12/29
National Post (CA): Sporty compact has performance plus
The Subaru faithful won't agree, but the sleek styling of the all-new 2008 Impreza WRX is a huge improvement over the quirky looks of the previous generation. The Japanese automaker has enjoyed success as a niche player, developing a small but loyal following with its Impreza lineup led by its scorching-hot STi sedan. But new management at Subaru Canada is keen to carve out a bigger slice of the market, and abandoning the 2007 Impreza's boxy shape and weird front fascia for a more mainstream design is sure to help boost sales.
Gasgoo.com: Subaru 2009 Forester may be launched in China next March
Subaru released official photos and technical specifications of its third-generation Forester in Japan yesterday. The vehicle will be launched in Japan or North America next year and it is likely to be introduced to Chinese market in March 2008, Chinese auto website Cheshi.com reported.
Green Car Congress: Electric Subaru Due in 2009, One Year Early
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, (FHI) will start selling electric Subarus in Japan in 2009—a year earlier than initially planned, according to President Ikuo Mori. FHI currently has 40 units of its electric R1e in operation in Japan in customer trials. The company is targeting first-year sales of its electric car at 100 units.
Auto Express (UK): New Forester is fired up for action
Look what Subaru has in store for the new year – it’s the next Forester. And with significantly larger dimensions than at present, the Japanese machine has the Honda CR-V and Suzuki RAV4 in its sights.
Montreal Gazette (CA): New WRX worlds away from Subaru siblings In exterior form it could be European - a Renault, perhaps, with a crease of BMW. Inside, the dark surfaces and soft, curving dash might belong to anything, really - a Pontiac or a Volvo or a Kia.
Motor Trend: Comparison Test: 2008 Subaru WRX STI vs. 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR Ladieeeez and gentlemen, welcome to the octagon for the main event, a grudge match of epic proportions pitting the top two contenders in world for the title of all-wheel-drive, turbo four-cylinder champion.
Motor Trend: First Look: 2009 Subaru Forester Subaru's third-generation 2009 Forester is the latest vehicle in the Japanese automaker's U.S. lineup to undergo an extensive makeover. It arrives in the wake of the recent, much-publicized and scrutinized launch of the Impreza and signature WRX and WRX STI variants.
Car and Driver: First Look: 2009 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has been called a lot of things, but one thing it’s never been called is sexy. That all may change for 2009, when the Forester undergoes its first ground-up redo, featuring a three-inch-longer wheelbase, three inches of additional length, and gratefully, all-new, more macho styling.
Bloomberg: Fuji Heavy Vehicle Sales May Rise on Overseas Demand
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, said global sales may rise 8 percent next year thanks to increased demand in overseas markets including Russia and the U.S
Sport Compact Car: Project WRX V08 - Part 1 We've gone through a few WRX projects in recent years. It seems as though right when we start getting one sorted out, an updated version comes along to replace it. Our last one didn't make it very far past its introduction before it was hauled off. Well, we just took delivery of an all-new 2008 Impreza WRX from Subaru. To avoid any confusion, we'll call it Project WRX V.08. This one is slated to stay in our fleet for a few years and we're not wasting any time. Research and development are already well under way.
blogs.cars.com: The Urban Dink: 2008 Subaru Outback Update
I still like getting behind the wheel of this car even though I’m testing something new routinely. Despite the small engine, I like the way it handles, and it always feels solidly planted to the road.
Scoop (NZ): Subaru’s Five Star Safety Leadership
Subaru has become the first automotive company in New Zealand to achieve maximum independent safety ratings for its entire range of local specification vehicles.
Crash.net (UK): 2008 Impreza STi - first crash
The dubious honour of being the first to crash the new Subaru STi goes to...
Edmunds Inside Line: Full Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
We know you. If someone tossed you the keys to a spanking-new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI for the weekend, you'd make a beeline for the nearest winding road leading into the mountains. So would we.
Popular Mecahnics : 2008 Subaru WRX STI Test Drive: The Ultimate Hot Hatch
It’s a fact: Flare the fenders wide enough, and you can make any car look way cooler. That design element, often necessitated by engineering (fatter wheels and tires) has been used for decades on manufacturer’s top performance models. And it was the flared fenders, not the audacious rear wing or even the mailbox-size hood scoop, that made the last generation of Subaru’s WRX STI look so menacing.
Motor Trend: First Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Red mist: The thrill of Evo hunting
Following a 350-mile drive in a WRX sedan from Los Angeles to Carmel, site of the press launch of Subaru Tecnica's superstar, it took a mere 350-foot jaunt in the STI for us to become fully hot and bothered.
Chicago Sun Times: Smooth operator TEST DRIVE | The station wagon is gone, and Subaru plays up style in its new WRX
The redesigned new Subaru all-wheel-drive Impreza WRX is far more refined and comfortable than its predecessors, which always seemed a few steps away from a race/rally car.
2/17
Philidelphia Inquirer: On Subaru's U.S. plans, and on cheesesteaks
Tomohiko Ikeda, chairman, president and CEO of Subaru of America Inc., hasn't had much time to get homesick for Japan since arriving in Cherry Hill to run the automaker's U.S. division.
Charlotte Obserever: Testosterone car, feminine touch.
WRX STI no longer just an ugly hot rod
Look at another statistic supported by the National Automobile Dealers Association and other automotive industry groups: Women influence 85 percent of all new vehicle sales in the country. That means if the woman of the house does not want a WRX STI in her driveway or on the household's bank account, it won't be there -- no matter how much the man of the house desires it.
CNW (CA): Every 2008 Subaru Rated 'Top Safety Pick' by IIHS
Best Performers in Front, Side and Rear Crashworthiness Evaluation Program
The 2008 Subaru Impreza, Legacy/Outback, Forester and Tribeca all received the highest accolade from the IIHS, which helps consumers identify those vehicles that provide the best overall protection and reduce the risk of occupant injury in a crash.
National Post (CA): Slow and unsafe and ugly to boot
1958-1971 Subaru 360
Like most Japanese automobile manufacturers, Subaru didn't start as a car company. Its origins date to 1917 with the establishment of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory by Chikuhei Nakajima in Ota City, Japan.
Autoweek: '08 Subaru WRX STI: Affluent man-child grows up. Subaru's new STI may not be kinder and gentler, but it's easier to live with in the morning
Those hoping Subaru would stay the course and avoid the softer, more refined tack Mitsubishi has taken with the STI's archrival--the recently launched Lancer Evolution X--could be disappointed. This 305-hp STI is at least as fast as ever, but it's also smoother, quieter, more understated and easier to drive quickly. It reeks of refinement, compared with the STI that first landed in North America in 2004. Edmunds Inside Line: Comparison Test: Ford Mustang Shelby GT vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Unpack the data and the driving impressions and the results are overwhelmingly clear. In fact, out of the 46 categories scored in this test, the STI gave up only two to the Shelby: as-tested price and quarter-mile trap speed. It tied or won every single category in our 27-point evaluation, dominated when it came to feature content and was every editor's personal and recommended pick. That's kicking some major ass.
Edmunds Inside Line: Title Fight: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
At almost the same moment, Mitsubishi and Subaru have slammed the door on the past. The flame-spouting, wheel-churning rally-specification sedans of recent years have been tossed onto the ash heap, and in their place we find the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI — two cars that are about sophistication as well as speed.
Auto Express (UK): Forester in festive debutChristmas looks set to come early for Forester fans. Subaru has chosen 24 December as the date it will unveil the popular model’s replacement, due on sale in the UK later in 2008. As this sneak preview from www.subaru.jp reveals, the wraps will come off the all-wheel-drive MPV at midnight on Christmas Eve, ahead of the car’s public debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January. With its versatile five-seat interior, one Subaru insider said the new Forester will build on the current vehicle’s appeal – offering considerable interior space and a generous boot. Cars.com: Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Subaru Impreza STI
The engine in this car still revs at rally levels, but for the first time the exterior wants to live in the city.
Driving.ca (CA): Curvy Everycar packs heart of a lion
In exterior form it could be European -- a Renault, perhaps, with a crease of BMW.
