SUBARU NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM CALENDAR YEAR 2013 Archive Page

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1/2 2014 STI will be shown at Detroit's North American International Auto Show 1/13-17
www.NAIAS.com

January 2, 2014. The 6th Share the Love ending
Subaru donated $250 per car purchased from 11/21 to 1/2 to the buyer's choice of ASPCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals On Wheels, National Park Foundation, Teach For America, and a 6th dealer selected charity.  The total donated this year will be $10,000,000
, for a total of $35m over the past 6 years. The first 5 Share the Love event donations was $5m per year.

12/21 just in time for christmas- a free Subaru
"Subaru plans to give two Dallas teenagers 2014 Forester crossovers in recognition of their bravery in helping to save a kidnapping victim earlier this year.
Aaron Arias, 19, and Jamal Harris, 17, will receive the Subarus at a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Sewell Subaru in Dallas.
The Foresters have a base price of about $22,000 each.
Earlier this year, the young men were at an intersection and noticed a distressed-looking woman in the back seat of a vehicle. The victim, who was not identified, mouthed “help me.” Arias and Harris called 911 and followed the car until police arrived and stopped the vehicle, arresting the suspect." the original article


12/17 BRZ review and why its cooler than the FR-S
"Why the Subaru BRZ is $3K Better than the Scion FR-S. I love both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. And when I was in the market for a new car about three months ago, the two were on my short list (along with the likes of the Focus ST and Veloster Turbo). But I came to a crossroads when deciding which new car would be sitting pretty in my driveway for the next few years or so — Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ.
I chose the more expensive BRZ (about $30K sticker price), and yes, I am ragged on constantly as my buddies ask me how the “FR-S” is treating me. Very funny.
But why is the Subaru BRZ just plain ol’ better than the FR-S? Here’s why:
Inside and out, the average consumer has a very difficult time telling both of these cars apart. But any well-versed enthusiast (like myself) will give you every single specific difference and detail until they’re blue in the face.
With the BRZ, the front end is cleaner, arguably meaner looking, and more refined. In the back, you get a sharper factory spoiler. And on the sides, Subaru does away with the “86″ badge for obvious reasons. Inside it’s much of the same.
Alcantara seats coat the BRZ compared to the cloth of the FR-S. And while I can undoubtedly admit the infotainment system on the FR-S is leaps and bounds ahead of the the BRZ’s Pioneer system, the BRZ has much more detail elsewhere. It’s just a better experience.
Ok, so I’ve driven both of these cars and I can tell you that they are phenomenally fun. For a lot of you, choosing between the two is quite difficult. But here’s the thing: the FR-S — while driftier on the track — is almost actually uncomfortable on the open road. That was really my only gripe with the car, the suspension is pretty harsh in comparison.
The BRZ on the other hand — while not necessarily as drifty, but still capable enough — is tweaked a wee bit softer for everyday use. It’s not as spine jarring as its Scion counterpart, and that’s a very good thing.
Growing up as a product of the 90s, my hero cars weren’t from Maranello, but rather, lands further East. The Supra, the Evo, the NSX — proper Japanese sportscars. So, when Toyota announced that its sporty car would live on through the millennial generation, I was happier than a kitten with a q-tip. The Supra/Celica was born again.
And then Scion stepped in. Oh dear god why Scion? It’s not a brand as much as it is a moneymaking tool for Toyota aimed at buyers like myself (teens to late 20s). It’s hip, it’s cool, it’s new — but it doesn’t do a damn thing for me in terms of relatability or history. And yes, that actually matters.
Subaru, on the other hand, is a brand that has a very positive reputation amongst the younger crowd. The WRX and STI are phenomenally great, and the BRZ lived up to that great reputation through the badge.
So, is the Subaru BRZ $3K (or so) better than the FR-S? Absolutely. The Scion FR-S — as amazing as it is — is still too brash for some Americans. Of course, they’re both still selling like hot cakes, and will continue to, but if you have the extra scratch, the BRZ is the way to go." read the original article



12/15 Impreza review
"The Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV is one of the best, most affordable, most reliable compact sedans available. It just needs some sound deadening and cosmetic updating. The engine whined. It sounded like a small child trying to con a parent — with a cry not quite a cry, but a persistent noise created to irritate: Wha-a-a, wha-a-a-a, wha-a-a-a-a! I wanted to shout, “Shut up!” But that would have been bad parenting. I wanted to slap it, hard. But that would have gone against everything I learned from my parents.
Seeking relief, I turned on the radio in the 2014 Subaru Impreza 2.0i PZEV. But the sound coming from the Impreza’s speakers was so static-prone and monotone — below the quality of anything in a comparable Honda, Hyundai or Kia — it reminded me of the woefully quirky sound reproduction in a 1950s Motorola car radio.
Yes, I’ve lived that long, which is why I was able to overlook the Impreza’s little demons in favor of the compact car’s much larger angels.
The Impreza 2.0i PZEV is a good automobile — well built, faithfully reliable and actually fun to drive — the latter quality attributable largely to Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, which is standard on the Impreza and most other Subaru vehicles.
The all-wheel-drive system is one of the best ever, certainly on small economy cars. It is what sets the Impreza above the rest of its rivals in the compact segment.
Symmetrical all-wheel drive simultaneously sends power to all four wheels. When one set of wheels slips — for example, in snow or rain — more power automatically flows to the gripping wheels. Subaru has been perfecting that system for the past 40 years, and it now works wonderfully well. The effect invites cliche. The car sticks to the road in weather fair or foul. It handles with confidence. It provides a peace of mind not undermined by the engine’s wha-a-a, wha-a-a-a.
I suspect that the engine’s noise is more attributable to Subaru’s skimping on sound-deadening materials than it is to the engine itself. It is a spunky, gasoline-fueled machine — four cylinders horizontally opposed, a “boxer” engine in automobile industry parlance. It produces 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, delivered with enough chutzpah to get you up and down hills and pull you along mountain roads problem-free. It is mounted low enough in the engine bay to enhance the Impreza’s center of gravity, greatly helping the car’s balance on the road. And it gets a very decent, for an all-wheel-drive car, 27 miles per gallon in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway using regular gasoline.
It’s just so darned noisy, and that’s too bad. Subaru’s competition in the small-car league is catching up quickly. South Korean automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia, both of which also have U.S. plants, are keen on turning their small cars into motorized jewels — eliminating such buyer disincentives as engine noise and another Subaru irritant: sturdy but dowdy vehicle interiors.
I think the real problem here is Subaru’s parent company, Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries. FHI makes a lot of things other than Subaru vehicles — attack helicopters, jet aircraft, myriad industrial products of all sorts. The company has a heavy-industry mind-set, which shows up pitifully in the interiors of too many Subaru automobiles.
Here’s a hint to FHI: Check out your Japanese brethren at Toyota. That rival company is beginning to put color into the interiors of its cars. It is experimenting with different material textures and things such as interior ambient light. It is what you heavy-industry types might call silly stuff. But it is silly stuff that attracts buyers, which is one of the reasons Toyota outsells Subaru in the United States. It doesn’t have to be that way, FHI. Consider that you are making automobiles, not tanks. Car buyers demand comforts and something that at least approaches beauty. Subaru has the best practical cars and crossover-utility vehicles in the world. But “practical” isn’t everything. Sex sells. Check out your U.S. sales numbers and you’ll see that I’m right." read the original article


12/9 Subarus are selling and some models, like Foresters or Crosstreks for example, are in short supply everywhere.
 
Some models are almost always going to be in short supply- the Hybrid, WRX, Forester XT for example. But currently Subaru is having trouble supplying all Impreza and Crosstrek models, Forester 2.5s, and even Legacys. Some shortages will be regional, other national. Subarus sell quickly these days and people are putting deposits on incoming cars. An incoming car has an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival). ETA dates change frequently, even by a month or more. There are 2 ETAs- either a specific date or a vague "month of..." .   'Month of ETAs eventually get a specific date, and even then the car sometimes arrives early or late.  Thats the 'Estimated' part.
Unfortunately a side effect of Subaru's huge increase in sales is that many more cars are moving through the system than before and people are waiting longer and longer for some models. And Subaru is not able to accurately update ETAs which means dealers can't keep customers informed on when their car might actually arrive. So if you're waiting for a car and your salesperson can't tell you where the car is in the process or when its going to come in, that's because Subaru won't release the information.


12/8 2015 WRX 12 page mini pamphlet now at dealers. photos here

12/7 Subaru has fun with the pogo-stick of the future with their eyesight system, and then makes a fun video.

For their LA Auto Show Design Challenge entry, Subaru's Global Design Team had fun. They came up with the concept for a kangaroo body kit that combines Iron Man with Pixar's Luxo Jr. on a super pogo-stick.
Watch Subaru's video
"The innovative, affordable and fun personal mobility vehicle from Subaru’s designers was created to change the man-vehicle relationship in a revolutionary way. The “SUBA-ROO” is a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle with a propulsion method which mimics the efficient yet powerful jumping motions of a kangaroo.  With the SUBA-ROO’s all-road, go anywhere capability and Subaru’s Eye-Sight safety system, the path to your destination is unlimited. On the road, a trail, a beach, or in a building, SUBA-ROO will widen the boundaries of mobility and bring back the joy of personally mobility for everyone to enjoy." LA auto show webpage


>
And a good article on it.... "If you think Subaru is just a small niche automaker who doesn't have global aspirations, their Global Design Team will make you think again. They were inspired by the unique motion dynamics of a kangaroo and came up with something remarkable. For the "LA Auto Show Design Challenge", the Subaru global design team came up with the "SUBA-ROO" personal mobility vehicle presentation. The competition was based on the theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility 2025".
Now that will get any design team motivated to be creative. And they decided to mimic the unique motion dynamics of the Australian kangaroo.Subaru's Global Design Team says the wearable mobility vehicle was created to be "fun, safe and capable in all-road conditions." Right now it's still a future imaginary vehicle called the "SUBA-ROO." But could this really be something that will be available in the year 2025?
With the advent of the powered exoskeleton, also known as powered armor developed for the military, the production of such a device may not be that far fetched. The exoskeleton is a mobile machine consisting primarily of an outer framework similar to an insect's skin but worn by a person. It's powered system of motors or hydraulics that delivers at least part of the energy for limb movement. It's primary purpose is to boost the strength and endurance of the wearer. 
There are already working prototypes for military and civilian use. But various problems remain to be solved, the most daunting task is developing a compact power supply powerful enough to allow an exoskeleton to operate for extended periods without being plugged into an external power supply. Although it's still in its infancy, that's where Subaru can come in and develop the power needed to sustain the yet fictional "SUBA-ROO" active personal mobility vehicle. With the help of Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, it could be a real possibility.
Subaru says the innovative, affordable and fun personal mobility vehicle from Subaru’s designers was created to change the man-vehicle relationship in a revolutionary way. The “SUBA-ROO” is a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle with a propulsion method which mimics the efficient yet powerful jumping motions of a kangaroo.
And it certainly fits into the Subaru lineup of off-road vehicles and the niche market they have created. The SUBA-ROO has an all-road, go anywhere capability that will take the wearer anywhere they want to go. Just like the Current lineup of cars, this personal device will be ready for the road, a trail, a beach, or even inside a building. The possibilities are virtually unlimited for the SUBA-ROO.
Subaru says it will "widen the boundaries of mobility and bring back the joy of personally mobility for everyone to enjoy." Subaru is a conservative company when it comes to staying with their core values of building multi-use vehicles with weekday practicality and weekend utility.
The futuristic SUBA-ROO would fit into their linup well. It could be a real possibility after all." the original article with video

If you think Subaru is just a small niche automaker who doesn't have global aspirations, their Global Design Team will make you think again. They were inspired by the unique motion dynamics of a kangaroo and came up with something remarkable. For the "LA Auto Show Design Challenge", the Subaru global design team came up with the "SUBA-ROO" personal mobility vehicle presentation. The competition was based on the theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility 2025".

Now that will get any design team motivated to be creative. And they decided to mimic the unique motion dynamics of the Australian kangaroo. Subaru's Global Design Team says the wearable mobility vehicle was created to be "fun, safe and capable in all-road conditions." Right now it's still a future imaginary vehicle called the "SUBA-ROO." But could this really be something that will be available in the year 2025?

- See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/1084/meet-subarus-personal-mobility-vehicle-called-suba-roo-video#sthash.6zEXMqK0.dpuf

12/6 some early 2015 WRX photos from the LA auto show


 
12/5 FINAL DAY FOR 2014 FORESTER ORDERS

12/4 Forester orders cut off tomorrow, they end Thursday 12/5!

This is really early. And only one days notice isn't enough. If you want a specific car, tomorrow is the final day to order it.
This means production is filled through the end of the 14 model run and they don't want new special orders entering the system.
2015 orders will be available in March (no changes announced yet)


12/3 November sales total 36,621. That's 8,415 cars more than November 2012's 28,206
YTD sales 384,411. Subaru hopes to blast through the 400,000 total number on their way to 415,000+ total sales for 2013.
Outback 8,852, down 13% from 10,124 11/12
Forester 13,410, up 135% over 5,703 11/12
Crosstrek 5,311, up 158% over 2,060 11/12
Impreza 3,767, down 17% from 4,552 11/12
Legacy 2,911, down 22% from 3,723 11/12
WRX/STI 1,507, up 11% over 1,353 11/12
BRZ 756, up 43% over 527 11/12
Tribeca 107, down 35% from 164 11/12



11/26 car sales get political
"A Cadillac Subaru dealership fired a salesman for refusing to attend presentations urging employees not to vote for President Obama because of the Affordable Care Act, the fired salesman claims in court. Dietrich Seney sued Renick Cadillac Subaru, in Orange County Court.
Seney claims he was a Subaru salesman for more that 2½ years before he was fired just days before the Nov. 6, 2012 presidential election. Seney claims the dealership made him attend a "mandatory" meeting on his day off in late October 2012, under the pretext it would be about health insurance and filing taxes.
Seney claims the presentation "had nothing to do" with employee taxes, but was a jeremiad against Obamacare, hosted by a corporate insurance broker.
"The presentation put 'Obamacare' in a very negative light and the presenter said that one of the big problems was that it was passed by only one party, the Democrats," the lawsuit states. "The last line of the very last slide that was presented to the employee and Seney stated that the outcome of the 2012 election would have a huge impact on whether or not all of the changes (rate increases) would take effect. The message at the meeting was very clear: Vote for Obama and your health care costs will be higher."
Seney claims the dealership's vice president James Renick attached an anti-Obama message to workers' paychecks two weeks before the meeting.
When a "very upset" Seney complained to the dealership's general manager, (nonparty) Sherry Hosmer, she shrugged off his complaints, telling him it was "Obama's fault that the rates were going to increase, so she didn't see a problem with the presentation," Seney says in the complaint.
Seney says he was fired on Nov. 1, 2012, after he told Hosmer he would not attend "politically motivated," meetings on his day off. He demands lost wages and benefits and damages for wrongful firing, Labor Code violations, discrimination and pain and suffering. He is represented by Andrew Jones with Wagner, Jones, Kopfman & Artenian, of Fresno. Renick Cadillac did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment." read the original article



11/24 Walkers Renton Subaru moved into a new building at 555 SW Grady Way, Renton, Wa 98058
Their old building was at 720 Rainier Ave S, Renton, Wa, 98055 on 11/21/13

11/22 Crosstrek/Crosstrek Hybrid and Impreza brochures now at dealers


11/19 SIA storm damaged

"The severe storms that rolled through the Midwest over the weekend caused damage to the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Ind. -- the only Subaru assembly plant in the United States -- and interrupted production there for at least a day.
The plant manufactures the Subaru Outback, Legacy and Tribeca. It also produces the Toyota Camry, the top-selling car in the United States. It plans to add Impreza production in the future.
"We believe that it was a tornado that did damage to our plant due to the amount of uprooted trees and other damage," Tom Easterday, vice president of Subaru of Indiana Inc., said in a voice message left with Automotive News today.
"The plant itself suffered damage to the roof, glass, some blown debris and sustained water damage. Operations have been cancelled for today, but we hope to have things up and running tomorrow or the next day."
Damage to the plant is bad news for Subaru, which was already facing capacity constraints in the United States. The company is in talks to end production of the Camry at the plant so it can focus on keeping up with booming sales of Subarus.
Subaru needs more capacity as it aims for annual U.S. sales of 500,000 units by 2016. That would be up from an estimated 420,000 units expected to be sold this year.
The Indiana plant has capacity for about 170,000 Subaru vehicles a year, and the company hopes to expand production to about 300,000 units by the end of 2016, Subaru said. It is expected that discontinuing production of the Camry would free up 100,000 units of addional capacity.
Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries, recently told Automotive News that he thinks "capacity is the only risk" Subaru faces in the United States.
Through October, U.S. sales of Subarus rose 28 percent to 347,890 units, in a market that was up 8 percent. That put the brand ahead of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. Subaru is on pace for its fifth consecutive year setting a U.S. sales record." read the original article

Update Subara of Indiana Inc. said full production resumed at its plant in Lafayette, Ind., today after damage from severe storms this weekend disrupted operations on Monday.
Photos from the scene showed significant damage to Subaru's only U.S. plant, but it appears to have been limited to the lobby area and other non-essential operations. "There was quite a bit of damage, and the roof came off, but only in the 'vehicle evaluation station,' where we inspect the vehicles for quality," Subaru of Indiana spokeswoman Jennifer McGarvey said. "The area that is damaged is not essential and first shift reported on time. You can hear a lot of vacuum cleaners in the background though."
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence had toured the damaged plant on Monday." read the original article



11/15 The service dept is the next area of growth 
"Subaru boss Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, worried that customer service is being swamped by the brand's sales boom, is pushing U.S. dealers to upgrade to keep new conquest buyers loyal.
The brand's U.S. operations introduced a new service improvement program Nov. 1 aimed at expanding after-service in line with the company's breakneck growth, Yoshinaga said.
"We are enjoying growing sales, so that means we are getting new customers from our competitors," he said in an interview Monday at the global headquarters Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the parent company of Subaru.
"It of the utmost importance that the service structure keeps them within the Subaru brand," he said. "Our expansion was so rapid, this is one of our challenges. The service expansion can't keep up with the sales themselves."
Subaru is on pace for its fifth straight year of record U.S. sales, and Yoshinaga expects another record year in 2014. Volume surged 28 percent to 347,890 vehicles through October, and Subaru is targeting sales of 420,000 for the year.
Last year, the company sold 336,441 vehicles. That total marked a 26 percent increase over the previous year.
The new service improvement program aims to help dealers make investments to improve fixed operations areas, Yoshinaga said.
Subaru of America will chip in part of the cost. But dealers investing early can expect more aid, he said. He did not give details about how much money dealers were expected to invest. But the improvements would cover items such as increasing the number of service bays, Yoshinaga said.
Subaru will continue to improve the overall dealer network by culling weaker dealers and recruiting stronger ones, he added. But Subaru wants the overall number to stay steady around 621. Over the past five years, about 25 percent of those dealers have been swapped out. Said Yoshinaga: "The quality of the dealer body is improving. We will keep the same overall number of outlets, but we want to strengthen the dealers' performance."
Yoshinaga said U.S. sales could climb to 600,000 units by 2020, but that the company was not chasing global volume in excess of 1 million units by then. The goal: Keep global sales in the 1 million range and don't overextend into volume brand territory. "That is not the Subaru way," he said. "That is a like a mass market brand. To do that, we would have to introduce such products as a mass-produced compact car for emerging markets. Subaru will never pursue that path. Never." read the original article



12/9 Subarus are selling and some models, like Foresters or Crosstreks for example, are in short supply everywhere.

 Some models are almost always going to be in short supply- the Hybrid, WRX, Forester XT for example. But currently Subaru is having trouble supplying all Impreza and Crosstrek models, Forester 2.5s, and even Legacys. Some shortages will be regional, other national. Subarus sell quickly these days and people are putting deposits on incoming cars. An incoming car has an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival). ETA dates change frequently, even by a month or more. There are 2 ETAs- either a specific date or a vague "month of..." .   'Month of ETAs eventually get a specific date, and even then the car sometimes arrives early or late.  Thats the 'Estimated' part.
Unfortunately a side effect of Subaru's huge increase in sales is that many more cars are moving through the system than before and people are waiting longer and longer for some models. And Subaru is not able to accurately update ETAs which means dealers can't keep customers informed on when their car might actually arrive. So if you're waiting for a car and your salesperson can't tell you where the car is in the process or when its going to come in, that's because Subaru won't release the information.


12/8 2015 WRX 12 page mini pamphlet now at dealers. photos here

12/7 Subaru has fun with the pogo-stick of the future with their eyesight system, and then makes a fun video.

For their LA Auto Show Design Challenge entry, Subaru's Global Design Team had fun. They came up with the concept for a kangaroo body kit that combines Iron Man with Pixar's Luxo Jr. on a super pogo-stick.
Watch Subaru's video
"The innovative, affordable and fun personal mobility vehicle from Subaru’s designers was created to change the man-vehicle relationship in a revolutionary way. The “SUBA-ROO” is a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle with a propulsion method which mimics the efficient yet powerful jumping motions of a kangaroo.  With the SUBA-ROO’s all-road, go anywhere capability and Subaru’s Eye-Sight safety system, the path to your destination is unlimited. On the road, a trail, a beach, or in a building, SUBA-ROO will widen the boundaries of mobility and bring back the joy of personally mobility for everyone to enjoy." LA auto show webpage

> And a good article on it.... "If you think Subaru is just a small niche automaker who doesn't have global aspirations, their Global Design Team will make you think again. They were inspired by the unique motion dynamics of a kangaroo and came up with something remarkable. For the "LA Auto Show Design Challenge", the Subaru global design team came up with the "SUBA-ROO" personal mobility vehicle presentation. The competition was based on the theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility 2025".
Now that will get any design team motivated to be creative. And they decided to mimic the unique motion dynamics of the Australian kangaroo.Subaru's Global Design Team says the wearable mobility vehicle was created to be "fun, safe and capable in all-road conditions." Right now it's still a future imaginary vehicle called the "SUBA-ROO." But could this really be something that will be available in the year 2025?
With the advent of the powered exoskeleton, also known as powered armor developed for the military, the production of such a device may not be that far fetched. The exoskeleton is a mobile machine consisting primarily of an outer framework similar to an insect's skin but worn by a person. It's powered system of motors or hydraulics that delivers at least part of the energy for limb movement. It's primary purpose is to boost the strength and endurance of the wearer. 
There are already working prototypes for military and civilian use. But various problems remain to be solved, the most daunting task is developing a compact power supply powerful enough to allow an exoskeleton to operate for extended periods without being plugged into an external power supply. Although it's still in its infancy, that's where Subaru can come in and develop the power needed to sustain the yet fictional "SUBA-ROO" active personal mobility vehicle. With the help of Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, it could be a real possibility.
Subaru says the innovative, affordable and fun personal mobility vehicle from Subaru’s designers was created to change the man-vehicle relationship in a revolutionary way. The “SUBA-ROO” is a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle with a propulsion method which mimics the efficient yet powerful jumping motions of a kangaroo.
And it certainly fits into the Subaru lineup of off-road vehicles and the niche market they have created. The SUBA-ROO has an all-road, go anywhere capability that will take the wearer anywhere they want to go. Just like the Current lineup of cars, this personal device will be ready for the road, a trail, a beach, or even inside a building. The possibilities are virtually unlimited for the SUBA-ROO.
Subaru says it will "widen the boundaries of mobility and bring back the joy of personally mobility for everyone to enjoy." Subaru is a conservative company when it comes to staying with their core values of building multi-use vehicles with weekday practicality and weekend utility.
The futuristic SUBA-ROO would fit into their linup well. It could be a real possibility after all." the original article with video

If you think Subaru is just a small niche automaker who doesn't have global aspirations, their Global Design Team will make you think again. They were inspired by the unique motion dynamics of a kangaroo and came up with something remarkable. For the "LA Auto Show Design Challenge", the Subaru global design team came up with the "SUBA-ROO" personal mobility vehicle presentation. The competition was based on the theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility 2025".

Now that will get any design team motivated to be creative. And they decided to mimic the unique motion dynamics of the Australian kangaroo. Subaru's Global Design Team says the wearable mobility vehicle was created to be "fun, safe and capable in all-road conditions." Right now it's still a future imaginary vehicle called the "SUBA-ROO." But could this really be something that will be available in the year 2025?

- See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/1084/meet-subarus-personal-mobility-vehicle-called-suba-roo-video#sthash.6zEXMqK0.dpuf

12/6 some early 2015 WRX photos from the LA auto show


 
12/5 FINAL DAY FOR 2014 FORESTER ORDERS

12/4 Forester orders cut off tomorrow, they end Thursday 12/5!
This is really early. And only one days notice isn't enough. If you want a specific car, tomorrow is the final day to order it.
This means production is filled through the end of the 14 model run and they don't want new special orders entering the system.
2015 orders will be available in March (no changes announced yet)


12/3 November sales total 36,621. That's 8,415 cars more than November 2012's 28,206
YTD sales 384,411. Subaru hopes to blast through the 400,000 total number on their way to 415,000+ total sales for 2013.
Outback 8,852, down 13% from 10,124 11/12
Forester 13,410, up 135% over 5,703 11/12
Crosstrek 5,311, up 158% over 2,060 11/12
Impreza 3,767, down 17% from 4,552 11/12
Legacy 2,911, down 22% from 3,723 11/12
WRX/STI 1,507, up 11% over 1,353 11/12
BRZ 756, up 43% over 527 11/12
Tribeca 107, down 35% from 164 11/12


11/24 Walkers Renton Subaru moved into a new building at 555 SW Grady Way, Renton, Wa 98058
Their old building was at 720 Rainier Ave S, Renton, Wa, 98055 on 11/21/13


11/22 Crosstrek/Crosstrek Hybrid and Impreza brochures now at dealers

11/20 WRX at LA Auto Show! All new 4 door sedan expected to arrive March, 2014
A marriage of the Impreza sedan body with Forester 2.0XT engine

2.0L direct injection, 268hp@5600rpm, 258 lb-ft torque (see 14 Forester XT)
6 speed manual with Continuous AWD
optional Sport Lineartronic CVT with Paddle Shifters and SI Drive which determines if the CVT acts as a 6 or 8 speed. (see 14 Forester XT)
The CVT's AWD is VTD which is electronically control 45/55 front/rear power split. VTD is also used on 3.6R Outback and Legacy

Body- see 2012-2014 Impreza sedan
Interior- see 2012-2104 Impreza and 2014 Forester
A unique flat bottomed steering wheel
Windshield raked out 8 inches
Upper console display with various driver selectable readouts, gauges, and maintenance reminders
A flat bottom steering wheel.

