Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from everybody here! Wishing you a safe weekend!

First Drive: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206

 

"We almost don't want to tell you about the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206. Why? Because it's the fastest, best-handling WRX Subaru's STI division has ever produced, but you can't buy it in the U.S. It's yet another special STI limited edition built exclusively for Japanese domestic consumption.

Subaru's tuning department takes its STI 'S' series

very seriously, something we witnessed at the recent Tokyo Motor Show when it revealed the new S206 with its eye-popping spec sheet. There's more than a decade of history in the top-shelf S series, starting from the radical-looking S201 to the gutsy S204, and the extreme R205. We've driven them all and been suitably impressed with every car. But the S206 takes 'S' to a whole new level."  [Continue reading...]

Rugged Subaru XV hatch impresses

"Subaru's XV can be quite comfortable with its $38,990 starter sticker, as when compared with the Mitsubishi ASX, Hyundai's ix35, Kia Sportage and Nissan's Qashqai, it out-shoots them all for equipment, price or both.

All XVs have all-wheel-drive, while you have to ask and pay for it in three of the others, and in the otherwise impressive Nissan's case, you can't get all-wheel drive. Not only that, the XV comes with useful-looking alloy wheels as standard."  [Continue reading...]

2012 Subaru Impreza Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

"Regarded as the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive vehicle in America, the 36mpg Impreza come as standard with Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC) – a system which combines stability and traction control functions – while all models are equipped with ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and the Brake Assist safety system.

That’s in addition to the active safety brought by the

car’s brilliant AWD system that never loses grip no matter what you are up to!"  [Continue reading...]

Subaru wins the race to become the most recommended car brand in Australia for the second year running

"Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing today released findings from its 2011-2012 Car Consumer Loyalty & Recommendation Study. With a Net Promoter Score of 36 per cent, Subaru customers are far more likely to recommend Subaru to friends and colleagues and significantly outperformed rivals such as Ford and General Motors Holden in the customer recommendation stakes.

Mazda came second in the survey of owners from the country's top nine selling brands, with a positive score of 29 per cent and Toyota was hot on their heels with a Net Promoter Score of 26 per cent. The average car industry score was 13 per cent.

Engaged Marketing Founder and CEO Christopher Roberts said the research also demonstrates the massive impact negative customer comments can have on an organisation."  [Continue reading...]

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: Drive Review

"To put it simply, the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is an Impreza five-door with a raised suspension, specific front and rear fascias, body-side cladding and exclusive wheels. However, the company line is that the XV is not an Impreza but its own model targeting a new group of customers: urbanites.

Traditionally, Subaru does well with active outdoor hobbyists with its lineup of crossovers, but none of the company's models put an emphasis on targeting the city-slicker crowd until now.

What's Subaru's plan of attack to appeal to Starbucks drinkers? Provide a sleek and sporty appearance, offer a fun driving character and flexible interior space. Drivetrain options, not surprisingly, mirror the Impreza's with a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder producing 148 hp connected to a standard five-speed manual transmission or an available continuously variable transmission."  [Continue reading...]

Subaru XV looking to create a niche

 

"Subaru launched its all-wheel-drive crossover XV on Northland roads this week in readiness for the vehicle's appearance in numbers in February.

The XV is the first stage of an ambitious plan by parent Fuji Heavy Industries to boost global sales over the next five years. It will be followed by a handful of new all-wheel-drive models - including a hybrid and replacements for the Impreza, WRX and STi - that Subaru plans to launch by 2016 to meet a global sales target of 900,000 vehicles, up from 657,000 last year."  [Continue reading...]

Sporty and efficient Subaru wagon in pipeline

"Subaru produced one of the highlights of the Tokyo Motor Show when it unveiled its Advanced Tourer concept

The sporty wagon, which is sized between the entry-level Impreza and the Liberty, is likely to be sold as a stand-alone model, giving the Japanese car maker a competitor in the small wagon class which is starting to gain some traction with Australian buyers.

While the design provided an indication of Subaru's new styling direction - Confidence in Motion - it was what was under the bonnet that provided the real news."  [Continue reading...]

Subaru BRZ to Compete in 2012 Super GT Championship

"This year's LA Auto Show will give us a look at the Subaru BRZ Concept, and even though we don't even have finalized details on the upcoming vehicle, Subaru has already announced that the BRZ will represent them in the 2012 Super GT Championship Japan. Obviously Subaru has a long heritage of racing in Japan, and the BRZ will compete in the GT300 class replacing the current STI Legacy B4."  [Continue reading...]

2013 Subaru BRZ: Drive Review

"The Subaru BRZ represents nothing less than the return of inexpensive, fun, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports cars. Sure, there have always been fun, front-engined, rear-drive sports cars, but they weren't cheap. Now, for an anticipated sticker price of less than $25,000, you can get a 200-hp flat four stuffed low and back on the front end of a smooth coupe body. You can have a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, too, the latter with paddle-shifted manual mode. And you get a Torsen limited-slip rear differential that keeps both back tires spinning as long as you want them to spin."  [Continue reading...]