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General comments and links. Specific
models are below
12/17. Interview with CEO of SoA Tomohiko
Ikeda here.
12/16 Washington State cell phone laws
start Jan 1, 2008. Under the new laws, drivers who read or compose text
messages or talk on a cell phone without a hands-free device could face
a $101 ticket. The text-messaging ban takes effect Jan. 1; the cell-phone
law July 2008 but drivers can be ticketed as a secondary offense if stopped
for something else.
9/6 New independent Subaru repair shop
in Mukilteo, Washington near Paine Field. Opened in August, Smart
Service (206) 417-0880, works only on Subarus. They do specialized
performance upgrades, carry Cobb Tuning and other engine, suspension
upgrades as well as do general Subaru repair. This is their 2nd location,
the first is in Shoreline, Wa. just off I-5, exit 177.
6/20 Subaru powered amphibious car
'WaterCar can reach speeds of over 125 mph on land and 45 mph on water....
styled after the 2002 Convertible Camaro body style. It is powered by a
Turbo charged 2.5 Liter 300 HP Subaru engine... ' more
6/11 An interesting article on 4 old 'microcars'
including the Subaru 360, a Mazda. read the article
5/10 Canada Subaru review ..'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. Their passion is sparked by products that appeal to buyers
seeking some premium-level features, plus a healthy dash of performance.
For example, my test vehicle, a 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Wagon, is a pleasing
combination of creature amenities, practical utility...' more
5/4 Vancouver, Canada will host the third
stop on the new Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series. The Subaru Vancouver
International Half-Iron will take place on September 16th, 2007, Registration
for the Vancouver Event opens May 11th, 2007 at www.LifeSport.ca and will
be limited to 750 participants.
5/2 Good article on Subaru Viscous Coupling
Variations and all-wheel-drive systems. More
4/22 Interview with Thomas Doll, SoA CFO
'Subarus, comfortable, utilitarian, and all-wheel-drive, have long had
a loyal following in New England and other regions where weather and terrain
often pose challenges. Today the company is looking for geographic and
demographic expansion. Thomas J. Doll, 25 years at the company, is executive
vice president and chief financial officer... Doll recently spoke with
Globe reporter Royal Ford' more
4/18: Smart folks buy Subarus: 'Nobel
Prize winner John Hall and his wife, Lindy, own four Subaru vehicles and
had an opportunity today to visit the plant where some of them were manufactured.
Hall, who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 2005, has been at Purdue University
this week as part of the Honeywell-Nobel Initiative, a program that connects
college students with Nobel winners. This morning he toured the SIA. assembly
area and got an opportunity to take a close look at the production of Subaru
vehicles in Lafayette. "I didn't see any grumpy people or any gum papers
on the floor. That shows pride," he said. "It's fun to see their robots
doing jobs that are ... too tiring for people to do. It would be fun to
work on a line for a while - maybe 10 minutes." Hall is a scientist emeritus
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and a fellow with
the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado.
He and his wife own three Outbacks, which were built at SIA, and a Japanese-made
Subaru Forester. "They're the car of choice in Colorado," Lindy Hall told
SIA officials. more
4/3 Current rebates continue. 2006 model
interest rates expire 4/30/07
3/12 Subaru will become the official vehicle
of Nitro Snowboards, Nitro will become the official snowboard of Subaru...
establishing the Subaru-Nitro Snow Militia (SNSM), an event that will offer
snowboard demos to folks with a valid lift ticket. more
3/7 Return of the Justy (at least in the
UK). As announced earlier, Subaru dealers will be selling a new entry-level
car, the Justy, based on the Daihatsu Sirion city car. Daihatsu is owned
by Toyota. No word on a US version...
3/5 New Subaru CEO Ikeda's goal is to
increase the number of Subaru dealers slightly as well as focus more on
what Subaru owners want and what Subaru does well rather than trying to
remake Subaru into a near-luxury brand. Good!
3/2 Leading Consumer magazine likes Subarus.
Check out the April issue...
