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Automobiles

Spy Shots: Next-gen Subaru WRX STI spotted at the Nürburgring

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By Zach Bowman

2015 Subaru WRX STI Spy Shots

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Subaru has been busy testing the next-generation WRX STI. Well, it may be the STI. The big wing out back lends some credence to that theory, but it could be that the basic WRX is getting new action in the back section. Time will tell.

In either case, spy photographers nabbed a few shots of the heavily camouflaged sedan running around the Nürburgring. Unfortunately, it looks as if Subaru has taken some of the sexy out of the WRX Concept we saw at the New York Auto Show, leaving this car looking more derivative of the current model than a revolution in design. The bold power bulge has disappeared from the vehicle’s hood and the lower fascia looks far more demure than the the wild concept. Likewise, the muscular rear fenders have been toned down substantially.

The result is a car that looks more like a mildly warmed over version of the current model than a production version of the WRX Concept. Still, engineers and designers may have a long way to go before the finished product hits the market, so we’ll reserve final judgement for now. After all, the early BRZ mules were nothing short of a travesty to look at, and we know how that turned out. Hope springs eternal.

Next-gen Subaru WRX STI spotted at the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From: http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/EV05DrbOCos/

Automobiles

Official: Lexus, Mazda and Subaru top <i>Consumer Reports</i> Brand Report Cards

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By Seyth Miersma

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A revised methodology in devising its annual Car Brand Report Cards has seen Consumer Reports award Lexus its top overall ranking for 2013. For the first time ever, the institute broke out individual brands from their larger corporate umbrellas, meaning car makers like Lexus and Scion were judged independently from parent company Toyota. That strategy worked out well for Lexus, as the luxury brand earned a top report card score of 79 for the 2013 model year.

The institute has recommended every one of the Lexus models it has tested to date, and said that the company’s products won out thanks to “a foundation of plush and very reliable vehicles.”

Meanwhile, Mazda and Subaru tied for the second-highest scoring report cars, with scores of 76. Subaru earned praised for sporting models like the BRZ, which CR testers apparently had a lot of fun driving (naturally), while the Mazda products were lauded for their blend of practicality, sportiness and efficiency. Both of the Japanese brands offered good handling, fuel economy and versatility, said Consumer Reports.

Acura and Toyota rounded out the top five with twin scores of 74 points. A full eight out of the top ten best brands were Japanese companies, with Audi (eighth place) and Mercedes-Benz (tenth place) the only European companies with high-ranking scores. CR noted that those Euro brands were inconsistent this year, with Volkswagen losing ground and Mini doing the worst overall of the European brands, at 20 out of 26 overall.

Domestic automakers didn’t do particularly well, either. Cadillac was at the tops of the General Motors portfolio, but was still held back by just average reliability and no love at CR for “complicated CUE controls,” a complaint we’ve heard before. Ford and Lincoln were also dinged for their infotainment systems and reliability, as well as for EcoBoost engines that didn’t deliver on promised fuel economy ratings. Chrysler’s brands were the worst off, however, with just the Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 and Chrysler 300 V6 being recommended by the publication. Scroll down for the full list of Brand Report Card scores, as well as the Consumer Reports press release. Or, head over to the CR website to read the full feature, and find out the granular info behind each of the brands.

Continue reading Lexus, Mazda and Subaru top Consumer Reports Brand Report Cards

Lexus, Mazda and Subaru top Consumer Reports Brand Report Cards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

2013 Subaru BRZ Limited Automatic Tested: Remains Remarkably Poised, If Less Fun

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By Ron Sessions

2013 Subaru BRZ Automatic

We’ve been pretty effervescent in our enthusiasm for Subaru’s first-ever rear-wheel-drive performance car. So ebullient, in fact, that we named the BRZ along with its Scion FR-S identical twin to our 10Best cars roster for 2013. The new Subie sports coupe’s poise and balance on the road are incredible, as are its tactile responses to driver inputs to the steering wheel, shifter, clutch, and brake pedal—the car seemingly is hard-wired to your brain stem. Like you, we’re predisposed to a high degree of driver involvement, and the BRZ’s superb driving layout and ergonomics make that business a pleasure. READ MORE ››

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Subaru Announces BRZ RA Racing Model – For Japan Only

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By Kurt Ernst

Subaru BRZ RA Racing - image: Subaru Japan
Subaru BRZ RA Racing - image: Subaru Japan

Subaru BRZ RA Racing – image: Subaru Japan

Lightweight, de-contented versions of the Toyota GT86 and the Subaru BRZ aren’t new to the Japanese market. In fact, shortly after the standard production models were launched, both Toyota and Subaru built stripper models for the tuner market. Now that more and more customers are starting to track and race their BRZ coupes, Subaru Japan is addressing the need for a (nearly) track-ready BRZ.

