As the title suggests, i just got back from the brisbane launch

They started the launch with a little peice on the magna, a farewell video with footage of all the different models over the last 20 years.. it was actually kinda touching!

Anyway, beleive the hype fellahs, i can safely assure you that it is a brilliantly built car and the quality of the car is unbeatable! Holden, Ford and even Toyota cant hold a candle against the 380 with respect to interior comfort, quality of plastics and materials and build quality! I even enjoyed opening and closing the doors ffs! nice reassuring "thud" sound.. it really is a well built and well engineered car.

This is all i can really say about the car considering i havent driven it, but all i can say is that if it drives half as well as it looks and feels, then its gonna be a winner!

As for the individual models, the VRX is REALLY nice, i love that car, and the GT is just one step better again, i probably still wouldnt buy the GT tho cos i want a manual and its auto only for the GT The LS and LX luxury models i wasnt as impressed with tho.. obviously they are just as well build and just as nice and so forth, but the colours and interior styling is probably best left for the 50+ age group, if your under 40 the VRX or GT is your go! Even the base model is great tho, its once again brilliant built and feels very comfy, but it also has a really good list of standard equipment. If this car is priced in the low 30's like is being suggested, it represents great value for money!

As for exterior styling, the pictures you have all seen dont do the car justice! its one of those cars that look about 50 times better in the metal and its just a really great, sporty looking car, especially the VRX and GT (obviously). The LS an LX models are clearly styled more towards the older end of the market just like the interior, but the base model still looks pretty damn nice.

Basically, as far as style, interior quality, standard equipment and comfort goes.. the carmy, falcon and commodore look and feel about 5 years behind! Sorry abobut the long post, but im a big fan

EDIT!! just remembered something else. There where 2 dissapointing things for me. 1) it continues the mitsubishi tradition of overly tall ride height.. my first mod would defently be to lower it, and 2) the front of the engine bay is VERY tight.. i think its going to be very difficult to even fit a decent pair of extractors here, let alone a turbo.. the current exhaust headers are VERY compact and theres stuff all space between where they finnish and where the radiator starts... if you want forced induction i think supercharging is gonna be the way to go with the 380