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Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Subaru, Racing

David Higgins

David Higgins joins Subaru Rally Team USA – Click above to watch video after the jump

The speculation over exactly who will be taking Travis Pastrana’s spot in the driver’s seat with Subaru Rally Team USA can officially be put to rest. David Higgins will be the new man in blue and yellow. Higgins has a résumé that’s chock full of rally wins, from championship titles in SCCA rally here in the states in 2002 and 2003 to a British National Rally Championship title in 2004. The guy also managed to walk away with a championship wins in group N in the British National Rally in 1997, 1999 and 2002.

Needless to say, the guy’s got the chops to keep the pace.

Subaru plans to campaign two cars next season, and while Higgins is the newest member of the team, the leader of the pack will BMX guru and rally beast Dave Mirra. Mirra managed to snag a Rookie of the Year award from Rally America for his efforts last season and took a slot on the podium during the Rally America Olympus event among others. Hit the jump for a look at a video of Higgins doing what he does best as well as the full press blast.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video]

Subaru pegs David Higgins as new Rally Team USA driver [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: 2011 Subaru Forester

Filed under: Crossover, Subaru, Quick Spin

New Engine Helps Smooth Out Most Rough Edges

2011 Subaru Forester

2011 Subaru Forester – Click above for high-res image gallery

In the years since Subaru last gave its workhorse flat four-cylinder engine a significant revision, an entire generation of customers has gone from pulling up their Huggies to donning college graduation gowns. More than two full decades have passed since the company’s engineers seriously sat down to re-examine the engine’s architecture, and in that time, there’s been an explosion of automotive technology geared toward squeezing every last bit of energy out of a drop of gasoline. With fuel economy and emissions standards growing tighter by the day, the minds at Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s parent company, unveiled the third-generation of their boxer engine recently.

But at first blush, the new heir to the Pleiades throne looks to be little more than a carbon copy of its predecessor. Horsepower, torque and fuel economy figures are all within a shave of the old engine’s numbers, and while the company’s competitors are investing heavily in direct-injection systems, Subaru passed on this tech all together. Where was the improvement? Judging by the specs alone, we had to wonder why Subaru went through the trouble of building an entirely new facility just to produce what looked to be the same old beating heart we’d known and loved for years. We jumped behind the wheel of the 2011 Forester to find out just what had changed beneath the hood of its all-wheel-drive family hauler.

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Forester: Quick Spin

2011 Subaru Forester

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Quick Spin: 2011 Subaru Forester originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru teases JDM-only Impreza WRX STI tS with carbon fiber roof

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Japan, Subaru

Subaru Impreza WRX STI tS

Our Japanese may be a bit rusty, but our eyes work just fine. So it was hard to miss this teaser image for an upcoming version of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI tS sporting a carbon fiber roof. When we click to the English-language portion of the site the image and information disappears, so we don’t know what else to make of this STI tS and its lighter chapeau.

For the non-Subaru aficionados reading along, tS stands for “Tuned by STI” and we last saw the crew at Subaru Tecnica International apply wrenches to the Legacy. The resulting Legacy B4 2.5GT tS had us drooling and we expect the WRX STI tS to have a similar affect on our salivary glands.

[Source: Subaru]

Subaru teases JDM-only Impreza WRX STI tS with carbon fiber roof originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: California livin’

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Long-Term Garage

It’s been about a month since the long-term Subaru Legacy 2.5GT arrived in Northern California, and as the weather slowly turned south, my opinion of our burgundy sled has improved. Dramatically.

Transitioning from a German compact into a near-luxury sedan from Japan (both within $1,000 of each other, oddly enough) has proven to be an eye-opening experience – but not in the way you’d think. Maybe I’m just biased towards the staid interior stylings from Deutschland, but the Legacy’s insides came off as overwrought and sub-par when compared to the Jetta MK5 TDI Cup Street Edition. The materials didn’t exude the same level of quality and while fit-and-finish is certainly above board, it still lacks the high-end tactility I enjoyed in the Volkswagen. Plus, the experience behind the wheel has felt heavy and ponderous after living with the Jetta for the better part of four months.

This opinion lasted right up until the first monsoon. I was driving north on 580 when the world went blurry. Traffic was crawling along, but with the wipers set to meth-head speed, I was able to plow through the storm with confidence. As the weeks have worn on, I’ve grown fond of the Legacy’s added heft and all-wheel drive – there’s just something inherently comforting about piloting a heavyweight down the road – not to mention sending power to all four wheels. That said, it’s far from a fair weather driver’s car. The suspension is too floaty, the seats are far too flat and the shifter is far too floppy. However, that last bit we’ll be dealing with soon.

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: California livin’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Subaru, Reviews

Measuring The Difference In Inches

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX – Click above for high-res image gallery

One point three inches. How much difference can it make? That depends on what you’re measuring. If you’re comparing the 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX to the 2011, that small measurement makes all the difference in the world.

If you’re a Subie fan, you’ve already read our First Drive. The headline news for the 2010-to-2011 changeover is that the WRX gained the STI model’s widebody fenders and 1.3-inch wider track. Wanting to know whether the growth in girth made any difference to the affable and relatively affordable WRX, we decided to spend some quality time in the example you see here.

We learned plenty. Many things work well for the practical enthusiast. Others, not so much.

