Attached to the rear decklid of the Spectra Blue Mica coloured Tsunami a block-letter appliqué read "GT-S." Yes, I thought to myself. Why so excited? Because the Tsunami edition comes in two trims: the GT which is equipped with Toyota's Variable Valve

Seeing the block-letter appliqué reading "GT-S" was all it took to get me excited. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

Technology with Intelligence (VVT-I) producing 140 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 125 lb-ft of torque at 4, 200 rpm, and the much more enticing GT-S which has the Variable Valve Timing and Lift with Intelligence (VVTL-I) technology with 2-stage valve lift and duration, adding an extra level of high-revving performance to the mix. Translation, more power! The GT-S produces 180 horsepower at 7,600 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, and faster acceleration (0-100 km/hr in 6.6 seconds). Both engines, however, look the same on paper, being 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC units with sequential multi-port fuel injection systems. There were a few more attributes of the GT-S that caused me say "Yes" when I initially laid eyes on it. First, the

The GT-S version of Toyota's 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC engine produces 180-hp at 7,600 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

Tsunami is equipped with the close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission to optimize fuel consumption during highway driving and to reduce noise. In addition, the 6-speed is the only transmission offered on the Tsunami GT-S (the regular GT-S has an optional automatic equipped with E-shift steering-wheel-mounted buttons, inspired by those used on Formula 1 cars). The next characteristic to 'make waves' with me was the 200-watt Panasonic AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system that comes with a removable faceplate and remote control. Furthermore, the car comes with such features as keyless entry, cruise control, a power moonroof, all of which make the driving experience more pleasurable.