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New York 2011: Subaru looking at XV Concept for US, but wouldn’t be called Outback Sport

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hatchback, Subaru, Shanghai Motor Show

Subaru XV Concept – Click above to view high-res image gallery

At the 2011 New York Auto Show, we asked Dominic Infante, Subaru’s U.S. product manager, about the XV Concept revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show. “It’s probably not for us,” he said, “but we’re looking at it. And if it did come, it probably wouldn’t be called Outback Sport.”

That’s because the Outback Sport is an anomaly in Subaru’s U.S. line-up that the brand’s marketing arm would like to correct – an Outback in name only, it is actually based on the Impreza platform. But it sells so well, Infante says, “that the sales guys don’t want them to change anything. They’re like, ‘Don’t mess it up.'”

What do you think? Should Subaru bring a production version of the XV to the States, or is it too much like the Outback Sport to matter? Make yourself heard in our poll below.

View Poll

Gallery: Subaru XV Concept

New York 2011: Subaru looking at XV Concept for US, but wouldn’t be called Outback Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Motor Trend goes to Australia, chronicles Subaru Outback road trip

Filed under: Wagon, Videos, Subaru, Australia

Subaru Outback Motor Trend road trip

Subaru Outback Motor Trend road trip – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Manufacturers can get pretty cocky when it comes to naming their products. We can say with near-certainty that a Chrysler Sebring never turned a tire in anger at the legendary Floridian track and that we’d be surprised if a Pontiac Le Mans ever went fender to fender in France. Motor Trend has set about putting the Subaru Outback up against its Australian namesake in a 30-minute long web special hosted by none other than Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. This isn’t your typical man-against-nature flick, though. Instead, Motor Trend has gone about creating an in-depth travel video that would be right at home on the Discovery Channel.

MacKenzie and his crew seem to trek across Australia’s wild bits with relative ease despite large mud holes and plenty of soft sand, and we’re left to enjoy the vast scenery of one of our planet’s most beautiful continents. The finished product is less about power figures and 0-60 times and more about the actual trip. It’s well worth taking some time during your lunch break for a quick watch. Hit the jump to take a look for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend goes to Australia, chronicles Subaru Outback road trip

Video: Motor Trend goes to Australia, chronicles Subaru Outback road trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Recall, stop-sale issued on 2010-11 Subaru Outback and Legacy models over gearbox flaw

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Subaru

2010 Subaru Outback

2010 Subaru Outback – Click above for high-res image gallery

Once again, Subaru’s mainstay models, the Outback and Legacy, appear to be girding for a recall. Both models have already faced callbacks for leaky CVT hoses and wiring issues, but according to Inside Line, a new issue affecting a number of manual transmission-equipped 2010 and 2011 models will not only precipitate another recall, but also a stop-sale on all potentially-affected vehicles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the oil lubrication hole in the six-speed manual transmission has not been drilled on the affected vehicles, which can cause gears to break. NHTSA issued a statement, saying:

“If the transmission gears are not properly lubricated, a groaning sound may begin to develop, alerting the driver to a problem. If this sound is ignored and no action is taken, the gears will eventually break and this condition will lead to vehicle power loss, possibly resulting in a crash.”

Vehicles will be repaired, free of charge, at any Subaru dealer in America. Most will simply have an oil lubrication hole drilled, though the automaker has informed its dealer network that vehicles with 6,250 miles or more will require the replacement of the third through sixth gearsets, as well as the main shaft.

A total of 809 Outback and Legacy models are affected by this recall, which is expected to officially go into effect on August 6. In the meantime, owners are urged to contact their local dealers as soon as possible to have this problem corrected.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback

Report: Recall, stop-sale issued on 2010-11 Subaru Outback and Legacy models over gearbox flaw originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Subaru Outback adds in-car Wi-Fi

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Technology, Subaru

Subaru Outback

2010 Subaru Outback – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford’s SYNC does 3G WiFi, and with the help of Autonet so do GM, Chrysler, Avis, some school buses and now Subaru. The Japanese automaker has put WiFi on the options list of the 2011 Subaru Outback for the pretty standard price of $499 as a dealer-installed option. That’ll get you an encrypted connection good within 150 feet of the car, and it can be used while the car is in motion. The subscription is $29 per month after that, and Subaru is gracious enough to pick up the first three months for you. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Subaru Outback