Inside, the dark surfaces and soft, curving dash might belong to anything, really -- a Pontiac or a Volvo or a Kia.But turn the key within the lit-up ring and tap the gas...
Autoblog: All Photos In 2009 Subaru Forester - unofficial images Gallery
PR Newswire: Subaru Reports Record Impreza November Sales
In November, the 2008 Subaru Impreza was the only small car to earn the highest rating in the most recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests that now require side head protection and electronic stability control. The 2008 Subaru Impreza received "GOOD" ratings in the frontal, side and rear-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions. Based on this performance and standard side curtains for side impact head protection, the 2008 Impreza 2.5i with VDC was the first small car to receive the coveted IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award.
Scoop (NZ): Impreza wins Compact COTY
The new Subaru Impreza has won the AMI NZ Autocar Magazine Compact Car of the Year award. Competing in the biggest segment of the new car market, the symmetrical All Wheel Drive Impreza saw off challenges from the likes of the new Toyota Corolla as well as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
11/27
Jalopnik: Subaru Launches Forester Mini-Site.. the Final Countdown!
Those crossover teases at Subaru have a minisite up for the new Forester. There's been a decent amount of speculation surrounding the new version. A little tinkering with photoshop gives you a fairly decent view of the Forester's tail, which seems to preserve the tall greenhouse.
Auto123: 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 5-Door Road Test
My daughter Catherine has been driving a 2003 Limited Edition Impreza for three years now. With the arrival of a new generation for 2008, we wondered how much progress Subaru achieved with this car. We put two 5-door Imprezas to the test, including the base 2.5i model with manual gearbox and the high-end Sport Package with automatic transmission. Our verdict was unanimous: the new generation is gorgeous, smooth and every bit as nimble and tenacious under the rain or during wintertime.
Gizmodo: Panasonic CF-W7 Gets Subaru Impreza Styling
Super car inspired laptops are ten a penny, and despite their styling they rarely have anything special to offer. Panasonic's CF-W7 continues with the pointless aesthetic makeovers, but this time Subaru are getting in on the action. The CF-W7 will be limited to a production of 500 pieces, so if you are hot for Subaru Impreza WRX STI styles, grab these while they are hot.
11/22
Channel 4 (IE): Feature: Subaru Impreza WRX in Ireland
'Rain' feels far too limp a word to describe what goes on in Ireland on a typical November afternoon. It comes at you horizontally in great undulating sheets, which makes an umbrella a totally useless defence (even if I'd been bright enough to bring one). And the closer to the coast you get, the more violent and persistent it becomes.
Just-Auto: UK: Subaru launches Daihatsu-built Justy in Europe
Subaru has reintroduced its A-segment Justy to the UK and Europe after an absence of up to six years. Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu is building the new car for Subaru (in which Toyota has a minority shareholding) on an 'OEM' basis.
Driving.ca: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
As sport-utility vehicles go, the original B9 Tribeca arrived for the 2006 model year with plenty of redeeming qualities. However following a two-year stint, Subaru has introduced sweeping changes to the 2008 edition of its flagship off-roader in the hopes that it can win more converts
Yahoo! News Singapore: Fuji Heavy to lift Japan output capacity next year
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd , the maker of Subaru cars, will use the year-end holidays to boost output capacity at one of its two Japanese car factories to meet healthy demand for the new Impreza, a spokesman said on Thursday.
MCN: Subaru Sportsbike
This new single-cylinder sportsbike features a Subaru-badged engine and could be on sale next year at a bargain price. The engine for the HS500sa comes directly from Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru. It’s a 499cc, water-cooled, DOHC single, originally developed to be used in quad bikes and used by Polaris. The motor is notable for its lightweight design – it tips the scales at 43kg – and its ability to meet American and European emissions restrictions, a vital part of Sasaki’s plan as he intends to sell the machine worldwide.
Yahoo! Finance: Subaru Impreza First and Only Small Car to Earn IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' Award Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the 2008 Subaru Impreza is the only small car to earn the highest rating in the most recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests that now require side head protection and electronic stability control.
Cleveland Leader: Redesigned 2008 Subaru Impreza Safest Small Car
The 2008 Subaru Impreza has earned the distinction of the safest small car. The small Impreza was the only vehicle in its class to score for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests ratings in the frontal, side and rear-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions and earned "Top Safety Pick" from the group.
Auto123: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Road Test
A simple predicament: you want a sports car, but live somewhere that gets plenty of snow in the wintertime. That Mustang or Corvette would need to be garaged for several months out of the year, doing you little good in terms of enjoyment on all but the nicest days.
Car Connection: Safety Agency Names Safest of '08
Subaru's vehicles also did exceptionally well; the automaker had four models on the list - nearly its entire lineup - though electronic stability control is optional on all but the Tribeca.
Fairfax Digital (AU): Subaru pushes for diesel Forester Subaru will debut its first ever diesel engine in early 2008. Subaru Australia is lobbying for a Forester diesel for next March. Subaru Australia is pushing to get a diesel version of the Forester as early as next year, while oil-burning versions of the Liberty and Outback will follow in 2009.
11/12
New Zealand Herald (NZ): New WRX still a great driving experience
This is a more mature, more user-friendly and determinedly less offensive Impreza WRX. It's quieter, slightly softer in the suspension and much less likely to disappear from a dark car park on a Friday night. Which is not to say it doesn't engage and entertain. Subaru might have abandoned the wings-and-things styling philosophy, but the carmaker hasn't forgotten what made the WRX a legend - and that's great engineering and a great driving experience.
Automobile Magazine: 2008 Subaru WRX STI (Japanese-Spec) Subaru recently invited us to Japan to drive their latest hot hatch - the RHD JDM-spec, WRX STI. Wow, that's a lot of three-letter acronyms. You can be sure, though, that the words coming out of our mouths on the first few laps around the Fuji Speedway were of the four-letter variety.
The Sun (UK): Subaru's WRX factor
But I’ve just driven the WRX STi version that proves Subaru have not lost the plot or forgotten their loyal army of owners, who like their Impreza fast and furious with a serious dose of machismo.
My SA.com: G. Chambers Williams III: Outback still sets the standard
The Outback was ahead of its time, as it's now clear that it was the first true crossover utility vehicle — despite Toyota's claim to have created that genre with the 1996 introduction of the RAV4
Auto Express (UK): Impreza STI unleashed
A former World Rally Champion has returned! While Subaru’s new Impreza range made its debut earlier this year with an entry-level 1.5-litre model, this is the version that everyone has been waiting to drive.
11/08
Motor Trend: First Drive: 2008 Subaru WRX STI 2.0-liter
Welcome to the next stop on the drip-drip water-torture release of information on Subaru's iconic Impreza WRX STI. First we had photos, then some more photos, then Subaru released technical details of the global 2.0-liter turbo version at the Tokyo Motor Show . Now we're allowed to bring you driving impressions of that car, and in a few more days we'll get details and driving impressions of the North American 2.5-liter turbo variant, and after that we'll complete the picture with test numbers and an inevitable comparison against Brand X.
Cars Guide (AU): First drive: Subaru Impreza STI
Due in February, Subaru's fire-breathing super Rex the STI is ready to light up the road. With 221kW on tap, the new, third generation STI, unveiled recently at the Tokyo Motor Show, boasts even more power and torque.
Sport Compact Car: For Better Or Worse - 2008 Subaru Impreza Suspension
The big news regarding the 2008 Impreza was the re-designed chassis and resulting suspension changes. Until now, though, no one really knew how the sophisticated rear multi-link system would compare to the old MacPherson strut set-up of previous generations. WRX fans have been rejoicing, because multi-link can only mean better performance; on paper, a double A-arm suspension would have an advantage in terms of camber gain. But is the new suspension really all it's cracked up to be
New Car Net (UK): Subaru backs Vulcan project
A recently restored Vulcan bomber from Britain's Cold War nuclear strike force took to the skies again last week.
What Car? (UK): First drive: Subaru's Superhero
At last, Subaru's mundane new Impreza has had an adrenaline shot.
The mild-mannered standard car has been for a whiz round a revolving door and come out as a superhero. Or should that be Subahero?