LED low beam headlight on upper models
Option package including Keyless access, pushbutton start, Harman/Kardon audio, navigation


11/18 concept- at the LA Auto Show - 2015 Legacy concept car

A modern 2 door look, with brawny fenders and angular hawk-eye headlights (LED?) as Subaru reworks the current overly conservative model.  The Legacy is a sturdy work-horse and a great value but its classic, very practical 3 box hood-passenger compartment-trunk format is clearly behind the style curve. 


11/16 2014 Forester navigation SD update on Forester built before June 20, 2013
Available on 2014 Foresters with navigation built before June 20, 2013 - check the VIN plate on the driver's door jam - there's a free SD card update. Make an appointment with your dealer service dept. It's service bulletin 15-166-13R Customer Satisfaction Navigation SD card Update Program for 2014 Forester, and the SD card will need to be ordered. Changes include earlier turning directions,  various screen updates with font, menu, and cancel trip buttons etc, and improved navigation, audio, and phone automatic muting functions. Again, its only on 2014 Foresters built prior to June 20, 2013


11/15 Subaru's Mastercard program through Chase is being discontinued September 30, 2014
New applications for the card won't be accepted after 11/30/13. Current card holders will continue to earn points and Subaru Bucks Reward Dollars until September 30, 2014. Points and Subaru Bucks will be honored and valid for the normal 4 year period. Subaru says the program, first offered in 2002, has been a success but not a big enough one to continue it.

11/11 advertising and 6th annual Share The Love Event with up to $10,000,000 donated.
From November 21- January 2, 2014, Subaru will donate $250 for each new car sold to the buyers choice from a group of 6 charities, one of which is a local charity selected by the dealer. In each of the past 5 years there have been 5 charities, each receiving $1m when the funds were dispersed, for a total of $5m/year. This year, with increased sales, Subaru will donate up to $10m!
Of the 5 charities selected by Subaru, 3 are returning from previous years: ASPCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Meals On Wheels. New this year are the National Park Foundation and Teach For America, replacing 2012's USO and Alzheimer's Association. Plus the new 6th individual dealer selected charity. This is the first time there has been either a 6th, or a dealer selected, charity.

click for more on the 2013 subaru share the love event



11/9 New VIP program for eligible active and reserve military personnel.

This is a great deal. The vehicle price is dealer invoice including options and destination minus 2% and minus all zone/regional dealer and customer cash and incentives in effect at time of purchase. Financing/leasing is available, on approval of credit. Most vehicles will available for VIP purchase/lease but check with your local dealer for exclusion, like the new Crosstrek Hybrid for example isn't available.
There are some rules of course... Military members have to be active or reserve Army, Navy, Marine, Coast Guard, National Guard, or Air Force and will need to provide a recent Leave and Earnings statement, or DoD duty status confirmation letter, or a Subaru Military Status Eligibility Form filled out by the dealer and customer with name, rank, DoD ID number, and rank from a valid Military ID card (note: updated 11/18- the Military ID card itself is not to be copied)
The Military VIP program is only for active and reserve personnel and their spouse living at the same address. It's not available to retired personnel, is not transferable, and doesn't apply to other family members such as parents, children, or siblings.
Participation by dealers is voluntary. Normally Subaru sends the dealer a VIP authorization form after a potential VIP customer requests the form through their company or organization, and prior to their visiting the dealer, but not with this new Military VIP. There is no pre-authorization, so Subaru suggests dealers get authorization from Subaru after the military customer has visited the dealer but before completing the transaction just to make sure all forms are correct. Contact your local dealer for pricing and information

11/7 on distracted driving and young drivers without a geographical sense of where they because when they were young they watched a video screen instead of looking out the window
"It's 8:10 a.m., first period at King's High School in Shoreline (Washington State), and the subject of the day's drivers' education class is the brain.
"Driving is boring," says instructor Matthew St. Pierre in a firm wake-up voice strong enough to command the attention of 23 sophomores. "So you end up doing other things: talking on the cellphone, texting, singing to the radio." The problem, says St. Pierre, is you can't do these things and drive safely. "Multitasking is a myth," he says.
As an instructor with Swerve Driving School, which has a contract with King's High School, St. Pierre, 30, has seen the future of driving in America — and it is distracted, often by electronic devices that compete for new drivers' attention.
The essential challenge for teaching teen drivers today, he says, is getting them to understand the limits of the human brain. As an example of how distracted the brain can be, St. Pierre shows his students a short video of two teams passing a basketball and asks the class to count the number of passes the team in white makes. At the end of the video, the class calls out the correct answer — 13. St. Pierre asks, "How many of you saw the dancing bear?" The class is dumbfounded — what dancing bear? When he replays the video, it's clear: a person in a bear costume moonwalking in the middle of the video. Lesson: You can't see what you're not looking for.
Another multitasking lesson involves giving students two tasks, first separately and then together — such as repeatedly writing a phrase and counting to a certain number. He times them to show how much longer it took to complete the dual task and how many more errors were made.
St. Pierre also advocates "commentary driving," asking students to describe out loud objects they see on the road, especially as they approach intersections. "This keeps them alert and forces them to concentrate," he says.
Scott Walmsley, owner of Driver Education Services Seattle in the Fremont neighborhood and a driving instructor since 1995, says many teens who have grown up constantly connected to an electronic device find it harder to concentrate on driving.
The trend that concerns him even more than texting is what he calls "being extremely geographically challenged." Unlike teens in previous generations, who grew up looking out the car window as their parents drove, Walmsley says today's teen passengers are so fixed to electronic screens that they barely lift their heads to see where they are going.
"Not knowing their way around — that's a huge problem," says Walmsley. "I know kids who have lived in Ballard for 16 years and can't find their way to the Ballard Bridge." He advises his students to ride in the front seat and notice where they're going when they're not driving. Another technique is to let them find their own way. "As the lessons go on, I step down the level of assistance," he says.
"By the fifth lesson, I might just tell the student to drive to the Space Needle, Northgate, Husky Stadium, downtown or some other well-known location," he says. "I want them to at least be able to point the car in the right direction."
A former graphic designer, Walmsley, 60, teaches teens to drive using a combination of humorous Power Point slides, videos and an arcade-style video game he created by connecting two Logitech steering wheels to a PlayStation 3 console. He also recommends Fastlane Street Racing to his students, an app that helps them with steering. New drivers in Washington must pass a course from a state-certified driving school, where they get a minimum of 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of driving in a school car equipped with an instructor brake..." read the entire article

 11/5/13 Outback and Legacy rear seat headrest entertainment DVD player port installed MSRP price reduced effective 11/1/13.  Includes two rear seat facing DVD players built into the front headrests, and headphones. Was $1609, now for cloth interior $899, leather interior $999. Available on all models.


11/2 turn clocks back tonight

11/1 October sales 34483, 32% more than October 2012's 26119 total
YTD 13 total is 347,890 cars, compared to 271,582 YTD 2012
Outback 8122, down 20% from 10153 10/12
Forester  12581, up 137% over 5309 10/12
Legacy 3090, down 14.1% from 3598 10/12
Crosstrek 4886,up 181.6% over 1735 10/12 (2nd mo it was available)
WRX, STI 1356, up 23.3% over 1100 10/12
Impreza 3567, down 2% from3638 10/12
Tribeca 101, down 45.1% from 184 10/12. The Tribeca final months supply dwindles.
Why other car companies are jealous... 60% of Subaru sales are to people who haven't had one before.
Bill Cyphers, senor sales VP says that "We have seen record number of consumers shopping ghe Subaru brand and we have seen wonderful acceptance across our line-up. Consumers are not just shopping a single model- there has been demand for Outback, Forester, XV Crosstrek, Impreza as well as our performance models WRX and STI. Almost 60% of our sales this year have been to customers new to the brand...."


10/29 Consumer Reports December issue is out and worth a trip to buy it at the magazine stand.
It has the usual short summary reviews and ratings of Christmasy gifts- cameras, cell phones, TVs, computers and tablets, streaming media players, coffee makers, and also Costco's new professional style stoves, a comparison of the Lexus IS250 and Infiniti Q50, and the most importantly, the useful car reliability list.
The most reliable manufacturers: #1 is Lexus, #2 is Toyota (even though on pg 17 they un-recommend the Camry, Prius V, Rav and Audi A4 due to IIHS crash test failures), #3 is Acura, #4 Audi, #5 Mazda, #6 Infiniti, #7 Volvo, #8 Honda, #9 GMC and at #10 is Subaru, down 5 spots from last year.
There are a number of lists for sedan, small cars, sports cars, big cars, SUVs, crossover/station wagons etc. Subaru ranks well with Legacy, Outback 4 cylinder, Forester, and Impreza. Subaru is middle of the pack with Crosstrek and Outback 6cyl,  the WRX/STI are slightly worse than average, but the popular and fun to drive, low production BRZ is at the bottom of the sports car column (though its sibling FR-S fared slightly better for some reason).
For the full reviews and what to spend or not spend your money on this winter, get the December issue,... as they say, its on newsstands now...



10/26 sales- Subaru raises the sales bar with a record setting year.
With more than 2 months left in the year, and they're the busiest months for Subaru, 2013 sales have exceeded all of 2012.
2012's total was the best year ever in the company's 44 year history, a record setting 336,441 cars sold. That number was passed on October 25th, leaving all of November and December to set a new bar. Subarus always sell well in snow season, so the new target for 2013 is over 410,000. And next year? The only question is how many cars Subaru can supply to hungry US buyers. They're working hard at SIA in Lafayette to bring more cars to the market- cutting off the slow selling Tribeca, kicking Toyota out, and planning on a factory expansion. But that won't help now or perhaps even in 2014 depending on how fast they can retool the Tribeca assembly line, and Subaru will have to scramble to find more cars to meet US demand.



10/25 And the train rolls on.. Forester is now Yahoo.com SUV of the year.
Almost everyone appreciates the 14 Forester, and while there are some things they could fix on the 2015, you can't argue with the sales numbers
"2014 Subaru Forester, Best SUV: Buyers looking for a capable, sure-footed, dependable machine will love the 2014 Forester. Sure, its look is bland and its plastic interior lacks creativity, but it does everything one could ask of it. It’s easy to drive, compliant and stable, not to mention its soccer-mom practicality. And at $33,220 for our test car, it’s well priced. Subaru knows something simple: What's not broken needs no fixing.
We graded on something of a curve, but in fact it's rare to have a new model fall short in the global auto industry. Even the lowest-scoring vehicle in our field offers some improvement in most ways from those a few years old..." check out all the Yahoo.com winners


10/24 after years of silver and dark gray dominating car colors, is it about to change?
But whats gaining on silver? Its white. White? Zzzzzzz. This year Subaru has brought 2 new earth tone beiges to market- Burnished Bronze on the Forester and Tungsten on the Outback - and both are growing in popularity as alternatives to silver that are also light, easy care colors that hide dirt. Earth tones?
The article below about coming colors says there are 11 browns, 6 yellows, and 7 greens, (so maybe we'll  see the return of the emerald green that defined the 1990s Legacy and Outback). The article also says powder blue is gone, and yes, Subaru's Sky Blue only made in for 3 years on various 2009-2012 models.
The article "Move over, silver.
After more than a decade as the world's favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, up 3 percent from the prior year. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each.
White dominates in Europe, North America and Asia. Only in South America is silver still king.Apple Inc., with its all-white stores and gadgets, made white a high-tech color. The variety of whites -- from flat shades to creamy pearls -- is also contributing, says Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling.
But if you don't relish a whiteout on the freeway, never fear. Automakers are currently scouting colors for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and Harrington is showing them some eye-popping options, from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a rich dark gray with faint green highlights.
Eleven different browns -- from light copper to dark chocolate -- and an equal number of grays are part of PPG's annual color show for automakers at its automotive center in the Detroit suburb of Troy. There are six yellows and seven greens, from seafoam to dark olive. One notable absence: Powder blue, which is increasingly confined to electric cars or hybrids.
Harrington and her international team determine color trends by watching fashion, architectural paint colors and other predictors. She thinks we'll see more deep jewel tones like teal and more earthy metallics, like reddish orange, in the coming years. With the end of the recession, drivers don't mind being showy again, she says
Car buyers could also see taxi-like yellows and other flat, bright colors, which are growing in popularity thanks to small, funky entries like the Kia Soul.
Pastel tones, like mint green and very light pink, are also in the mix.
PPG will take its color tour on the road to Los Angeles, Europe and Asia and will then start working with individual automakers on their choices. Companies typically choose eight to 10 colors for every model. PPG won't say how many cars it supplies paint for each year, but it works with every major car company.
"They think about the vehicle and how that color will translate," Harrington said. "That color, sparkle and finish helps define the car's character." read the original article



10/23- If Subarus didn't also make Camrys at SIA in Lafayette, they could build more Outbacks and Legacys.
Note- the article says SIA makes the Forester at SIA, but its Outback, Legacy, and the soon-to-be-late Tribeca.
"Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (7270.T) plans to double the production capacity of Subaru cars in the United States to cater to growing demand for the sport utility vehicle in the North American market, the Nikkei reported.
Fuji Heavy's subsidiary Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc produces 270,000 cars a year at a plant in the U.S. state of Indiana, the business daily said.
The plant makes 170,000 Subaru Forester SUVs and contract manufactures 100,000 Camry midrange sedans annually for Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), according to the Nikkei.
The U.S. accounts for 50 percent of Fuji Heavy's global car sales. The company will invest about 40 billion yen ($407.5 million) to increase the plant's annual capacity to 370,000 cars by 2016, the newspaper reported. Fuji Heavy will soon begin talks with Toyota to end contract manufacturing of the Camry and will produce only Subaru vehicles at the plant, the business daily said." read the original article


10/21 not all Subaru dealers are alike .... most hire from outside, with either blind ads to bring in new people or hiring away acquaintances or referrals from other dealers. Few dealers actually train employees for growth or promotion. Read about Patriot Subaru where they do things differently.
Patriot Subaru in Saco, Maine, has its own culture, to say the least.
There is a gym in the basement and an organic garden out back. You see recycling bins, not trash cans. Employees can bring their dogs to work whenever they want.
"We create this environment because this is what we believe in," General Manager Brian Beattie said. "We believe in recycling. We believe in the environment and organic gardening and dogs, and so do these people. It makes it feel more like home."
It is not for everyone, but for like-minded employees there are plenty of opportunities to play a bigger role in the organization.
Patriot Subaru is one of two of this year's 100 Best Dealerships To Work For honorees to fill all open management positions since the start of 2012 from within. The other was Yark Fiat of Toledo, Ohio. In addition, Fiat of Austin [Texas] filled all 2012 management openings from within, although in 2013 it hired a used-car manager from outside.
In its 10 years of business, Patriot Subaru has never hired a manager from outside the store, Adam Arens, the dealer principal, said.
Beattie is one of the people who climbed the ladder from within. He started at the store when it opened in 2003 and took over as general manager this spring when Arens relinquished a portion of his daily duties.
Within the past year the store also promoted one of its employees to sales manager and put one of its finance managers in charge of all trade-ins.
The home-grown management adds to the homey feel that Arens, a Florida native who previously worked at JM&A Group, wanted to instill. He said he wanted to replicate the customer service mentality of Walt Disney Co., which has a mantra that every person is a potential employee and a potential customer.
"We're always recruiting, even if we don't have a space open," Arens said.
That includes managerial positions. But as a single-point store, openings are scarce. So the store gets employees ready by slowly handing off more responsibility.
There are no porters at Patriot Subaru to keep the lot looking tidy, no new-car manager, no used-car manager. Salespeople do those jobs, too.
One of the salespeople has responsibility for the used-car lot, Beattie said. That person is tasked with making sure that the used cars are clean and fueled. Another person oversees new-car deliveries.
"We want our employees to take on leadership roles no matter where they are in the organization," Beattie said. "Anybody can be a manager -- you just put a title on them. But you can't make them a leader."
This is not to say that they're being overworked. A shift at Patriot Subaru is eight hours. The standard work week is about 45 hours, though employees can work longer if they want. Attrition is nearly nonexistent. Arens says no employees have left in the past two years.
Beattie started out in the car business working at another import-brand dealership in Maine. He started working at that store even though friends had warned him not to, and learned the hard way that burning out good workers can harm a business.
At that dealership, salespeople had to work 12-hour shifts daily, arriving before the store opened and staying until it closed. Some people could handle it, Beattie said, but it was grueling for those with children. A number of talented people left. "I had a child when I was there," he said. "I called [the dealership] up and said, 'My daughter was born at 5 o'clock in the morning. I'll be back in two days.' And they said, 'Why do you need two days?' That was their response, and it told me everything I needed to know about the organization."
Patriot Subaru celebrates its 10th anniversary in November, and Arens is rewarding the longest-tenured employees with a Caribbean cruise with their spouses.
The lack of turnover and the consistency it brings seems to have paid off for sales. Three years ago, Arens said, the store averaged sales of 120 new and used vehicles per month; now it averages 220. "When somebody walks in the front door of your dealership or the front door of your house, if they recognize somebody in there, they're more comfortable," Beattie said. "Sales becomes easy when there's a relationship." read the entire article



10/20 Tribeca is finally kaput, but will what eventually inherit the mantle of Subaru's 7 passenger remains a source of rumor.
Most stories have the heir apparent being a Subielander adapted off a Highlander.
"Having done a sports car together, Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota will now jointly develop a hybrid sport utility vehicle and sell it under their respective brands as early as 2017, the Nikkei reported.
Subaru recently launched a new SUV model built on a proprietary hybrid system for horizontally opposed engines but that vehicle travels just 20km per litre of petrol, lagging behind the fuel economy offered by Toyota and other automakers.
With the US set to adopt stricter fuel economy requirements over the medium term, Fuji will use Toyota technology to upgrade its hybrid system. It will stick with horizontally opposed engines while working to bring fuel efficiency to the level of Toyota hybrids, the Nikkei said.
Fuji Heavy will save time and money on development and Toyota, which holds a 16.5% stake in the firm, can strengthen its systems business by supplying hybrid technology outside the group.
The hybrid vehicles will likely be manufactured at Fuji Heavy's Yajima plant in Gunma Prefecture. The two automakers may even develop plug-in hybrids together, sources told the Nikkei.
Fuji Heavy and Toyota formed a business and capital tie-up in 2005. Two years later, Fuji's Indiana plant began manufacturing some of the Camry sedans Toyota sells in the US.
The sports car project produced the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ." read the original article


10/19 advertising... its still about love... as in I love life which why I drive a Subaru (its safe)
"After focusing on reliability, relationships and "love," in its ads, Subaru of America's' going back to the well with a creative theme broached a few years ago: a near-miss with death.
Subaru and agency Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis are working on a new ad called "They Lived," which revisits the normally taboo topic of death by car accident.
In the spot still under development, we follow a wrecked Subaru from the trooper handing it off to the wrecker and the wrecker to the junkyard. Each person who sees the mangled vehicle stares in horror until they're told the uplifting news: "They lived."
Finally, we see the family that survived the crash climbing into their new Subaru Outback (which is the same color as the wrecked car). "We lived, thanks to our Subaru," says the driver.
The spot closes with the brand's long-running tagline: "Love. It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru."
Dean Evans, Subaru's chief marketing officer, showed a sneak preview at an Automotive News marketing conference in New York. He said it's generating some of the highest scores ever in research. The new TV spot will roll out this fall as part of "safety pillar" breaking in November and December, said Mr. Evans...
... Subaru used a similar approach right down to the junkyard and same-colored cars three years ago. In the spot, we saw a man driving to a junkyard to visit his wrecked Subaru. After retrieving his datebook from the back seat, he reflects: "My Subaru saved my life. I will never forget that."
Subaru denied it is switching gears on marketing strategy. The automaker routinely rotates through themes of safety, adventure, longevity and reliability, Mr. McHale said. The "They Lived" spot will be part of a previously planned return to a safety theme..." read the entire article

10/18 finally...its the long anticipated the end of the road for the slow selling Tribeca,
If you're looking for a new one, there won't be many 2014 models- orders for them were accepted starting 8/1/13, prices were announced 8/13, and then orders were abruptly cut-off after 8/18.
Subaru's next 7 passenger will probably be born with combined Subaru-Toyota parentage, some form of hybrid technology, and hopefully a functional 3rd row.
The statement "Subaru of America, Inc. has confirmed that production of the Tribeca model will cease in January 2014 with last deliveries to retailers in February 2014. The Tribeca debuted as Subaru’s mid-size SUV in 2005 and has sold approximately 78,000 vehicles to date.
SOA will support the effective sell down of the 2014MY Tribeca and the company has announced that it plans to return to the mid-size SUV segment with a three-row vehicle in the future."


10/16 Seattle Auto Show, 10/16-20 at CenturyLink Field

Its worth going to.... 2013 Seattle Auto Show
See the all new Hybrid - its on a rotating stage so you don't get to sit in it but you can see the car.
Test drive Subarus- there are Outbacks, Foresters, Crosstreks to drive. Even with Eyesight!
Sign up at the kiosk in Subaru display for a email coupon good for $250 off a new Subaru purchased by January 14th, 2014! See coupon for details of course.


coupon emailed if you sign up at the Subaru display's kiosk at the 2013 Seattle car show, 10/16-20. click for more photosclick for more photos


10/14 2014 Crosstreks arriving at car lots
Few changes- new blue steering wheel emblem, new Quartz Blue color replaces marine Blue. The big change for the Crosstrek is the all new Hybrid, Subaru's first, due late November.


10/13 Congratulations to Subaru!
Forester is Motor Trend's SUV of the Year

"Subaru has a knack for making the right size vehicles for the marketplace, with just the right level of capability people want. As the SUV landscape has changed and traditional body-on-frame SUVs have been overtaken by unibody crossovers and sport/utes, Subaru has changed as well. It moved from selling smaller wagons to making unibody crossovers, and these vehicles resonate with buyers. The company's Forester and Outback have gotten larger over time, but not so large that they scare off loyal Subaru fans. Subarus aren't over the top or ostentatious; they're honest and smart. The redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester has better efficiency, added power, and increased cargo volume, without a significant increase in overall size. The new Forester provides a comfortable ride with a roomy interior. Its off-road capability is plenty for the majority of sport/utility buyers. It offers a lot of value for the money. And it accomplishes all this while still being fun to drive.
Motor Trend SUV of the year competition,
Subaru provided two models on opposite ends of the spectrum: the 2.5i Premium with a six-speed manual and the turbocharged 2.0XT with a continuously variable transmission. The base 2.5-liter four returns for 2014, now with a six-speed manual instead of a five, and its fuel economy has improved. The 2.0XT is powered by a new turbo flat-4 engine, with 26 more horsepower, 32 lb-ft more torque (available at a lower rpm), backed by a CVT instead of the four-speed automatic in the previous generation. Its fuel economy also improved for 2014..."
Read the entire article

of note is that Subaru didn't supply, nor Motor Trend test or comment in depth on, the Forester model people purchase, which is a 2.5, Premium, Limited or Touring with the CVT and disappointing (IMHO) low mode.



10/9 Tribeca replacement- Its long been rumored that the Tribeca replacement would have more than a small dash of Toyota (think Highlander-ish), and here's more on the rumor. is this a stretched Outback 7 passenger?
"Having done a sports car together, Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota will now jointly develop a hybrid sport utility vehicle and sell it under their respective brands as early as 2017, the Nikkei reported. Subaru recently launched a new SUV model built on a proprietary hybrid system for horizontally opposed engines but that vehicle travels just 20km per litre of petrol, lagging behind the fuel economy offered by Toyota and other automakers. 
With the US set to adopt stricter fuel economy requirements over the medium term, Fuji will use Toyota technology to upgrade its hybrid system. It will stick with horizontally opposed engines while working to bring fuel efficiency to the level of Toyota hybrids, the Nikkei said.
Fuji Heavy will save time and money on development and Toyota, which holds a 16.5% stake in the firm, can strengthen its systems business by supplying hybrid technology outside the group.
The hybrid vehicles will likely be manufactured at Fuji Heavy's Yajima plant in Gunma Prefecture. The two automakers may even develop plug-in hybrids together, sources told the Nikkei." the original article


10/8 safety- what's coming... not resting on past or current success, Subaru is planning ahead.

