Subaru EXIGA | super speed cars

ADVERTISEMENTS

 Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru | super speed cars automobiles, today announced the major highlights that will be displayed at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009. On the theme of ‘Take a Moment to Free Your Mind”, FHI will showcase Subaru’s efforts to integrate enjoyable and dependable driving with the global environment.
FHI will present the “ SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT ”, a new proposal for the future of grand touring car that integrates environmental friendliness, driving performance, and safety at a high level.

In addition, FHI will unveil the “Plug-in STELLA feat. BEAMS”. Designed in collaboration with the renowned specialty store BEAMS, the fully electric car is based on the Plug-in STELLA launched this summer in Japan. The company will also showcase a special version of Impreza WRX STI exclusively tuned for further enhancement of its sporty performance, as well as other production models such as the new Legacy. Besides showcasing these models, FHI will exhibit

 Subaru at 2009 Tokyo Auto Show Gallery: Subaru at 2009 Tokyo Auto Show
Subaru’s latest safety technologies, such as the “EyeSight”, an advanced driving assist system with pre-collision control using stereo camera technology.

A press conference by President Ikuo Mori is scheduled on Wednesday, October 21, at 12:10, at the Subaru booth (Center Hall).

EXIGA 2.0GT tuned by STI (Scheduled for market launch in Japan)

SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL inc. (STI), which manages Subaru motor sports activities, offers its latest proposal for a new seven-seater sports concept based on the multi-passenger Subaru EXIGA 2.0GT turbo model. The finely-tuned body and chassis elements ensure responsive and sporty handling for all drivers. In addition, the basic black sporty interior has a luxurious texture.

This model integrates distinctive driving performance proposed by STI with the EXIGA’s touring seven-seater concept, and is a proposal for new value in the minivan market.

A list of exhibits

1. SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT (Concept car)
2. Plug-in STELLA feat. BEAMS (Display model)
3. IMPREZA WRX STI CARBON (Display model)
4. LEGACY B4 GT300 (Display model)
5. EXIGA 2.0GT tuned by STI (Display model / Scheduled for market launch in Japan)
6. LEGACY TOURING WAGON 2.5i S Package (Production model)
7. LEGACY B4 2.5GT SI-Cruise (Production model)
8. LEGACY OUTBACK 2.5i L Package (Production model)
9. FORESTER 2.0XS BLACK LEATHER SELECTION (Production model)
10. Lineartronic (CVT) cutaway model (Technology exhibit)
11. EyeSight featured in EXIGA 2.0GT EyeSight model (Technology exhibit)

Post Title → Subaru EXIGA | super speed cars

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Legacy 2.5 i and 3.6R Limited Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru has made its place in the automotive world the past 35 years or so by being the Japanese SAAB. Quirky, yet loveable...attracting a small but devoted following.

Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so there's precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.

Except that Subaru's managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.

The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, it's a complete package without any options).

Even though the Legacy is bigger now, it's lighter than the competition...handles better...and don't forget...it's a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.
And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.

That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.

And the price?

Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.

Remember the deal about no options? That's right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. There's a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. That's compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.

Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:



UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good.  But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.  And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.

Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.

First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).

And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.

There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. There's no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.

And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And that's where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.

Post Title → Subaru Legacy 2.5 i and 3.6R Limited Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Recalls 2010 Tribeca: Doors Could Come Open When Raising Or Lowering Window

ADVERTISEMENTS

The NHTSA says Subaru is recalling a six-month run of 2010 Tribecas, built between September 4, 2009 and March 8, 2010, because of an improperly placed cable. It can catch in the door glass regulator and when you go to roll up or roll down the window, the driver or front passenger door could unlatch and come open "creating a risk that an occupant could be ejected as well as a risk that the driver may become distracted, leading to a crash."

Full recall notice here.

Post Title → Subaru Recalls 2010 Tribeca: Doors Could Come Open When Raising Or Lowering Window

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

The Subaru Forester has long been a favorite of ours...a no-nonsense small SUV that really blazed the trail for what has been a hot segment.

Even as Subaru has refined the Forester over the years, they've managed not to lose the thread.

But, as we've noted before...good basics can be obscured by too much stuff...and ponying up for the Limited trim level might be going a bridge too far.

There's nothing wrong with what you get...especially the 225 horsepower turbocharged engine...but the moonroof, leather and upgraded audio system carry a price: $29,995.

That's right...a mere five bucks shy of 30 grand for a Forester.

And our tester had XM Satellite radio as an option (the only one), so with delivery charges, it bottom-lined at $31,143.

Ouch.

Especially since the base Subaru Forester is $11,000 less than that. Yep...your basic 2.5X is only $20,295...and gets 20 city/26 highway.

Now, admittedly the extra 55 horsepower of the turbo at a penalty of one mile per gallon city, two highway is pretty appealing...but you can get that starting in the 2.5 XT Premium at $26,495...a price point that still makes some sense for the Forester.

Don't get me wrong...there's not a single bad thing about the XT Limited apart from price point and mission creep. If you want a luxo Forester, go for it. But, frankly, I hope the demand is small...lest Subaru be tempted to think there's a market worth chasing at the expense of its absolutely on-target lower-margin machines.

Post Title → Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Limited Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

Ford Sweeps North American Car & Truck Of The Year

ADVERTISEMENTS

(11JAN10) Detroit, Mich. Mark Fields, Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company, accepts the NACTOY Car and Truck awards. This is the third time in NACTOY's history both awards have gone to one OEM.