Dubbed the Subaru BRZ RA Racing, this Japan-only model comes with cheap tires on steel wheels, a barren interior and no changes to the BRZ’s engine or suspension. On the plus side, it does get a full roll cage, racing harnesses, 4.1:1 final gearing and competition-ready tow hooks, and it comes in the buyer’s choice of six colors.

Subaru BRZ RA Racing - image: Subaru Japan

Subaru BRZ RA Racing – image: Subaru Japan

The changes (and omissions) make sense to us, since every racer has his or her favorite tire and wheel, and allowable engine modifications differ by series. Suspension choices will also differ from driver to driver (and, possibly, track to track) so there’s no sense in wasting money here, either. We suspect that the BRZ RA Racing is still road legal in Japan, but its absolute lack of creature comforts (like air conditioning and an audio system) makes it sub-optimal as daily driver.

The BRZ RA Racing will sell for the equivalent of $31,500 in Japan, which is about the same sticker price as a loaded BRZ. There are no plans to export the RA Racing model at this time, since its high selling price would severely limit sales. We suppose you could build a comparable car from a base BRZ for about the same money on these shores, which eliminates the need for a factory-built racing version. Except, of course, for the cool factor.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Official: Subaru readies BRZ RA Racing for Japanese trackdays

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

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As if we needed any more reasons to take a Subaru BRZ to the track, Subaru has just announced that it will be producing a racing-spec version of the car straight from the assembly line. The only problem is that the BRZ RA Racing is being offered for the Japanese domestic market only, and won’t be visiting any road courses in the US any time soon.

To get the BRZ ready for some serious track time, Subaru added brake ducts beneath the front fascia, removable tow hooks and an oil cooler behind the grille. Inside, the car gets a factory six-point roll cage (including custom-fit floor mats) and a four-point race harness for the driver. Now we get to pricing where US enthusiasts will get even more miffed. The entire suite of racing add-ons increases the BRZ‘s price by 31,500 yen, which converts to less than $350 US; the total price of the car converts to right around $31,500 US.

There is a brief press release posted below, which has been translated (somewhat poorly) by Google.

Continue reading Subaru readies BRZ RA Racing for Japanese trackdays

Subaru readies BRZ RA Racing for Japanese trackdays originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Subaru Prices 2014 Forester From $22,820; Turbo Starts at $28,820

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2014 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

Subaru has announced pricing for its redesigned 2014 Forester crossover, and overall the cost of entry for one of the brand’s best-selling models has stayed largely the same. The base 2014 Forester 2.5i starts at $22,820 with a six-speed manual transmission—that’s just $730 more than the 2013 model; a continuously variable automatic transmission is available for an additional $1000.

For 2014 the Forester carries over its base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 2.5i models, but the hotter XT models’ optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four is replaced by a new force-fed version of the 2.0-liter four found under the hood of the BRZ sports car. (We’ve already driven both Forester models in prototype form.) The crossover’s body is slightly larger than before and gets evolutionary styling updates, including a more steeply raked windshield and a somewhat-blockier appearance.  Continue reading Subaru Prices 2014 Forester From $22,820; Turbo Starts at $28,820 →

Automobiles

Official: European Car of the Year finalists announced

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By Chris Tutor

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Electric cars may have won the European Car of the Year award two years in a row now (Opel Ampera in 2012, and Nissan Leaf in 2011), we can say without reservation that the 2013 ECotY will be a petrol-burning, internal combustionizer. That’s because not a single electric vehicle made it to the contest’s final round. But eight other cars did.

At the top of the alphabetical list is Ford’s Fiesta-based, B-Max MPV. Five doors, good ride and fuel-efficient, award-winning engine choices are some of the reasons it makes the list. Next is the Hyundai i30, known as the Elantra GT Stateside, with either five or three doors, a roomy cabin and a 1.6-liter CRDi engine. The nominating committee commends the handsome hatch for improved exterior aesthetics and a multilink suspension that “shows in ride and handling.”

Mercedes gets the next spot with its hot hatch: the turbocharged A-Class, followed by another hatch, the Peugeot 208. The next finalist is from another marque we haven’t seen in the States for quite some time – the fourth-generation Renault Clio, followed by the Subaru/Toyota dynamic duo of BRZ and the GT86. The last two contenders are the all-new Volkswagen Golf and the svelte Volvo V40.

The European Car of the Year will be announced in early March after the jury has tallied its votes.

European Car of the Year finalists announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Autoblog