The next version of Subaru's award winning Eyesight will have a much wider field of view, be able to see and react to traffic signals and brake lights.
At the speed technology is going, as fiction, science, and Star Trek continues to merge, in coming years we'll all be talking to internet connected wrist phone watches linked to eyeglass or contact lens screens so we read and respond to emails, browse websites, view maps as we drive or walk. And the car ... the very concept of it will be different. Actually driving will be a thing of the past. Cars, like Borgian transport devices, will drive us to home, work, bar, theater, restaurant, Mom's house, school etc, drop us off by the front door, go a parking/recharge spot (a prs, pronounced purrs), then find, or rescue, us up after a tap of the wristphone car app, like Trigger did with a whistle. Accidents will be a thing of the past except for those involving older manual control cars still being actually 'driven', an antiquated skill practiced by fewer and fewer people able to afford the massive insurance required for public street driving. Driving will be known as 'touring', as in I'm going to tour to work, lets do a Sunday tour to see the fall leaves, or I'll tour over to your house and pick you up at 8, etc etc. We'll all be connected and addicted like a Borg, and yes override/disconnect buttons in cars will be outlawed...  Of course, go back 75 or 150 years, and look forward from then and our modern world would seem both wondrous and frightening.
Here's an article on Eyesight updates being introduced overseas that also will be coming to the US.
"Subaru's EyeSight collision avoidance system has been given a major upgrade this week, some of them laying foundations for future self-driving models.
Already the top-ranking system in the inaugural round of pre-collision safety tests undertaken by America's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Subaru says its EyeSight system is now even more advanced.
The upgrade brings improvements to the system's stereo camera technology, boosting colour recognition and allowing EyeSight to see vehicle braking and fixed traffic lights.
Linked to the Adaptive Cruise Control, the system can respond to activated brake lights or a red traffic light by applying the Subaru vehicle's brakes if the driver does not react in time.
EyeSight also has the ability to detect lane markings and street sights, other vehicles - including motorcycles and bicycles - and pedestrians. Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Prevention Assist are now featured, adjusting steering to keep the vehicle in its lane. The upgrade has also brought a 40 percent increase in the system's viewing angles and visibility distance.
Subaru says that a number of these features will be integral in developing autonomous driving technology, which it is currently experimenting with for future testing and production models. The updated EyeSight system will be rolled out across new models over the coming year." read the original article


10/7 2014 BRZ brochures available.
9x11, 20 pages. There is a good supply of 2013s models available. No changes for the 14s except Galaxy Blue has been dropped, there are a few different logo emblems, the Limited keyless access fob has been redesigned.


10/6 advertising. aiming for the heart, this ad has Dad teaching twins in drive in a 90-94 manual transmission Legacy sedan
"Lance Acord directed this Instagram-filtery sliver of life featuring a family and their new and used Subarus. Parents may want the best for their kids, but that doesn't mean they're gonna teach the kids to drive in the new car. Nice touch making them twins." watch the video


10/5 finance rates and other incentives can vary by region.

For example, cars sold in Southern California and Florida apparently come with prepaid maintenance for a few years. I'm not sure if this is all models or only certain ones. Different parts of the country might have other lease, purchase, or finance rate incentives that vary by model. Subaru has incentives to the dealer, they haven't had or needed, customer rebates in a long time.
According to a recent interview by Automotive News with Chief Marketing Officer Dean Evans, "The added maintenance [coverage] is to help dealers in the Sun Belt to get seeded with customers. It helps bring people in. It is just for Florida and half of California." read the interview

 
10/4 Heartland Automotive, supplier of various dash and interior parts for Outback, Legacy and Tribecas made in Lafayette, is growing along with Subaru
Heartland Automotive
"Heartland Automotive, a supplier of dashboards and other interior parts to Subaru of Indiana Automotive, plans to double the size of its Lafayette plant and add 224 jobs — the current workforce is 91 — in the next two years.The expansion is a major ripple effect of SIA’s announcement in May that it will step up production with a $400 million plant expansion and 900 new full-time jobs." from the Journal and Courier



10/3  Thinking about a used Certified Subaru?
Its the Certified Pre-Owned Love Springs Twice sale event, October 1-31 with 0,99% financing for 48 months on 2010-2014 Certified Subarus, 1.99% for 60 months on 2011-2014s, on approval of credit

Subaru Love Strikes Twice Certified pre-owned event, October 1-31, 2013


10/2 Crosstrek Hybrids are now available for special ordering.
Click for specs and options
related news, regarding Hybrid availability "Fuji Heavy Industries said Wednesday that, starting this month, it will double the number of Subaru XV Hybrids made at its Gunma plant to 2,000 units a month in response to brisk sales.
The hybrid has been selling well since its release in June, causing buyers to wait five months for delivery, the plant's director, Masahiro Kasai, said during a media tour of the facility.
The initial sales target for the XV Hybrid was 550 units a month, but more than 9,000 have been ordered in its first two months on the market. Fuji Heavy currently only sells the vehicle in Japan but plans to release it in North America this fall." the article



10/1 Crosstrek Hybrid prices announced. The cars are expected late November/early December.

There are two models, Hybrid and Hybrid Limited. 2014 Crosstrek specs and options
The Hybrid is MSRP $25995 + $825 dest = $268320.  That's $3000 more than the 2.0i Premium but includes climate control, back-up camera and other upgrades.
The Limited is MSRP  $29295 + $825 dest = $30120. That's $4800 more the 2.0i Limited but includes navigation/gps and moonroof which is a $2100 upgrade on the 2.0i Limited.


10/1 September Sales
31,775 total, another record setting month for Subaru- this is now the new record
YTD sales 313,407, which is 28% more than the 245,643 YTD 2012.
Outback 8,143, down 23% from 10,583 in 2012
Forester 10,620, up 755 over 6,066 2012
Legacy 2,847, down 31% from 4,124 in 2012
Crosstrek 3,536
WRX, STI 1,167, up 8% over 1,079 2012
Impreza 4,622, down 7% from 4,992 in 2012
BRZ 704, up 39% from 508 in 2012
Tribeca 116, down 175 from 139 in 2012



9/30 final day to order a 2014 WRX or STI.

After today its just looking for inventory, hoping to find the right model, color, and features



9/27 WRX AND STI ORDER CUT-OFF DATE IS MONDAY 9/30!

It's a September surprise... giving only a few days advance warning, Subaru today announced that 2014 WRX and STI orders will be cut-off on Monday evening Sept 30th. Its a sad event, this is the start of the end of the current version which is a great car, one that is recognized as a hard-charging, all wheel drive performance winner.
That means if you want a 2014, especially a 5 door model which supposedly won't be available at all in the 2015 model, you should order one right away. 
The redesigned 2015s (presumably sedans only) will be at the LA auto show late November and order-able starting in 2015.


9/27 safety. Outback and Legacy Eyesight system tops the IIHS's new crash avoidance ratings, they are the #1 pick
"...A new test program by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the performance of front crash prevention systems to help consumers decide which features to consider and encourage automakers to speed adoption of the technology....
Moderately priced and luxury midsize cars and SUVs are the first to be evaluated in the new IIHS test program. These include 74 vehicles, all 2013-14 models. Seven earn the highest rating of superior when equipped with optional autobrake and forward collision warning systems. They are the Cadillac ATS sedan and SRX SUV, Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback wagon, Volvo S60 sedan and XC60 SUV....
The highest-scoring cars and SUVs have autobrake and substantially reduce speeds in both the 12 and 25 mph tests. Most of these systems prevent the 12 mph collision.
Subaru's EyeSight performed best. It helped the Legacy and Outback avoid hitting the target at both test speeds. Next best was Cadillac's Automatic Collision Preparation. The system helped the ATS and SRX avoid hitting the target in the 12 mph test and reduced the ATS's speed by 15 mph and the SRX's speed by 19 mph in the 25 mph test.
"We want to help get the most effective systems in as many vehicles as soon as possible. That means a speed mitigation system like Subaru's EyeSight that can prevent crashes at low and moderate speeds," Zuby says. "At the same time, we want consumers to know that forward collision warning alone can help them avoid crashes, and it's a feature that's available on more models than autobrake." the entire article on IIHS.org


9/25 advertising-   Q&A with Dean Evans, Chief Marketing Officer, by Automotive News
"Dean Evans has spent nearly half his life working in the auto business and more than half that time in digital marketing.
The past two years have been at Subaru of America, where Evans, 45, is chief marketing officer, the same post he held earlier at automotive Internet marketing company Dealer.com. He also has worked at Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin North America, as well as smaller digital companies and start- ups. At one time, he managed an auto dealership in San Francisco.
At Subaru, which has had rapid sales growth over the past several years, Evans' challenge has been to incorporate more digital tools into the brand's marketing mix without rewriting its underlying strategy, which targets what it calls "experience seekers."
"This is the flag we march to," Evans told Automotive News. Subaru figures 60 million people fit its definition of experience seekers, an ample pool of potential buyers.
"We can sell more to them because rather than a new type of demographic, it is more of the same demographic," Evans says. "We are better at reaching more people who align themselves to us."
With a digital guru leading its marketing, Subaru spends 25 percent of its marketing budget on the Internet and social media, up from 15 percent two years ago, and it's paying off. In the past two years, Internet leads have quadrupled and the closing ratio, the percentage of leads that result in sales, has jumped 50 percent. ...
How much of your marketing spend goes to TV?
It is probably up into the 50 percent range and digital is 25 percent. Digital was more like 15 before.
Where did you cut your spending?
Print -- because the pie is only so big. Fuji Heavy Industries said we believe in what the marketing department is doing. The pie got a little bigger with TV up, digital up. Print went down and events stayed flat.
What is an "experience seeker," the buyer Subaru targets in its marketing?
While most people live to collect possessions, experience seekers live to collect memories. They are not chasing materials, they are chasing life experiences and they do stuff.
How are you going mainstream without losing loyalists?
We have moved our media buy. We spend more on television. We are out there more and getting more exposure to the experience seeker. Love has always been our core. Our storytelling changed. When I got here you had to make them laugh or cry. I said let's bring more humor to the emotion.
How much do you spend on marketing compared with other automakers?
Today, when you look at the volume, we are the 10th-largest brand. When you look at marketing spend, we are 22nd. I like to remind my boss and Fuji Heavy Industries that what we have is one of the most efficient departments in the automotive space.
What brand values do you market?
We asked customers what they think about us and have four frequent responses. First, we build vehicles that last a long time. Second, those vehicles are ready for adventure -- like the Outback and the Forester. Third, we have safe vehicles. Fourth is versatility. Those are the four brand attributes. When you bring them together, you get Love.
And "Love" is still the tag line for Subaru marketing. What changes did you make in the campaign?
A few things. We fine-tuned our creative. We like and claim to be an emotional brand. Our TV creative has continued to get more emotional. Secondly, we have refined our lead generation capabilities. Converting Web site visitors to leads, the ratio is improving.
For example?
On Subaru.com we make the phone numbers bigger and the phone number is on top, so many click to call. The phone number used to be buried. Now people call faster. Those are examples of our digital activities so our media spend goes further.
Do you see connections between TV and the digital world?
The younger generations are not watching television. They are using the Internet and watching what has been traditional TV from a smartphone or the computer. There are blurred lines. We call that video advertising that is part of the digital budget today, but we see that soon becoming part of the TV budget.
For example we have a favorite on television, "Portlandia," which is a show we really love. If you go see "Portlandia" from Netflix and you run it, there are places where you can run a commercial and you can't fast-forward. We learned a traditional 30- or 60-second commercial format doesn't work -- a 10-second format works better.
What is the next frontier for Subaru as a brand?
Customer service. We have increased volume and vehicle quality has standardized. Customer treatment has to be one of the differentiators, and we are focused on how to better do that for us.
How are you improving loyalty and driving sales through service?
We did it with Care Connect to use technology to automatically communicate with the customer and to automatically get them back into the store. That was one of the first initiatives I took on when I got here. That is one of the reasons we are out of capacity. They do not go to Jiffy Lube. We are communicating with automated systems, and that is driving our service, and of course, it does spill into sales.
How are you marketing to buyers in the Sun Belt and Southern California, where you want to increase sales?
We put more TV and cable in the Sun Belt. We added some creative: You drive through rainstorms and hurricanes, traction environments. We added incentives: a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty for free. Obviously our awareness is lower. People do not necessarily think they need all-wheel drive in the Sun Belt like in the North. The added maintenance [coverage] is to help dealers in the Sun Belt to get seeded with customers. It helps bring people in. It is just for Florida and half of California.
Your incentives have been well under $600 for the first seven months of the year. Toyota and Volkswagen have spent nearly three times as much. How do you keep them so low?
We are fortunate enough where we have this finite amount of product we can build and we are smart enough to build more demand than there is product to sell through marketing. It is always better to have one fewer than one more.
How do you lead a team?
I hope I bring positive energy, motivation, creative freedom and the general direction that people know where I want to go. When you have a powerful sales organization and marketing team sitting here, they [the marketers] are often the punching bag. If sales go down, the sales chief says the commercials suck.
I learned you drive more demand with digital and you can record that demand. [Before], the only number we had from the field is some guy at the sales desk making phone calls and asking, "How much showroom traffic do you have?" Today we measure lead volume, phone volume and service appointment volume digitally. You can go back to the [sales] organization and say we generated 650,000 opportunities." read the entire article



9/22  summer ends, fall starts. Sunday September 22 is the first day of fall.
time to get your all wheel drive together

9/20 WRX and STI road racing on Top Gear

Watch the guys have fun throwing STIs around the dirt and gravel rally course at the Dirtfish Rally School near Seattle. The episode ends with a race between a STI, Aston Martin, and speed boat. Watch the Off Road episode. Want to learn to drive? Dirtfish Rally School.


9/18 Tribeca orders cut off.

Is this the end? There are some 2014 models already available on lots and more are scheduled to arrive but if Subaru isn't accepting new orders they could be planning to sell out of exisiting inventory. The production could be moved to the Outback


9/16 2014 WRXs and STIs are now arriving at dealers


9/14 Black boxes, and what the car, including your Subaru, knows about you

"When Timothy P. Murray crashed his government-issued Ford Crown Victoria in 2011, he was fortunate, as car accidents go. Murray, then the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, was not seriously hurt, and he told the police he was wearing a seat belt and was not speeding.
But a different story soon emerged. Murray was driving more than 100 miles an hour and was not wearing a seat belt, according to the computer in his car that tracks certain actions.
The case put Murray at the center of a growing debate over a little-known but increasingly important piece of equipment buried deep in the innards of a car: the event data recorder, more commonly known as the black box.
About 96 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States have the boxes, and by next September, if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has its way, all new cars will have them. The boxes have long been used by car companies to assess the performance of their vehicles. But data stored in the devices are increasingly being used to identify safety problems in cars and as evidence in traffic accidents and criminal cases.
To federal regulators, law-enforcement authorities and insurance companies, the information is an indispensable tool to investigate crashes. But to consumer advocates, it's only the latest example of governments and companies having too much access to private information. Once gathered, they say, the data can be used against car owners, to find fault in accidents or in criminal investigations.
"These cars are equipped with computers that collect massive amounts of data," says Khaliah Barnes of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington, D.C.-based consumer group. "Without protections, it can lead to all kinds of abuse."
Fourteen states, including Washington, have passed laws that say that, even though the data belong to the vehicle's owner, law-enforcement officials and those involved in civil litigation can gain access to the black boxes with a court order.  In these states, lawyers may subpoena the data for criminal investigations and civil lawsuits, making the information accessible to third parties, including law enforcement or insurance companies that could cancel a driver's policy or raise a driver's premium based on the recorder's data.
Current regulations require that the presence of the black box be disclosed in the owner's manual. But the vast majority of drivers who do not read the manual thoroughly may not know that their vehicle can capture and record their speed, brake position, seat belt use and other data each time they get behind the wheel.
Unlike the black boxes on airplanes, which continually record data including audio and video, the cars' recorders capture only the few seconds surrounding a crash or air bag deployment. A separate device extracts the data, which are then analyzed through computer software.
The lack of standardization among manufacturers has made it difficult to extract the data. Until recently, crash investigators needed an automaker's proprietary reader as well as the expertise to analyze the data. The safety administration's regulations will help enable universal access to the data by using a commercially available tool.
"For most of the 100-year history of the car, it used to be, 'He said, she said,'" says Thomas Kowalick, an expert in event data recorders. "That's no longer going to be the way." read the original article

-
9/13 About Eyesight
"Inching forward in heavy traffic toward the ski slopes of Niigata, Japan, Tomohiro Azuma cursed as the car in front stopped suddenly, forcing him to slam on the brakes of his Subaru Legacy.
“There was a voice in my head saying, ‘Damn, too late!’” Azuma, 46, said of the near-collision in February. “Then my car stopped with a jerk and for a moment I didn’t know what had happened.”
The information technology manager from Tokyo had averted a pileup thanks to a feature called EyeSight, which stopped his car when the gap with the vehicle ahead became perilously small. The technology has helped Subaru build a reputation as a leader in safety -- typically the domain of high-end brands like Mercedes-Benz and Volvo - and buck falling sales in its home market.
“Subaru may not be the carmaker with the best technology globally, but in Japan it’s No. 1,” said Takashi Morimoto, a consultant at Frost & Sullivan in Tokyo. “Thanks to successful marketing, from the consumer’s point of view, it’s the front-runner.”
.... EyeSight monitors traffic via two cameras on either side of the rearview mirror. It can slow the car or brake automatically, and it sounds an alert if there is danger of a collision or the driver is swerving outside the lane.
Subaru says its system is an affordable alternative to those in luxury brands, which often include radars. The company acknowledges that stereo cameras aren’t as precise because they operate much like a human’s eyes. A dirty windshield or rain or snow can hobble EyeSight, and sudden events such as an animal or pedestrian dashing in front of the car are hard for the system to detect immediately....
Subaru has yet to sell Eyesight heavily in the U.S., where the brand markets its vehicles as safe and also fun to drive. EyeSight is available on the 2013 Legacy and Outback models as part of a package of extras that can cost more than $4,000. The company says 7 percent of cars sold in the first half in the U.S. had EyeSight.
Subaru says it has no plans to offer EyeSight as a standalone option in the U.S. because capacity constraints at a supplier mean it can’t secure enough components to meet the demand in its home market..." read the entire article



9/12 Fuji stock, and, sales, is up up up
To say that Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru is having a good year is like saying Mike Tyson is a good boxer -- it just doesn't do it justice. In fact, thanks to its Impreza and Forester, Subaru has seen record-breaking sales. And the streak is likely to continue -- which, in a surprising twist, is also great news for Toyota.
When I turned 18, I got a Subaru Impreza RS, and it was a blast to drive. Moreover, it was affordable and got great gas mileage -- even with all-wheel drive -- and when I totaled it by plowing into the back of another car, neither I nor my passengers were injured. Now that I have a family, I drive a Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, and barring another accident, I'll probably drive it for years to come. It's a great car.
And that's not just my opinion of Subarus. U.S. News and World Report's "Best Cars" survey ranked the 2014 Subaru Forester at No. 3 for best small SUV under $30,000, while the 2013 Impreza came in at No. 7 for best affordable compact car -- a highly competitive segment. What's more, Kiplinger awarded the Forester a place in the "12 Best Cars With the Highest Resale Value, 2013," an award that measures a vehicles overall value and appeal. Clearly, Subaru has quite a bit going for it, and that's driving sales.
According to its first-quarter results, Fuji Heavy's operating income jumped 301.8%, thanks in part to surging Forester and Impreza sales. In fact, in Japan, Forester sales increased nearly fivefold and Impreza sales doubled, compared with the same time last year. Moreover, Subaru's U.S. vehicle sales rose 29.1%, while global vehicle sales rose 15.3%, for a total of approximately 191,000 units sold. That, in turn, has affected Fuji Heavy's stock, which rose from $16.10 a share last September to $51.22 as of now -- a 221% increase. 
Fuji Heavy has now raised its projected full-year net income forecast by 11 billion yen, or approximately $110.8 million. That's great news for investors...." read the entire article



9/10 Who is driving these days
"Driving in America has stalled, leading researchers to ask: Is the national love affair with the automobile over?
After rising for decades, total vehicle use in the U.S. -- the collective miles people drive -- peaked in August 2007. It then dropped sharply during the Great Recession and has largely plateaued since, even though the economy is recovering and the population growing. Just this week the Federal Highway Administration reported vehicle miles traveled during the first half of 2013 were down slightly, continuing the trend.
Even more telling, the average miles drivers individually rack up peaked in July 2004 at just over 900 per month, said a study by Transportation Department economists Don Pickrell and David Pace. By July of last year, that had fallen to 820 miles per month, down about 9 percent. Per capita automobile use is now back at the same levels as in the late 1990s. Until the mid-1990s, driving levels largely tracked economic growth, according to Pickrell and Pace. Since then, the economy has grown more rapidly than auto use. Gross domestic product declined for a while during the recession but reversed course in 2009. Auto use has yet to recover. 
Meanwhile, the share of people in their teens, 20s and 30s with driver's licenses has been dropping significantly, suggesting that getting a driver's license is no longer the teenage rite of passage it once was.  Researchers are divided on the reasons behind the trends. One camp says the changes are almost entirely linked to the economy. In a few years, as the economy continues to recover, driving will probably bounce back, they reason. But they acknowledge there could be long-term structural changes in the economy that would prevent a return to the levels of driving growth seen in the past.
The other camp acknowledges that economic factors are important but says the decline in driving also reflects fundamental changes in the way Americans view the automobile. For commuters stuck in traffic, getting into a car no longer correlates with fun. It's also becoming more of a headache to own a car in central cities and downright difficult to park.
"The idea that the car means freedom, I think, is over," said travel behavior analyst Nancy McGuckin. Gone are the days of the car culture as immortalized in songs like "Hot Rod Lincoln," `'Little Deuce Coupe" and "Pink Cadillac." "The car as a fetish of masculinity is probably over for certain age groups," McGuckin said. "I don't think young men care as much about the car they drive as they use to."  That's partly because cars have morphed into computers on wheels that few people dare tinker with, she said. "You can't open the hood and get to know it the way you used to," she said. 
Lifestyles are also changing. People are doing more of their shopping online. More people are taking public transit than ever before. And biking and walking to work and for recreation are on the rise.  Social networking online may also be substituting for some trips.
A study by University of Michigan transportation researcher Michael Sivak found that the decline in teens and young adults with driver's licenses in the U.S. was mirrored in other wealthy countries with a high proportion of Internet users....
Economists say many Americans, especially teens and young adults, are finding that buying and owning a car stretches their financial resources. The average price of a new car is $31,000, according to the industry-aligned Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich.  "We're not selling to everyone. We're selling to upper-middle class to upper class," said Sean McAlinden, the center's chief economist. The rest of the public, he said, buys used cars or takes the bus.  Then there's the cost of insurance, maintenance and parking. The price of gas has gone up dramatically over the past decade...
 "I don't think it's a change in people's preferences. I think it's all economics," McAlinden said. ... Give a person a good job 25 miles away and they'll be at the dealership the next morning."  The decline in driving has important public policy implications. Among the potential benefits are less pollution, less dependence on foreign oil, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer fatalities and injuries. But less driving also means less federal and state gas tax revenues, further reducing funds already in short supply for both highway and transit improvements. On the other hand, less driving may also mean less traffic congestion, although the impact on congestion may vary regionally.  Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst for the liberal U.S. Public Interest Research Group, says driving declines mean transportation dollars could be put to other uses.  "You just don't want to spend money you don't have for highways you don't need," he said." read the entire article



9/8 Subaru sales are booming, so are other companies

below is a small table of the top 11 car brands in the U.S. YTD August 2013 (and Subaru is doing quite well at #11), along with a list of other companies with strong increases for the year.



The top car companies in the U.S. YTD August 2013
subject to correction
rank
brand
cars sold YTD
+/- for the year
% of U.S. market
1
Ford
1,649,821
+ 13.5%
15.5%
2
Chevrolet 1,365,544 +31.5% 12.8%
3
Toyota 1,313,525 + 9.5% 12.3%
4
Honda
944,267
+11.4%
8.9%
5
Nissan
782,369
+12.1
7.4%
6
Hyundai
493,116
+2.8%
4.6%
7
Dodge
413,258
19.9%
3.9%
8
Kia
378,370
-2.2%
3.6%
9
Jeep
317,921
-2.5%
3.0%
10
GMC
303,254
+10.9%
2.9%
11
Subaru
281,652
+29.3%
2.6%
Other companies up a substantial amount this year are listed below in descending order of their % increase. 5 of the companies are luxury cars
20
Cadillac
119,586
+31.5%
1.1%
32
Jaguar
11,134
+30.3%
0.1%
31
Porsche
28,456
+27.7%
0.3%
13
Ram
240,727
+24.8%
2.3%
18
Buick
141,880
+15.7%
1.3%
19
BMW
188,997
+14.8%
1.8%
22
Audi
101,346
+14.7%
1%
-


Top vehicles sold in the U.S. YTD  August 2013, compared to YTD August 2012

rank
car
total YTD 2013
compared to YTD 2012
1
Ford F Series
499,050
+22.1%
2
Chevy Silverado
328,269
+25.4%
3
Toyota Camry
287,119
+2.3%
4
Honda Accord
256,926
+17.5%
5
Dodge Ram
234,642
+25.1%
6
Honda Civic
230,578
+8.5%
7
Nissan Altima
229,297
+8.9%
8
Toyota Corolla/Matrix
210.296
+5.3%
9
Honda CRV
207,643
+8.6%
10
Ford Fusion
206,321
+13.4%
and Subaru ranks
38
Subaru Outback
81,930
+9.8%
42
Subaru Forester
73,752
+46%
64
Subaru Impreza, WRX, STI
54,210
-5.9%
82
Subaru Crosstrek
34,483
new model
92
Subaru Legacy
30,505
- 3.1%
234
Subaru Tribeca
1,132
-19.2%

9/7 about 0-20 oil. new 4 cylinder Subarus, and many other cars, now require 0-20 oil. Is 0-20 new to you? Read what Click and Clack of CarTalk have to say about it...
Dear Tom and Ray:
I just bought a new Mazda, and the owner's manual states that I should use 0W-20 oil. I wonder if that is too lightweight for summer travel at interstate speeds, and would it not cause the engine to wear more than using 5W-30? The vehicle is a CX-7 with a 2.5-liter I-4 non-turbo engine. I like getting 100,000-plus miles on my vehicles: I currently have an '03 Protege with 120,000 miles and a '97 Toyota with 140,000, and I would want this CX-7 to get that kind of use. Please advise on your feelings about this 0W-20 oil. — Jim
Ray: It's good stuff. My brother uses it in salads.
Tom: For years now, car manufacturers have been pressuring oil companies to make oil better and less viscous. And they've done it.
Ray: Just because oils are less viscous (thick), that doesn't mean they don't lubricate, dissipate heat or protect well against wear and tear. It just means they do all that stuff while creating less friction, which means you get better mileage and longer engine life.
Tom: You're probably not old enough to remember when cars routinely took 40-weight oil in the summer and 20-weight oil in the winter. That stuff was real sludge. You could still see the dinosaur bones in it.
Ray: Then, multiviscosity oils were invented. So, for instance, you could use a 10W-40 oil that would act like a 10-weight (thinner) oil when the temperature was low and a 40-weight (thicker) oil when the temperature was high.
Tom: And, through the years, as lubricant technology has improved, the viscosity of the oils has dropped, to the point where we can now use a zero-viscosity oil in cold weather. That means the engine uses less energy to push its parts through the oil. That energy goes into miles per gallon instead.
Ray: It also means the oil coats the inside of the engine more quickly — in a fraction of a second after startup — which protects the engine from wear and tear during cold starts, and makes it last longer. It also means the engine starts more easily in cold weather. Pretty good stuff, huh?
Tom: We've seen no problems as cars have gone from 10W-40 down to 5W-20. And while the 0W-20 is fairly new, I don't expect any problems from that, either.
Ray: That said, most vehicles have "severe duty" recommendations in the owner's manual. They'll tell you that if you're planning to climb Pike's Peak with a trailer, if you're using your car as a taxi or if you live where it's regularly above 100 degrees out, you qualify for special maintenance procedures. Those can include more-frequent oil changes and/or use of a different oil.
Tom: So, if that describes you, Jim, check your owner's manual and look up the severe-duty recommendations. But if you're just driving the car like the rest of us, I'd go with what the manufacturer suggests. Click and Clack's CarTalk.com

 


9/6 dealer closing- Ambassador Subaru in Moscow Idaho, open since 19071, closing 9/30/13. Kendall Subaru in Lewiston, Idaho will be the area's Subaru dealer.