For only the third time in 17 years, a single manufacturer has swept the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards (announced today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit).

The winner? Ford, for its Transit Connect van and Ford Fusion Hybrid (we reviewed the mechanically identical Mercury Milan Hybrid).

The Transit Connect was competing with the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback for North American Truck of the Year (The Outback? A truck? Station wagon, sure...but truck?). The Fusion was up against the all new Volkswagen Golf and GTI and the Buick LaCrosse.

                                                                      
Keep your interior looking brand new with Ford F150 seat covers.

Post Title → Ford Sweeps North American Car & Truck Of The Year

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Logo

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Logo

Post Title → Subaru Logo

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Impreza Car Pictures

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Impreza

Subaru Impreza Car

Subaru Impreza Picture

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that was first introduced by Subaru in 1993.



"Impreza" is a coined word, deriving from an originally Italian word, impresa, meaning a feat or achievement. In Polish, "Impreza" means "party", "event" or "show".



The Impreza was introduced after the popular Leone/Loyale was cancelled with the aging EA series engine. The Impreza was introduced with the popular EJ series engine found in the larger Subaru Legacy.



Subaru is the only company that can claim that their drivetrain is symmetrical for this class size of vehicle.

Compared to vehicles in a similar size class such as Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda Protegé/Mazda3, only the Impreza has always offered AWD, and as of 1996 Subaru made this feature standard equipment in some markets. Subaru produces a lower volume of slightly upscale, well-equipped, sportier Impreza models, unlike other contemporaries in the compact category that offer no-frills base trims.





Subaru chose to continue their longstanding use of the boxer engine in the Impreza. According to Subaru, their configuration of the engine inline with the transmission minimizes body roll due to the lower center of gravity compared with offset engines in most other vehicles. The Subaru layout is also light-weight and lends itself easily to support all-wheel-drive, with power delivered directly to the front and rear wheels, using an integrated transfer case located inside the transmission. The boxer design provides perfect vibration mitigation due to the fact that the movement of each piston is exactly countered by the corresponding piston in the opposing cylinder bank, eliminating the need for a counter-rotating weighted crankshaft (harmonic balancer). Torque steer is also reduced with this type of powertrain layout since the front drive shafts are of equal length and weight.

Post Title → Subaru Impreza Car Pictures

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

Okay, so the name is a mouthful..."Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B"...but don't let that drive you away. The Subaru Legacy has been one of the great below-the-radar sedans since its redesign a couple of years ago...and the (let's just shorten it) spec.B just makes it better.

What we have here is a BMW 3-series on the cheap. The spec.B comes with a six-speed manual transmission, an intercooled, turbocharged engine, a Bilstein Sport Suspension, 18 inch wheels and performance tires and Subaru Intelligent Drive (they call it SI-DRIVE). What it does is allow the driver to maximize performance and efficiency by turning a knob to one of three settings: "Intelligent", "Sport" and "Sport Sharp".

"Intelligent" could also be called "Relaxed" or "Responsible", lowering torque, smoothing out response and improving fuel efficency by about 10 percent.

"Sport" gets you quick throttle response (great for freeway merging), while "Sport Sharp" gets you still more power even faster. Drive it in "Sport Sharp" mode and you'll stop snickering over the BMW comparison in the second paragraph.

The spec.B also gets navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, an all-weather package with heated seats and mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer (!), a Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system and, of course, Subaru's all-wheel drive...all at a price of $34,595. The test vehicle we had added a Sirius Satellite Radio kit for $456and a trunk cargo net for $64. Bottom line, with destination and delivery charges: $35,780...a chunk less than a similarly equipped 3-series.

The EPA estimates 17 city, 24 highway miles per gallon (probably in "Intelligent" mode).

The spec.B is a no-excuses sport sedan well worth your time in a test drive.

Post Title → Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

Subaru Forester Review

ADVERTISEMENTS

There are very few cars in 11 years of writing about them (not to mention 30-plus years of driving them) that I can honestly say I've always liked and recommended. The Subaru Forester has made that list every single time.

Not an easy trick, because with each generation, the Forester strives for a bit more refinement and a bit less quirky individuality...a path on which many vehicles have lost their way and become just another car (cough...cough...SAAB...cough).

But not to worry. The all-new 2009 Forester is everything every other Forester has been...but better. A longer wheelbase means more room and a better ride. A stiffer platform improves handling and a new chassis gets better crash test results. Vehicle Dynamics Control is standard. And the two four-cylinder engines have more user-friendly torque curves (more oomph when you want and need it).

Also important in an SUV that actually can go off the pavement, a tire pressure monitoring system is now standard.

Buy a base 2.5X model with a stick and no options, and you're out the door for $19,995 (okay, the $665 delivery charge puts you at $20,660, but these days, you can probably haggle the local dealer down by $665, right?).

Ours was a bit more expensive. Subaru sent over the 2.5XT Limited with navigation...and with delivery, that one's $30,660.

Yep. A 30-thousand dollar Forester. It's come to that.

Remarkably, though, the Forester managed to make that number seem reasonable the more we drove it. If it was my money, I'd probably go for a mid-level model...but the Limited with nav isn't out of line.

It's never been the cutest of what used to be called the cute-utes (small SUVs), but the Forester has been...and still is...our pick.

Post Title → Subaru Forester Review

ADVERTISEMENTS