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2017 Subaru BRZ Series.Yellow Is Bright As The Sun
There weren’t particular outward changes we can pick on when Subaru revealed its updated 2017 Subaru BRZ. The adjustments are rather comprehensive, and it would take a really good car expert to notice what were modified from its predecessor.
So, it only makes sense that Subaru chose to give the new Subaru BRZ a complete appearance makeover in terms of color scheme. Yes, the 2017 BRZ is now an eye-catching sunny yellow. Nothing can get brighter than this on the road.
And to keep up with Subaru’s tradition of naming its cars based on its color, the 2017 Subaru BRZ is named Series.Yellow. Remember Series.Blue? It has a less-blue predecessor aptly called the Series.Hyperblue.
This sunny yellow BRZ Series.Yellow is more than just Series.Hyperblue in name. It borrows most of the elements we see on the previous car—blue-colored accents inside and out were replaced with the color yellow. There’s the overall paint, of course, plus the yellow contrast stitching and bits of yellow cloth throughout the all-black cabin and black-painted 17-inch wheels.
What differs it from the Series.Hyperblue is the upgrade on the brakes. The Series.Yellow has Brembo rotors and four-piston calipers up front. The suspension was also changed to Sachs dampers, which would also come standard on updated units of the 2017 BRZ.
Overall, the change is rather compelling and might put experts and fans alike on tenterhooks. But then again, the Series.Yellow would hold no problem if you’re okay with the bright and sunny exterior, especially if it fits your personality.
Remember, you not only have to deal with the color on the outside. The cabin is somehow yellow-ized too because of the contrast with the all-black interior.
There will only be 500 units produced of the Series.Yellow. There are no pricing details yet, but expect it to come somewhere near the price range of $30,000.
Source: Car And Driver
Subaru WRX STI To Challenge Isle Of Man Course Record
The Subaru WRX STI, which was tweaked to achieve 600bhp and a 180mph top speed, will be used to set a new record on the Isle of Man TT course. The company wants a new benchmark beyond the one attained by Mark Higgins in 2014 with a production STI.
When Higgins used the car in 2014, it was close to the standard as possible, except that it comes with uprated dampers and slick tires to manage the track’s vicious bumps. But this time, the Subaru WRX STI is specifically built for the purpose of the competition.
This project is a joint partnership of Subaru USA and the Branbury-based preparation specialist Prodrive. It is fitted with a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine that shares its hardware with the WRC engine. The tuning program mixed this engine up with a larger turbo, allowing it to produce 600bhp and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The WRX STI has a kerb weight of less than 1,200kg, meaning the STI has a comparable power-to-weight ratio to a GT3 racing car.
The STI will have a unique mechanical set up because of the demands of the 37-mile TT circuit, where 75 percent of the lap must be spent in full throttle. This means that the gear above the third shift can go as high as 180mph. The car will also have better handling and durability.
And to make the maneuvering better for the driver, the WRX STI will also have the Drag Reduction System (DRS)—born out of Prodrive’s history with Aston Martin’s GT racing. This system can be activated through a button on the dashboard.
The suspension will play an important role for the project, too. What the tuning program did is to set up the car’s EXE-TC dampers similar to that of a tarmac rally car. The front splitter is low, but higher than the ones on a circuit car.
The attempt to break the record will take place in the next few days as the TT schedule is unveiled. More details are bound to come out soon.
Subaru Gives Out More Details of Its Levorg STI
Subaru has finally revealed spec and technical details of its new Levorg STI. This after it confirmed that Subaru Tecnica International, or STI, is in the plant for the performance variant of the Levorg wagon.
Officially, it is called the Levorg STI Sport Wagon, which is probably going to be similar to the World Rally Blue concept, according to a source. Subaru did not intend for the Levorg STI to be its halo car, so not much can be expected in terms of power.
Instead, what the Subaru wagon offers is an upgrade in aesthetics and some minor tweaks for better driving dynamics.
On the outside, the Levorg STI will sport a more aggressive profile because of its new grill and front fascia with larger air dams. The fact that Subaru made this to be performance ready can be seen on the styling of the body, the subtle side skirts, the chromed twin tip exhaust, and a rear diffuser similar to the Forester tS.
To complete its looks, the Levorg STI will also be coming with 18-inch multi-spoke alloys.
Inside, there are some changes, too. The Bordeaux on black STI sport-specific leather seats certainly added elegance and to the Levorg STI’s interior. And to boost that sporty look, the seats can be covered as well in STI’s signature dark red stitching along with the Bordeaux. The contrast is astounding, especially on the use of the dark red stitching on the center console, steering wheel and gear levels.