3/1 SoA today announced that Mr. Tomohiko
Ikeda has been appointed chairman, president and CEO effective April 1.
Mr. Ikeda succeeds Mr. Kunio Ishigami who served since June 2004. Mr. Ishigami
led the company to three consecutive record sales years and also achieved
the corporate milestone of 200,000 unit annual sales in 2006.
Mr. Ishigami has been with Fuji for 38
years in a variety of roles and will be returning to Japan as Advisor to
FHI. Mr. Ikeda has been with FHI for 30 years. Before being appointed
to his new role, he most recently served as corporate VP for FHI. Prior
to this role, Mr. Ikeda served as VP SoA in Cherry Hill, N.J., from 1998-2002,
where he was responsible for business planning, the management of capital
assets, as well as the sales and marketing coordination with FHI.
12/15 Go Subaru! Subaru sponsored the
2007 AAAS/Subaru
SB&F (Science Books & Films) Prize for Excellence in Science
Books, awarded to recent children's works that promote scientific literacy.
Winners are 'An Egg Is Quiet' by Dianna Aston, Illus by Sylvia Long, Chronicle
Books, 2006; 'Team Moon, How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon'
by Catherine Thimmesh, Houghton Mifflin, 2006; 'Tigerland and Other Unintended
Destinations' by Eric Dinerstein, Island Press, 2005; and 'Thomas Edison
for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities' by Laurie Carlson, Chicago
Review Press, 2006
1/27 Entertaining rant about drivers,
especially Subarus....'The truth as I see it Driving
Adventure' by Austin Rucker
1/20 Entertaining ski story " ....in
late March, my partner, Julie, our 12-year-old Lab and I piled into the
Subaru to make the roughly 900-mile trip from Pasadena to Aspen. Why drive?
Because we couldn't afford to go if we spent an additional $500 to $1,000
on airline tickets." more
1/13 Don't have an auxilliary stereo input
plug (iPod)? You can add an aftermarket input plug. Here's what
you need from Jazzy
Engineering! Please mention you saw it at cars101.com. No, it's
not factory authorized.
1/2/2007 Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu's
Sirion to produce small cars for Subaru to sell in Europe. Sirion
is already sold in Europe and Toyota plans to slightly modify it and supply
Fuji with 5,000 to 10,000 per year. more
(top)
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news and reviews |
| 10/42005 A consumer magazine rates
the Tribeca and other SUVs.
2007
5/23 2008
Tribeca and Forester
prices
and details announced.
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|
news and reviews |
| 2007
11/29 Legacy 3.0R review: 'The new Legacy was a pleasant ride over hill and dale for the week that we tested it.. one of the best Suby's we have driven.. it still came up shy of our class leader here, the Honda Accord.. if you have to live with Old Man Winter for the next few months, a trip to your Suby dealer might be a good bet' more 11/9 GT specB review '...Sometimes practicality can drive a spike through the heart of a driving enthusiast.. as one's lifestyle changes, there must be sacrifices ... there are a few products that combine the practical needs of a family vehicle while retaining sufficient performance to satisfy most gear heads. Subaru has a prime candidate lurking in its Legacy sedan lineup -- the 2.5GT spec.B. It has all the features one needs for family duties, plus attributes that will satisfy any enthusiast's passion.. car wants to be driven as soon as it's fired up.' more 10/30 2008 Legacy GT review from Canada '.. with all due respect to the television commercial featuring four German engineers having a blast test-driving a Subaru Impreza, the Legacy GT might rightfully be the Japanese car the Germans wish they had built..' more. 10/29 Outback and Legacy review: 'Back in the day, it (Subaru) was one of the most innovative vehicles I'd ever seen. But that day was nearly 30 years ago, and today's Subarus aren't particularly innovative or distinctive... the new Legacy and Outback are better than ever. But they don't stand out because there's too much competition these days..' more 10/24 Legacy 3.0R review: 'Sports car-like paddle shifters, six-cylinder engine.. perforated leather aren't typically expected in Subaru sedans. But they're standard for the newest version of the Subaru Legacy... 