9/5 the internet is changing the way everyone researches, shops for, and buys cars.
Subaru is shrinking brochures (the 2014 Tribeca doesn't even get one)  and encouraging people to download apps and images.  Of course, the car companies then know who is interested and can market directly to potential buyers.
"Automakers trying to reach young buyers face a conundrum: How do they sell a car to people who stay away from a showroom?
“They won’t come into the stores to educate themselves,” said Peter Chung, general manager of Magic Toyota and Scion in Edmonds, Wash. “They’ll do that online.”
More than half of the younger buyers surveyed by AutoTrader.com, a car-buying site, said they wanted to avoid interacting with dealership sales representatives.
In response, automakers like Cadillac and Toyota are starting to embrace technology that tries to take the showroom to the buyer. Known as augmented reality, it embeds images and videos in a picture on the user’s smartphone or tablet. The result is a far more detailed view of the image, often in three dimensions with added layers of information.
...At the root of the interest among automakers is the wish to reach young buyers, who spend a lot of time looking at images of cars online, said Stephen Gandee, vice president for mobile and emerging technologies at Edmunds.com, a car-buying site. Much of the research in buying a car is done online today, and not just among young buyers. But automakers and dealers want to create a deeper connection.
“The emotional side of shopping — you can’t beat pictures,” said Mr. Gandee, who is helping oversee the redesign of Edmunds.com’s Web site to try to capture more of the emotional and visual appeal of the car-buying experience. He said the site expected to have its own augmented reality prototype by next year.
Dealers are trying to change the way they communicate with a generation of car buyers who prize information and speed over the personal connection dealerships offer.
Many younger buyers no longer even test-drive a car before buying it, said Mr. Chung, the general manager of Magic Toyota and Scion. Instead, they read reviews and add features to their vehicle online before going to the dealership with the exact model and price they expect shown on their smartphone.
That is one reason Mr. Chung and other car dealers expect augmented reality to serve as a powerful selling tool in place of a sales associate.
“The consumer is no longer coming in and looking at 10 colors,” Mr. Chung said. “They’ve seen all 10 colors online and know what they want.” read the entire article.


9/4 Subaru sells 41,061 cars in August- the best month ever in the company's history, a whole new record.
The previous best month are this past May with 39,892 and December 2012 with 35,512.
Going back, August 2009 was Cash For Clunkers and set a huge new record of 28,683. Subaru's fortunes have changed since then.
By model, August 2013
Forester 13,163, up 89.2% over August 2012
Outback 10,163 , - 9.9% from 11285 August 2012
Crosstrek 4757
Impreza 6874, up 43.8% over 4719 August 2012
Legacy 3954, up 2.1% over 3782 August 2012
WRX, STI 1235, up 81.4% over August 2012
BRZ 868, up 39.3% over 623 August 2012
Tribeca 137, down 12.7% from 157 August 2012
YTD Subaru is at 281,652 (a 29.3% increase over YTD 2012's 217,780) and the goal of over 400,000 for the year is well in reach



9/3 Subaru, rebuffed in prior attempts to build a factory and expand in China, has a new partner and a new plan  
"...If you think Subaru plans to stay a small automaker, the recent announcement today could change that in the future. Last year when Subaru introduced the 2014 Forester at the 2012 Guangzhou International Motor Show it was at a time when its rivals Toyota and Honda had shut down plants in China due to a territorial dispute between Asia’s two largest economies. Subaru is the only major Japanese automaker that does not have a plant in China. Subaru’s smaller presence in China has helped shield it from a consumer backlash triggered by a decades-old territorial dispute involving a group of islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Chinese consumers have responded by not purchasing Japanese cars which has caused deliveries to slump and the competitors factories have been idled.
But Subaru is wise and has just announced a joint venture with China’s leading auto dealer group, Pangda Automobile Trade Co., Ltd which will help them sell Subaru automobiles in the largest market in the world. Subaru is looking to expand on a global level and this will be a top priority market behind the U.S. and Japan.
Subaru and Pangda the company will begin full-scale operations in October as Subaru's sole distributor in China to manage and oversee Subaru car sales throughout the country. The new company will be the brand's sole distributor in China, whereas those activities used to be managed on a region-by-region basis by local sales companies.
Under the new structure, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (parent company of Subaru) will hold a 60% stake and Pangda 40%. Subaru says the workforce will be also reinforced with the planned increase from the current 80 to a 200-employee level. At some point, Subaru will need to expand its production facilities, as the Japanese automaker is struggling to keep up with demand around the globe for the new 2014 Subaru Forester and BRZ.
As sales increase in China, look for Subaru to make an announcement to begin manufacturing their cars in China...." read the original article.
Subaru already introduced the 2014 Forester and 2013 BRZ into China but will partner with Pangda Automobile Trade Co., Ltd and expand its global reach farther into China.

If you think Subaru plans to stay a small automaker, the recent announcement today could change that in the future. Last year when Subaru introduced the 2014 Forester at the 2012 Guangzhou International Motor Show it was at a time when its rivals Toyota and Honda had shut down plants in China due to a territorial dispute between Asia’s two largest economies.

Subaru is the only major Japanese automaker that does not have a plant in China. Subaru’s smaller presence in China has helped shield it from a consumer backlash triggered by a decades-old territorial dispute involving a group of islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Chinese consumers have responded by not purchasing Japanese cars which has caused deliveries to slump and the competitors factories have been idled.

But Subaru is wise and has just announced a joint venture with China’s leading auto dealer group, Pangda Automobile Trade Co., Ltd which will help them sell Subaru automobiles in the largest market in the world. Subaru is looking to expand on a global level and this will be a top priority market behind the U.S. and Japan.

Subaru and Pangda the company will begin full-scale operations in October as Subaru's sole distributor in China to manage and oversee Subaru car sales throughout the country. The new company will be the brand's sole distributor in China, whereas those activities used to be managed on a region-by-region basis by local sales companies.

Under the new structure, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (parent company of Subaru) will hold a 60% stake and Pangda 40%. Subaru says the workforce will be also reinforced with the planned increase from the current 80 to a 200-employee level. At some point, Subaru will need to expand its production facilities, as the Japanese automaker is struggling to keep up with demand around the globe for the new 2014 Subaru Forester and BRZ.

As sales increase in China, look for Subaru to make an announcement to begin manufacturing their cars in China. As demand increases for the all-new 2014 Forester and popular 2014 BRZ sport coupe, they will need to build a new factory. Stay tuned to Torque News for the latest global Subaru news.

- See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/1084/subaru-expands-2014-forester-largest-auto-market-world#sthash.S8VqJR3n.dpuf

9/2 Subaru buyers aren't going for the looks
"Subarus have become more mainstream in appearance, but buyers are still quirky. They say they don't need all the latest and greatest features. Subaru buyers want just enough to improve the safety of their cars -- which get high ratings on safety -- and enough connectivity to plug in their phones.
For instance, Subaru didn't add its optional distance control, called EyeSight, until last year. It's still not available on the BRZ coupe or the Tribeca mid-sized crossover. The EyeSight driver assist system uses a stereo camera for adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane departure warning.
Subaru only has two Boxer engines, a four- and a six-cylinder. Its first hybrid, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid, goes on sale in November.
Interiors have been called "basic" in some reviews. And the 6.1-inch infotainment touchscreen on the redesigned 2014 Forester was criticized by autoblog.com as "a bit dated and small, with small touch pads instead of easy-to-use knobs for volume and tuning."
But Subaru keeps selling. Alexander Edwards, president of consulting firm Strategic Vision in San Diego, said his survey showed Subaru buyers believe their vehicles are made better than most other vehicles, "which makes some of the other high-tech safety features not as necessary."
They're also a bit arrogant. They believe they are better drivers than average, Edwards says. "This may be why Subaru buyers state significantly less often that they wish their vehicles come with safety features such as blind spot detection and lane warning departure systems."
In-car entertainment also isn't rated as a high priority by Subaru customers, he said.
It doesn't matter that Subarus aren't head-turners, said Ernie Boch, Jr., CEO of Subaru of New England, the larger of the remaining two privately own-ed U.S. Subaru distributors. "Subaru hasn't become trendy, and that is an important aspect of their cool factor. Once you become trendy, you are done -- like a restaurant.
"When you have a hit record, would I rather hang out at No. 3 for eight weeks or be No. 1 for one week?"
Shaun Del Grande has owned Capitol Subaru in San Jose, Calif., since 2007. He also has Hyundai and Kia franchises.
He says Hyundai and Kia buyers, like Subaru buyers, want good value. But Subaru has positioned itself to attract "people who are not followers -- they may look at other Subaru drivers and give a quiet nod," Del Grande said. "We joke that people have their car named before they pull out of the lot. These people love their cars. They are smart people and analytical people who are attached to their cars." read the complete article


9/1 the 4,000,000th car made at Subaru's factory in Lafayette is a blue Outback
'Second-shift production at Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. was delayed Wednesday (August 28) so that associates and executives could admire a blue, 2014 Subaru Outback, the 4 millionth vehicle produced at the Lafayette plant, which opened in 1989. A cheer rose as the car rolled out in a cloud of smoke to a song written and produced by an SIA associate.
“It’s the most produced vehicle and also the leading-selling vehicle built at SIA,” said Tom Easterday, executive vice president.
“Outback sales in the last four years have tripled in the United States.
Since production began at the plant near Dayton on Indiana 38, the Subaru Tribeca and Baja; the Isuzu P’UP, Rodeo, Amigo and Axiom; the Honda Passport; and the Toyota Camry have rolled off assembly lines, and each million-vehicle milestone has been celebrated. SIA produced its 3 millionth car Sept. 29, 2009. Easterday said No. 5 million likely will arrive in 3½years. “We will be adding additional production next year with the next generation Legacy Outback,” he said, “and we also will be adding, in 2016, the new Impreza production.” About 900 more employees will be added, too."


8/31 2014 Imprezas due in November, not October as previously reported

8/30 the redesigned 2015 WRX and STI sedans will be shown LA Auto Show 11/22-12/1 at the LA convention Center.
There won't be a 5 door hatchback available


8/28 What are you doing next weekend? Visit the West Coast Subaru Show, the largest Subaru show on the west coast. Mud pits, awards, camping out, and Subarus Subaru Subarus. Sponsored by Subaru, and Smart Service in North Seattle/Shoreline and Mukilteo, and All Wheel Drive Auto in Kirkland among others.  Its in Longview, Wa, September 6-8.  West Coast Subaru Show

8/27 2014 WRX and STI brochure now at dealers
22 pages. New smaller 9x11" format. Mostly same exterior photos as the 2013 brochure.


8/26 Safety ratings from NHTSA
2014 Legacy gets top 5 Star rating for Overall, Frontal, Side and Rollover crash tests
2014 Outback gets top 5 Star rating for Overall, Frontal, and Side crash tests. 4 Stars for Rollover
2014 Forester gets top 5 Star rating for Overall and Side crash tests. 4 Stars for Frontal and Rollover
 more safety ratings

8/25 a Mama turtle found a safe place at Capitol Subaru in Oregon to lay her eggs. And the dealer built a barrier to protect to spot she buried them.
Read the article 'Employees at Capitol Subaru of Salem came into work to find a surprise left in their parking lot.
A turtle from a lake that is on the middle of the property had crawled onto the parking lot and laid eggs.
“She crawled out underneath the fence and was looking really hard for a place to lay her eggs,” said Carrie Casebeer of Capitol Subaru.
The turtle laid her eggs near sand and gravel. She has not been seen since." the article and photo, and another photo


8/24 Canada gets a STI 4 door Tsurugi Edition for 2014. US has the Limited, but will SoA also have a special end of run model?
"In Japanese culture, a “tsurugi” is a double-sided broadsword — the perfect name for a car that blends aggressive performance with sophisticated design."
Leather trimmed interior, 10" Kicker subwoofer, 18' Enkie 5-split spoke alloys. Starting MSRP. $41,495. the official website


8/23 2014 prices announced for BRZ, Crosstrek, Impreza, and Tribeca
> BRZ,  $100 increase on all models. Destination increased $25 to $795. 2014 BRZs expected late September. Aha now included with navigation. BRZ Premium automatic and Galaxy Blue color dropped. No other changes for 2014. MSRP including destination: Premium manual $26,390, Limited manual $28,390, Limited automatic $29,490. 2014 BRZ webpage
> Crosstrek: No price increase. Destination increased $25 to $825. 2014 Crosstreks expected late September. Aha now included with navigation ($100 increase). No model or feature changes announced. Hybrid price not announced, hybrid still expected December. MSRP price including destination Premium manual $22,820. Premium CVT $23,820, Limited CVT $25,320. 2014 Crosstrek webpage
> Impreza: No price changes except on Limited models ($200 increase). Destination increased $25 to $795. Expected to start arriving late September. Rear view back-up camera now standard on Limiteds (that's the $200 increase). Aha included with Navigation ($100 increase). A few new colors (new deep sea blue, quartz blue, jasmine green, and marine blue is gone) and satin white is now available in either ivory or black interior. No other model or feature changes announced, which means there are still too many overlapping Impreza/Crosstrek models. 2014s expected in September November. MSRP price including destination: 4 doors 2.0 base $18,690 manual, $19690 CVT, Premium manual $20,590, $21,090 CVT, Limited $22,990. 5 door models: base manual $19,190, $20,190 CVT, Premium manual $21,090 (includes all weather pkg), $21590 CVT, Limited $23,490. Sport Premium manual $21,590, Sport Premium CVT $22,590, Sport Limited $23,990
> Tribeca continues on for another year. Delivery expected starting late September. New Carbide Gray color replaces graphite gray. There is still only one model, the Limited, and all now have the moonroof, back-up camera (displays in rear view mirror), black roof rails, auto dimming rear view mirror with compass. These features were the optional $1500 moonroof package on 2013s. Destination up $25 to $825. MSRP including destination and the added features is $34920 which is the same as last year.



8/22 Lithia company owns a number of dealerships, including some Subaru dealers
This is an interesting article on buying and selling used cars. The company had centralized and controlled all used car buying functions and essentially strangled the process to death with their corporate mindset. They have since reversed the policy, empowering managers to make decisions, and sales are increasing now that individual dealerships can control the purchase and sale of used cars.  The manager of their Oregon City Subaru dealership talks about aggressively seeking out used Subarus to fill the lot, which is necessary if you want a Subaru dealer with a full used car lot. The article highlights the pitfall of corporations squashing individual incentives, then the climb back up the sale ladder due to respecting and empowering the individuals, and the process of buying used cars in the age of the internet. The article


8/16 Was the SVX (1990-1996), long endeared to fans of Subaru's skill and quirkiness, a knock-off? Say it ain't so...
"The Subaru SVX remains one of the most distinctive Subarus ever built, and was full of exciting details that made it seem a bit like someone stole a little commuter spaceship from the year 2163. But how much of that look is original, and how much came from a 1985 concept car?
"Stolen" is probably the wrong word to use here, really. Car design details and trends come and go like ocean tides, sweeping everyone up in their particulars before washing back out to the big design sea. Even so, Giugiaro's radical design for the SVX sure looks a hell of a lot like the Ghia/Vignale concept built on a Mustang SVD platform.
At the time, Ford owned Ghia, who was redefining Ford's design direction, most notably with the at-the-time revolutionary Taurus. A Ghia-ized Mustang certainly made sense, and this concept was one possible direction.
In fact, magazines like Motor Trend speculated it might be the direction for upcoming Mustangs, as they wondered aloud about "Tomorrow's Mustang?"
It was a reasonable guess, and while it didn't literally come true, the Subaru SVX brought almost everything the show car offered to the public about six years later, in 1991. Giugiaro may not have inspected the car in person, but it's a pretty safe bet that Italdesign was at least aware of the car, which was shown at the Chicago Auto Show in 1985.
It's not that there's a hint of the Ghia car in the SVX, it's that all the details that make the SVX so distinctive are in there, and the overall proportions and shape are quite similar...." read the entire article


8/15 Outback and Legacy- new Tungsten color has the warm ivory (beige) interior. There's a whole lot of interest in the color but at least here in the NW people are disappointed its not available with the gray interior.


8/14 2014 Legacy photo pages now up exterior photosinterior photos


8/13 what is the furture of Subaru- in a scramble for growth are they going to confuse buyers with muliple almost identical models
"Profits and sales are heading toward records after the company benefited more than most Japanese carmakers from the weakening of the yen and as new models such as the BRZ sports car have become so popular that U.S. consumers need to wait months to get one. The success is leading President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga to worry whether the niche maker of all-wheel-drive vehicles is getting too big.
“We’re standing at a major turning point for Subaru,” Yoshinaga said in an interview this week in Tokyo. “It shouldn’t just be about volumes. We should be making cars only Subaru can make that are a little more expensive and more profitable than the competition.”
Debates are raging internally whether to expand Subaru’s lineup of cars, make a push for cheaper vehicles for markets such as India or stick to the products the company sells well, Yoshinaga said. Executives at the company, which counts Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) as its biggest shareholder, will begin discussions this month through next year to determine the long-term direction of the Tokyo-based company, he said.
“Some people in the company may want to make mass-market products or cheaper cars, but is this really the right direction for Subaru?” Yoshinaga, 59, said. “We’re not a carmaker that can grow as big as Toyota. And even if we could, reaching that sort of scale would mean we’d stop being Subaru.” akaki Nakanishi, founder of Nakanishi Research Institute Co. and Japan’s top-ranked auto analyst this year by Institutional Investor magazine, said Subaru is better off small.
“Subaru is a niche product,” Nakanishi said. “They have a strong partner in Toyota, which is complementing Subaru’s product development so that they can focus their strategy on being a niche player.”
While the company has a midterm target of reaching 850,000 units by March 2016 and estimates deliveries to reach 1 million by the end of the decade, Subaru may be speeding ahead of schedule. Sales climbed 13 percent to 724,000 (7270) units in the year ended March and may rise to 752,000 this fiscal year, according to the company’s latest forecasts" read the entire article



8/12 competition for the Outback? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?
Next June there will be a redesigned 2015 Outback available, and a new VW competitor
"Volkswagen Group of America may take aim at the Subaru Outback with a rugged, all-wheel-drive wagon based on the next-generation Golf, sources say.
VW has approved an awd version of the redesigned Golf-based Jetta SportWagen that is due in the United States in late 2014. Sources familiar with VW's product plans say the automaker is leaning toward turning the awd version into a spin-off model with higher ground clearance and body cladding, similar to the Alltrack concept shown at the New York auto show in 2012. A VW spokesman declined to comment.
VW already sells an Outback rival in the actual Australian outback. That car is a modified Passat wagon called the Passat Alltrack, but VW discontinued the Passat wagon in the United States when it launched the Chattanooga-built Passat in 2011." read the original article


8/11 top Subaru technician is Jason Sherrill.
"Aug. 7, 2013 Subaru of America, Inc., today announced that Jason Sherrill of Wyoming Valley Subaru in Kingston, Penn. is this year's Subaru U.S. National Technician Competition Champion. He will represent the United States in the Subaru International Technician Competition to be held this November in Takao, Japan.
This is the fourth year that Subaru of America, Inc. has hosted the competition. The three-part competition is comprised of a one hour written test to gauge the contestants' academic knowledge followed by two hands-on technical challenges.
Sherrill is a shop foreman who has been a Subaru technician for nine years and holds the title of Subaru Senior Master Technician. Sherrill participated in the 2011 competition, finishing in second place. For his first place win, as well as entry into the Technician finals, Sherrill was presented with a plaque from Subaru of America and a recognition gift from Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.
Overall rankings: 1st Place: Jason Sherrill -- Wyoming Valley Subaru, Kingston, PA 2nd Place: Mark Jurkovski -- Morrie's Subaru, Minnetonka, MN 3rd Place: Bret Carter -- AutoNation Subaru West, Golden, CO
Runner-up Group (in no particular order): Daniel Overfield -- Yark Subaru, Toledo, OH Danny Squires -- Carr Subaru, Portland, OR Gregory Knothe -- Rancho Grande Motors, San Luis Obispo, CA Greg Sampley -- Maple Hill Subaru, Kalamazoo, MI Jason Ewing -- North Park Subaru, San Antonio, TX Jeffrey Sparrow -- Mastro Subaru, Tampa, FL Jeremy DeGroodt -- Capitol Subaru, San Jose, CA John M. Hollingsworth, Jr. -- Subaru of Kennesaw, Marietta, GA Matthew Bahr -- Bill Kolb, Jr Subaru, Orangeburg, NY William Wright -- Pence Subaru, Midlothian, VA." the press release


8/10 What makes a Subaru a Subaru? Its not only love... its an engine too, specifically a boxer engine
"What makes the 2013 Subaru Legacy different? A unique boxer engine, like that featured in Porsche models, offers engineering benefits compared to the more standard engines used in Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and pretty much every other midsize sedan. While the Legacy does offer standard all-wheel drive, it does suffer in fuel economy, reaching up to 32 mpg on the highway compare the the more standard 40 mpg from other automakers.
There are only two car manufacturers in the world that use "flat" engines, Porsche and Subaru. The flat layout, also commonly called "boxers" due to the opposing cylinders punching towards one another horizontally when fired, has two undeniable engineering benefits. The first is that the engines lend themselves to being mounted very low within the car, allowing a lower center of gravity. Secondly, the natural positioning of the cylinders in this configuration effectively cancels a lot of the vibration inherent in other engine designs, eliminating size increasing balancing solutions. One major problem of the boxer engine is that only two car companies do all of the research and development on evolving the design. Literally scores of car companies refine the inline and "V" bank type of engines. For Porsche, this issue isn't so critical because they need only wring ever more power out of the boxer design." read the original article


8/9 NW area dealer incentives- Subaru has very strong dealer incentives if you lease a 2013 Outback, Legacy, and Impreza. Subaru wants you to love your car but not love it so much that you keep it forever and don't replace it. Thus Subaru is encouraging leases with dealer incentives, and your best price on those models is on a lease. And this is supposedly the final month for 2013 Legacy and Outback lease.

8/7 "Robert A. Brodeur, 83, of Cherry Hill, who retired in 1998 as national parts and service manager at Subaru of America, died of kidney failure Thursday, Aug. 1, at Virtua Voorhees. Born in Fitchburg, Mass., Mr. Brodeur graduated from Fitchburg High School, attended Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., earned a bachelor's in business administration at Syracuse University in 1951, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and later earned an MBA at New York University. He enlisted in the Navy, served as a submarine personnel and training officer, and retired from the Navy Reserve as a commander. Mr. Brodeur began his career as a New York regional sales representative for Gulf Oil Co. from 1955 to 1964, daughter Nicole said. For Chrysler Corp. in Newark, N.J., he began as a marketing specialist in 1964 and was a regional manager when he left in 1967. After working as an account executive in the advertising division of Metromedia Inc. in New York City, he was regional parts manager for the Lyndhurst, N.J., office of Toyota Motor Sales until 1974. Then Mr. Brodeur became part of a team that helped establish and develop Subaru of America, his daughter said. In retirement, she said, he traveled extensively and held wine seminars for adult education programs in Cherry Hill and Haddonfield." read the original article


8/6 recall- 202 2013 Tribeca and 2014 6 cylinder Outback and Legacy with the 5 speed automatic (the only transmission available with the 6 cylinder)
A total of 202 cars, 2013 Tribecas and 2014 Outback/Legacy with the 5 speed automatic transmission might have a parking rod that was damaged during assembly. As a result, the transmission might not hold in Park mode and might roll,  or might not properly release when the transmission selector is moved out of park mode.
To minimize the chance the car might roll, always use the parking brake which is a good idea anyway. This is recall #WQJ-46, 5 EAT parking rod.