Meet the new Impreza WRX STi.
Motor Trend: Subaru WILL debut U.S.-spec WRX STI at LA Auto Show While the Japanese-market 2008 Subaru WRX STI has already made its world debut in Tokyo, we're still waiting to see the U.S.-spec version - the one we'll get stateside. But at least now we know when we'll get our first glimpse.
Channel News Asia: Sandra Yeow is first female winner of Subaru Challenge
SINGAPORE : For the first time, a woman has won the MediaCorp Radio Subaru Impreza Challenge. Sandra Yeow was declared the ultimate winner on Tuesday after she kept her hand on the car for 77 hours and 13 minutes. That is a new record for the event.
It is also over an hour longer than the male winner, Kevin Lee.
Brandweek: Girl Meets Ploy Don't look now, but 15 million of the country's gay consumers don't happen to be men. Could lesbians be the marketing world's last untapped demographic?
Business Daily Africa: Subaru launches SUV in Kenya
Subaru Kenya said the car’s arrival in market had been delayed by overwhelming demand in the US that had pushed production of the right-hand version behind schedule by close to two years.
Lafayette Journal and Courier: Impreza, Tribeca sales bright spots for Subaru
LA Times: Subaru messes with its franchise, the Impreza
Plainly put, the Impreza is the franchise. Subaru couldn't, they wouldn't mess with the franchise, would they?
Reuters: Fuji Heavy, Daihatsu to share cars in Japan
In the tie-up being discussed, Daihatsu, Toyota's minivehicle unit, would supply 5,000 to 6,000 subcompacts with 1- to 1.5-litre engines a year to Fuji Heavy starting as early as mid-2008, the Nikkei said without citing sources. Daihatsu will also supply 660cc minivehicles to Fuji Heavy, which will phase out its production of those cars, the paper said. In return, Daihatsu will procure 2-liter-engine passenger cars from Fuji Heavy, it said.
Wired: SRS Circle Surround Audio System Boosts Budget Subaru
The 2008 Subaru Impreza is the first car in the U.S. to use the CSA system. It’s supposed to bring out good quality surround sound from any audio source, which includes surround encoded content, stereo/mono/satellite radio, and MP3/digital players.
Auto Express(UK):
Prodrive Impreza packs heavyweight punch
It's only just been revealed, but already the new Subaru Impreza STI is set to be modified. British firm Prodrive - which runs the Japanese manufacturer's World Rally cars - has announced a raft of performance tweaks.
10/27
Motor Trend: First Look: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2.0-liter
Tokyo marked the global launch of the hot-rod rally-champ WRX STI -- or at least the one the rest of the world will be getting. The North American model breaks cover next month at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. What are the differences? The biggie is under the hood, where the global model stays true to the World Rally Championship homologation regs with a 2.0-liter boxer engine boosted to 14.7 psi by a twin-scroll Mitsubishi turbocharger to produce 295 SAE horsepower and 299 pound-feet of torque .
Carpages (UK): Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Subaru has at last revealed details of its hardcore new Impreza WRX STI which is substantially different to the non-turbo five-door models now being delivered to first customers.
DueMotori (IT): All-New Subaru Impreza WRX STI in Japan
Subaru has announced the introduction of its all-new Subaru Impreza WRX STI in Japan. The new WRX STI went on sale nationwide through Subaru dealerships today.
Car Online (UK): Subaru G4e
Yes, Subaru has finally realised that nearly all of its range dishes out too much carbon and decided to save the flowers. Besides inventing the world's first production boxer diesel (due out 2008), it has lifted the lid on this electric concept, the G4e. In case you were wondering, G4e stands for Green for the earth. Nice.
Lafayette Journal and Courier: TV crew looks at SIA's green practices
On Tuesday, nationally syndicated television host P. Allen Smith toured the plant shooting segments for several upcoming shows. Smith hosts P. Allen Smith's Garden Home on PBS. P. Allen Smith Gardens is syndicated nationally and segments on the Weather Channel in addition to twice-monthly appearances on NBC's Today Show. Many of the ideas Smith discusses revolve around people making choices to impact the environment as little as possible.
Pittsburg Post-Gazette: 2008 New Car & Truck Preview: Change finally comes for Subaru, and it's big
One thing's for sure: You can't call the styling nondescript any more. It's become edgy, and in some quarters, rather controversial, as some journalists have criticized it as being too abrupt a change from the old model.
Bloomberg: Fuji Heavy Shares Gain on Raising Net Income Forecast Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, gained the most in more than three months on the Tokyo Stock Exchange after raising its full-year profit forecast by 6.3 percent as it cut sales and administrative costs.
Advertising Age: Why Subaru Dumped DDB to Rekindle an Old Flame
As far as Peter Hempel and Joe Cronin knew, it was a routine lunch meeting with their two lead Subaru clients last Tuesday at their DDB Worldwide offices in Manhattan. DDB Chairman-Chief Creative Officer Lee Garfinkel, who successfully pitched Subaru of America's account three years ago, was on vacation in the Far East. But they got only as far as the Aquafina before Subaru Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney and Kevin Mayer, director-marketing communications, dropped a bomb on DDB's president and group account director: The agency was losing the $150 million creative and media account.
Edmunds Inside Line: 2007 Tokyo Auto Show Preview: Subaru Impreza BEAMS Edition Without elaboration, Subaru says in its Tokyo show teaser that "we aimed to create a car that puts a smile on your face." We have to admit, the orange-and-black theme just before Halloween works for us.
Autoblog:
Tokyo Motor Show: Subaru EXIGA Concept best 7-seat Legacy ever Subaru has been promising a seven seater for years, but have yet to deliver one to their own home market as the Tribeca isn't sold this side of Pacific. A couple of years ago it was leaning towards a minivan-style MPV, but for this year's show they have chosen to throw a couple of seats in the back of Japan's best selling station wagon, the Legacy, to make the EXIGA Concept. Edmunds Inside Line: 2007 Tokyo Auto Show Preview: Subaru Exiga
Subaru's Exiga concept for the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show is a new seven-passenger "proposal" that appears to combine design elements from the company's midsize Legacy station wagon and Forester crossover vehicle — and it looks virtually showroom-ready.
New York Times:
Subaru Moves Its Ad Accounts Subaru of America dismissed its creative and media agencies unexpectedly today and is moving its account, with spending each year estimated at $150 million, to Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies. Attractive, Yes, if Not for Its Looks
AS people often say when they are about to offend every aesthete within earshot, I’m no art critic.
But here goes: Mona Lisa was no Monica Bellucci. Even so, you would never fiddle with the Mona Lisa’s looks, never send her out for a whiter smile and some dermabrasion.
It’s the same with the Subaru Impreza WRX. With apologies to its zealous owners — their vision was apparently too clouded by speed to notice — the original WRX was one of the homeliest cars around, a budget crackerbox in a high-performance Halloween costume. Yet people adored the overachieving underdog.
10/13
Motor Trend: 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: Subaru Tribeca
Introduced just three years ago as the B9 Tribeca, this new iteration is completely reworked inside and out. While all the sheetmetal sans the roof has been changed, the most noticeable modification is at the front: The unique three-grille nose is replaced by a front fascia featuring a chrome "spread-wing" design many judges found less attractive than the original, with less personality. The other significant change is under the hood. Subaru has bumped displacement from 3.0 to 3.6 liters, adding six horsepower and a noticeable 32 pound-feet of torque, while switching from a premium-fueled motor to a 3.6-liter, 256-horse regular-fueled one.
Reuters (UK): Subaru shows green concept car
Subaru is joining the 'go green' band wagon with its new 'G4e Concept' car, due to be unveiled in Tokyo at the end of October. Subaru say the triangular wedge-shaped car aims to banish the idea that electric vehicles are cramped and heavy.
Autoblog: Tokyo 2007 Preview: Subaru Exiga Concept
With the new STI out of the way, we can now bring on Subaru's 2007 Tokyo Motor Show concepts. First up is the Exiga, an AWD wagon that almost certainly previews a future production vehicle -- the next Legacy, perhaps?