STI’s logo is embroidered on the seats’ headrests and plates on the door sills.
The Levorg STI Sport Wagon will come with either the 1.6L 170 PS flat-four turbo or the 300 PS 2.0L FA20 turbo, which is standard with Japanese specs. Both of these engines will be partnered with a lineartronic CVT transmission with all-wheel drive.
The only change done in terms of the drivetrain is the addition of uprated springs, revised steering, and upgraded dampers.
The new Sport Wagon from Subaru is expected to arrive this summer in Japan. There is no report yet if this will be offered outside Japan.
Updated 2017 Subaru Forester Is A Bargain
The Subaru Forester made a name for itself in the past years, especially with the completely revised 2014 version. For next year, Forester is getting a few updates for a mere $200 on top of the current prices according to a report.
It’s a bargain from Subaru considering that the 2017 Forester is getting these slew of new features: a revised front grille, bumper, and new headlights.
Also upgraded is the EyeSight system. It now includes a Lane Keep Assist while Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking have become standard.
In particular, the Forester 2.0XT Touring offers an available Active Torque Vectoring system.
Basically, we can expect everything in the 2014 Forester being carried over, except it’s so much better. The engines and transmissions remain unchanged, too.
Base models still get the 2.5-liter flat-four mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which is good for 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. CVT is optional.
There’s the more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine too that is capable of 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. If you want the turbo, you have to choose the CVT option.
Trim levels still include 2.5i, Premium, Limited, and Touring for the 2.5-liter while the more-upscale 2.0-liter turbo is adorned with the Premium and Touring trims.
In all, the new Forester is a kill in terms of performance, although you have to look pass the very generic exterior.
There are a few changes on the front end—grille, lower fascia, and the headlights with LED accents main beams. The taillights also have that C-shaped LED element to tie it together with the headlights.
On certain trim levels, there are new alloy wheel designs that contribute to the Forester’s more mature and sculpted look.
Both wheel designs have a high-contrast black and machined finish look. The 2.5i Premium models get the 17-inch wheels while the 2.0XT receives the 18-inch rollers.
The base model 2.5i starts at $22,595 while the 2.0XT Touring begins at $33,295, both including an $850 destination charge.
Choosing the CVT in either the 2.5i or 2.5i Premium costs $1,000 or $500 more, respectively. Otherwise, the CVT’s cost is included in the other 2.5i trim packages.
Subaru Confirmed Levorg STI Version
Subaru Tecnica International, Subaru’s performance arm, just confirmed the company’s plan to launch a high performance version of its Levorg wagon. According to a source, it will be based on the Levorg STI concept introduced during the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon.
The concept is due to start production this summer, but it won’t be coming to the United States market since the Levorg was never really offered there.
Unlike the previous BRZ tS, the Subaru Levorg STI won’t be another lame duck attempt. Instead, it will more likely offer dedicated performance like the WRX STI, which was celebrated when it was launched.
Subaru is basically claiming this would be a more mature performance car. It is launching the vehicle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the brand’s love for horizontally-opposed “boxer” engines. The release seems to be an appeal also for consumers who lamented the company’s decision to end the production of the hatchback body style of the current-generation WRX STI.
No other details have been released by Subaru, although reports are pointing out to a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which we saw on the original Levorg STI concept. What we saw on the concept is that it’s also fitted with 18-inch wheels, especially-tuned dampers and an elegant interior with two-tone leather trim.
The concept also featured a CVT.
All of these features were included in the wagon as an attempt by Subaru’s design team to come up with a performance car for the older and more conservative types who were unimpressed by the WRX STI.
There’s no actual detail yet on when Subaru is planning to introduce the Levorg STI to the market, but the company has been hinting since 2011, when it launched the Advanced Tourer concept, of such a vehicle. Let us expect the Levorg STI wagon anytime soon.
Subaru Updates 2017 Forester With Advanced Safety Features, Torque Vectoring
Subaru of America Inc. has announced an update to the 2017 Forester. This mid-cycle refresh course includes a slight revised front and rear fascias, a few interior upgrades, and a new active safety equipment.
But above that, there’s something Subaru included in the 2017 Forester that cannot be found on a Toyota RAV 4 or a Honda CRV—the addition of a brake-based torque vectoring.
According to Subaru, the main changes can be found on the styling, the new driver assist technology, interior comfort, enhanced driving performance, and a better fuel-saving feature.
What Subaru is most proud of in its revised 2017 Forester is the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which incorporated color cameras to provide a wider and longer field of vision. The system also includes a Lane Keep Assist, which detects when a vehicle sways and would gently guide it to the center of the lane.