8/5 on the 2014 WRX- its the same great car as the 2013, 2012, 2011!
Its the 2015 model coming next year, in calender year 2014, that will be redesigned. So there's no mistake, here is what the letter from Subarus says "....The ’14 model year will be the last for this generation and we are going to maintain our winning strategy of awe-inspiring performance and unbeatable value...."
The 14s can now be ordered with deliveries starting in late August. The only disappointment is the 2014 isn't offered in Tangerine Orange again.  click for 2014 specs, prices

 
8/3 check out this video of a Forester in South African bush with lions and tigers
On safari in a Forester XT. Of course they chose an XT with paddle shifters but its the 2.5i CVT that only has low mode which they should be testing. Anyway, the video is really worth watching for the wildlife- an elephant, a beautiful rhino, lion, tiger, giraffe.... and yes the Forester does fine but again the animals are the stars.
"The new 2014 Subaru Forester is put to the test with an epic journey to the heart of South Africa's backcountry.If you were to ask people to choose any 4x4 off-roader for a trip to the South African bush, many would immediately opt for a Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser. That’s entirely understandable, but these ain’t cheap and whoever said you had to have deep pockets in order to explore one of the most fascinating and dangerous terrains on the planet? That’s where the always capable and all-new 2014 Subaru Forester comes into play. Motor Trend’s Arthur St. Antoine takes the normally Vermont soccer mom certified crossover on a journey that’ll test its symmetrical all-wheel drive system to the full...: watch the video

8/2 the 2013 Subaru Lot To Love Summer Sale Event 8/1/13- 9/3/13
clcik for 2013 Subaru Lot To Love Event photos

Deals so good you need sunglasses!
Get free blue, orange, or white Subaru sunglasses while supplies last, but like the cars, they're going quickly. Click for photos

subaru sunglasses. part of the 2013 subaru lot to love summer sale evenmt

8/1 2014 orders are now open for all models.
You can order a 2014 WRX, STI, BRZ, Crosstrek, Impreza, and Tribeca.
Outback, Forester, Legacy have been available to order for a while.
Prices and details have been released for the WRX and STI, not for the BRZ, Crosstrek, Impreza, or Tribeca.

> BRZ is available 3 models, the BRZ automatic has been dropped. The 3 models are BRZ manual transmission, BRZ Limited manual or automatic.  Colors remain the same: WR Blue, Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Lightning Red, Sterling Silver, Satin White
> Impreza continues to be available in 4 and 5 door 2.0 base manual or CVT, Premium manual or CVT, and Limited CVT trim,  5 door Sport Premium manual or CVT, and Sport Limited CVT. Impreza colors with the black interior are Dark Gray, Ice Silver, Satin White, and new Quartz Blue Pearl. Impreza colors with Ivory interior are Crystal Black, Satin White and new Jasmine Green. The Sport model is available with the ivory interior in Crystal black, Satin white and new Deep Sea Blue Pearl, and with black interior in Dark Gray, Venetian Red, Satin White, and new Quartz Blue pearl.
> Tribeca continues to be is available as a Limited only, with navigation optional. Colors with the desert beige interior are Crystal Black, Deep Indigo and Satin White. Slate Gray interior is available in Ice silver, Venetian Red, and new Carbide Gray.
> Crosstrek continues with Premium manual, Premium CVT with optional moonroof or navigation, and Limited with Moonroof and Navigation. The Hybrid due late 2013 is available in 2 models- 2.0i Hybrid, and 2.0i Hybrid Touring. Crosstrek colors with ivory interior are Crystal Black, Venetian Red, Satin White, and new Quartz Blue Metallic. With the black interior, colors are Dark Gray, Khaki, Ice Silver, Tangerine orange.  Hybrid is available with black interior in Ice Silver and new Plasma Green, and with ivory interior new Quartz Blue


8/1 sales- July 2013 sales total is 35,955, the best July ever and 43% better than July 2012's 25,132.
This is the 12 straight month of monthly records, and the 20th consecutive monthly sales increases. 
With these numbers, Subaru has officially revised the 2013 sales goal upward to 410,000 for the year from the previous goal of 380,000 for the year.
Forester and Outback are the volume leaders. The Impreza's July total of 5,614 is a healthy 23% increase over the 4,553 July 2012, so the Crosstrek version isn't poaching Impreza sales at all.
July 2013 by car line
Outback 10,456, up 13% over 2012
Forester 9,841, up 53% over 2012
Crosstrek 4,636
Legacy 3,142, down 5% from 2012
Impreza 5,614, up 23% over 2012
WRX, STI 1,471, up 59% over 2012
BRZ 706
Tribeca 128, down 15% from 2012


7/31  is the US market ready for diesels? 
How about a 40mpg Outback CVT diesel thats currently for sale but not in the US.
A Mazda6 2.2L diesel sedan just won the GX category in the Brickyard Grand Prix Grand-Am race. The car will be available later this year.
A diesel Grand Cherokee and Ram pickup are coming.
Here's a list of current and soon to be available 2014 diesels:  BMW 328d, 328d xDrive, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, Chevy Cruze, Porsche Cayenne Diesel, Mazda6,  Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Ram, VW Touareg, Passat, Golf, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagon, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Audi Q7, A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8,


7/30 2014 WRX and STI prices released. Orders accepted August 1 for delivery starting late August
Prices up $200, destination now $795 from $770.
There are no major changes- its the same car, same colors, same features. The only change announced is that Navigation now includes Aha, and on WRXs navigation is only available on Limiteds, its no longer available on the WRX Premiums. It is still available on all STIs.
MSRP prices including destination ($795).
WRX 4 and 5 door:  $26,790, Premium $29,290, Limited $30,290
STI 4 door $35,290, Limited $38,640, STI 5 door $37,290
Navigation: $1100, up from $1000.
my 2014 WRX page

note- there are still a few of the limited production tangerine orange 2013 WRX and STI Special Editions available nationally. This is a beautiful car. Orange is not available on the 14s.
 
7/29 advertising
"Chances are, you’ve known a good Subie. Whether you rode to school in your mom’s, drove one yourself, or cherished your significant other’s, the thoughts are fond. Now, with their latest campaign from Carmichael Lynch, Subaru has incorporated that adoration.
In one new video, a Subaru makes an unexpected first date possible with diner milkshakes and roadside farmer’s market fun. In the second spot, “Redressing Room,” a mother puts up with her son’s affinity for nudity. The tagline for both ads is, “Love: It’s What Makes a Subaru a Subaru,” and I now wish I could be driving a car while hugging myself for maximum endorphins. These ads are sweet without being saccharine; a heartwarming play on Subaru’s role as an all-purpose family car, more a character in a story than its means of transportation. It’s a good way to win our hearts; if love is all we need, we’d better get a Subaru." the original article with videos


7/27 Subaru scooters in 1946...
"In case you didn't know it, Subaru-- the Japanese manufacturer most easily identified by its suburbanite wagon 'utes, spoilered rally racing machines, and platform-sharing rear wheel-drive 2+2 sports cars-- came from humbler (but equally diverse) origins. Long before they built Foresters, WRX STis, and BRZs, Subaru was responsible for the Rabbit S-1, a 135cc, 2 horsepower two-wheeler. Built under the Fuji nameplate, this scooter started production in June, 1946, pre-dating Piaggio's iconic Vespa. Like its Italian counterpart, the lil' scoot' was intended to pull a war-torn country up by its boot straps, and also became one of the first scooters to feature a semi-automatic transmission. While Subie's early scooters looked crude in comparison to Vespa's jaunty designs, the later models took on a less wonky appearance:
Subaru's four-wheeled roots also happen to have much in common with Fiat's famously cute Cinquecento. The first production car to hail from Subaru was the tiny 360, which started production in 1958. Incorporating unibody construction, torsion bar suspension, finned drum brakes, and a 16 horsepower engine capable of 52 mph, the 360 earned the nickname "Ladybug" in Japan and eventually sold 6,500 units in the U.S., spinning off into van, convertible, sedan, and pickup truck variants..." read the original article


7/25 60 years old on July 16. The original company, Nakajima Aircraft,  is almost 100 year old...
"Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, is pleased to announce that today marks the 60th anniversary of the company.
The origins of FHI go back to the 1917 founding of the "Aircraft Research Laboratory" which was later incorporated as "Nakajima Aircraft Co. Ltd". After World War II, Nakajima Aircraft was re-organized as "Fuji Sangyo Co. Ltd". Fuji Sangyo was divided into 12 separate companies in 1950 and shortly thereafter, on July 15 of 1953, five of those companies merged to form "Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.".
In 1958, FHI flew the first Japan-made "T-1" jet trainer test plane and released the "Subaru 360" mini car. Throughout its history, FHI has continued to deliver innovative technologies and unique, epoch-making products such as the "Subaru 1000", Japan's first mass-produced front-engine, front-wheel drive car; the Subaru "Leone", Japan's first mass-produced all-wheel drive passenger car; the Subaru "Legacy" which led the station wagon boom in Japan; and the "EyeSight" driving assist system.
The company's technological competence has been passed down in its non-automotive businesses as well. The aerospace business is recognized for its expertise in unmanned aircraft systems and participation in international joint development of commercial airplanes, while the industrial product business has been offering highly-reliable general-purpose engines and other engine-driven products to support industries and everyday lives of people worldwide.
Through its history of innovation, FHI has been earning trust and support from customers for its commitment to engineering excellence as the source of functionality, safety and reliability of its products.
Pursuant to its guiding principle "Confidence in Motion", FHI will continue to serve as a responsible global corporate citizen and commit itself to fulfilling expectations and further enhancing the confidence of customers around the world." read the press release

7/24 L.A. X games RallyCross is August 4th.
The Puma rallycross cat is the best logo around, Subaru should put in on jackets and shirts!

7/22 Eyesight technology helps but you still have to watch the road. A Forester driver had a fender bender
"2014 Eyesight Fail = CrashSo I crashed my brand new FXT a couple weeks ago - 3 mo old with 6k miles. I bought the Eyesight because I drive over 20k mi per year in horrible LA traffic and city driving, and was hoping to prevent an accident. Well my Eyesight system failed me. A car I was following slammed on his brakes when someone decided to stop traffic to parallel park, and I rear-ended him. I had a very brief moment of distraction looking at some graffiti before slamming on my brakes, but it was no use.
Isn't this precisely what the collision avoidance function was designed for?? I don't recall if I was alerted by the Eyesight system or if it applied the brakes, but it certainly didn't prevent this accident from happening. Conditions were clear, windshield was clean, occurred about a block away from an intersection after making a left turn.
The damage to my car is $3200 and $1400 to the car I ran into (paying out of pocket to avoid a costly rate hike on my joint policy with a WRX). My HID headlamp mounting bracket (plastic) is cracked, though the light is still functional, but have to replace the whole assembly for over $800. Also need a new bumper, left fender, and pulling of the radiator support bar.
Not sure if there was a malfunction with my Eyesight or a specific condition that it doesn't function under. The obstacle alerts have worked on other occasions, and the adaptive cruise control is phenomenal. But the major cost benefit of the technology is the collision avoidance, and for that reason I am seriously disappointed! So note to potential buyers, Eyesight cost me a few thousand extra to obtain, and another $4600 in repairs. I reported the Eyesight failure to SOA, received a callback, and am awaiting a response pending their internal review. They said they have no precedent on file for a crash with Eyesight." read the original posting and replies at SubaruForester.org

7/20 picking a car for a young driver- Forester, Camry, and Focus make a reviewer's short list
"My first car was a 1957 Buick Special. It had a grill as big as the gates to Graceland.
This was the late 1970s and my sedan was nearly 20 years old, a throwback to the era when chrome was king. It had lightning bolts of red trim down each side and oversized tail fins. It was the perfect teen car: cool, cheap and indestructible.
Notice, though, I didn’t say it was safe. If I had ever rolled the Buick, I would have rattled around inside like a BB in a soup can. Keep in mind, this was the same era when responsible parents let kids nap on the window shelf behind the back seat.
Among baby boomers my age — mid-50s — snagging a driver’s license the week we turned 16 was ritual. Now, fewer young adults even choose to drive. One-third of people today ages 16 to 24 don’t have a driver’s license, according to the Federal Highway Administration. A generation ago, only about one in five in that age group were non-drivers.
For those who do choose to drive, picking a first car is a big deal, often done with the help of a parent or trusted friend.
A recent report in the New York Times, however, noted that most young people today see a car as a mere transportation appliance, not a status symbol. If you’re the parent, that’s a good thing. It means your child won’t automatically want something sporty and fast.  If shopping for a car for a young person — a high school student perhaps, or a college commuter — is on your to-do list this summer, here are some tips that might be helpful.
Before even starting to shop for a car, it’s worth trying to cut a deal with your child to put off driving. With peer pressure to drive waning and cars losing their luster as status symbols, you might strike gold.  You could even create some financial incentives for your 16- or 17-year-old to wait until they’re at least 18 to drive. A recent survey by InsuranceQuotes.com revealed that adding a teen to a family auto insurance policy results in an average 84 percent increase, or about $2,000 a year. Why not split the difference and offer your child $1,000 cash on each birthday that they delay driving? You might be surprised how many will snatch up the offer.
If you’ve made the decision to purchase a car, a vehicle that’s three to five years old is the sweet spot. Cars and trucks in this class of used vehicles often have some powertrain warranty remaining, yet they have shed most of their new-car depreciation. They also are likely to have the latest safety features — more on that later.
Here are three of my favorite used cars for young drivers. (One of my other roles at the newspaper is automotive columnist, so I’ve driven virtually everything out there.)
Subaru Forester. This versatile, small SUV has the advantage of standard all-wheel-drive. There’s nothing more planted and secure than a Subaru on a wet (or icy) road. This buys a lot of parental peace of mind, especially if your young driver is a college student. The Forester’s cargo area is also just right for packing a dorm room’s worth of supplies.
Ford Focus. No matter where you drive in America, you’re never more than a few miles from a Ford dealer with a service department. A 2009 Focus with about 50,000 miles on the odometer can be purchased for around $10,000, according to a leading consumer magazine, and should be mechanically sound and relatively safe. Great fuel economy is a plus.
Toyota Camry. If you want to buy your college freshman a car that will last through grad school, the indestructible Camry is the car for you. Also, the Camry’s conservative styling is incongruent with fast driving, so your teen may be less inclined to test its performance limits, i.e., involve it in a street race. If your driver is a boy, you’ll know what I mean.
Almost any late-model used car you look at will have air bags and anti-lock brakes, two important safety features. Newer cars, however, have a defense that’s perhaps more important — stability control. Most serious crashes involving young drivers result from errors in judgment — speeding into a turn, for example, or slamming on the brakes to avoid a rear-end collision.
Stability control keeps the rear of the car from breaking loose (figuratively speaking), which can cause a vehicle to spin or a flip. With stability control, computer sensors selectively brake one or more wheels in sequence to make the car stop in a straight line. Standard on models from 2012 and later, it’s worth checking to determine if any pre-2012 used cars you consider have this feature..." read the original article


7/18  2013 Outbacks and Legacys are selling out quickly and the 2014 selection is growing
2013 Legacy 0% for 60/63 months, or great lease deals, and 2013 Outback 0% x48 mos, 0.90 x 60/63 months and discounted prices. on approval of credit.

7/17 moving is never fun, but could Subaru's need for a new HQ spell trouble?
by J. Treece at AutoNews "Uh-oh. Subaru, whose sales have soared over the last several years, wants to move to a new headquarters.
This could mean trouble. Subaru of America Inc. says its building in Cherry Hill, N.J., is too small, with staffers spilling over into adjacent buildings. It is looking at sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but won't say whether it wants a larger existing building or a site on which it can build a new one.
Subaru of America, then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, moved into its current, custom-built building in 1986. A stock market analyst told me at the time that there's no better "sell" signal on a stock than when a company builds a headquarters.
It means management can't find anything better to do with its money than spend it on bricks and mortar, and management attention gets diverted from the real business.
Sure enough, Subaru suffered. After an 11 percent rise in 1985, Subaru's U.S. sales rose just 3 percent in 1986 to 179,100, and then fell each year until 1996. Sales didn't return to the 1986 level until 2001.
Or consider Toyota Motor Corp. It moved from its decades-old, low-rise Toyota City, Japan, headquarters to a gleaming new high-rise in 2005. Soon after -- about when showrooms began to fill with cars that had been designed when the top brass were reviewing architectural plans -- sales tripped over global recalls and other problems.
To be sure, this isn't a law of physics. Volkswagen AG opened a new U.S. headquarters in Herndon, Va., in 2007, and VW/Audi sales haven't suffered.
Subaru's U.S. sales surge is behind the crowding at headquarters. U.S. industrywide sales in 2012 were 39 percent above 2009's recessionary nadir. But Subaru's 2012 sales were 55 percent above its 2009 tally.
Maybe Subaru will rent an office complex without management becoming distracted. But its search for a new headquarters could be a lot more belabored than that. And there's another cause for concern: Subaru's parent, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., plans to move into a new Tokyo headquarters in 2014" read the original article

7/17 brochures
when new models are around the corner- for instance the 2014 Impreza, BRZ, Tribeca, WRX/STI due early fall-  Subaru is going to send dealers who need more brochures a color 2 sided page with a brief model summary and links to download information. This is instead of printing more brochures as the model year winds down. The size of the brochures have been shrinking for a few years now as Subaru pushes toward an online shopping experience. Subaru would like you to download an app to an Apple or Android phone/tablet (but not Blackberry or Windows?). Thats saves money, especially for dealers who pay for the brochures and end up with leftovers when the new models are out, and it also allows Subaru to interact with the shopper directly. There will always be brochures since some people appreciate the physical booklet, or won't want to download something, or won't want share their personal information with Subaru.


7/16 An article and training video on the SVX from 1996, from Jalopnik.
When I was selling them in 1996/7, the end of the SVX's run, the LSi was priced around $37000. They were a great cruising car but this was when the typical Subaru was $20,000-23,000. Even today $37000 is almost top dollar for a Subaru. There was always interest in the SVXs and they would have sold if the price was reasonable. watch the training video and read the comments

7/15 Subaru announced that the tangerine orange WRX and STI Special Edition sedans are not available through Subaru's VIP program. What?
Wait... there are still some of the 200 WRXs and 100 STIs unsold sitting on dealer lots? Amazing. I think its a great looking WRX/STI  and I would have thought they'd sell out quickly but apparently there are some still available. All the Special Editions are tangerine orange with black graphics and alloys, orange stitched cloth seats etc. I checked and the computer says there are 20 unsold WRXs and 10 STIs left scattered throughout the country (but none in the NW).  Some just arrived within the last month, still one would think they'd sell quickly. They should. Not sure what the Special Edition looks like? Check here for the WRX and here for the STI

7/14 comparison of Mazda CX-5, Rav4, and Forester 2.5 from Car and Driver, June issue
The Forester comes last place, the Mazda in 1st The review of the Forester mentions its many good features but focuses on the CVT. It doesn't specifically mention that the Forester 2.5's CVT has no meaningfull way to control the RPMs for everyday performance or snow/rugged road driving, but the writers sure say the same thing in different ways, even comparing it to the Powerglide for those of us old enough to remember that.  Is this CVT the microwave of transmissions? For a person who likes driving, who wants rugged-road capability in an on-road car, the Forester's 2.5 CVT with only Drive and Low modes is lacking. It's to engaged driving what the microwave is to engaged cooking ....
The article starts "Forgive this observation, but most modern compact SUVs have all the personality of an escalator. And they’re all pretty much the same escalator, as the genre has recently coalesced around a single approach. After years of experimentation that brought us everything from the Suzuki X-90 to the Isuzu Amigo, items such as transfer cases, V-6 engines, softtops, and three-door models are all as out as, well, Suzuki and Isuzu. Gone, also, is any semblance of truckishness. Even with their optional all-wheel-drive systems, these jacked-up unibody wagons now make no pretense of any real off-road ability...
...."It didn’t take long to realize that the Forester was the odd man out in this test. Not because it’s a bad car—in fact, it seemed the most carlike of the trio—but because it feels like a car that’s not much fun to drive. The problem is twofold but starts with the transmission, a CVT that displays all the worst qualities of these units. We’d take the four-speed from the old RAV4 over this thing. Heck, we’d even take a two-speed Powerglide..." read this entire article
According to James Healy at USAToday
Q: What's your pick for best compact SUV in snowy northern Michigan?
James R. Healey: Subaru Forester if you don't mind dorky styling and CVT. Mazda CX-5 with the 2.5-liter engine if you do. read this article


7/13 Click and Clack on a 2009 Impreza with a gear problem. This is a bummer but not a common problem.
"Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport with a stick shift. Every now and again, when I have the car in third gear, the stick will pop out. If my hand happens to be resting on the gear and it pops out, I can feel the stick pushing out of gear. If I try to put the stick back into gear too soon, it grinds, not allowing or wanting me to put the stick back in third gear. This all happens in a matter of seconds, and then I can get the stick back into third.
It doesn't feel right, and I'm not the only person who has experienced this. My husband borrowed my car once and asked if I knew about this. I had told him about it prior to his borrowing my car, but he apparently hadn't "heard" me, haha.
It happens at least once a day, and when I mentioned it to the Subaru dealer where I take my car for servicing, he told me he didn't experience it, and that was the end of it. Have you ever heard of this happening, and do you have any ideas on what I need to do to repair it? — Ann
RAY: Yes, we've heard of this. How do you think we've been able to afford a bigger boat every year at the shop?
TOM: Your third-gear synchronizers are shot, Ann. The only way to fix that is by rebuilding or replacing the transmission.
RAY: Yeah, I know: "Ouch."
TOM: I'd probably go with a used or rebuilt transmission on a 5-year-old car like this. Depending on which way you go, that'll cost you somewhere in the $1,500-$3,000 range. Maybe your husband will "hear" that?
RAY: So, depending on your long-term plans for this car, you might want to just ignore it for now. You won't hurt anything else if you do. And fortunately, you still have four other forward gears that are working.
TOM: You probably noticed this, but it almost always will pop out when you're accelerating. So when it pops out of third, shift to fourth.
RAY: You probably can get away with that for a while. Eventually, though, you won't be able to get it into third at all. And at that point, you'll have to decide if you want to become a lifetime member of the Second-to-Fourth Club, fix the problem or trade in the car.
TOM: On the other hand, if you know you're going to be keeping this car until the bitter end, then you should get it fixed right away. Why? Because why suffer with the
 problem another day if you're going to pay to fix it eventually? It's going to cost you just as much a year from now. So why not start enjoying a properly working car right away?RAY: Or, since your dealer wants to convince you that the transmission is working perfectly, maybe he'll give you full value on a trade-in now, without discounting it for a transmission rebuild. Good luck, Ann." go to Click and Clack's Car Talk



7/12 2015 model Outback and Legacy spy photos, already?
The 2014 Outbacks and Legacys are just arriving, and the gossip is already starting about the changes for next year's 2015 redesigned models. Check out the photos. The cars were shown at the national dealer meeting in May. The overall shapes look very similar to the current ones. The mirrors have been moved to the doors and there's the 2nd small front triangular window. Both the Outback and Legacy in the photos have turn signals in the mirrors but that doesn't mean they will make it to the production version. There are a few interior photos, and while its hard to make out any details, it does look like a similar center stack and steering wheel. But really there isn't much that can be confirmed by these snapshots other than there's a new model coming next year and Subaru is teasing us with something to talk about. Click here for the 2015 Outback photos and 2015 Legacy photos 



7/11 2014 Outback brochures now available. 27 pages. It the same 11" tall format like the 2014 Forester and Legacy brochures

7/10 Outback- new option package available on the 2014 Outback, Adventure Package
The Adventure Package #A includes wheel arch moldings, splash guards, rubber mats, rear bumper cover, rear seatback protector, and body colored side moldings. MSRP $1096 - $500 package discount = $596
Package #B is the same but for the Limited with Special Appearance Pkg models that already include the rear bumper cover, so it has wheel arch moldings, splash guards, rear seatback protector, rubber mats, and body colored side moldings. MSRP $1004 - $450 pkg discount =  $554


7/9 what a bike rack does to fuel economy

from Consumer Reports "We're in the thick of summer travel season and vacationers are packing up their cars for getaways. Bringing bikes on vacation is a great way to get exercise and save gas touring your destination. But, our tests show that taking bikes with you will exact a fuel economy toll.
To find out how much fuel economy is actually lost with a bike rack, we tested various setups on a 2013 Honda Accord. We ran our traditional highway fuel tests with no rack, an empty rack, empty rack with wind deflector, and a rack with two bikes and deflector. The results were dramatic.
The Accord LX four-cylinder used for this testing is exceptionally fuel efficient, earning 30 mpg overall--good enough to rival many small cars.
As we cruised at 65 mph in the Accord with a pair of bicycles on a roof rack plus wind deflector, our highway fuel economy plummeted by more than a third, from a miserly 42 mpg to a miserable 27 mpg. The rack alone wasted 5 mpg. Keep in mind that a car filled with people and cargo will also have an effect on fuel economy, so pack as efficiently as you can.
2013 Honda Accord, 4 cylinder,  going 65 MPH
with no rack - 42 MPG
with an empty rack- 37 MPG
with an empty rack, plus a wind deflector 35 MPG
with 2 bikes on the rack, plus wind deflector 27 MPG
read the original article on Consumer Reports




7/8 Crosstrek with Rally Armor mud flaps
The aftermarket Rally Armors mud flaps are larger than factory splash guards. Click the image for larger photos and Crosstrek specs etc

subaru crosstrek with aftermarket rally armor mud flaps. click for 2013 crosstrek specs and photos


7/7 safety- rear-view-camera requirements delayed until 2015.
Subarus with rear view cameras:
Foresters, all 2014 except base 2.5i
Outback: all 2013 and 2014 with moonroof
Legacy: all 2013 with navigation. 2014 all with power moonroof
Crosstrek- all 2013 Limited
Impreza- all with navigation
Tribeca- all with moonroof
BRZ- none
The Obama administration is delaying regulations that require new vehicles to come equipped with rear-view cameras to protect against drivers backing over people in blind spots, a victory for automakers who say requiring the cameras is too costly. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood set a new deadline of January 2015 for the regulations. An average of 228 people are killed and 17,000 injured each year because of back-over accidents. Many of the accidents occur in driveways and parking lots. Nearly half the deaths involve children under age 10.