3.0 R Limited is the only Legacy four door with a 245-horsepower, six-cylinder engine... standard navigation system, power moonroof, Bilstein sport suspension and six-CD player... Best of all, the 3.0 R Limited retains the top five-out-of-five-stars rating that Legacy earned in federal government frontal and side crash testing.' more from Hays (Kansas) Daily News 9/1 Outback review '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' more 8/30 Legacy GT review: 'Looking for the perfect stealth performance sedan? Try the 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited.' more 8/12 2008 Legacy GT wagon still available in Canada, not the US. Read about the 08 Canadian GT wagon here 8/11 Crash Test: 2008 Legacy and Forester get 5 Stars for front and side impact! Check out NHTSA: Legacy, Forester 7/11 08 Outback XT review: 'the Outback retains its elevated stance, giving it some off-road credibility and differentiating the now-wagon-only model from its Legacy stable mate..' from CNET.com 6/14 2008 Legacy review, Canada '..the recipe is simple: take Subaru's reliable 'boxer' engine, add to it the company's famous symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and blend in a rally-inspired independent suspension. Shake well, add oil and stuff into a smooth, tasteful sedan..' more 6/12 2008 Legacy review, Canada '...For the 2008 model year, the Subaru Legacy has received a mid-cycle refreshening and the updates have served to make a dynamic line of sedans and wagons even more appealing..' more 6/6 2008 Outback and Legacy pages updated to show the new models with VDC will be replacing those without. 5/26 GT specB review, '..there’s still that Subaru nostril on the hood (albeit more subtle than on the company’s tuner-fave WRX). And beneath that bit of rhinoplasty are a 2.5-liter, turbocharged, intercooled engine and genius all-wheel drive. Fast and nimble, is what I’m saying...' more 4/30 2008 Legacy page page updated with GT and specB info and photos 4/27 GT review: Subaru Legacy is sporty -- but not a sports car.... trying really hard to be a sports car. It's not quite there, but the handling and 243 horsepower make for a fun commute.' more 4/21 Rebate on Outback Basic and 2.5i raised to $1000 4/20 Outback review ' It's become all the rage -- all wheel drive -- and you see it on more and more cars, not to mention the SUVs out there. But let's remember that (with apologies to the late AMC Eagle), Subaru was the first to really go full-blast on AWD, and they did it almost in a missionary way. You must get this car, with all wheels driven, was the message. Only way to go.' more 4/20 Legacy review from Victoria, BC, Canada ' Legacy: dual personality does it all ..The designers are determined to keep the Legacy as a sedate and practical family car and the engineers see it as an agile and swift little number that is fun to drive. Both of their visions are at play in the 2007 Legacy..' more 4/15 Outback LL Bean review, 'The ubiquity of the Subaru Outback on Fairfield County roads, however, argues strongly for a competence well suited to the often unhappily exciting Northeast weather. Subarus didn't find their way into every third garage in town because of their prestige. They've everywhere because they do the job. That's a thrill' more 4/5 2008 Outbacks start arriving! Photos posted. 4/1 2008 model Outback and Legacy pages updated with specs and prices. 3/15 GT review from Canada '...Needless to say, the Symmetrical all-wheel drive system performs beautifully in the snow. Equipped with good snow tires, this Legacy's rear end will step out lightly when you punch the throttle on slippery surfaces, the AWD hardware telling you that it's on duty...' more 3/3 GT specB review "I have never met a Subaru that didn't think snow was fun, and the Spec B gritted its teeth (or the automotive equivalent thereof) and pulled its way clear of the snow on my driveway..." more 2/23 More on the 2008 Canadian Outback and Legacy here 2/20 GT spec.B review 'One of my fondest memories at the wheel of a Subaru was during the course of the 2005-06 winter where one morning, I opened the garage door to find that over 40 cm of snow ... the wife and I casually trekked on to work without incident (except for driving around those 2WD vehicles with 4-season tires...)...morning cemented my love .. for AWD.' more 2/14 Subaru Canada releases 08 Legacy and Outback info, similar to what SoA has available. SCI, Subaru Canada Int. 2/5 2008 Legacy and Outback order information available later February. 1/25 GT spec.B sedan review 'Subaru has a simple solution for drivers who really want the firm’s barnstorming WRX STI rocket ship sedan but have obligations to behave civilly. The answer is the 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B four-door sedan, an absolute wolf in meek clothing.' more 1/24 Safety: 'Subaru Legacy, Forester and B9 Tribeca have each been named a 2007 'Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The award recognizes vehicles that provide the best protection for drivers and occupants in front, side and rear crash tests conducted by the Institute.' more 1/9/2007 While specifics haven't been announced, it seems that for 2008 model there will be a Legacy sedan and Outback wagon, and Legacy wagons and Outback sedans will be dropped from the line. 1/6/2007 New for the 2008 models due later this year (March 07?), Legacy and Outback debuts at the North American International Auto Show. Subaru also debuted its new flagship sedan model, the Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Limited, the first 6-cylinder Legacy (not Outback). 