The Forester Limited and Touring models will also have the Blind Spot Detection and Red Cross Traffic Alert, both of which can help the driver prevent accidents on the road. The Premium models that are equipped with the EyeSight also get the Blind Spot Detection and Red Cross Traffic Alert features.
More, the safety feature packs the High Beam Assist, Steering Responsive Headlights, and the Reverse Automatic Braking on the 2017 Limited and Touring models.
The exterior was redesigned with a refined front bumper cover, a new hexagonal grille and headlights, and a rear spoiler that matches the body color will now come standard on all Premium, Limited, Touring and XT Premium models.
Inside, the new Forester has an all-new Saddle Brown perforated leather-trimmed upholstery with contrast stitching. You can also choose a matching brown leather trim to the door panels, center console storage box lid, and other interior details.
The new 17-inch wheels are standard on the 2.5i Premium and Limited models while the new 18-inch wheel design will come standard on 2.0X trims.
Redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza To Launch Late March
Subaru‘s 2017 Impreza will ride on the new modular platform the company introduced earlier this week. The new redesigned compact in both sedan and hatchback variants will debut later this month—on March 23 to be exact—at the New York Auto Show.
Aside from a redesigned platform, the new compact will also have a sleeker design language compared to the Subaru Impreza Sedan and Impreza Hatchback shown earlier during the auto show season.
But of course, remember that Subaru always churned out mightily impressive stylish cars as concepts that turn out to be a dud in production. This has been the curse of the company in the past years. Here’s hoping Subaru can break that cycle, though leaks of the production 2017 Impreza don’t look as good as the concept.
The Subaru Global Platform, which will be used as well other future Subarus, promises improved refinement, a lower center of gravity, and increased stiffness.
The platform is 70 to 100 percent more rigid than the current chassis, and it is 40 percent more in terms of impact energy absorption.
The key Subaru features will remain, so the new Impreza will likely have a boxer-four engine and all-wheel drive as standard.
Customers can also enjoy Subaru’s EyeSight, which included active safety features, as well as other tech features. The interior is likely to be more spacious too.
The new Impreza hatchback was first seen in silver at the Tokyo Motor Show while a red sedan added a trunk at the LA Auto Show a month later.
However, the debut will only include the more basic Impreza lineup. Subaru fans will have to wait for a new version of the Impreza-based sport compact. But those who want the next XV Crosstrek may enjoy having it sooner since it was already previewed as a concept at the Geneva Auto Show last week.
Everything that Makes the Upcoming Subaru Viziv 2 Exciting
When it comes to the motor world, all it takes is a small piece of news to start a rumor. A rumor, soon turns into a wild fire that spreads unstoppably and takes the entire world under its spell. Also, what happens is that while there are a lot of credible sources, there isn’t really an easy way to confirm what is true and what is not, which leads to more excitement. Everyone is left wondering what is coming up next for them and that adds fuel to the fire. This is exactly what is happening as far as the upcoming Subaru Viziv 2 is concerned. This is a baby that is born amidst a lot of rumors. It is actually very difficult to say if these stories are going to stop anytime soon but what is definitely going to happen is that they are going to make the world more thrilled about this new kid on the block. And that is just the kind of thing that a new vehicle desires in this world of massive competition, when there are so many fish in the sea. Every vehicle could use some extra attention and in the case of the upcoming Subaru Viziv 2, it is guaranteed.
So, while the entire world has their share of rumors, in Japan, the prevalent belief about the upcoming Subaru Viziv 2 is that it is going to be a reflection of the next-gen Forester. In addition, it might also have features that it shares with the brilliant Outback that was unveiled in recent times. That is something that we have heard from credible sources but when we probed further it appeared to be a little distant from this popular belief. It turns out that it is not true at all. Or at least, that is what evidences reveal. This new offering from Subaru is a world apart from the other two vehicles that we just mentioned. It might have a thing or two that it shares with them but definitely, it is not in the same league as them. In fact, if anything, it is going to offer a set of new features and be a step ahead of other new offerings that are going to come our way at the same time as this one.
There are enough evidences that point out that the upcoming Subaru Viziv 2 is going to set a new tone for the new range of SUVs that Subaru is planning in the near future. It is going to be a trendsetter in every sense of the word. What else can we say, considering we have heard that it has a new style and a new aura even when it comes to performance? It is something that will inspire the other SUVs that will get down to the road. While we have heard that there are definitely going to be two variants –one large and one small, nothing for sure can be said about the different features they will sport. In any case, we just can’t wait for this one to reveal itself to us!