7/6 about CVT transmissions from Tom and Ray of CarTalk
"Dear Tom and Ray: I'm considering getting a new Honda Accord four-cylinder. For 2013, Honda went to a CV transmission, replacing the five-speed automatic. I wonder about (1) the longevity of this type of transmission; (2) the effect on fuel economy; and (3) the overall driving experience for someone (me) who has driven both manuals and automatics for 50 years. Your carefully considered opinion is appreciated. — Pete
Tom: Hmm. Would you settle for one of our usual opinions, which are ill-considered and half-baked?
Ray: I think it's fine for you to get the CVT, Pete. We're living in a period of rapid gear inflation. For a long time, we had three-speed transmissions. Then came four-, five- and, pretty quickly, six-speed automatics. Then, in just the past couple of years, we started seeing seven- and eight-speeds, and now we hear about companies working on nine- and 10-speed gearboxes.
Tom: The reason to add gears is that, generally speaking, the more gears you have, the better your fuel economy. The more you can match the demands of your driving to the most efficient gear ratio for those demands, the less fuel you waste.
Ray: A CVT (continuously variable transmission) is a gearbox with infinitely variable ratios. Actually, no gears at all — just belts that move constantly up and down two cone-shaped pulley-thingies to adjust the gear ratios.
Tom: It's definitely a plus for fuel economy. That's why Honda has started using it.
Ray: In terms of longevity, we don't really know. Some of the early CVTs had trouble with high-torque engines. But Nissan and other companies have been using them successfully for years now, and, so far, there don't seem to be any particular problems.
Tom: The driving experience is a little different. Under most normal, gentle driving conditions, you probably won't even notice it. Good transmissions are so smooth these days that you barely feel the shifts now anyway. But when you really need to accelerate, you will see a difference in the way the transmission and engine interact with each other.
Ray: If you stomp on the gas, like when you're on a highway on-ramp, you'll notice that the engine revs way up at first, to give you immediate power. And then, as the car picks up speed, the engine actually goes slower and slower as the transmission continues to adjust the gear ratios as the car needs less power.
Tom: It's a little odd at first, but so was trying to work with my brother, and I got used to it.
Ray: It's certainly not a reason to avoid the car, Pete. And while there's no guarantee, Honda, overall, has a pretty good track record for durability and reliability.
Tom: I'd suggest that you go and test-drive one. You'll see what we're talking about. Make sure you include some sort of sudden, harder acceleration in your test drive so you can experience the primary difference we're talking about.
Ray: But remember, every new technology is a little weird at first. When the first automatic transmissions came out, it was weird not to shift the gears yourself. When the first anti-lock brakes came out, it was weird not to pump the pedal in a panic stop. And when the first iPhone came out, it was weird to be able to have such a cool phone and still not hear what the other person was saying." more from CarTalk


7/5 BRZ- optional Kicker trunk mounted, 100w subwoofer is now available, $646 factory installed. Options list


7/4 Subarus sales are booming in the US but down in England which means more cars for the US.
Here is an article by English writer clearly out of sorts with Subarus and especially the new Forester which is larger and more of a SUV than he likes .
"Subaru is on the wrong path. In theory Subaru sales should be booming.
Cross-over cars are the hottest property in the car market. We have just endured two bad winters on the trot meaning larger numbers of drivers are looking at any car with four-wheel drive and car companies are increasingly being viewed as brands with reputation and heritage counting for everything.
With its long history in rallying that should all add up to excellent news for Subaru dealers.
It should. The reality is that Subaru sales are in the doldrums (down 23 per cent last year) and, rather oddly and disappointingly, the Japanese firm seems to have lost its way.
The all-conquering Impreza has been dropped from UK showrooms, there is the disappointing XV crossover and then there is this new Forester.
We've always had a bit of a soft spot for the previous-generation Foresters.
Pumped-up 4x4 estates with similar performance to the Impreza, they've always been practical and handled well.
However, Subaru has abandoned the Forester's previous ethos and instead gone for a larger 4x4 body (presumably for the US market). It seems an odd choice. While the mainstream car market is moving towards car-like 4x4s Subaru is going in the opposite direction making cars that are more like 4x4s. The new Forester doesn't even have looks on its side. It's not ugly, but bland has never been much of a selling point.
Then again, Subarus at this level have never been flippant purchases of the heart, they are practical cars that you buy with your head....
The unrefined and intrusive noise of the gearbox and engine mean you are unlikely to want to try to match them either...
..On the road the news doesn't really get much better. Subarus are meant to be hard-wearing and functional but modern buyers demand so much more than this... As well as that vocal engine and gearbox combination the steering lacks any kind of feel whatsoever, there's too much body roll through corners and an excessive amount of engine and road noise comes into the cabin.
Some of the refinement issues might have been overlooked in the previous Forester as it made up for them with its superb driving experience and sporty handling but in this latest incarnation they are unforgivable....
At a time when Subaru has real opportunities and is crying out for a sense of direction we remain to be convinced that the Forester is heading the right way." read the entire article


7/3 Subaru Forester bookmobile in Connecticut.
Tree branch falls on Forester roof, driver is ok.


7/2 June sales, Subaru's 2nd best month ever with 39,235 cars sold!
The best month was just May, with 39,892. Subaru is on track to sell over 400,000 cars this year and is the 10th best selling car in the country.
YTD total is 204, 597  or 40,293 more than 164,203 YTD 2012
Outback 12,210 which is 32% or 2956 more than 9,254 June 2012
Forester 10,170 which is 41% or 2937 more than 7233 June 2012
Crosstrek 4652
WRX, STI 1697 which is 559 or 49% more than 1138 June 2012
Impreza 5210 which is 29 or 1% more than 5181 June 2012
BRZ 789 which is 29 or 4%  less than 818 June 2012
Tribeca 144 which is 40 or 40% less than 184 June 2012


7/1 advertising- Subaru has been a sponsor of the Antique Roadshow for years. The Roadshow was just in Boise, Idaho
"John Nye had excellent news for an Idaho couple about a Chippendale chest that's been in the family since the 18th century. The appraiser said their piece would bring up to $20,000 at auction and sell for two or three times that at retail. "Maybe my hearing aid isn't working," said the owner, Nancy of Whitebird, with a laugh. "I didn't quite get that."
Nancy and her husband, Bruce, scored twice at Saturday's taping of "Antiques Roadshow," the PBS series that draws 10 million viewers a week and made its first-ever Idaho stop. The chest of drawers and two domed wood boxes and their contents were among about 90 items picked for on-camera appraisal....
... At the show's core are the narratives behind the objects, but Roadshow's appraisers don't hold back from debunking them, said supervising producer Sam Farrell. "Family stories are often colorful and interesting, but they're frequently not accurate," she said.
An estimated 5,000-6,000 people patiently waited Saturday, typically for 90 minutes or so... The event was held at Expo Idaho on the Western Idaho Fairgrounds, an unusually small venue for the program, now taping its 18th season. Tents were added and a second building used. "The people at Expo Idaho have risen to the challenge," said associate producer Jill Giles.
The things people carried were schlepped in on a dizzying array of conveyances: wheeled luggage, baby strollers, 150-quart Igloo coolers, oxygen carts and wagons. One handmade dolly looked like the Joad family truck in "Grapes of Wrath," with a huge bench topped with two chairs and a painting strapped to the side.
Jon, a school custodian from Garden City, carried an oak Mission-style rocker on his head. Made around 1910, it belonged to his grandfather and was appraised at about $300. The ticket to the show was a birthday present from Jon's mom, who contributed $200. "She called Public TV and got the last ticket," he said.
At the heart of the show's geometry are 24 specialty tables staffed by 70 volunteer appraisers - all from out of state - who pay their expenses in exchange for invaluable exposure. Everyone gets an oral appraisal, but tongues stop when a special piece emerges, drawing producers who cull items for airing. Those guests are then herded to a green room and isolated from crew and appraisers so their on-camera reactions will be spontaneous.
A Boise potter named Rick brought a pair of 17th century Chinese porcelain jars that were estimated to bring $12,000 to $18,000 at auction. "I had no idea," he said.
Appraiser Lark Mason asked Rick, recently retired from Boise Parks and Rec, to talk about how the jars were made, including the cobalt glaze. "He didn't disagree with me," said a gratified Rick. "I've been watching the show for years. It was a big long shot to make it, when you figure there's 5,000 people and everybody brings two pieces."
Appraisals are filmed at four locations in a circle inside the specialty tables, with blue carpets outlining off-limit zones. Though crowds meander in eyeshot of cameras, guests displayed a reverence for the program that would make any photo-bomber a heretic of the worst order.... " read the entire article



6/30 advertising- about Subaru Drive magazine, and marketing that knows its audience
"Four times a year a magazine called Drive shows up in my mailbox. I never subscribed to this magazine, but I did buy a Subaru a few years ago. Drive: The Magazine From Subaru is, I guess, the car company's thank-you gift to me.
I'm not what you would call "a car person." I really don't care about much beyond fuel efficiency, how a car performs in the snow, and that the radio works. So more often than not, the Subaru magazine gets tossed directly into the recycling bin or languishes in some pile of catalogs and magazines until I decide to toss that entire stack into the recycling bin.
And then the most recent issue showed up and tricked me into reading it, because the cover story wasn't about the 2014 Forrester or some 24-year-old German kid who just won a road rally in his WRX. It was about the farm-to-table movement. With lush pictures of vegetables on the cover, I thought it might be my organic gardening magazine.
Why the heck was this magazine for car lovers (or, at least, Subaru lovers) doing stories about restaurants and local food? Were the chefs featured in the story picking the food up from farmers and hauling it back to their kitchens in their Outbacks? I just didn't get it.
Then I realized that Subaru was just practicing good content marketing. If someone asked you to tell them what kind of person owns a Toyota or Honda, you probably couldn't answer in any kind of meaningful way. But we all know who is driving Subarus. The company has long been positioning itself as the car of choice for outdoorsy types and tree huggers. Many of its commercials are targeted at dog lovers, hikers, and skiers, and they never fail to mention that the cars are made in zero-landfill plants. If you care about the environment but live too rugged a lifestyle to own a Prius, you've probably got a Subaru in your driveway-and that has not escaped the company's marketers. (Just a few pages after the farm-to-table story is a two-page spread explaining how "green" the PZEV vehicles are.)
So how does a car company get nongearheads (like me) to pay attention to its content marketing? Write about other things that they do care about. In this case, that happens to mean local, sustainable foods-but in the past, cover stories have focused on kiteboarding, canyoneering, and, of all things, changing your career.
The spring issue of Drive conveniently showed up at the same time I happened to be planting seeds for my cold-weather crops and searching Pinterest for DIY greenhouse plans. I was raking leaves out of my flower beds and smiling at the sight of daffodils and crocuses. By the time the magazine with the colorful carrots and chard showed up, I was ripe for the picking (pardon the pun).
I soon discovered there was more in the magazine for people like me. There was a profile of an archaeologist who drives (what else?) a Subaru while searching for pottery fragments and dinosaur bones. There were pictures from other readers who were checking items off their "bucket lists" while road-tripping around the United States, and there was an ode to tailgating. Of course there were also a few pages dedicated to horsepower and car awards, and other things that didn't interest me, but I still ended up reading most of the magazine (and learning new things about Subaru models I didn't even know existed).
Here at EContent we talk a lot about content marketing and how journalists are moving over to the business world to fill the new chief content officer positions at companies and enterprises, but Drive has been around for 25 years. It has a masthead just like ours, complete with an editor-in-chief. There's no doubt that what this publication is doing is content marketing, but I'm not so sure anyone there knows it.
And perhaps that's the lesson all content marketers should take away from this column: The best content marketing shouldn't even be identifiable as content marketing. If you're doing your job right, the content you produce should be virtually indistinguishable from any other type of content. But the Drive example also goes to show the importance of knowing your audience. While your customers may not be into white water rafting or ice climbing, they likely care about something you can use to engage them with your content and eventually your product." read the original article



6/29 review of the Crosstrek mild hybrid due here later this year is on sale now in Japan.
This new version is Subarus first hybrid and is only the first of many hybrids expected to come in the future.
Overall, the review from Motor Trend is positive, with the Crosstrek hybrid also getting slightly improved handling and acceleration in addition to the better city fuel economy - all areas where almost every car could use improvement. The hybrid hasn't been priced yet but there's strong interest in the car.
As Subaru works to improve economy on all their cars, the 3.6L Outback and Legacy is expected to get a CVT on the redesigned 2015 model next year (2014). There is always hope the diesel Outback CVT currently on sale in Australia will find its way to our shores, but there's been no hint that it will.
"In a market flooded with small and midsize crossovers, Subaru steps up to the plate with something completely different in the shape of the XV Crosstrek Hybrid...
Subaru bosses are banking on the XV Crosstrek Hybrid's uniqueness, proven AWD capabilities, and improved fuel economy to place it on the lists of those buyers pining for a reliable crossover.
Having just driven a protype at Fuji Speedway in Japan, we can safely say this hybrid deserves to be on those lists. However, it's not a home run by any stretch of the imagination. But before we get into what the car is like behind the wheel, let's check out the spec sheet. Based on the existing XV Crosstrek, which inherits most of its underpinnings from the Impreza, the hybrid matches a 2.0-liter FB-series Boxer engine with a 13.4-horsepower integrated electric motor mounted just behind the transmission and in front of the clutch. A 100-volt, 13.5-kw nickel-metal hydride battery resides under the revised rear floor... This single-motor configuration means the XV Crosstrek Hybrid is a effectively a mild hybrid, though it is able to move under purely electric power at speeds up to 15-20 mph....
.. EPA mileage for the gas model is 23/30 mpg city/highway with the manual and 25/33 mpg with the CVT. We hear the hybrid will see a noticeable city improvement, but only a slight highway one - around 28/34 mpg. Subaru's original aim was to make the most fuel-efficient crossover in America, but such lukewarm mileage improvements over the stock version would only allow the automaker to claim that the XV hybrid is the most fuel-efficient, lowest-emission AWD hybrid in America.From behind the wheel, the Hybrid feels exactly like the regular XV....
"Those 13 hp don't sound much, but they do make a noticeable difference when you extend your right boot," says chief engineer Ryo Nitta.... The Hybrid's slightly stiffer spring rates give the car a firmer feel on the road... But it's the tighter steering gear ratio, lowered from 16:1 to 14:1, that gives the Hybrid something that makes it feel more like a Subaru. It turns in quicker with less effort, good steering feel, and just the right amount of road feedback..
The 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid is essentially the same as the gas model in terms of versatility and utility. It maintains the 8.7 inches of ground clearance....
 Overall, the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek handles better, feels firmer on the road, and offers a little more power, but some might be disappointed by the meager improvement in mileage. Pricing will be announced closer to the car's launch at the end of this year..."
read the complete article


6/28 watch what you put in the tank...
"Let the driver beware: Not all gasoline is created equal. As the summer-vacation driving season begins, paying attention at the pump can add miles per gallon to your fuel economy, and protect your engine.
Differences in octane level and the amount of ethanol added to gasoline can have a dramatic impact on fuel economy and emissions. In a worst-case scenario, using bad gas could even void the manufacturer's warranty.
The key risks: Lower-than-expected octane and higher mixes of ethanol. Low-octane fuel — rated 85 or 86, as opposed to 87 for regular gasoline — is common in the Rocky Mountain states, says General Motors fuel specialist Bill Studzinski. The practice goes back to the days of carbureted engines, when lower octane helped vehicles run smoothly at altitude. The electronic engine controls that have replaced carburetors make the lower octane unnecessary and potentially harmful.
"I felt like a fool," says Rodney Gutzler of Sioux Falls, S.D., former owner of a 2012 Scion iQ. "Here I was in a little bitty car that was supposed to get 36 mpg in the city, and I was getting 25."  The 85-octane gas spread from the mountains of western South Dakota into the eastern plains last year, says David Montgomery, a reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. The state Legislature has since passed a law restricting sales to the west and requiring a warning label on pumps: "This octane level may not meet minimum manufacturer specifications. Consult your owner's manual before fueling."
Automakers would prefer a total ban on 85- and 86-octane gasoline. Less than 2 percent of the vehicles in the U.S. have carburetors, according to GM. The other 98 percent have computer controls that adjust for altitude and require the manufacturer's specified gasoline to meet emissions, fuel economy and performance standards.
"We do not endorse the use of 85 octane or lower," Studzinski says...." read the entire article

6/27 Forester optional wheel arch moldings won't be available this year after all (subject to change again)

6/26 Subaru toy Foresters with Eyesight expected this week.
They were given to dealers at the May meeting Las Vegas and have proved to be so popular, Subaru is sending each dealer 5 more. 


6/24 final week for the Love Strikes Twice Certified event with .99% financing up to 48months on Certified 2010-11-12-13s. On approval of credit

6/23 Crosstrek review by two writers
"Although the Subaru Crosstrek is based on the Impreza sedan platform, it's more similar to the Subaru Forester SUV. The Crosstrek is very much a utilitarian vehicle. The plastics are hard and there is a noticeable lack of soft surfaces almost anywhere in the cabin. The Crosstrek's engine has just enough power to keep the driver satisfied, but it did require me to downshift the manual transmission to keep my speed up on some of the steeper hills in the Seattle area. The drivetrain is a happy balance of fuel-efficient frugality and all-weather versatility, which would be great if this small crossover was more useful. But the Crosstrek has such a small cargo area that it cannot really fill the role of hauler. Unless you fold down the rear seats there is only enough space for a few grocery bags. So the Crosstrek isn't a true workhorse — but it is also not a comfortable family car. For me it falls between two stools. - Paul Hagger
The new Subaru Crosstrek makes a great replacement for the old Impreza Outback Sport. It's based on the current Impreza, but with its higher ground clearance, larger fender flares and unique wheels it looks like a different car. Like the Impreza, the Crosstrek offers surprising rear-seat legroom and a good amount of cargo space, especially for a small crossover. The engine has decent power, but it doesn't feel very smooth and is rather noisy. This is especially true at high rpms where it sounds like it's working very hard. But handling is great and the Crosstrek feels stable, most impressively in the wet. With prices starting around $22,000 and fuel economy in the high-20s, the Crosstrek is a good choice in the crowded crossover segment.- Perry Stern" read the original article



6/22 BRZ with Corvette engine with 500 horsepower
. The BRZ needs more power (turbo anyone?) but that would get you to work way too fast...

"Remember that photo from Weapons Grade Performance of a Corvette LS2 motor sitting in the engine bay of a Subaru BRZ? Well it turns out that the all the work is finally done, and the “BRZ06″ is alive, and appeared at the WBM (Wicked Big Meet) in Connecticut that recently happened. We can hear all of the JDM forums crying aloud at once in protest. It’s beautiful.
Word is that the BRZ06 is pushing 500 horsepower, which is more than twice the amount the original Boxer engine was putting down, and comes complete with “factory anti-lag.” The most challenging part of the project wasn’t the installation of the 6.0L small-block V8, but fitting in the T56 transmission, as the tunnel had to be customized.To handle the extra power, the engine and transmission support structure were designed to tie the existing subframes on the car to additional points on the frame in an X-brace fashion to provide additional stiffness. WGP also upgraded all of the rear suspension components and bushings to handle the additional load.
Overall, the LS2 and T56 add approximately 200lbs to the BRZ, with most weight actually coming from the transmission.  WGP doesn’t feel it to be a significant gain, but still intends to lower it via production version mounts and exhaust over the original version we see here. Just as important, the weight balance now shifts to 56/43, which is just 3% more forward bias than a stock BRZ.  But to keep the center of gravity in check, the crankshaft centerline is actually lower than stock, and any sort of handling upset is dialed out with KW coilovers, sway bars, adjustable suspensions, and a lighter wheel/tire package. The brakes are also fortified, now being 355 Stoptechs up front. With all the extra mods, handling is not negatively affected at all, with the added benefit of robust Small Block power. The beefier 285-wide tires in the back also provided the needed grip and power delivery that the stock 215 tires just weren’t cut out for.Best of all, is that the BRZ06 isn’t a one-off. It’s a conversion kit. And it will set you back as little as $3,200 (plus the cost of your Toyoburu test subject) for the basic kit, which features engine and transmission mounts, custom oil pan and driveshaft. But the “complete kit” is a more lofty $9100, which adds custom engine wiring and exhaust work, along with upgraded cooling.  Brake and wheel upgrades are also available." read the original article

6/21- a Forester review is interesting for the author's using the Beatles as a point of reference. But its another review that fails to comment on the CVT and low mode. I wonder how much time they spent driving the car?
"The Beatles 1967 hit, “Getting Better” was one of the last songs created from scratch by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and was included on the album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”  Its production on March 23rd, 1967, had been delayed two days when Lennon mistakenly ingested LSD instead of an intended upper – something he typically did to get the recording work completed.  Provenance of the song goes back to 1964 when session drummer, Jimmy Nicol, subbed for an ailing Ringo Starr on tour and when asked about his extreme case of nerves would reply that he was “getting better’.  He made that response so often that it became a joke phrase amongst members of the biggest band in the world.
The song’s lyrics include the line, “I have to admit it’s getting better,” and relative to the Subaru Forester, I do.  In the spring of 2011, I tested the then-current Forester, so therefore had a point of reference for analyzing this 2014 model.  And I’ll have to admit that this new Ice silver metallic Forester was impressive.  It had an M.S.R.P. of $33,220, somewhat north of thirty thousand dollars just like the Subaru  I drove two years ago.  This 2014 Forester had a base of $29,995 with option package 30 for $2,400 and freight charges of $825.  The package included keyless entry, pushbutton starter, pre-collision braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and HID headlamps.  Standard on the Touring Forester was dual-zone climate control, GPS navigation, satellite radio, Harman & Kardon 440 watt stereo, Bluetooth technology, 10-way power driver bucket, heated front seats, power windows/locks/mirrors/tailgate, power moonroof, tilt/telescope, and black leather upholstery.
Subaru sedans and SUV’s all have “boxer,” horizontally opposed engines, and this one was a four cylinder, 2.5 liter model with 170 horsepower and 174 lb. ft. of torque.  The all-wheel drive power train got its motion through a CVT transmission – another superb one like last week’s test car had.  Fuel economy ratings for the Subaru are 24 and 32, with my observance at 27.5.  Zero to sixty acceleration of this vehicle is reportedly 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.  Handling and guidance of the Forester was an improvement over the 2011 model.
Styling of the 2014 Forester was slightly updated and aerodynamics are improved as is cargo space inside the five passenger vehicle.  Wheels are 17” five-spoke alloys fitted with Michelin 225/60R17 all season radials.  Weight comes in at 3,433 lbs., length is 180.9”, width is 70.7”, and the height is 68.2”.
I enjoyed testing the new 2014 Forester and feel the company has managed to improve a top seller (80,000 units per year).  Regarding the 2011/2012 model, it’s a good thing that Subaru didn’t “let it be.” read the original article


6/20 2014 Outbacks and Legacys arriving at dealers

6/19 2014 Legacy brochures arriving at dealers. 26 pages, but at only 11" high, they're smaller that last year's 12.5"

6/17 XM satellite radio upgrade on 2013 and 2014 models purchased on or after June 17, 2013
Any 2013 or 2014 model year cars with factory installed satellite radio purchased on or after 6/17/13 will get XM All Access free for 4 months (dealer installed satellite is free for 3 months). This is an upgrade over the XM Select package previously included for 4 months, and includes all the premium channels including NFL and Nascar radio, Howard Stern, and XM internet radio for home computers, tablets, and smartphones. Satellite radio is included with all 2013 Navigation systems, Outback, Legacy Limiteds, BRZs, Tribecas, and all 2014 Navigation systems, Outback and Legacy Premium and Limited, Forester Touring, and Tribeca. Register for the upgrade and XM home at www.siriusxm.com/getallaccess


6/16 Consumer Reports recently selected the Forester as their top choice.
But not all was perfect. CR edits articles just like every other magazine and here are the comments that didn't make it into July 2013 issue. Surprisingly for me, there are no comments on the 2.5 CVT's lack of transmission control. Makes me wonder how much time any one person spent in the car not to be concerned about this oversight in an otherwise great car.
Here are the comments...
"Not only is the Subaru Forester our recently crowned top-rated small SUV, it's also extremely popular among Consumer Reports' readers. Because of that interest, we thought we'd share some candid outtakes from the logbook for further impressions from our team.
A few of the reasons why this SUV knocked it out of the park: 26 mpg overall is tops in the category; the rear seat is very spacious; and great brakes. And, universally, it was agreed that the Forester has the best visibility and access of just about any vehicle ever. Throw in standard all-wheel-drive, and it's easy to see why the Forester is so popular here in New England. (Read our complete Subaru Forester road test.)
When we decide on which models to test, we do some research to get an idea which trim line, engine and transmission make up the majority of what people buy. In the Forester's case, it came down to a 2.5i Premium with the CVT and All-Weather Package (heated seats and mirrors). So, this is the model we bought. Ours also happened to come with splash guards, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and Homelink, and a rear cargo tray. Grand total: $26,814.
However, as good as this SUV is, there's still room for improvement. Here's an inside logbook glance at some of what's good and not-so-good in the Forester:
"Engine power is just adequate."
"Steering feels soggy at low speeds and too responsive at highway speeds."
"Handling is nimble."
"Crosswinds and truck wakes blow this box around a lot on the highway."
"When you really step on the throttle, the CVT flares to 4,000 rpm and you want to run and hide from the racket."
"The ride is a little choppy at times."
"I think previous Foresters rode better."
"Front seat is a bit stiff, especially the lumbar-lump - but pretty good overall."
"I'd get my Forester with automatic climate control and leather seats."
"Great visibility with small roof pillars and large windows."
"Love the big sunroof."
"Pairing a phone is a cumbersome and unintuitive process."
Clearly, the Forester is not perfect. Like all vehicles, it has its weaknesses, but in our testing, the strengths clearly dominate.
Near the end of every logbook entry, we all try to answer the question, "Would I buy one?" The majority here would be happy to see this SUV parked in their driveway. But the engine/CVT and wind and road noise were consistent complaints and possibly deal-breakers for others. Nonetheless, as an overall package, the Forester reigns as the new small SUV king." read the original article