2008 Legacy and Outback model are distinguished by revised styling for 2008, featuring a new grille with chrome crossbars and a central Subaru logo that represents the company’s aeronautical heritage. The new 2008 Subaru Legacy features all-new front sheet metal with a larger grille opening, new front and rear bumper fascias, and new headlights and taillights. The new front and rear design features reduced overhangs for a sportier appearance. The Legacy 3.0 R is positioned to compete against midsize All-Wheel Drive performance sedans and introduces a performance-oriented paddle-shift transmission with a new “downshift blipping control” that gives the rev-matching behavior of an expertly shifted manual transmission. The Legacy 3.0 R is also equipped with Bilstein Sport Suspension and 18-inch wheels and tires. For 2008, the Subaru Outback also debuts new front sheet metal, but features a larger and more upright grille for a bolder appearance. Combined with the new grille and front fascia, the re-designed fenders and hood deliver a more rugged look. The Outback also features unique fog lights and new wheels for the XT and six-cylinder models. Inside, Legacy and Outback models gain a redesigned instrument panel and revised interior fabrics. A telescopic steering column and a new integrated ignition key/remote entry unit are now standard. Distinctive electroluminescent gauges, formerly featured only on the turbo Legacy and Outback models, will now be on the 6-cylinder models for 2008. On the premium models, a redesigned steering wheel offers additional controls, including the audio system, cruise control, the multi-information display and separate Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) controls. For 2008, the advanced Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction system will be offered in more Legacy and Outback models, and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is now standard on all Legacy and Outback models. 1/5/2007 Legacy GT spec.B review 'From humble origins, Subaru has worked its way up to being a rather upscale and technically sophisticated line of automobiles..' more |
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news and reviews |
|
2007 12/8 The 2009 Forester to be shown at the Detroit Auto Show, Jan19th. The cars are expected in March. Is this Japanese version similar to what's coming here next March? Check it out August 11 Crash Test: 2008 Forester get 5 Stars for front and side impact from NHTSA 5/24 Forester review, 'The Forester isn't just another small Japanese wagon in a long line; its standard all-wheel-drive, high clearance, and peppy engine give it a character suitable to its name. Unfortunately, this rough-and-ready character shorts it on the tech side, as neither navigation nor Bluetooth cell phone integration are available. All you get for tech is an MP3 and WMA compatible stereo with decent sound.... ' more 5/23 2008 Tribeca and Forester prices and details announced. 5/21 Forester review: '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... A lot of people chuckled when Subaru created this car, but the company got the formula right on the first try: Sport utility tough and car easy. Subaru's basic design, keeping the engine and all-wheel drive train low, made for decent handling. And the large windows provided great visibility....' more 5/20 The first 2008 Foresters arrive 5/17 What can you do to a Forester XT? It needs some attention... '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...' the whole story 4/30 Forester review: 'Forester is a familiar player, being introduced in 1997, redesigned for 2003 and updated in 2006. There's little new for 2007, but strong points include versatility and standard all-wheel drive. The Forester is such a carlike compact SUV that it can be classified as a crossover vehicle, combining car and SUV attributes. It's not among the most stylish vehicles, and the oversized hood scoop of the turbocharged model looks overdone. But Subarus are utilitarian...' more 1/24 Safety: 'Subaru Legacy, Forester and B9 Tribeca have each been named a 2007 'Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The award recognizes vehicles that provide the best protection for drivers and occupants in front, side and rear crash tests conducted by the Institute.' more (top) |
|
news and reviews |
| 2007
12/15 STI review '...more aesthetically
pleasing inside and out and certainly more practical than its predecessor.