Jalopnik: 2009 Subaru Exiga?!
Remember that shot we saw that was supposedly the next-gen Subaru Forester? We guess now it may not be. Spy mistress of the automotive masses Brenda Priddy claims she's snagged a working Subaru Exiga on her (or one of her minions) travails across the wilderness.
C|net: Japan discovers electric cars. Is it doomsday for EV start-ups?
Subaru, one of the more popular car companies with the green set, is going to show off an electric car prototype at the Tokyo Auto Show later this month in what could be a prelude to coming out with a car commercially. The G4e concept is a triangular-shaped thing, but it has four wheels (unlike the triangular three-wheeled Xebra from Zap.) The G4e will accommodate five passengers, and the batteries will be stored in the floor.
Carscoop: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi: New Real-Life Pics We knew we hadn’t heard the last word on the ’08 Impreza WRX STi (click here) since we’re still waiting for the full press kit, but to receive a new set of images from a Mitsubishi EVO enthusiast forum (Evolutionm) is something we weren’t expecting.
Car Magazine(UK): Subaru Impreza STi unveiled
Another week, another Subaru Impreza STi story... But wake up at the back, because this one is official. And there aren't any big surprises in store - the barmiest new Impreza is just as we predicted in our scoop. The European-spec hatch-only STi uses the same turbocharged 2.5 flat four that powered today's WRX; Japanese officials haven't confirmed the power output yet, but bank on comfortably over 300bhp, probably nearer 320bhp by the time the car arrives in the UK next year. In Japan, the STi gets a 2.0-litre flat four.
Edmunds Inside Line:
2007 Tokyo Auto Show Preview: Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The five-door WRX STI is being displayed as a "concept" but is clearly production-ready. It is expected to reach U.S. showrooms next year as a 2009 model. 2007 Tokyo Auto Show Preview: Subaru G4e Subaru will display its latest battery technology in a concept called G4e. The four-door hatchback uses a new type of lithium-ion battery that is said to provide a range of up to 125 miles on a single charge.
10/05
Japan Today: Fuji Heavy develops anti-collision tech
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, the maker of the Subaru cars, said Friday it has developed lower-priced anti-collision technologies using a high-performance stereo camera system. The system, to be mounted on a rear-view mirror, recognizes distances to objects ahead in a similar way to a pair of eyes. Distances are measured speedily by a newly developed three-dimensional image-processing engine.
10/04
Lafayette Journal and Courier: Subaru sets September sales record
With the Tribeca and Impreza models leading the way, Subaru of America Inc. posted record sales for September. A total of 16,457 units were sold last month. That's up 2 percent from the same period a year ago and represents the best September sales total in the company's history.
Car Magazine (UK): Subaru Impreza WRX STi video
CAR Online has caught the new Impreza WRX STi almost completely undisguised. Our video has the car hot lapping at the Nurburgring before it's officially unveiled to the world on 10 October.
Scoop(NZ): Legacy GT gets 2.5 litre motor
Subaru’s All-Wheel Drive Legacy GT B Spec receives a 2.5 litre turbocharged motor for the 2008 model year. The four cylinder “boxer” engine replaces the two litre motor which has been used in the model until now. The engine is a variation of the power plant already used in the WRX and the Forester XT models, all of which meet Euro 4 emission standards. In the Legacy it is tuned to produce 184 kWs at 6000 rpm and 339 Nm at 3600 rpm, while in the WRX and Forester it comes with 169 kWs and 320 Nm.
09/26
7Tune: Toyota/Subaru Lightweight Sports Car
A few weeks ago on September 3rd, Daily Car Newspaper (Japan) reported on an interview with Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe and his announcement of a joint Toyota-Subaru ‘Entry Level Sports Car’ which is underway and in it’s initial development phase, with a test mule spotted on a test course at Toyota’s headquarters in Toyota City. The test mule is actually still very early in it’s development and in its experimental stage being based on a shortened Subaru Legacy chassis and running a SOHC 2.0L flat-four engine. Best Car isn’t aware of any wheelbase measurements at this time, but going by reports the test mule chassis is around 200mm shorter than it’s Legacy donor platform.
How-Do (UK): Brilliant bins Subaru’s boy racer image with year-long Sky sponsorship deal
“The brief was to move Subaru away from the ‘boy-racer’ image it’s acquired over the years. We wanted to give the brand a way of achieving long-term exposure to demonstrate that the new models, starting with the Impreza, are perfect for the family and female markets.”
Mobile Magazine: Suzuki To Challenge Subaru WRX With Rally-Inspired Model
Around these parts, when you think about rally-inspired street cars, the first name that probably comes to mind is the Subaru WRX. Some people prefer the Mitsubishi Evo, but very few would even consider a Suzuki in that respect. The Japanese automaker wants that to change.
Car Magazine (UK): Subaru Impreza STi uncovered
Yes it is. This is Subaru’s Impreza STi and unlike your Golf GTI or Renault Megane R26 hatchback rivals, this is four-wheel drive. And it’ll knock the Audi S3 into touch as well; where the Audi musters 261bhp, the new Scooby has close to 300bhp.
CAR Online has caught the Impreza STi almost undisguised at the Nurburgring. It’ll be officially unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show next month but it won’t go on sale in the UK until March 2008. We’ve snapped the car before but these are the clearest shots yet.
Pocket Lint (UK): Subaru's sneak peek at new WRX
Subaru has issued a teaser shot of its eagerly anticipated Impreza WRX STI. Debuting at the Tokyo Motor Show a month from now, the car looks substantially different from the current WRX even in the dimly lit shot.
Auto Express (UK): Official: Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Subaru has released the first official picture of its mighty new Impreza WRX STI
Answering criticism that the Japanese performance legend’s styling has gone soft, designers have pulled out all the stops for the range-topping variant. This teaser picture reveals only a dark outline but it’s clear the standard Impreza has been given a dose of steroids. Huge wheel arches and the biggest bonnet scoop ever fitted to a standard production Subaru are a signal of just how extreme the flagship model is set to be.
EGMCartech: Spy Video: 2008 Subaru WRX STi hits the Nurburgring
Here is the latest spy video of the 2008 Subaru WRX STi doing rounds at the Nurburgring.
Drive.com (AU): Spy Corner: Busted! Subaru WRX STi We catch Subaru's high-performance WRX STi testing in Europe and expose more bulges and more power.(02:19)
CNN: SRS Labs Partners With Subaru to Bring SRS Circle Surround Auto(TM) to the New Subaru Impreza
The 2008 Subaru Impreza is the first vehicle in the U.S. to incorporate Circle Surround Auto(TM) providing high-quality surround sound- CS Auto(TM) delivers surround sound from any audio source including surround encoded content, stereo and mono radio broadcasts, satellite radio, standard CDs and compressed music files- CS Auto overcomes many of the challenges inherent in automobiles to present a realistic and immersive surround sound environment
Carpages (UK): A Sticky Campaign for New Subaru Impreza Launch
Redressing the balance is the job of Subaru’s UK marketing chief John Fossey who has come up with the Subaglue campaign. He said: “It’s a play on the fact that all models have all-wheel-drive and so the car sticks to the road like…well, Subaglue.” Fossey said he will be making sure that the new model gets seen from all angles. One tool he is using is a car transporter carrying six Imprezas – three of them hanging upside down.
Winding Road: Spotted: Bigger and Badder 2009 Subaru Forester?
Brenda Priddy’s spy shooters admit they caught some Subaru test mules a while back, but failed to realize the significance of what they were, having trained their eyes on some WRX mules instead. However, after putting two-and-two together, they now believe that what they spotted wasn’t a Legacy or Outback mule, but in fact a disguised 2009 Subaru Forester
Wanstead and Woodford Guardian (UK): NORTH WEALD: Couple escape helicopter crash
A MOTOR sport boss and his wife had a miraculous escape when their helicopter crashed into a field in North Weald this afternoon (Sunday).
BBC (UK): Rally boss in helicopter escape : Subaru rally team chief Dave Richards and his wife survived unhurt when their helicopter crash-landed in Essex.