6/15 Subaru has outgrown their HQ in Cherry Hill, NJ. Will they move, and where? The competition to get them is on...
"Executives for Subaru hope to decide by the end of the year whether to expand their American headquarters in Cherry Hill or relocate to one of four selected sites in South Jersey or Philadelphia. Company officials say they've outgrown the building they've occupied since 1986 and, thanks to record growth over the past five years, desperately need a work environment that meets modern standards in technology, comfort, design and efficiency.
But while Subaru flirts with the idea of moving across the bridge to The Navy Yard, political leaders from Cherry Hill and Camden County are feverishly trying to keep them – and their 500 employees -- from leaving the state.
"I think I've had a constant dialogue with executives since I've taken office, and we have a very good working relationship," says Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn. "We've advocated to the state to make sure they're doing everything possible to make sure Subaru stays in Cherry Hill."
But while Subaru spokesperson Michael McHale says he and his supervisors would ideally like to stay in the township, local New Jersey officials acknowledge that Philadelphia and Pennsylvania offer incentives that New Jersey doesn't. Most significantly, The Navy Yard is located in a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone, which qualifies companies for significant tax abatements for a period of several years.
South Jersey leaders are lobbying Trenton to pass existing legislation to implement similar zones, but in the meantime they say state incentives are limited to those that reward job growth. Subaru of America says it doesn't foresee adding any more corporate jobs in the near future...." read the entire article


6/14 Outback 2.0L Diesel CVT arrives in Australia but will it arrive here with the 2015 model year redesign next year? The high torque CVT is already in our Forester 2.0XTs
"They say good things come to those who wait. Personally, I prefer instant gratification - that first glass of wine, that last piece of cake …
But Subaru is hopeful the long wait for the auto diesel variant of the popular Outback has made its arrival all the sweeter with the chunky wagon finally able to truly make inroads into a segment that accounts for 30% of all car sales in Australia, 90% of them with automatic transmissions.
This is the first time a Subaru CVT unit has been teamed with a high-torque turbo-diesel with the Japanese manufacturer forced to undertake a host of mechanical changes to enable the pairing to work.
The result proves an excellent marriage, one that will serve Subaru well in such a competitive market.... This Outback diesel offering is all about the CVT coupling and it is easy to say that Subaru has done a sterling job in delivering a product that offers excellent performance, enviable economy and a rather pleasant ride.
The transmission doesn't miss a beat with none of that agonising whining during deceleration - especially in downhill stages - that can be found in so many CVTs on our roads.
There is power when needed, application around sharp corners and nimble feet when manoeuvring in tight traffic. If there is some criticism it is the Outback's slowness to get going and its lazy turning circle but it impressed with minimal cabin noise - thanks to the reinforced soundproofing - and an assured outing off the bitumen...
2.0-litre turbocharged horizontally-opposed four cylinder diesel generating maximum power of 110kW @ 3600rpm and peak torque of 350Nm @ 1800-2400rpm. .." read the entire review


6/13 Subaru dealer across the border in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada moves to new building. Three Point Motors is now Subaru of Nanaimo

6/12 Comparison of 5 top crossovers- the Forester 2.5, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Toyota Rav4 by automotive.com
"Some people can spell better than others. Some people can do math better. And some can engineer and build a better car, no matter what your biases may tell you...."
The toilet paper test: Honda and Toyota tied for the most at 32 cases, or 960 rolls.
The comments after driving the cars 
"1: Mazda CX-5: Fun, frugal, and sophisticated; it drives like a much more expensive vehicle.
2: Subaru Forester: Holy fuel economy, Batman! It also drives really well to boot.
3: Honda CR-V: By the narrowest of margins, it beats out the Toyota. Chalk this one up to personal preferences.
4: Toyota RAV4: Better steering, but a sloppier ride than the Honda. Japan's Big Two once again trade barbs.
5: Ford Escape: Missed the mpg mark; dynamically outclassed by the Mazda and Subaru...."
And the winner of this comparison is...  "Not the Ford, obviously. It needs more than just a powerful engine to win in this class. Ford needs to go back to the basics.... Next up are two vehicles, tied for third, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. It sounds like a cop-out, but the Big Two from Japan are evenly matched, with each having strengths over the other. "Handsome, well-crafted interior, but cheap, rubbery steering wheel," said Davis of the RAV4, which didn't come with Toyota's SofTex synthetic leather. In Toyota's defense, the RAV4 we were supplied was by far the cheapest of the group, lacking some of the style and features that would have come with the par-for-this-group RAV4 Limited. The rest of its interior was beautifully laid-out, with a swath of stitched vinyl adorning the dashboard. Like the RAV4, the Honda CR-V is functional, utterly competent, and you know, like a cockroach, it'll be around forever. The Honda has better ride quality than its Toyota counterpart, but it feels dated two years into its production run, with an antiquated navigation system and the same kinds of plastics we complained about in the 2012 Civic before the car was upgraded. Still, both it and the RAV4 it feel like they've endured 15 years of evolution and refinement; shoppers won't walk away unhappy with either. That brings us to No. 2: the Mazda CX-5. "Why is this thing not more popular?" Davis lamented. That's a good question. It's addicting to drive; a lightweight, chuckable, down-to-business crossover that's nearly anything you could ever want. If only it had a little more interior room. So we arrive at the Subaru Forester, which handily wins this comparison, stealing a page from Honda and Toyota's playbook. Those two thrive on benchmarking the middleground, neither exciting nor disappointing their drivers. The Subaru does the same thing, then adds in some extra credit and captures a solid A instead of the standard Japanese B+. Functional, refined, fun, and frugal at the gas pump, this beast is big enough to legitimately replace your midsize sedan and rides the smoothest of any of the crossovers here. It has the most advanced technology of the group without overwhelming your senses with gizmos and buttons, always sticking to a blatant sense of simplicity. Rather than sticking to the archetype crafted by Toyota and Honda over the last 15 years, Subaru has gone its own way and made a noticeably better crossover as a result. While most of the crossovers come out of our test honor students, the Forester was far and away our valedictorian..." read the entire article

6/11 Subaru could sell more cars if they could make them. Or if they refined the line-up and dropped some of the duplicate models
Demand for some Subaru vehicles in the U.S. could outstrip production as Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (7270.TO) expects to hit its midterm sales target more than two years early, the chief executive of the auto maker said Thursday.
Surging sales in the first three months of 2013 followed by a 25% leap in April have convinced Fuji Heavy that it has the momentum to beat not only its 365,000 vehicle target for the current calendar year but also its 380,000 target for the business year ending March 2016, CEO Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said in an interview.
The comment underscores the company's growing success in the U.S. where it now logs about half its global sales and follows a fifth straight year of improved sales in the market in 2012.
But the CEO said the car maker may not be able to take full advantage of soaring demand because of its relatively limited production capacity.  This year's initial Subaru sales target in the U.S. already represented an 8.6% increase on the previous year. But a 17.4% rise in sales to 125,470 vehicles in the first four months of the year from the same period last year strongly indicates that this year will be a banner year for Fuji Heavy. Sales in April were particularly strong thanks to the launch of the remodeled Forester small sport-utility vehicle in March.
The company "will have to set a new target as we are likely to hit" the current goal for the U.S. this year, Mr. Yoshinaga said, referring to the midterm goal.
Fuji Heavy projects a second straight year of record operating profit for the current business year to March 2014 on the back of solid U.S. sales and a weaker yen. The rosy outlook has helped make the company's shares the best performing stock among auto makers in the Tokyo market, even though it is the smallest Japanese car maker by volume.
The firm's efforts to focus more on the U.S. market in the past decade are helping build extra momentum on top of the solid resurgence in the overall market.  The Subaru-vehicle maker now develops vehicles to better meet American customers' tastes by making them wider and roomier. It is also enhancing sales networks in southern states where sales have been relatively weak.
Its latest growth strategy for the market was outlined earlier this month. It said it will increase annual production capacity by 100,000 vehicles to 300,000 at its plant in Indiana by 2016.
However, the latest measure won't help the company meet potential demand over the coming months, the top executive said.
Mr. Yoshinaga said sales of the redesigned Forester could reach 10,000 vehicles this month, above a monthly target of 8,000, but only if the company can build enough. It ships all the SUVs from Japan. "If this situation persists, we'll face a supply shortage," Mr. Yoshinaga said.
The car maker has been working on improving its supply of vehicles in recent years. Its U.S. inventories increased to a 40-day supply from 18 days at the end of 2011, but still well below the U.S. car industry average of around 60 days.
But it will be hard to raise its output capacity in Japan anytime soon as its domestic plants are operating at full capacity, he said. Inventories for the SUV in the U.S. stand at a 16-day supply, he added" read the original article

6/10 a silver 2004 outback with 2 kayaks on it its almost summer....

2004 silver subaru outback with 2 kayaks on the roof rack


6/9 an 18yo with cancer get a WRX....
"Green, Ohio. Green resident Ben Ladich, who turned 18 over Memorial Day weekend, this year has been difficult. In January he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. Since the diagnosis, he has been undergoing treatment for the disease, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The combination has been hard on the Green High School senior, who experienced hair loss, radiation burns, lethargy and a diminished appetite.
 Yet through it all, he persevered with the help of family and friends. “It has been hard on him, “ said Ben’s mother Bethany Ladich. “But he has been a fighter and has hung in there through it all."
Of course, despite the adversity, Ben is a typical teenager in most ways. He still wants all those things that any normal teen his age wants and at times, some of the things he wants can be a little out of the ordinary.
One of those things was a car. But not just any car. Ben wanted a 2013 Subaru WRX Impreza. This is a limited-production rally car. Unfortunately, none were to be had in Ohio, as Ben found out after some wistful searching. So he set his sights a little lower.
“He wasn’t above playing on our sympathies for a new car,” said Bethany with a smile. “Still, we also wanted to be realistic and do everything in our power to make his dream come true.”
Bethany and her husband Steve Ladich decided to see if they could make Ben’s dream car a reality. Steve stopped at the Subaru dealership in Green and talked with sales manager Shaun Swihart. After Steve explained the situation, Swihart decided to do everything in his power to make Ben’s dream come true.
“The WRX was hard to get,” Swihart said, “but I decided to everything we could to do to get it for Ben. I got in touch with our company president, Tom Flory and told him about it. He contacted Subaru, and told them about Ben and his situation. He pulled a lot of strings to get it to happen.”
And it took a lot to get it all done. There wasn’t a WRX available in all of Ohio. “It was definitely a difficult car to get,” Flory said.... “  read the complete article


6/8 2014 colors
Forester- Jasmine Green, Burnished Bronze, Marine Blue, Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Satin White, Venetian Red, Ice Silver with either gray or off black.
Impreza- new Quartz Blue Metallic replaces Marine Blue, Jasmine Green, and Deep Sea Pearl. Satin White, Dark Gray, Ice Silver, Venetian Red. Gone- Marine Blue, Deep Cherry
WRX, STI- WR Blue, Plasma Blue, Crystal Black, Ice Silver, Satin White Pearl. I was hoping Tangerine Orange would be available on the 14 WRX/STI but it doesn't look like it.
Outback, Legacy- new Carbide Gray replaces Graphite Gray and Tungsten Metallic replaces Caramel Bronze. Cypress Green, Crystal Black, Deep Indigo Pearl, Ice Silver, Twilight Blue and Venetian Red with either gray or ivory interior. Gone- Graphite Gray, Caramel Bronze, and Brilliant Brown is not coming back.
Tribeca- new Carbide Gray replaces Graphite Gray. Crystal Black, Satin White, Ice Silver, Deep Indigo Pearl, Venetian Red
Crosstrek- new Plasma Green (hybrid only), and Quartz Blue Metallic replaces Marine Blue. Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Satin White, Ice Silver, Venetian Red, Tangerine Orange, Desert Khaki. Gone- Marine Blue.
BRZ- WR Blue, Crystal Black, Dark Gray, Lightning Red, Satin White, Galaxy Blue, Sterling Silver

6/7 advertising- a funny Subaru television ad
Road trips are great until you get naked in the hot tub.... Subaru, the Happiest Automaker, continues apace with its blitzkrieg of cheerfulness in this spot about a very game couple who, in the spirit of Subaru owners everywhere, are up for pretty much anything.
Because I am a broken person, filled with misery and fear, it pleases me to report that the spot—from Carmichael Lynch and director Lance Acord—ends on a down note, with the couple's anything-for-fun spirit getting them into a frightening hot-springs encounter with a really creepy hippie dude and his girlfriend that ends in …
Well, it ends in a cutaway, and the excellent actors agreeing with each other that "we shouldn't have done that."
The folks in this spot are cast to a T. The writing is also good—see how the guy is actually the more conservative (or maybe just skittish) one, even though he's the one who recommends most of the adventures. (Favorite bit: Him: "You know you're eating a bug." Her: "Right, because of the legs." Him, dropping to a crouch: "Uh-oh.")
A second new spot, "Nature Painting," also directed by Acord, shows a not-particularly-gifted painter passionately driving his car through the rain to get exactly the right light. The "Let's Do It" ad is better, though—very cute, right down to the banjo music and the not-too-expensive outerwear. The little regret over … whatever happened in the hot tub is surely a small price to pay. Ha. Also the dialogue. "Nice little massage?" "Yeah, I'm not sure I need one!" And scene.read the article and see the videos

GENERAL  NEWS

Subaru, Fuji, and general car news, comments and links in 2013
click for  archived news from 2012

Comments and links have been edited.
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6/6 everyone loves a Subaru but love hurts

I assume the owner will save the article so when he goes to trade the Subaru in
"Sometime Sunday night, likely when he was watching “The Voice” at a loud volume in his home, a brown bear tore the right driver’s mirror from his Subaru, smashed its right tail light and rear window, ripped off the back windshield wiper, left muddy claw marks on the remaining widows, and shoved the entire vehicle about 8 inches in the gravel driveway.
“It would have been a lot more exciting if I had woke up and caught him in the act,” Sterling resident Norm Israelson said. He could have been sleeping when it happened, too, he said. He is not sure.
Jeff Selinger, Kenai area wildlife biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, visited the Israelson at his home to collect samples. He said May is the time of year when bears are beginning to leave their dens and Kenai Peninsula residents should begin bear-proofing their homes and traveling in the wilderness safely...." read the entire article


6/5 Volvo V60 all wheel drive station wagon expected in 2014
The 60 series Volvo is critical to the company's global prospects. Fortunately, 2012 saw Volvo break even for the first time in a long while, ending a river of red ink the company had been generating since Ford's divestment in the middle of the previous decade. The sole survivor of the Scandinavian automobile industry is back to trying to turn a profit. Part of the plan is releasing the V60 "sports wagon" in America early next year.
Normally, the announcement of the pending import of a station wagon as a profit making spearhead in America would be met with ridicule.
Simply put, station wagons are a very niche type in America, save for the cult followings of two companies—Subaru and Volvo. Both have extensive experience making and marketing wagons to their appreciative buying audience.
Already a big seller for Volvo in Europe, the V60 wagon stands to sell well here to the country's dedicated Volvo buyers, for whom a wagon carries no stigma.
For those fans who dislike the "Outback-ish" suspension height of the XC60, the V60 will offer a very modern European look and road feel to their prospective wagon. The V60 will offer all of the drive train goodness of the company's popular S60 sedan. It is expected that like the S60, the wagon will offer a base 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder FWD model making 250 BHP, equivalent to the S60's "T5" offering. In all likelihood, there will also be two optional "T6" AWD models using 3.0L turbocharged 6 cylinder engines making either 300 or 325 BHP...." read the entire article


5/31 Subarapture! Is Subaru so hot you might not be able to get one?
With crash tests results like IIHS's recent Forester test and articles like this from Jalopnik and the Wall St Journal fanning the flames, its no surprise.
"Americans want Subarus. They want them hard. They want to be inside Subarus. Sales were up 25% year-over-year in April and the company now thinks they'll hit their 2016 goal of 380,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. this fiscal year.
As The Wall Street Journal points out, this could mean problems for the company as they may not be able to produce enough vehicles to meet demand.
Specifically, the Japanese-built 2014 Subaru Forester is already down to a 16-day supply and that's before the busy summer months.
If you want one I'd get in line now." read the original article

5/30 Subaru grows, adds a new port-
A few years ago 2 ports of entry was enough, then they added Richmond Ca. as their 3rd. Now the 4th port of entry is coming soon.
"Subaru has chosen Georgia as its gateway into the Southeastern U.S., and will soon start importing five of its models through the Port of Brunswick.
“It is significant that Brunswick is Subaru’s first port of entry in the Southeastern U.S.,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “The efficiency of service from the GPA and our partners in auto processing, as well as Brunswick’s speed to important markets, makes Georgia the smart choice for roll-on/roll-off cargo.” 
Subaru National Transportation Manager Larry Strug said the deepwater port at Brunswick will serve two zones in Subaru’s national distribution network. The zones cover an area from North Carolina to Florida. Other import terminals include Vancouver, Wash., Richmond, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. 
The Japanese-based carmaker announced at a national dealer meeting that it will move 15,000 vehicles through Georgia annually. Models include the Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, WRX STI and BRZ. Shipments are set to begin in mid-July, carried by shipping line NYK. 
An assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind., produces the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models sold in the U.S. 
Strug said the company looked at other ports, but settled on Brunswick.
“We liked what we saw. We liked what we heard from other manufacturers,” he said. “We’re very much about quality. We’re very much about ensuring that our customers have a little different vehicle." the original article

5/29 Click and Clack on dealer vs. independent shop doing service work
"Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2005 Subaru WRX STI with 106,000 miles, and it is time to replace the timing belt. The Subaru dealer will do the job for $1,800, but I found an independent garage that will do the job for $650. The difference is that the dealer would use genuine Subaru parts. The independent mechanic says his parts come from Japan and are just as good as the genuine parts. Should I spend the extra money for the genuine parts, or can I save my money? I would like the car to last another five years, but my finances aren’t that great right now. Please help! Thank you. —Bill
TOM: We normally would use genuine parts in a situation like this, because on this job, the difference in our cost for the parts probably is $100. But I wouldn’t be afraid to use good aftermarket parts on a car with more than 100,000 miles on it. They’d probably be fine. In fact, sometimes they’re the exact same parts.
RAY: But since the difference in the parts price is small, there has to be something else to explain why the dealer’s price is triple the independent mechanic’s.
TOM: Like, he’s got a bigger boat he’s trying to pay off.
RAY: Could be. But it also could be that these two shops have different definitions of the term “timing belt change.”
TOM: For instance, when we replace a timing belt, we always replace the water pump, too. Why? Because the water pump is run by the timing belt. And if the water pump were to seize up a week after you got the timing belt replaced, you’d need, what? Another new timing belt. And wouldn’t that tick you off?
RAY: When the timing belt is already off, most of the labor to change the water pump is already done. So you’re not adding much more than the cost of the part: the water pump itself. And with 100,000 miles on a car, you’d be crazy not to put in a new water pump while you have access to it.
TOM: On a car like this, that has double overhead cams, we’d also take off all the sprockets and replace all four cam seals while the belt is off. Why? First of all, they’re as old as the belt, and you have easy access to them while the timing belt is off. And second, if one of them leaks two months from now, the customer’s going to try to blame us. So we avoid that potential conflict by making it part of the job.
RAY: If we were doing a job like this, on your car the price probably would be somewhere around $1,200. So the Subaru dealer may be charging too much, but the other guy may be charging too little — because he’s not doing enough.
TOM: So, get a better accounting from each of these shops as to exactly what it proposes to do. I’m guessing the dealer plans to do all the stuff we usually do. But check. And you need to find out what, exactly, the other guy plans to do for $650. You also can ask him to give you a price with a new water pump, four new cam seals, a crank seal and genuine parts (if you’re curious).
RAY: Then you can make a fair comparison of the prices and decide whether the real difference in cost is large enough to stay away from the dealer. It very well may be, but you can’t know that unless you’re comparing apples to apples. Or cam seals to cam seals." read the original article


5/24 the driver of the orange Crosstrek that went off the Skagit River Bridge
"Bryce Kenning saw a puff of smoke and suddenly the north section of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River vanished in front of him. "I was going 60 mph. It was like an explosion, but I didn't hear anything. I slammed on my brakes, but it didn't matter," Kenning said. "My car launched into the air and I landed nose down on top of the bridge deck in the river. The airbags went off."
Kenning was one of three people in two vehicles that crashed into the river with the dramatic collapse of the Skagit River Bridge on Thursday night. No one was killed. Kenning, 20, was headed north on I-5 at about 7 p.m. for his usual Thursday hockey game with friends in Bellingham. The Mount Vernon High School graduate and University of British Columbia sophomore played this past season with the Bellingham Blazers junior hockey club.
Kenning's bright orange Subaru Crosstrek slammed against a fallen bridge truss, keeping the car from completely submerging in the frigid river.
"I tried to open my door, but all I did was let water in up to my waist. I panicked and that's when I thought I was a goner," Kenning said. "In a last-ditch effort, I kicked open the passenger door, which wasn't all the way in the water, and I was able to climb on top of the car.
"I didn't think to turn the engine off and my windshield wipers were going. I thought about swimming to the bank because I didn't know if the car would sink, but the river was so cold and moving so fast. I was freezing, but I stayed put."
A foot one direction or the other, Kenning said, and his car might have been squashed from above by the collapsed trusses. "It was an act of God that no one else was driving north at that moment," he said. "The whole thing is a miracle." When he got on top of his car, Kenning looked over to see Dan Sligh of Oak Harbor and his wife, who had been traveling southbound. They were still alive in their pickup truck. Their camper trailer was smashed to bits and the pieces were floating down the river.
"The guy was bleeding, but he asked me if I was OK and he kept talking about his wife being in shock," Kenning said. "At that point, some first responders had arrived and called down from the top of the bridge. I waited about 45 minutes for the sheriff's deputies to get me to shore."
Bystanders cheered as Kenning was pulled out of the river and put in an ambulance. He was taken to United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.
Meanwhile, Kenning's friends recognized his distinctive orange car. A friend's mother called Kenning's mom, Sheila Kenning, at home near Conway.
A nurse, Sheila Kenning drove as fast as she could through the extra traffic, mistakenly heading to Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. An ambulance driver at that hospital's emergency room said her son had been taken to United General. "On the way, I talked to God like I never had before," she said
In spite of the goose egg-sized bump on his head, Bryce Kenning did not have a concussion or any internal injuries. "I had whiplash from falling 50 feet, but I was OK," he said. "My cellphone was in the drink, so at that point, I just didn't want my family and friends to panic." It was a good hour before Sheila Kenning arrived in Sedro-Woolley.
"I told Bryce that he scared me to death, but it was such a delightful joy to see him again," Sheila Kenning said.
The young man's father, Barrie Kenning, and his sister, Claire Kenning, 15, were working out at the Everett YMCA. Claire got a text message from a friend.
"They thought Bryce's car was in the river. I tried to keep cool, and my dad told me it would be one in a million chance that it was Bryce," Claire said. "I was praying the whole time we drove north from Everett to the hospital."
After Bryce Kenning was released from the hospital close to midnight Thursday, the family went home. They stayed up most of the night talking and even watched an episode of "The Office" to take the edge off.
"I thought about how I was in the luckiest place in the middle of a bad scenario," Bryce Kenning said. "I'm so glad no one died." the original article


5/23  Crosstrek is one of  the three cars that went into the Skagit River when the I-5 bridge collapsed. Everyone is ok.
The bridge crossing the Skagit River in Burlington, Wa, (just north of Mt Vernon), collapsed sending 3 vehicles into the river. I-5 is the main North-South interstate and a very busy highway. The Skagit River Bridge carries around 70,000-75,000 cars daily.  It fell after one of the girders was struck by an semi.  There are a few other bridges nearby but they're street bridges not intended to carry the volume the Skagit Bridge did. 3 cars went into the water, thankfully everyone is ok.
One of the cars was a tangerine orange Crosstrek. There's some body damage in addition to being dumped in the river. The driver was rescued from the top of the car. The local dealer in the area is Skagit Subaru.
2013 subaru crosstrek in the skagit river I-5 bridge collapse, may 2013
That's an orange Crosstrek in the Skagit River. The roof and right side roof rail is damaged and the side airbag is deployed against the driver's window.


5/21 he's lucky
A Dixfield teenager who was riding on a car roof Thursday afternoon on Thad White Road was pinned under the car when it rolled into a drainage ditch, police said.
Firefighters from Mexico, Rumford and Dixfield lifted the rear of the car and held it up, allowing Med-Care Ambulance crewmen to retrieve the injured boy, Rumford fire Deputy Chief Richard Coulombe said.
The teen, whose injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, was taken by Med-Care to Rumford Hospital, Mexico police Lt. Roy Hodsdon said at the scene.
Citing pending charges, Hodsdon declined to identify the injured teen, the Canton driver of the 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon or two teen passengers from Peru and Dixfield.
The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on a dirt road that parallels the Webb River. Hodsdon said a 15-year-old boy from Canton, who was learning to drive, backed the car toward a curve, got into the soft shoulder on the outside of the curve and flipped the car over. It fell about 8 feet, landing upside down, pinning a leg of the teen who was riding on the roof, Hodsdon said.
Coulombe said they had enough manpower between the three fire departments to lift the rear of the car high enough to free the pinned teen. Hodsdon said the boy, who had scrapes and bruises, escaped serious injury. “Soft mud kind of cushioned the fall into the water in the brook,” the lieutenant said. “I talked to the ambulance crew and they said he was conscious and breathing. It could have been worse.” read the entire article

5/18 This is a good time to get a new Outback. The current supply of Crosstreks is good but the other Impreza 5 doors can be harder to find. 2014 Foresters are selling as they arrive, especially with the recent great IIHS crash test results.
The 14 Outbacks are expected in July (late June?) so its time for 13s to go- dealers currently have a good selection available (popular models always go first) and 0% financing for 48 months, oac.
The supply of Impreza 5 doors is tight as the sales of  the (Impreza) Crosstrek grow. For example, last month (April), 4692 Imprezas were purchased - that's all 4 and 5 door Impreza models including the Sport- versus 4433 Crosstreks. So Crosstreks are clearly gaining and thats where Subaru sees growth.
On the 2014 Imprezas due late summer, I would like to see roof rails added to the 2.0i Premium and Limited 5 door models, the Sport model dropped, and the  Crosstrek acknowledged as an Impreza (which it is). This would simplify the currently confusing model line-up and increase the popularity of all the 5 doors.
The 2014 Foresters are currently in short supply. Subaru will be shipping more to dealers but they're selling quickly. The recent IIHS crash test results created a wave of interest from people new to the model.