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX: Review

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

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Review: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Subaru Impreza concept embraces its inner Yanni

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Videos, Subaru, Design/Style

Subaru Impreza Design Concept Video

Subaru Impreza Design Concept Video – Click above to watch video after the jump

Subaru has given us all a computer-generated look at what the company’s new Impreza Design Concept looks like in motion. Frolicking above the waves on some sort of futuristic glass highway, the sedan looks just as well sorted and attractive as it did lounging on stage at the LA Auto Show. The quick clip doesn’t just show the four-door prancing through cyberspace, though. We also get a quick glimpse of the vehicle’s active braking system and Jetsons interior, too.

The Subaru Impreza Design Concept gets its power from the company’s third-generation boxer four-cylinder engine. With 2.0 liters of naturally-aspirated goodness and a CVT, Subaru says that the concept should be easy on the wallet when it comes time to fill up the tank. Naturally, we’re far more interested in the next iteration of the WRX and its STI sibling… Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself. Just be sure to brace yourself for the smooth sound of synthesizer action.

Gallery: LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Subaru Impreza concept embraces its inner Yanni

Video: Subaru Impreza concept embraces its inner Yanni originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept caught in living color

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Sedan, Subaru, Design/Style

2010 Subaru Impreza Concept

2010 Subaru Impreza Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the biggest surprises (so far…) of the 2010 LA Auto Show has to be the Subaru Impreza Design Concept that snuck up on us just a few hours ago. Some thought it might be the long-awaited Subota coupe (a close cousin of the Toyobaru, of course), but in reality what we have here is a conceptual sedan that the Japanese automaker claims will heavily influence future models… namely the Impreza, we’d wager.

Yes, there’s a working 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine bolted to a CVT gearbox behind that shapely new front grille and its massive side vents, but it’s the styling we’re really intrigued by. To that end, be sure to take a good, hard look at the live shots in our high-res gallery below. If you need all the details, follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept

Gallery: 2010 Subaru Impreza Concept

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept caught in living color

LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept caught in living color originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Subaru Forester gets web debut

Filed under: Crossover, Subaru

2011 Subaru Forester

2011 Subaru Forester – Click above for high-res image gallery

Subaru has released official details on what we will be seeing in the 2011 Forester. The company had previously announced that the new 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine will find its way under the CUV’s hood, as will the same turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder found in the current XT. Speaking of the XT, Subaru will now offer the range-topping Forester in XT Premium and XT Touring guises, with Touring trim replacing Limited as the top of the line. That brings along goodies like self-adjusting HID headlights, dual-zone climate control and a backup camera.

Meanwhile, Subaru has packed in a few more goodies on nearly every trim level. Bluetooth hands-free calling and a one-touch up/down driver’s window comes standard on every Forester with the exception of the very base model. In addition, it looks like both the 2.5X Premium and 2.5XT Premium will boast a new audio system complete with six speakers, USB and AUX inputs, as well as iPod and Satellite radio capability. Hit the jump for the full list of changes.

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Forester

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading 2011 Subaru Forester gets web debut

2011 Subaru Forester gets web debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Subaru goes all A-Ha on us with new WRX STI commercial

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Subaru

2011 Subaru WRX STI

2011 Subaru WRX STI vs Robot Spider – Click above to watch video after the jump

Needless to say, we’re already fans of the 2011 WRX STI. Subaru, in turn, is apparently a fan of 80’s pop band A-Ha and their breakthrough video for Take On Me. A new ad for the sporty Japanese sedan shows car versus robot spider duking it out in sketchbook form. The ad touts the WRX STI as “pure performance”, while the 305 horsepower turbocharged boxer and symmetrical all-wheel drive system are clearly useful in fleeing a fate of mechanized death.

Check out the ad after the jump, as well as the A-Ha video for a refresher on life in 1985. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: First Drive

Continue reading Video: Subaru goes all A-Ha on us with new WRX STI commercial

Video: Subaru goes all A-Ha on us with new WRX STI commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Forester S-Edition concept points towards sporty new model for 2011

Filed under: Crossover, Subaru, Misc. Auto Shows

Subaru Forester S-Edition Concept

Subaru Forester S-Edition concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Sydney Motor Show doesn’t grab the full attention of the global media like Paris or Geneva, though this latest bit of news from Subaru certainly piques our interest. We had heard rumblings of a more potent Subaru crossover before, and now this, the Forester S-Edition concept, previews what the automaker says is “an exciting development in our Forester range” set to debut early next year.

Subaru has boosted the Forester XT’s turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four up to 259 horsepower and 256 pound-feet of torque, gains of 32 and 20, respectively over the normal Australian model. That power runs through a five-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters (a proper stick-shift would be preferred, Subaru), and a new variable torque distributing all-wheel-drive system keeps things in check on the road. Other enhancements include a revised sport suspension, 17-inch STI wheels, Alcantara seat trim and S-Edition badging throughout.

Forester STI redux? Certainly sounds like it. Our only hope is that Subaru doesn’t make this hot new Forester a JDM-only affair. (Fingers crossed!) Hit the jump to read the full details in Subaru’s press release.

Gallery: Subaru Forester S-Edition Concept

Subaru Forester S-Edition Concept

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru Forester S-Edition concept points towards sporty new model for 2011

Subaru Forester S-Edition concept points towards sporty new model for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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