but there are bigger stages to play on.
What's interesting, is that this commitment to motorsports comes right as the automaker is denying plans to build a small CUV for its passenger car lineup. According to Auto Express, the company has no intention of developing a crossover smaller than the current XV Crosstrek. Even if the sales are there, it would just cost too much to develop. In the US, at least, the XV is doing great with sales up 42 percent in July.

Weekly Recap: Mazda's rotary revival ignites Tokyo Motor Show

Forty-eight years ago Mazda pioneered rotary engines in the Cosmo Sport. Mazda then honed the technology, won with it on the racetrack, and made it one of its signature features. If you're an enthusiast, rotary was a reason you like Mazda. It's a great part of the company's past. But until this week, that's exactly what we thought it was. History. That all changed with the reveal of the RX-Vision concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, which reignited the passions of the Mazda faithful. Suddenly, rotary was no longer a relic. The rotary concept shown in Japan was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car wrapped in the company's latest Kodo design language. It's powered by a Skyactiv-R unit (R for rotary), though specs were not disclosed. Mass production is "currently on hold," Mazda said, maintaining it never stopped development of rotary technology, even after the demise of the RX-8. Beyond that, we know nothing, other than the optimistic statement Mazda offered that: the "RX-Vision represents a vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make into reality." Put simply: we agree. OTHER NEWS & NOTES: Subaru previews next-gen Impreza While the Mazda concept was the headliner from Tokyo, Subaru's Impreza design study also stood out. The five-door concept is a signpost for the look of next-generation Impreza. It blends sportiness with functionality, and it's wrapped in a striking shade of 'high-luminance silver.' The fenders are flared to signal Subaru's all-wheel-drive capability, and the front has futuristic headlights that look like something from an Audi E-Tron concept. While most of this will be toned down in production, the concept suggests an elevated style for the Impreza, which is due as a 2017 model. Porsche adds potent GTS model to 2017 Macan line Porsche is giving the Macan crossover the GTS treatment, which will start at $68,195 when it goes on sale in March. GTS translates to more power, a sportier suspension, and interior and exterior design cues that sharpen the looks and reflexes of one of the most athletic SUVs on the market. Porsche recalibrated the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Macan S to make 360 hp and 369 lb-ft, (up from 340 hp and 339 lb-ft in the S). It teams with a seven-speed PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive. An air suspension is standard. The body features a slew of black accents, and the standard 20-inch RS Spyder wheels are done up in a shade of satin black. The cabin gets leather, Alcantara, and GTS logos.