I can see why the fourth-gen Courser, despite its lack of commercial success, deserves to be highly revered today: it combined a sleek body with formidable performance to create one of the best grand tourers of its era. The resemblance between it and the third-gen Silver is not coincidental either - the Courser came out first, and so the Silver was designed to bring some of the Courser’s style and performance to customers with tighter budgets.
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Auxio Automobiles
est. 1988
In 1988, Auxio Automobiles made its debut with the 1988 Tanaka AQ. Auxio Automobiles is a luxury division of Tanaka Heavy Industries. To learn more about the brand and its cars, click here!
Auxio is very important to Tanaka Heavy Industres as it serves as Tanaka’s entry to the luxury car market.
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2019-Present Tanaka Azalea (AD08)
Overview
This is the latest Azalea, the 8th generation, introduced in 2019 during the 2018 Antiyita Motor Show. This is a much more modern car the previous generation, incorporating Tanaka’s new body language which includes its wing-like LED DRLs, big front grille which consists of the from grille (similar shape to the previous Tanaka design language) and the big bottom grille connecting them together to create what looks like one seamless grille. At the rear, it is much more modern as well with its taillights and a light bar, creating a very modern-looking rear end. Underneath the Azalea features Tanaka’s new TGEA2 platform, which is basically a transverse AWD-compatible platform suitable for models ranging from the B-segment/sub-compact Osaka hatchback all the way to the largest application, the D-segment/mid-size Azalea.
Engine
Each engine has its own specialty for each purpose, take a look at the engine options available for the Azalea.
GB24DI-A3
The 8th generation Azalea still retains the same engine series as the 6th gen Azalea, the GB-Series, and for good reason. The GB-Series is Tanaka’s most successful engine ever. It has ample power, ample torque, quite quiet, very fuel-efficient and most importantly, extremely reliable. This GB24DI-A3 engine is the entry-level engine for the Azalea. This is a naturally aspirated 2.4 litre Inline-4 producing 173HP and 164lb-ft of torque. Depending on the trim, fuel economy ranges from 42.8mpg (2.4GE) to 36.8mpg (2.4SL)
GB20DI-A3 EarthBoost
This is the mid-level engine for the Azalea. This is the one of the most fuel-efficient petrol-powered Tanaka engine, and is the most fuel-efficient engine option in the Azalea. This EarthBoost unit is a 2.0 litre turbocharged Inline-4 producing 226HP and 206lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy ranges from 51.0mpg (2.0T GE) to 48.1mpg (2.0T GX)
FY35DI-A1
This is the top-level engine for the Azalea. This is the most powerful engine option for the Azalea so far. This engine is just an updated version of the FY-Series V6 in the 6th gen Azalea. It is a 3.5 litre naturally aspirated V6 producing 300HP and 254lb-ft of torque. Basically, it is a reliable and proven option to have power in your Azalea. Fuel economy ranges from 35.1mpg (3.5GL) to 32.9mpg (3.5GX with AWD).
Trims and Equipment
GE
The GE is the base trim group for the Azalea. It is available with 2 engine options, appropriately named: 2.4GE, 2.0T GE. The 2.4GE can be equipped with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed advanced automatic transmission, while the 2.0T GE can only be equipped with the automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes 17-inch steel wheels with 2 tone hubcaps on them or an optional multi-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels (standard on the 2.0T GE) with hard long life tires on them, solid disk brakes all around, standard recycled soft cloth interior with a small basic infotainment system, electric variable power steering, ABS+TC+ESC, and all the modern safety features you can expect. The 2.4GE equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission, being the cheapest model, starts at just $30400.
GL
The GL is the mid-level trim group for the Azalea. It is available with 3 engine options, appropriately named: 2.4GL, 2.0T GL, 3.5GL. There are no manual transmission available for this trim group and upper trims. It features everything from the GE, but adds/replaces with 18-inch 2-tone twin 5-spoke alloy wheels with wider hard long life tires, rear lip spoiler, a sunroof, blacked-out roof panels, optional synthetic leather seats, larger standard infotainment system and additional fog lights. The optional AWD system is available on all engine options starting from this The 2.4GL, being the cheapest one, starts at just $32800.
SL
The SL is just a sportier-looking model of the GL, only available with the 2.4 litre engine option. To be honest, this trim is just a GL with an appearance package and some features of the GX. Obviously the main change from the normal GL is the blacked out 18-inch twin 5-spoke alloy wheels, a rear lip spoiler and blacked out door handles. But the SL also added more features from the GX, such as the adaptive dampers and the 3 piston front brake calipers. It also adds the optional standard synthetic leather as standard, and adds an AWD system as standard. The 2.4SL starts at just $37100.
GX
Introduced in 2020, the top-of-the-line model trim group of the Azalea, the GX, was introduced due to delays in the semi-autonomous driving system. Only 2 engine options are available, appropriately named: 2.0T GX, 3.5GX. Changes from the GL includes 19-inch double 5-spoke alloy wheels with wider tires, 3 piston brakes on the front instead of the 2, premium synthetic leather for the seats and the interior, a semi-autonomous driving system, and adaptive dampers. The 2.0T GX, being the cheapest one, costs $35600.
Though for some people, its sporty styling might be a bit too much, the latest Azalea still had a great reception due to its modern styling and its modern underpinnings (since the previous generation Azalea was considered by reviewers to simply be a “facelifted” 6th gen Azalea). Owners of this Azalea praised it for being reliable and much more comfortable than the previous generation.
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Great looking and super efficient, I like that. Is it available in Europe?
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I hope it is. Among the shrinking crop of mid-sized mass-market family cars, the current AD08 Azalea stands out for its commanding presence, to back up its improved reliability, comfort and dynamics. And with its atmo V6 engine, it stands out even more in a sea of turbo straight-fours. In short, it deserves to sell well in any and every region in which it is offered - a welcome antidote to the SUV/crossover craze.
Of course, as most Tanaka models are on sale worldwide, the Azalea is no exception. We aim to make global products for everyone.
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Then it has just one euro-like engine, the turbo 2.0 
Though with such efficiency the base 2.4 might not be a problem too, unless the insurance companies care about the displacement more than I think. Anyway, I think adding a lower powered N/A 2.0, or even a turbo 1.5-1.6 for Europe would be a good idea 
This could have been in BRC, lol
Why is the SL only available with the 2.4?
Well the SL is to give people who have the base engine a more special trim. But its not like its a sporty model (e.g Sonata N-Line). This is more like a fancy dressed-up base engine equipped Azalea.
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