Police said Mr Richards, 55, and his wife, Karen, "walked out of the wreckage" near North Weald Airfield and were treated for shock by paramedics
KOTV.com: Man Powers Airplane With A Subaru
How big is your dream? Can you fly it? About the time most people are looking for a good spot to retire, Broken Arrow's Jim Franklin started building his dream. The News On 6’s Rick Wells reports the Franklin Woodsie 1 is a dream fulfilled. Jim Franklin has always had a dream to design and build his own airplane. "My primary structure is Sitka Spruce aircraft,” said airplane builder Jim Franklin. He says there are seven other different kinds of wood in it, most of it he scrounged, and the aircraft is powered by a 1985 Subaru car engine.
Jalopnik: Frankfurt Auto Show: Subaru Justy
Because one of you asked for it, here's the Subaru Justy live and up close in all of its mini-Forrester goodness. The new Justy, supplied by an OEM agreement between Subaru and Daihatsu, is being positioned as an entry-level car in Subaru's lineup.
Scoop (NZ): Boxer Diesel Debut Soon Subaru’s ground breaking Boxer Turbo Diesel motor will go on sale in Europe early next year. The engine is the first production Boxer Turbo Diesel engine in the history of the car industry. Details of the motor were released at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs until later this month. The Boxer Turbo diesel is a two litre engine producing 110 kWs with good high revs throttle response. But more importantly it has a stump pulling 350 Nm of torque at low revs for strong pulling power. The Boxer Turbo Diesel has very low noise levels.
09/08
Driving (CA): Subaru trims its waste line
We'd like to ask you to think about how much of your family's trash you haul out to the curb every week. One bag, maybe two? You might be proud to say you recycle and compost and all that good stuff. But no matter how good you are about reducing and reusing, you're probably still sending more waste to your local landfill than Subaru's manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana.
Asahi (JP): In Sight/Music & Arts: Offbeat band a hit with white-collar songs
While the group is usually happy to move out of the lyrical comfort zone of much U.S. rock and pop, one of the standout tracks on the album takes a turn right back into it. "'92 Subaru" is a pastiche of the kind of road songs made famous by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special or Springsteen. But, instead of the usual hotrods and roadsters, it's a sensible and economic second-hand car with Greenpeace stickers bought off a couple of ladies upstate that is celebrated by the song's full throttle road rock. This creates an immensely funny as well as thrilling track.
Cartoday (ZA) We told you so, Subaru
After returning from the international launch of the new Subaru Impreza, CAR Magazine deputy editor, Hannes Oosthuizen, practically predicted that the styling of this car would not be well received. And what do you know… not even six months have gone by and already Subaru is in the process of planning an urgent redesign.
London Free Press(UK): DRIVELINE: 2008 Impreza impresses
With the 2008 Impreza, Subaru is softening its look to appeal to a wider audience. Some purists may never, ever be convinced this is a '"true" Subaru, but it really is a fantastic car that happens to be very affordable. I never did warm to the new exterior styling, but once I sat behind the wheel, I was enamoured.
09/05
Auto Express (UK): Subaru Impreza 2.0 RX If you thought the Impreza badge stood for big spoilers and booming exhausts, think again. Subaru is radically changing its famous model in a bid to appeal to more mainstream buyers.
Philadelphia Buiness Journal : Subaru opening Indiana parts operation Subaru of America Inc. will unveil a new parts distribution site in Indiana next week.The site, which will handle parts-distribution and -repacking, will take over 281,880 square feet in a distribution park in Whitestown, outside Indianapolis.
journal and Courier: Tribeca sales jump 33% in August
The growth this month came from a 33 percent jump in sales of the redesigned Subaru Tribeca sport utility vehicle, which is produced at Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette. The Tribeca was the only model to show a gain, with 1,835 units sold in August.
News.com (AU): Subaru Impreza first car to top pedestrian safety
IF YOU were going to be hit by a car, you'd better off if it was a Subaru Impreza and not a Volvo, according to crash test results which found it to be Australia's safest car.
Chicago Suntimes: New Outback packs a punch
Subaru has made radical improvements since it began selling cars in America in the early 1970s, as shown by its polished, versatile 2008 Outback mid-size station wagon. Subaru also came up with one of the first crossover vehicles -- one with an auto platform and SUV characteristics -- with its 1996 Outback wagon. That was an all-wheel-drive version of Subaru's Legacy with a higher roof and raised suspension. Subaru called the Outback "America's first sport-utility wagon'' because the "crossover'' vehicle description was in the future.
Car Magazine (UK): Subaru Impreza
Subaru is either extremely brave or taking a very big risk. With its new hatchback Impreza, it's deliberately moving away from the established and passionate following on which the outgoing model has thrived. So it’s farewell big wings and bonnet scoops and hello sensible hatchback styling and sensible, normally aspirated powerplants. But if it doesn’t cater for Subaru fans who on earth is going to buy it?
Channel4 (UK): Diesel to join Subaru Impreza WRX line-up
Subaru has one more turbocharged Impreza to come, too: its first diesel. The tiny company has developed its own in-house diesel engine, following the same flat-four cylinder layout as the petrol engines, and mainstream versions of this 2.0-litre unit developing about 150bhp will go on sale late 2008. This engine will also feature in the Legacy, Outback and Forester ranges - and a high-performance version is under consideration for a diesel Impreza WRX.
Drive.com (AU): Subaru WRX: history of a legend The Subaru WRX first arrived Down Under in 1994. It arrived with little fanfare, but quickly established a following, particularly from motoring publications who appreciated its performance and value equation. Subaru WRX: first drive
Then again, Subaru has made it clear it is looking to broaden the appeal of the WRX, which appears to mean focussing more on professionals than the hoons who have often bought a Rex.
International Herald Tribune: Tyler Brûlé: Japanese car design supplanting a once-Nordic niche
While Toyota continues to grab headlines around the world with its runaway sales figures, the fact that it has become the world's biggest automotive maker, that its Prius hybird continues to be the eco-car of choice and that its Lexus division has just launched a muscular new model to compete with the best of what Germany has to offer, it's one of its smaller investments that has been quietly carving out an interesting niche both at home and in foreign markets
08/28
Marketing Daily : Subaru's Raft Of New Ads Targets Yet Ties Together Brand Image
SUBARU HAS LAUNCHED A RAFT of new TV ads to promote the company's lineup of 2008 vehicles. Although creatively and thematically different for each vehicle, the new print and TV ads are intended to further the company's efforts this year to promote the new lineup while driving home a Subaru identity around adventure, fun and all-wheel drive: Each of the ads ends with an overarching Subaru message that each vehicle is ready for something different.
Autocar (UK)
New WRX: get one while you can
The saga of the new Subaru Impreza WRX model, longtime favourite of Autocar’s, rumbles on. First they tell us they’re not going to sell it in the UK; then they tell us they will. And now there’s another in the tale; it seems you can have a proper WRX model if you’re a UK buyer, but only if you’re quick enough out of the blocks.
ENN: Subaru Gets EPA "Green Vehicle" Certification
The Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester PZEVs which means 'Partial Zero Emission Vehicles' will now be listed in the EPA Green Vehicle Guide that reviews and recommends the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle choices.
IJournal and Courier: 39 at SIA divide $200,000 winnings from Powerball
About 39 Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. employees collected checks this week from a $200,000 Powerball win the group split. After taxes, the prize worked out to about $3,493 per person -- not enough to retire on, but a nice return for the $5 each employee contributed that week.
Broadcast Newsroom: SWAY Adds CG Flair to Subaru Impreza Commercial
Capturing the fun, freedom and adventure of the Subaru brand, SWAY studio brings liveliness and precision to the newest Subaru Impreza commercial entitled “Peel Out,” currently airing nationwide. SWAY’s team of talented visual effects artists utilized a series of high-end animation and photorealistic techniques to bring life to cars, living room spaces, magazine pages and people.