Powerful 2015 Subaru Outback
The 2015 Subaru Outback seems more like an improved version of its predecessor than actually being categorized as the futuristic SUV for 2015. To make it more compelling, the company has tried to make it more efficient, spacious, powerful and quiet as compared to its previous models, which seems like a legit decision to keep its stronghold in the market. The inclusion of grille in the front section, which is hexagonal in shape makes it template look more corporate and also goes well with the lower grille. Streamlined headlights and raked front windshield are also something to watch out for along with the tail lamps at the end of the vehicle which make considerable improvements in its width but don’t make any change in its height. The rocker panel comes with toothed mold and is doubled in order to keep things manageable in the roof rack. Inclusion of many exciting features like plush exteriors and noticeable interiors have surely make 2015 Subaru Outback stand amongst the most anticipated SUVS for 2015. The interiors of Subaru Outback are quite upscale with the use of soft to touch plastic material giving the entire cabin a more adventurous look. Sophisticated entertainment system is another good thing about 2015 Subaru Outback. Shift paddles at the back of its three spoke steering wheel are receiving appreciation from one and all equally.
The improved version of 2015 Subaru Outback outback comes with several enhanced features like eye sight driver assist system that helps drivers while going on long trips. The off road capabilities of this SUV are also remarkable along with its passenger attributes that make it a perfect family hauler. The new and improved version of active torque split and all wheel drive made makes it an outdoor oriented can that can be used efficiently for all purposes.
The new Subaru has been improvised in almost every department but has increased by only 0.7 inches. Under the hood it’s all aluminum and what you find is a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine with the ability produce 175 horsepower 174 pound feet torque, to bring an option for its buyers, Subaru has also kept an optional 3.6 liter six cylinder engine which is capable of producing 256 horsepower and 247 lb ft torque. The cargo room has been increased marginally by 1.2 cubic feet when back seats are up and 2.0 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded completely.
The load floor for 2015 Subaru Outback is flat which makes your vehicle easily accessible due to its memory height function on the tailgate. Release handles have been introduced for rear seats making them look unique. The acoustic windshield makes cabin look more enhanced, thick panels and use of foam keeps insulating noises away. The floor dampening material used in Subaru reduces noises that disturb passengers while travelling. The 2015 Subaru Outback is manufactured with 6 speakers audio system and 7 inch touchscreen display to provide complete entertainment. The luxurious vehicle is technically very sound, thus making in a top list of 2015 SUVs.
2014 Subaru Forester: A Redesigned Treat
Subaru has always managed to impress us with its excellent blend of utility, comfort and all year around weather capability, which has always remained a staple in its cars. But this time, with its redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester, the company has gone a step ahead with almost the same ingredients and recipes but managed to make key improvements with a slight change in its cooking style. This time, the Forester comes with improved and larger interior room, which is good enough to accommodate a family. Additionally, it has better fuel economy and strength which was never found in the earlier versions of Subaru. With these improved features, now the all new 2014 Subaru Forester stands proudly among the top small to midsized crossovers because of its updated transmission and engine.
The most enduring appeal of Subaru lies in the fact that it comes with all the traditional SUV features that a crossover lover want to have or would like to use in an SUV. Full time all wheel drive feature, hatchback utility and little bit more ground clearance without making a full blown bulky SUV are some of the highlights of 2014 Subaru Forester. Before we dig deep into Foresters’ driving dynamics and other tech specs, you must understand that it is no Jeep or for that matter a Range Rover while off road, but it still has more ground clearance to offer than any of its competing crossover. Subaru has made its 2014 Forester tough enough to handle all kinds of dirt roads and still make its drive feel like a car in all sort of tough situations.
The more efficient and variable transmission of 2014 Subaru Forester is the result of the replacement of its last years’ four speed automatic and the main driving force behind the new forester is its improved fuel economy rating, which is quite considerable if compared to other crossovers. Last years’ five speed manual transmission has been replaced by six speed manual transmission which also a factor behind this year Foresters’ fuel economy. Just like before, Subaru is offering two engine choice for its Forester, which include the base 2.5 liter four cylinder engine known for its adequate power and the all new optional 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder which is more potent than the previous Forester XTs’ 2.5 liter turbo.
If you look inside the cabin of the 2014 Subaru Forester, you will find it more contemporary then its previous version along with the use of high quality materials. An increase in rear seat legroom is quite evident along with expansive cargo area. If you drop the rear seats you will get enough space to make it a warehouse for a day for long trips and carrying stuff like tents, kayaks and bikes.
In terms of competition, 2014 Subaru Forester has to compete with the likes of Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape as they all are leading the fore front in small crossover section. But if you are giving importance to interior space and light off rod ability then 2014 Subaru Forester is an ideal choice.