It has five doors and seats five people. It can carry the family's groceries
and haul weekend racing gear and tools. It is all grown up. But it desperately
is trying not to grow old...' more
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|
news and reviews |
| 12/4/07: Only 2 Bajas were reported sold
for the month November, 2007, so they must be almost completely sold out
5/1/2006 Subaru halted production of
the Baja sport-utility truck in mid-April 2006
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|
and all other models including non-US market models news and reviews |
| 6/2206 When did you get the 85 Brat and
why did you buy it? HartfordAdvocate
6/22/06 The Japanese market Stella mini-car is a hit, from autoblog. 6/15/06 New mini-car for Japanese market, the Stella. But it's not coming to the US. from bloomberg.com, car.co.nz |
Subaru Hybrids and Concept Cars |
|
HYBRID, ALTERNATE FUEL and CONCEPT CAR news 11/4 Subaru electric concept car with improved battery '.. Bucking the industry trend towards Hydrogen fuel cells, Subaru has released a vastly improved battery-electric commuter car. The 65kw, 5-seater G4e’s new high energy-density lithium-ion batteries give it a 200km range from a charge (more than double the previous R1e’s range) and using a quick-charger it can be topped up to 80% in only 15 minutes. The new Subaru’s stats make it an instantly viable commuter, while underlining the exciting potential this fledgling sector will offer...' more. (Note: there are no plans that I'm aware on to bring this to the U.S.). 8/17 Not a Hydrid but Subarus receive green US EPA SmartWay certification. Outback, Forester, Legacy PZEV 2.5L 4 cylinders. Check the list of 2008s, 2007s 6/7 Hybrid. Honda will drop the Accord Hybrid, the current model will be the final one. The Accord hybrid, sold only in North America, was a dud, selling just 25,000 since going on sale in 2004. It sold just 6,100 last year. 3/8/2007 Subaru diesel shown in Geneva. Not many hard details, no horsepower or fuel economy statistics. The engine is expected in 2009 European models in 2008. US models to follow (but when?) .... here's more from a UK magazine. 2/6/2007 Diesel is coming: Subaru's diesel will be unveiled at the at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show March 6.
(top) SAFETY CRASH TESTS safety news,
including recalls etc
August 11: NHTSA Crash Tests: 2008 Forester,
Outback,
Legacy,
Tribeca
Subaru and Toyota. October 5, 2005, Toyota buys share of Subaru parent company Fuji. 4/27/07 Subaru and Toyota are swapping
100-150 engineers in order to find further synergies between the two automakers.
Toyota, with its magnificent manufacturing system and hybrid technology,
has plenty to offer, but Subaru has its world-renown AWD system in its
war chest. more
12/4 Effective January 3, 2008, there will
be no rebates for Canadians buying US models, and no bonuses
or any incentives will be paid to dealers or salespeople on Canadian sales
(ouch). As the offical release says '.. sales made by US dealers
outside of the continental US, are discouraged. This includes exports or
sales to Canada... (these) will no longer be eligible for any SoA
incentive payment programs such as vehicle incentives (rebates), dealer
volume bonuses, salesperson payouts...'. But yes the warranty remains
the same, honored by SoA, with no change! more
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