Adrants:
German Engineers Wish They'd Built the Subaru Imprezza
Subaru makes good cars. At least that's what Consumer Reports says year after year. But why do most their cars look, well, so pedestrian. While that's one person's opinion, it seems, according to a recently launched campaign for the Impreza (which does actually look better than past models) created by DB Canada, German engineers are jealous of Subaru's performance. Subaru Gets Punny with 'Peel Out' Impreza Ad We're glad Subaru never tries to depict its Impreza as a super-sexy or even very fast car, because the only thing it really has going for it is its intellect. It's like that well-read but ugly girl in grade school.
Askmen.com: Subaru WRX vs. Mitsubishi Evo
Race-inspired street cars don’t always work. The various NASCAR-themed Monte Carlos staining the road come to mind. Given the strength of the fan base, it’s a little puzzling. Same goes for World Rally Championship (WRC)-derived models. Not everyone in the U.S. is familiar with WRC, but the street-legal versions of Mitsubishi and Subaru’s racers are highly coveted.
Reuters: Toyota, Subaru to co-develop sports car -paper Toyota Motor Corp. and Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. are finalising plans to co-develop a sports car under the Toyota brand as part of their recently formed alliance, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday. The new car, to be priced under 2 million yen ($16,900) with an engine displacement of less than 2 litres, may use Subaru's signature symmetrical all-wheel-drive powertrain, the paper said, without citing sources.
Edmunds Inside Line: Frankfurt Preview: Subaru Justy
A German Subaru fan site scanned a copy of a brochure of the soon to be announced Euro-only Subaru Justy.
08/06
Driving (CA): WRX on top in Subaru sibling rivalry
In the Subaru family the WRX is the sibling that gets all the attention. Winner of numerous world rally championships, the small, wickedly fast and fairly inexpensive (compared to the competition, anyway) sedan is always high on the shopping list of sports car buyers.
Saanich News: Subaru to launch CVTs on new vehicles
The gearless CVT transmission comes and goes in waves of popularity. Previously isolated to European and Japanese-market city cars, they’ve become an aide in the modern quest for fuel-efficient vehicles around the world. Without physical ratios or a torque converter, they’re more efficient than their regular automatic transmission counterparts, but are prone to what’s called the rubber band effect where the engine’s speed rises disproportionately to the speed of the car.
Carsguide (AU): STi Liberty: a real looker
Subaru's Liberty GT tuned by STi is nothing if not a handsome machine. Subaru will sell 300 Liberty GTs by STi until the new 2.5-litre Liberty arrives next year.
Newsweek: Road Test: Subaru Tribeca
When it was introduced four years ago, the Tribeca was bogged down with the confusing model designation B9 (the Subaru internal code name) and had such aggressive styling that most Americans ignored it. So with this makeover comes softer exterior styling and an interior that I think is more comfortable than any vehicle in its category. The Tribeca still isn't a fashion plate—but this family crossover does deliver.
07/24
Motor Trend: First Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru's latest rally-bred rocket crash lands on the Internet. We pick up the pieces and set the record straight. What's the take-home message for the forum trolls? Give it a chance. With all the content Subaru has managed to cram under its controversial skin, the new WRX should have you laughing out loud. Next up: STI.
Edmunds Inside Line: Full Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
So you want the big news with the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX? It makes the same power but is lighter, roomier and still rips to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds.
This is a rare combination. These days, every new model weighs more than the one before, and manufacturers keep adding power to compensate. Subaru has done exactly the opposite. Through the same clever engineering that brought the WRX to the U.S. in the first place, the Japanese carmaker has minimized the weight of this more spacious, all-wheel-drive WRX to retain its head-snapping acceleration.
Nihon Car: The 2007 Subaru Impreza S-GT (WRX), Test Drive
Many things have been said, written and discussed ever since the first shots of the 2007 Subaru Impreza were revealed. Real? Fake? Then officially confirmed, the style of the new Impreza did a good job of advertising the car and having people talk about it despite high criticism and rough comments from some fans.
Autoblog: Subaru developing CVT for all models CVT transmissions definitely aren't new, but high gas prices have thrust the once unreliable continuously variable trannies back into the powertrain equation.
07/18
Drive.com (AU): First drive: Subaru Impreza WRX
People are polarised about the design of the latest Subaru Impreza WRX. But arguably the biggest question is still unanswered: what’s the WRX like to drive?
After all, the WRX is a cult car, the unofficial hero of the $40,000 performance market. And the latest iteration is a bold shift to conservative, less aggressive styling.
Examiner: The Subaru 360
“Cheap and ugly.” That was the advertising slogan when Subaru introduced its first cars to America. The 1969 Subaru 360 hit the U.S. market in late 1968 — 10 years after its introduction in Japan — and rapidly became a sales success. Weighing less than 1,000 pounds and under 10 feet long, the little dynamo lit a fire that still burns in the hearts of many enthusiasts.
Reuters via Yahoo! Asia News: Subaru, Suzuki output hit as quake disrupts supplier
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. , the maker of Subaru cars, and Suzuki Motor Corp. said they would halt production at some Japanese factories after a car parts supplier was hit by an earthquake on Monday.
C|net: 2008 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited 4dr Wagon AWD w/VDC (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
The Subaru Outback, ride of choice for the fun-loving family-laden driver, gets spruced up for the 2008 model year.
Mobile Magazine: Subaru's Legendary WRX is Reborn on YouTube
Subaru turned to some American advertising agency to create their latest WRX marketing campaign and we've stumbled across one of their commercials. Many people have said that the message of this "Legend Reborn" campaign is terribly confusing, because they've seemed to have muddled in some Chinese in with the Japanese historic culture
Auto123: Subaru: zero landfill
Indeed, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) sends absolutely nothing to a landfill, let alone into the environment. To give you an idea of how strong their commitment is, if this news article was printed and not recycled, it would result in more trash sent to landfills than the entire Subaru manufacturing operations.
Autoblog: Subaru-sanctioned Tribeca limo built by Boston dealer
Wow... um... just wow. Words don't do this stretch Subaru Tribeca limousine justice. It was reportedly built by Ernie Boch Jr., a powerful Boston area dealer that apparently has a penchant for long limousines.
07/05
Bloomberg: Fuji Heavy Shares Gain After JPMorgan Raises Rating
Shares of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru-brand cars, rose after JPMorgan Securities Japan Co. raised its rating on the stock, citing an improved profit outlook based on the depreciation of the yen.
CARonline: Subaru Impreza STi spied
We've already published our artist's impressions of the new Subaru Impreza STi - and now our man with the long lens in Germany has snared the first shots of the rabid hot hatch testing around a rain-lashed Nurburgring.
CBS News: SUVs, Minivans, Pickups Flunk Crash Tests
Head restraints in dozens of sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans provided only poor or marginal protection from neck injuries in simulated rear-impact crashes conducted by the insurance industry.
CNN Money: 13 Safest cars for 2007
These cars have a top rating in side-, front- and rear-impact tests by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety
egmcartech: Subaru Tribeca to spawn a Scion SUV?
As reported before, Scion is looking to add more models to its lineup. Ever since Scion was founded in 2003, it has stayed true to offering only three models. Well now Toyota is planning to use its influence in Subaru and may rebadge a Subaru Tribeca as Scion SUV to join the tC, xB and xA.
Earthtimes.org: Subaru Celebrates Environmental Milestones
Mercury News: Test Drive: 2008 Subaru Tribeca Limited
Let's start with the bottom line: If you dismissed the 2006 or 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca as too pricey, too ugly or too powerless, I've got good news for you. The 2008 Tribeca gets a radical makeover. It loses more than just half its name and gains more than just a pleasant face. A better engine and improved interior refinement make it seem like an all-new vehicle.
Autoblog: In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
"It looks like a puppy," my wife said upon first setting eyes on the 2008 Subaru Tribeca. That's an apt description of any Subaru; they usually feel quite eager from behind the wheel, and they're trusty companions. The new front end on the Tribeca is more bland than the outgoing aviation-inspired look, but that hasn't dulled the inherent goodness of this big CUV.
Business Week: The Forgotten Quattro
The original Audi Coupe Quattros were hot in the early '80s but 25 years later they leave collectors cold
Today's Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo owe their existence to the Ur-Quattro, which proved that a lightweight all-wheel-drive system and a compact high performance car were a match made in heaven.
Waikato Times (NZ): WRX stays Down Under
Subaru's new Impreza will continue to have a high-performance WRX variant in the range despite the model being dropped in Japan.
06/27
Carsguide (AU): Subaru Liberty STI: worth the extra money?
Subaru has put more sting in the tail of its Liberty GT, releasing a limited edition STI. It follows on the heels of the previous STI-tuned version of the car, which was unveiled towards the end of 2005.
Motor Trend: The Man Who Bought Aston Martin: Think of David Richards as England's Roger Penske
David Richards, 55, is an accountant who first defied death and is now hoping to defy history. Defied death? Name a sport more dangerous-or deranged-than rally co-driving. For the benefit of the uninitiated, it involves being strapped into the passenger seat of a cramped and brutally fast forest racer, reading out map instructions head-down, while one of the world's fastest drivers sits next to you and jumps humps, slides around tree-lined bends, blasts through streams, and generally defies the laws of physics at 100 mph plus on gravel or pebbly tarmac tracks.
Autoweek: Justy in England? Subaru could revive nameplate in UK
The small-segment car goes on sale in other European markets starting in the autumn.
Because the new G3X Justy will be based on the Daihatsu Sirion, a vehicle engineered for the right-hand-drive market of Japan, Subaru is considering selling it in the UK.
Carscoop:
2008 Subaru Impreza STI Sport Pack Ok, I have to admit that I nearly fell for this one when I landed on Subaru’s STI page as my first thought was, “God, I stumbled upon the WRX STi”. Seconds later, I noticed the “Sport Parts for Impreza” on the top-left hand of the page and well, my “surprise” expression gave its place to a bitter smile and some inner awkwardness… I guess everyone’s entitled to a mistake here and then. 2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport? Yikes, a ’08 Impreza with an “Outback” outfit!
Dallas News: Outback PZEV tiptoes nicely through the tulips
Subaru says its PZEV engine is cleaner than the four-cylinder gas motor in the vaunted Toyota Prius that powers the Prius most of the time. In fact, the exhaust from a PZEV is cleaner than the air in some cities, the automaker says.
USA Today: Test Drive: Subaru turns Tribeca around with makeover Crossover SUVs are booming as buyers look for vehicles that have the space, high seating position and available all-wheel drive of the trusty, truck-based SUVs that seem too thirsty in these days of $3 gasoline.
06/20
Edmunds Inside Line: First Drive: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX The Japan-Spec WRX Shows Us the Face of Its New Personality
The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX (known here in Japan as the S-GT), is really about change. And when the U.S.-specification version of this car arrives soon, we'll see if Subaru gets the wider audience it longs for. Full Test: 2008 Subaru Tribeca New Duds and More Suds
You might accuse Subaru of having an identity crisis. Though it's built by a company that long ago established a tough-as-nails reputation among the inhabitants of wintry climes, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca dares to be stylish. It's kind of like wearing a tuxedo, only keeping your snow boots on.
USAToday: Car window stickers: Clarity's optional
Car shoppers reading window stickers could start to think automakers are doing them a big favor by loading up vehicles with dozens of great features. But a close look at several of the stickers from new models shows many automakers are simply touting what is required on their vehicles - sometimes for years - while others highlight features that are now standard equipment on almost anything that commands more than $10,000 on the showroom floor.
The Car Connection: 2008 Subaru Tribeca Road Test A winner, by a nose.
Subaru's crossover has a new nose, a new tail, a new engine and a more mainstream appeal as it sidles into the 2008 model year.
Automobile Magazine: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
The crossover segment is hotter than a kitchen fire at Buffalo Wild Wings, so Subaru could ill afford to wait to update its Tribeca, which landed with a thud two years ago when it was launched with a strange face, an overworked powertrain, and a pointless B9 prefix
Detroit News: Updated Tribeca beautifully blends form and function
More stylish than most SUVs -- or anything Subaru has unveiled in recent years -- the 2008 Tribeca is the latest attempt to redefine a category that blends aspects of wagons, minivans and pickups. They call these vehicles "crossovers" because they straddle lines between cars and trucks.
Jalopnik: What's the Deal with the Japanese WRX? Why Subaru Renamed it S-GT
Subaru fans around the world have been wondering why the Scoob dropped more than a decade's worth of branding effort by renaming the Impreza WRX in Japan the S-GT. According to the company, it's because the hand that feeds also has an itchy trigger finger.
Auto Express (UK) : First Drives Experience:Subaru Impreza
The Impreza has greater practicality and a higher-quality interior but bland exterior styling. If you thought that the design of the infamous 'bug-eyed' Impreza back in 2000 was brave, or that the current generation looked too retro, feast your eyes on the car's all-new styling!
Jalopnik: Ad Watch: Subaru Is Kind To Small Animals And The Environment And...Oh Look, There's A Deer
Unfortunately, what they don't tell you in the newest commercial from the "kind to the environment" Subie is the cute little deer ambles out onto the rally ... Chicago Sun Times: New Subaru Tribeca is more than just a pretty face
In conclusion, boys and girls, just like the once-ugly duckling eventually became a beautiful swan, so has the 2008 Tribeca emerged as one of the two best-looking entities to leave the state of Indiana (where Tribecas are manufactured). What’s the other one you ask? I’ll give you a hint … I graduated Valparaiso High School in 1962.
IGN.com: Subaru Forester Sport 2.5 XT
We're normally not fans of Subaru's Forester. In addition to being the vehicle of choice for ladies more manly than we are, Subaru's uber-boxy wagon has always seemed like it was trying to be something it wasn't.
Adweek: Subaru Goes on Display in Las Vegas
As some 600 Subaru of America dealers gather for their national meeting in Las Vegas this week, they will see interactive ads from Monster Media supporting the 2008 Tribeca and Impreza WRX, two new cars from the company, throughout the city.
Horisly's Space: New Subaru Impreza WRX Goes on Sale in Japan, 2008 WRX STI Details Emerge
The Subaru Impreza WRX five-door hatchback (known as the Impreza S-GT in Japan) features a turbocharged 2.0-liter version of the Subaru boxer-4, and it produces 248 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. When this car is introduced to the U.S. this fall as a 2008 model, it will have a 2.5-liter iteration of this engine that produces about 225 hp and 226 pound-feet of torque.
Business Week: Subaru's Tribeca Goes Uptown
I have to say that the '08 Tribeca is a very attractive vehicle, especially for anyone with kids and carpooling responsibilities. If you're looking to downsize from a big, gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicle to something smaller and more fuel-efficient, it's a winner.
Auto123: 2008 Subaru Outback First Impressions
Like its corporate sibling the Subaru Legacy, the Subaru Outback has just received mid-cycle enhancements for 2008. These improvements have combined to make the off-road-ready wagon a more refined ride without compromising any of its noted toughness. 2008 Subaru Tribeca First Impressions
Thus, we arrive at the 2008 Subaru Tribeca, the SUV that's undergone an extreme makeover. While the face of the original B9 Tribeca was nothing if not original, the revised Tribeca (the "B9" has also been dropped) looks commonplace. In fact, with its long chrome-stripped grille, the Tribeca now seems as if it emerged from a Chrysler assembly line.
Tech-on (JP): Fuji Heavy Industries Launches Remodeled Subaru Impreza Series Fuji Heavy Industries plans to move away from the traditional car-production philosophy, which places too much weight on technologies, and switch to customer-oriented product development. In that sense, the new Impreza series are the first automobiles developed in the new structure.
Jalopnik: 2008 JDM Subaru Impreza
Say konichiwa to the new Subaru Impreza, JDM stylee. As expected, the Japan-only S-GT (bye, bye WRX) gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer four. It produces 26 more horses than the US-spec 2.5-liter four. That's a total of 250 hp at 6,000 rpm.
Car Online: Subaru Impreza STi: the lowdown
This is how the new Subaru Impreza STi will look when it is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. CAR Online’s exclusive artist's impression is based on the styling of the standard new hatchback Impreza, with input from Subaru insiders who have shaped the new STi.
Turbo & High-Tech Performance: Project Subaru STI Part 6:
Maxing Out The Project Subaru STI's Engine Potential With Bolt-ons
In part 4 of Project STi we got some pretty good results with some tuning by XS Engineering that nicely complemented our bolt-ons. However, we were stymied ...
05/29
Sport Compact Car: The New 2008 Subaru WRX
However, a car cannot exist on heritage alone and so, for the 2008 model year, Subaru decided to completely redesign the stalwart Impreza. The plan was to lower ownership costs, improve quality, increase interior space and pen a better-looking body. With a naturally-aspirated model, two turbocharged models and a WRC contender to worry about, Subaru's Impreza design team had a full plate.
Autoblog: More shots of JDM Subaru Impreza S-GT (a.k.a. WRX)
The Subie fans over at NASIOC have come out with more photos of the JDM S-GT Impreza, due to be released later this year in Japan. While we've already questioned why Subaru would drop its storied WRX moniker for the hollow "S-GT" badge, we will mention that a 7,500 RPM redline will dispatch any and all criticisms of what characters are affixed to the boot.
Marketwire.com:Subaru Drives Optimal Security at 600 Dealerships Nationwide With Fortinet Leading Unified Threat Management (UTM) Vendor Teams With Nuspire Networks to Customize Security for Each Subaru Location
Marketing Daily: Subaru's Corporate Campaign Touts Endorsements, Features
SUBARU IS LAUNCHING A CORPORATE campaign to promote its lineup and attempt to bolster brand awareness. The "It's What Makes a Subaru a Subaru" campaign, the first iteration of which launched early last year, will use television, radio and print to tout its core values.
C|net: 2007 Subaru Forester
The 2007 Subaru Forester doesn't look like your typical station wagon, a type of car associated more with practicality than fun. For one thing, the Subaru sports a prominent scoop on the hood. And that scoop feeds a turbocharger, a piece of equipment you wouldn't normally expect on the family station wagon.
05/16 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA AWARDED DOUBLE 5-STAR SAFETY RATING-- Subaru Tribeca given highest possible safety rating from NHTSA in both the frontal and side-impact NCAP crash tests-- Subaru of America, Inc today announced that the restyled and more powerful 2008 Subaru Tribeca received the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests. The Subaru Tribeca received 5-stars in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions.
Ign.com: Review: Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B
The last time we hopped in a Subaru Legacy, we were less than impressed. We were hoping for a mid-sized sedan that boasted some of the WRX's rip-snortin' attitude, but instead we found a four door that drove like an Accord. That's not meant to be a slam on either the Scooby or the Honda, but in the Legacy, we were just hoping for... more.
05/12
Washington Times: Tribeca goes mainstream
Subaru has dramatically altered its 2008 Tribeca in this crossover SUV's third model year, clearly responding to criticism over styling that polarized faithful Subaru fans and other prospective buyers. When this five-passenger vehicle originally debuted for the 2006 model year, it carried the moniker "B9 Tribeca," but Subaru has dropped the B9 nomenclature -- along with the model's controversial front grille design -- for the 2008 model year.
The Union: Muffler maestro
When David Johnson shows you a Subaru muffler and says he's going to make a sculpture of a guitar from it, all you see are two contorted stainless steel front pipes, a front exhaust and a worn-out resonator propped against a brick wall.
Driving.ca:
The practical are rewarded
Owners of Subarus are a loyal group. Find a person who has a Subaru parked in the driveway and odds are it's not the first vehicle from this brand to occupy that space.
Gizmag: The coming of the Automated Parking Garage
The solution to the world’s Parking Crisis is obvious: state-of-the-art automated parking robotic technologies will deliver the most space-efficient and hence cost-efficient parking. The current generation of parking garages has space-consuming access ramps and lots of access lanes that never get parked on, and also needs enough height for a very tall human being to comfortably walk upright – rather than the space-efficient compact box into which your car is slipped in an automated system.
IGN.com: Subaru WRX STI Limited
Dammit, we're important and we need a car that can convey this, so rather than hop into a standard WRX STI, we convinced Subaru to give us one last spin in its WRX STI Limited.
Pioneer Press: A fire-ringed race to safety
Sue Prom nosed her Subaru Outback down the Gunflint Trail as a wilderness inferno raged around her. Along the road, flames torched the tops of jackpines and white pines, creating a crown of fire. Brush and grass in the ditches were aflame. Burning tree limbs fell into the road. Dense smoke made visibility almost nil.
What if the tires burn off my car? she thought to herself Sunday evening. What if I'm overcome by smoke?
The Telegraph (UK): In with a sporty chance of success
Neil Yates and Tom Taylor are self-confessed petrolheads. But having a passion for anything with an engine is one thing. Starting a car manufacturing business is quite another.
Jornal and Courier: New transfer system improves production work at SIA plant
When Subaru assembly lines were consolidated last fall, to make way for production of the Toyota Camry at Lafayette's Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. plant, new technology was not far behind.
Stony Creek News: Subaru has a grip on all-season motoring
Subarus, or "Soobs" as loyal owners call them, are renown for their stoutness. I personally know some of the people at Subaru and can tell you it is first and foremost, a company run by engineers, not stylists or trend spotters.
Katu.com: Is Big Brother in your car?
When you hear about "black boxes" you probably picture airplanes that have been in horrible accidents. The black box is the first thing investigators look for. The boxes record cockpit communications and airplane information, and can often tell investigators what lead to the disaster. But few people know that black boxes aren't just in airplanes. They're in cars too. And chances are good there's one in your car, but you can't lift the hood to see it.
Boston Globe: All-around good vehicle Subaru's Forester has a reputation as a favorite car of people with kids and pets. It's also high on the popularity list with women. The numbers back that up. Women account for 50.4 percent of Forester sales, 68 percent of the car's buyers have children, and 66 percent have pets.
Car and Driver: Demon Tweak: 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited - Features
There are a number of cars that we drive, get out of, and think: “This would be really great, if only we could give it more power, or tweak the suspension, or…” So now we’ve put our money where our collective mouth is—the goal was to keep each modification under $1000—and we’ll demonstrate how simple and fairly inexpensive performance modifications can benefit certain vehicles. We’ll call this occasional series Demon Tweaks.
04/23
Road and Track: Subaru Impreza WRX STi and Mitsubishi EVO X previewed by Road and Track Road & Track has compiled all it knows about the next versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and Mitsubishi EVO X into a tidy little article that currently resides on their website. It includes a lot of information from inside sources, as well as pics that we think represent the magazine's best guess as to what these two terrors will look like.
AIADA: One on One with Tim Colbeck, VP Sales, Subaru of America
A few weeks ago when looking over the advance press schedule for the New York International Automobile Show, thought I’d caught a typo. Subaru was going to hold two press conferences, one each day for the two day event.
That’s odd. Interesting buzz about the company founded by Malcom Bricklin was being heard from various auto writers that need confirmation. Now, I don’t mean to be critical or negative, but two press events? What could be that crucial to Subaru?
LV Business Press: Interactive, high-tech 'advertainment' is making its presence felt in Las Vegas
Beauchamp argues this advertising evolution is not "a flash in a pan." His belief is buttressed by Monster's ongoing negotiations with other airports to feature the proprietary technology, which he leases exclusively from a Canadian developer -- not to mention interest he's received from carmaker Subaru and retail giant Target.
Auto123.com: Fuji Heavy Industries builds Toyota Camry
Last Friday marked the official start of Subaru of Indiana Automotive's (SIA) production of the Toyota Camry along side their Subaru Legacy, Outback and Tribeca.
Nasioc.com: Spotted 08 impreza wrx on the street Edmunds Inside Line: First Drive: 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi RB320
The road to the Welsh village of Portmeirion is deserted. The few people who live in this desolate outpost of the British Isles have already taken to their homes and the land is mine to enjoy. In the late evening gloom I can just make out a slither of tarmac, outlining an arc across the moors
Boston.com: Subaru turns to smoother terrain for new customers
Subarus, comfortable, utilitarian, and al
CVT transmissions definitely aren't new, but high gas prices have thrust the once unreliable continuously variable trannies back into the powertrain equation.