5/12 Subaru buyers stick with Subaru according to KBB.com.
As Subaru sales soar year after year and is thought of as the current "It" brand, a lot of buyers are new to the company. They come to Subaru for a number of reasons, but ultimately they weren't loyal to their previous car's brand and Subaru's job will be to keep them coming back
even if their tendency is to consider
The KBB.com article on owner/shopper loyalty. "As current Subaru owners prepare to off-load their current vehicle, it is easy to reconsider the brand as it offers a diverse lineup, including models that not only appeal to the everyday shopper like the all-new 2014 Forester, but also a sportier option like the BRZ," said Akshay Anand , Kelley Blue Book Insights analyst.  "With Subaru's first-ever hybrid vehicle arriving at dealerships in Q4 2013, the 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid is expected to help the brand retain even more shoppers as its portfolio expands into hybrid technology."
Holding its ground as the No. 1 brand in terms of shopper loyalty for six consecutive quarters, Toyota held 53.6 percent its owners' interest in Q1 2013.
Toyota 53.6%, Honda 50.8%, Subaru 49.9%, Ford 49.3%, Lexus 46.3%, Hyundai 46.3%, Kia 43.4%, Chevy 42.9%, Audi 41.6%, Porsche 40.2%
"Toyota's esteemed stance as the leading automaker in KBB.com shopper loyalty continues into Q1 2013 with help from the recently redesigned 2013 RAV4," said Anand.  "For those shoppers interested in a full-size sedan, Toyota also saw a surge of shopper interest to its redesigned 2013 Avalon, showcasing the brand's positive response from consumers with its updated styling and features."
While Hyundai and Kia garnered tremendous success during the past few years, these brands dropped in shopper loyalty among KBB.com's new-car audience, which can be attributed to the lack of redesigns or refreshes in the last year from both Korean companies from key models.  Hyundai continued its slow fall from No. 4 in Q4 2012 to No. 6 in Q1 2013, while Kia dropped from the No. 4 spot between Q4 2011 and Q2 2012 to the No. 7 position in Q1 2013. 
"Huyundai is expected to regain shopper loyalty when the brand's best-selling Sonata is updated for 2014," said Anand.  "Not only will the redesigned Sonata help it compete better with its rivals, but it also will catch the eye of new-car shoppers with its fuel economy and affordability."
Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence examines shopper loyalty while consumers are still in the shopping phase.  For this analysis, shopper loyalty is defined as owners of the brand who are currently shopping the same brand for their next new vehicle.  This includes data from consumers who view a trade-in page or private party page, in addition to a new-car page on Kelley Blue Book 's KBB.com. " see the original article



5/11 SIA expansion plans announced - build Imprezas in Lafayette in 2016
. Which leaves open the question of the slow selling Tribeca, what will replace it, and will it also be built at SIA along side the Outback, Legacy, and the Camry which is currently built under contract.
Fuji Heavy Industries announced Wednesday May 8th it is expanding its Lafayette Subaru factory by adding 900 workers and investing $400 million in the plant.
Starting in 2016, Subaru of Indiana Automotive will build the Impreza.
The Subaru Legacy, Outback and Tribeca SUV are all made at the Lafayette plant – as well as the Toyota Camry under a contract with the Toyota Motor Corp.
The 900 new jobs will add to the current tally of about 3,600 employees. More than 600 workers were added in the past four years.
Subaru spokesman Yoshiaki Tabei said the target date for starting production of the Impreza is the end of 2016. The company plans to expand the plant's production capacity by approximately 100,000 vehicles annually. The company will grow its campus by more than 500,000 square feet. The campus sits on 832 acres. New paint and body assembly equipment will be installed. Construction will begin in the fall and should be completed by 2016.


5/9
Small crossover sales chart for April 2013.
Only Subaru has two cars on the list. The CRV is #1, the Forester is #6 with 9366 for month and the Crosstrek is already #11 after only 9 months.

Small crossover sales, through April 2013
model
April 2013
April 2012
YTD April 13
Honda CR-V 26,519 23,627 91,893
Ford Escape 25,826 16,986 98,809
Chevrolet Equinox 20,965 18,282 79,834
Toyota RAV4 18,541 15,196 59,954
Nissan Rogue 11,904 8563 46,200
Subaru Forester 9366 5666 22,540
GMC Terrain 7964 7839 34,770
Mazda CX-5 6262 3521 24,073
Jeep Patriot 5792 5261 24,789
Jeep Compass 4465 3616 16,468
Subaru XV Crosstrek 4433 N/A 15,143
Hyundai Tucson 3733 3909 14,743
Kia Sportage 2845 3277 10,281
Volkswagen Tiguan 2488 2333 10,439
Nissan Juke 2445 2887 11,551
Mini Countryman/Paceman 1959 1533 6,967
from automobilemag.com

5/6  A busy Costco tends to bring out the aggression in shoppers, food samplers,  and drivers looking for a parking spot
 ... here a normally calm Subaru driver writes about obtuse drivers clogging a lane waiting for a parking spot
"Driving a 1998 Subaru wagon with 205 thousand miles on it doesn’t put me in a hurry to get anywhere.  I find keeping a lackadaisical throttle foot to be an effective survival technique designed to milk every remaining mile out my noble Japanese steed.   It’s also indicative of my thrift-artist financial situation, which as it stands requires I shop religiously at Costco as if it were a giant welfare box store.
If I need groceries, I go to Costco.  If I need a shirt, I go to Costco.  If I need tires, I go to Discount Tire; Costco’s nitrogen-filled tires scare me.  But that doesn’t affect my general complacency when tooling around a Costco parking lot to find a vacant space, nor does it negate my outrage at the affront to my dignity that took place there recently. 
As I’ve established, Costco is a pillar of my life.  You know the Kirkland Signature brand of everything Costco sells?  That’s a product of my hometown - Kirkland, Washington; I practically invented that crap myself. 
Still, I don’t roll into a Costco parking lot expecting to be treated as royalty, much less find a parking space anywhere near the front entrance....
But I’m used to these lost souls stopping their cars directly in the flow of traffic, sometimes with their blinkers on, waiting patiently for another shopper to unload two months’ worth of groceries into their vehicle.  It doesn’t bother me at all – I just drive around.
And then one day it happened.  Never, ever in my tenure as a Costco Gold Star member have I seen the parking space sloppy-seconds maneuver performed in tandem by a duo of able-bodied shoppers.  But there it was, splayed out before my front bumper:  Two cars, facing the same direction, each waiting for a parking spot on opposite sides of the aisle. 
They were completely blocking the lot’s entryway traffic in both directions. The calm inside me began to bend, rapidly losing its elasticity.  I couldn’t back up to avoid the obstruction.  A line of cars had formed behind me.  A minute passed… a minute and a half.  It was already too much.  What in the hell were the rest of us supposed to do?  We were being held hostage by these louts!
I tooted my horn just long enough to emphasize a moderate degree of frustration.  The lady holding up the left of the blockade turned on her blinker and pointed out her window to identify the spot she was waiting for, as if all of us had mistakenly assumed she was stopping up rush-hour traffic back to the Costco gas station for no good reason.
I don’t do road rage. What happened next was going to be a vigilante display of social justice that couldn’t be stopped or reasoned with. Any man worth his Costco card knows the corners of his car like a cat knows its whiskers extend to the width of its body.  By the looks of the terrible scene, there would be just enough room to squeeze my Subaru between the vulture lady’s car on the right and the rear bumper of the vehicle being loaded with a Kirkland Signature bounty on the left.  Whether my roof-rack would clear the underside of the open hatch was up for grabs.  Cats don’t have whiskers on top of their heads.
I inched through the opening, making sure to alleviate the uncomfortable tension of the pass by pointing through my windshield, clearly identifying where I intended to go.  And it was done.  Someone with a car that could easily be totaled from a minor fender bender had taken a stand against a bully, one who thought putting every Costco shopper in the greater downtown Seattle area behind her own convenience was her right for paying a $55 membership fee.
She might not have learned a lesson from my livid close quarters roll-by, but at the very least her arrogance was challenged by that of another.  If she didn’t appreciate the gesture I hope she stopped to wonder why."
the entire article


4/22 on the nature of CVTs from the Chicago Tribune
"Q: We have a 2013 Subaru Outback with an automatic CVT transmission. At about 3,500 miles, the transmission began lurching or hunting, as the dealer called it, particularly at speeds under 25-30 MPH. When you step on the gas, as when getting on an expressway or turning into traffic, the car seems to lose power and does not accelerate like it should. The dealer said Subaru is aware of the problem, and the fix is to have the transmission re-flashed. We had this done, but the problem remains. S.D., St. John, Ind.
A: We have not seen any pattern failures from our research although we have seen other people complain that the CVT (continuously variable transmission) seems to lurch, particularly when cold. For the most part, the complaints come from first time CVT owners who are unaccustomed to the transmission's behavior. It is weird since engine speed and transmission speed don't always seem to be in harmony, but that is the nature of the beast." the original article


4/22 ongoing expectations of Lafayette's expansion
"Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the Japanese maker of Subaru cars, intends to end a shortage of its vehicles at U.S. dealerships soon by expanding capacity in the country, its largest market. The carmaker produces Outback wagons, Legacy sedans and Tribeca sport-utility vehicles in Indiana at its plant in Lafayette, where it also makes Camry sedans for Toyota Motor Corp. under contract.
“We are finalizing plans to strengthen U.S. production,” CEO Yasuyuki Yoshinaga told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday. He said the Tokyo-based carmaker will probably announce the plan next month when it reports annual earnings. The statement confirmed previous reports about Subaru expanding output.
Fuji Heavy, which boosted U.S. sales 20% to a record last year, plans to increase annual global deliveries to 850,000 by March 2016, based on plans to increase capacity in the United States. The Lafayette plant opened in 1989, initially as a joint venture with truckmaker Isuzu Motors Ltd. The factory can produce a maximum of 310,000 vehicles annually, based on state air-pollution limits, according to the carmaker. About 3,600 people work at the plant.
“Our dealers in the U.S. are waiting for an answer on when this situation of not having enough cars will be solved, so we hope to provide an answer soon,” Yoshinaga said. Fuji Heavy shares have gained 62 percent this year, compared with a 27-percent advance for the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average." the original article


4/19 Subaru expands in Indiana with a new parts warehouse
"Prologis, the leading global owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, today announced it has signed a new build-to-suit agreement with Subaru of America (SOA) for a 715,000 square foot distribution center. 
The new facility, which will support SOA's sales growth, will be located in the Northwest Indianapolis submarket at Prologis Park Lebanon, proximate to major freeways and the Indianapolis International Airport. The state-of-the-art, cross-dock facility will be utilized as a regional parts distribution center.
"We are pleased to support the ongoing success of Subaru," said Jim McGill, senior vice president, Prologis. "The record low supply of large industrial facilities continues to drive build-to-suit solutions in many markets around the country, including Indianapolis. With occupancies rising for the past two years, Indianapolis remains a compelling regional market."
Gary Palanjian, vice president of parts and service for SOA, said: "Subaru has been setting sales records for the past five years and we are structuring our operations to reflect that. This new facility allows us to better serve our retailers as well as support our growing operations at our manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Ind." the original article


4/14 if you're financing a Subaru, chances are its through Chase Bank
Auto shows are all about product, but auto finance is never far beneath the surface.
Here are a few quick comments on auto finance from executives at the New York auto show last week.
Subaru: No captive? No problem
Tom Doll, president of Subaru of America Inc., said he's happy with Chase Auto Finance, which provides private-label loans and leases for Subaru dealers, instead of a captive finance company.
"They're great partners," he said. Through April, he said, Subaru is offering lease deals on some Impreza and Legacy models, but Subaru incentives are typically among the industry's lowest. "The offers are pretty generous for us," he said.
Doll acknowledged that Subaru lease penetration is also below average. Subaru's average lease penetration for 2012 was 9.8 percent compared with an industry average for nonluxury brands of 15.5 percent, says ALG Inc. Doll said Subaru customers tend to keep their cars a long time and "drive the hell out of them." That's part of an outdoorsy, active lifestyle, he said, adding: "Our people want to own." read the entire article

4/11 10 best April Fools jokes, from 4/1/13
including
the AWD Twin Turbo Convertible two seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ for sale in 2015 (see 4/1 below), and the self washing Crosstrek from England
http://blogs.driving.ca/2013/04/02/10-best-car-related-april-fools-jokes/


3/24 a new design look for Subaru? I heard that before with the 3 section aircraft-heritage front grill designed by Andreas Zapatinas (Alfa Romeo) on the 06 Impreza and Tribeca.  That look survived for 2 years. The 2014 Forester XT has partly incorporated this new design in the form of the (non-functioning)  front bumper gills.
'Subaru will gradually adopt the angular face of the Viziv concept crossover shown at the Geneva auto show across its lineup, the brand's global design chief says.
Subaru's current front end, dominated by a hexagonal grille and wraparound headlights, is too tame, global design chief Osamu Namba says. Going forward, models will take their styling cues from the Viziv.
The concept's front has aggressively incised bracket-shaped headlights that fuse with the lower fog lights to cut an angular jaw shape.
Elements of the look are likely to appear on a new performance concept car that will debut at next week's New York auto show.
The look is unmistakable, and that's what Namba wants. "Up until now, it wasn't enough," Namba says of Subaru's traditionally staid front impression. "From here out, we want people to look at the headlamps and think 'Ah, Subaru.'" The new styling points have crept into the redesigned Forester crossover, which debuted in November. But Namba says they will gradually work their way across Subaru's lineup. "We've just started the change," Namba says.
Subaru will keep the hexagonal grille, Namba says. But he wants to pump up the profile for a sharper, more technological look.' read the original article
subaru viziv concept car 2013Viziv concept- the start of a new look for Subaru?

3/13 Subaru's warranty in the UK is now 5 year/100,000 milesIt would be good if the US powertrain warranty was extended to 5 years or 100,000 miles from the current 5 years or 60,000 miles. The warranty on Certified pre-owned is 7 year or 100,000 miles. 
"Even though Subaru is experiencing record sales around the globe, things are much different for the Japanese automaker in the UK. Sales are falling in the UK and they had to recently drop the WRX, WRX STI and Impreza starting in 2013. We reported here in December that a spokesman for Subaru confirmed that there isn’t enough demand for the cars in the UK, so they will be axed from the UK line-up. Now the Japanese automaker has decided to drop their ETCo aftercare package and replace it with a new 5 year, 100,000 mile warranty instead of the previous 3 year 60,000 mile plan." read the orginal article


3/9 remember to turn your clocks forward


3/3 Consumer Report's April 2013 Annual Auto Issue is now available.

Ratings, best cars to buy and worst cars to avoid reliability lists, miscellaneous comparisons. All good information. Buy the April issue at your local store or subscribe online

2/15 one view of Subaru's near future- its mostly Outback, Forester, Impreza/Crosstrek, and WRX/STI 5 doors. And Legacy/Impreza/WRX/STI sedans. Oh, and the rear wheel drive BRZ, and almost 5+2 Tribeca.  So Subaru is still essentially a SUV/hatchback company as much as ever. Through the 1990s, there was the Legacy wagon and it game-changing  Outback version, there were Impreza hatchbacks, and in 98, the mini-square Forester. There were also various coupes and sedans, but it was mostly the wagons that sold. According to the article below, there are still no plans for an entry level car or new separate luxury brand, and the coming hybrid and BRZ are expected to be low volume cars, and the Tribeca stays because its better than nothing. 
While the stated 2013 sales goal is 365,000 cars, the unspoken one is 400,000+.
But beyond the next year or two, will the current line-up and all-wheel-drive emphasis continue to carry Subaru's hunger for growth? Will Subaru be able to compete with Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda etc or will Subaru settle in to improve and refine the models instead of seeking major growth- J.D. Power's recent 2013 dependability survey of 2010s put Subaru in the middle of the pack. It would be a smart niche move for Subaru to buck the trend of mega-SUV as family hauler when they finally drop the Tribeca and go with an awd mini-van family mover that gets decent economy. But I wouldn't be surprised to see a larger 7 passenger Outback replace the Tribeca now that the 14 Forester is growing.
From Wards Auto "Subaru expects the ’14 Forester cross/utility vehicle, plus a handful of other new products, to drive U.S. sales to at least 365,000 units this year, an 8% gain from 336,441 in 2012.
“Hopefully we’re underestimating (our target),” Ken Lin, director-product management, tells WardsAuto at a recent media event here. “If the market is strong and Forester launches strong, we could (surpass it).”
The goal is within reach if Subaru can maintain its current momentum in the U.S., where it has posted sales gains for five consecutive years, including during the height of the recession.
The Forester, one of the most critical products in Subaru’s U.S. lineup, is completely revamped for ’14, with a redesigned exterior and interior and a new 250-hp direct-injected turbocharged horizontally opposed 4-cyl. engine.
But there are other models in Subaru’s lineup, as well as some untapped potential, that could fuel growth this year. The recently launched Subaru BRZ sports car, the result of a collaboration with Toyota, has been well received and created buzz around the brand. The 2-seater is powered by a 200-hp 2.0L normally aspirated flat-4 engine, a 2013 Ward’s 10 Best Engines winner.
But in the sports-car segment, excitement over a new model can fade quickly if an auto maker stands pat, Lin says, hinting an update may be in the works. “That segment has to have something fresh to keep the interest level high,” he says. “It will be important for us to manage the lifecycle of that product.”
Lin declines to say whether the BRZ will receive a turbocharged engine, a matter of speculation among enthusiasts. Current turbocharged Subaru engines won’t fit in the BRZ’s engine bay, but officials aren’t ruling out a solution down the road.
Although the BRZ has sold only 4,144 units since going on sale in the U.S. last May, Lin says the volume is as projected. The BRZ’s twin, the Scion FR-S, has posted 11,417 deliveries to date. “The plan was for (Toyota) to outsell us,” he says. “They have many more dealerships and they wanted to sell more of the product. This wasn’t a car that we desperately needed. But it was a great engineering exercise, and we manufacture and build it. So from a manufacturing standpoint, it’s also good for the company.”
The joint product-development program likely was a onetime collaboration with Toyota, Lin says, though he leaves the door open for future tie-ups. However, it is highly unlikely Subaru will turn to Toyota for assistance in developing an entry-level car, Lin says. Some critics have suggested Subaru needs such a model to bring lower-income customers into its showrooms. “We see a lot of brands that go down-market to the entry buyer, but we’re smaller and have to be very strategic on where we focus our resources,” he says. “(Entry-level) cars themselves don’t cost that much less to build, but you have to charge thousands less to be competitive so it doesn’t make a lot of sense for us at this point.”
While the BRZ’s volume was expected, the same cannot be said for the Tribeca CUV. Last year’s sales slid 25.6% to just 2,075 units, and in January only 159 were delivered, according to WardsAuto data. Lin says the Forester may be eating into demand for the Tribeca, which also is hampered by capacity constraints at the Lafayette, IN, assembly plant. Lackluster sales ultimately could lead to its demise, he admits, although there are no plans to end production.
“Tribeca maybe isn’t the most competitive in its segment,” Lin says. “Maybe it’s a little bit too small and the fuel economy a little bit lacking, but it still offers three rows, so for young families it’s still useful.” A larger 3-row CUV ultimately could be in Subaru’s future, he says.
More upscale versions of current models also may be something the auto maker will consider, though Subaru has no intention of taking on the segment heavyweights. “Luxury is certainly one of the opportunities with profit potential,” Lin says. “We could do touring-editions of products but would not be competing with BMW or Mercedes. There is no move to create another brand.”
Later this year, Subaru will launch a hybrid-electric vehicle into the market, but details have not been revealed. Lin will say only that the model will utilize a nickel-metal-hydride battery, not a lithium-ion pack, an indication the vehicle likely will be a conventional HEV, not a plug-in. “Li-ion (batteries) are out there, but look at Boeing,” Lin says, referring to fire issues associated with Li-ion batteries on the new 787 jetliner. “I think at least for our first attempt (at a hybrid), we’re keeping it pretty simple.” The hybrid isn’t expected to boost sales significantly, he adds, noting the vehicle will be offered to appease Subaru loyalists, who view themselves as environmentalists."  read the original article.


2/13 JD Power studies the number of problems owners of 2010 model year cars had within the past 12 months.
#1 with the fewest problems is Lexus with only 71 problems per 100 2010 models. Subaru is #15 with 132 problems per 100 2010 models sold, below Cadillac with 128 problems and above BMW with 133.
The J.D Power and Associates vehicle dependability study, now in its 24th year, measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (those that were introduced for the 2010 model year). Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 37,000 original owners of 2010 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded between October and December 2012.
In good news for car owners, the study found that overall, cars are becoming more reliable. Overall, the cars experienced an average of 126 problems per hundred vehicles. That was a decline from 132 the previous model year and the lowest average since J.D. Power launched the study in 1989.
Powers also reported that new models, either redesigned or brand new, can be just as reliable as an older model. And the dependability of  three-year-old models is at an all-time high which means used cars can be a good alternative to brand new.
The number of problems people experience with their cars has important implications for the auto industry. J.D. Power found that 54% of the owners who had no problems with their vehicles stay with the same brand when they purchase their next car. Brand loyalty slips to 41% when people experience three or more problems with their vehicles.

The ranking: #1 Lexus 71, #2 Porsche 94, #3 Lincoln 112, #4 Toyota 112, #5 Mercedes-Benz 115, #6 Buick 118,  #7 Honda 119, #8 Acura 120, #9 Ram 122,  #10 Suzuki 122, #11 Mazda 124,  #12 Chevrolet 125,  Industry Average 128,  #13 Ford 127,  #14 Cadillac 128, #15 Subaru 132BMW 133, GMC 134,  Scion 135, Nissan 137,  Infiniti 137, Kia 140, Hyundai 141, Audi 147, Volvo 149, Mini 150, Chrysler 153, Jaguar 164, Volkswagen 174,  Jeep 178,  Mitsubishi 178, Dodge 190, Land Rover 220
read the entire JD Powers press release

2/9 Kiplingers is a financial newsletter and website, offering advice on a multitude of topics. Recently they reviewed cars and Subaru got 6 awards.
Outback named “Best in Class” in the wagons category; BRZ wins “Most Fuel-Efficient” award in sports car category; Forester 2.5X recognized for “Best Resale” among small crossovers; Forester awarded “Worth a Look” recognition for small crossovers; Impreza awarded “Worth a Look” recognition for cars under $20,000
Legacy awarded “Worth a Look” recognition for cars priced $20,000 to $25,000
Kiplinger’s evaluated 2013 models by price and category and ranked them for value, performance and safety. The magazine names top models in ten categories, including picks for Best in Class and Best New Models. Kiplinger’s also highlights five additional vehicles in each category as Worth a Look, indicating they scored high enough to be in contention for the top awards. Kiplingers,  Subaru's press release.

2/7 Is Subaru HQ too small?
"Subaru of America Inc., which has its national headquarters in Cherry Hill, is considering leaving the township, though the mayor says he's working to prevent that.
The auto company, based at its Route 70 location since 1986, has indicated to the township that it may move to consolidate operations at a larger facility.
While company officials said they have made no decisions, Cherry Hill is confronting the possibility of losing the business — and the $440,210 in property taxes it paid last year.
About 300 employees work at Subaru headquarters, a seven-story, 115,000-square-foot building. It wouldn't be big enough, however, to hold the 900 employees the company hopes to have at a new facility, according to township officials. As a result, "they're very seriously looking at leaving Cherry Hill," township spokeswoman Bridget Palmer said Tuesday. "It's something we're concerned about."
A Subaru spokesman said the company hasn't decided to leave Cherry Hill but is considering its options. "We are tentatively looking at other locations to suit our growing business," said Michael McHale, Subaru's director of corporate communications. The company's sales have doubled during the last five years, and "we're at a point where we're adding people and operations to the business," McHale said. He would not comment on other sites that the company may be considering and said that even if Subaru moves, "it could easily be in the Cherry Hill area." "We do plan to stay local," he said.
A subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan, Subaru came to South Jersey through a pair of Philadelphia entrepreneurs. In 1968, Malcolm Bricklin and Harvey Lamm became the company's first U.S. distributors.
A 1993 Inquirer story described the two this way: "In 1968, Harvey Lamm and Malcolm Bricklin were living in the same apartment house on City Avenue. Lamm was a 32-year-old college dropout working in his father's furniture and appliance store, and hating it a lot. Bricklin was fresh from a failed franchising scheme in Florida. They met and struck up an acquaintance.
"Presently they heard about an opportunity to import a weird-looking little two-cylinder Japanese car called the Subaru. They scraped together half of the $25,000 they needed to become the exclusive importers . . ." The company located in Pennsauken, today the site of an operations center with 200 employees. Bricklin left the firm in its infancy; Lamm left as its chief executive in 1990." the original article

2/1 Interest rates announced for February.
Legacy 0% now includes 48 months. Final month for 2012 model rates.

1/19 Subaru and Pang Da join to sell Subarus in China.  No mention of how this might affect or improve Subaru's ongoing desire to build cars in China, a move which has been stymied due to Toyota's minority stockholder position in Fuji.
'Chinese auto dealer Pang Da Automobile Trade Co and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd have agreed to set up an 8.25 billion yen ($92.3 million) company handling sales of Subaru cars in China, the Chinese auto dealer said on Friday. Fuji Heavy, which owns Subaru, will hold 60 percent of the sales company, with Pang Da holding 40 percent, Pang Da said in a stock exchange filing. The agreement, which is still subject to Chinese regulatory approval, will make Pang Da the exclusive distributor for Subaru cars in China..' the original article

1/11 Researching cars online
Of course this website has a ton of good information, but there are many many other sites. What are people researching? Here are 3 Top 10 lists for 2012 car searches. Subaru made the list on Autoweek.com and CR (twice), but not on KBB (this says something about the users, the websites, and the cars).
On Autoweek.com, the most researched cars were the Ford Mustang, Toyota Prius, Chevy Corvette, Kia Optima, Ford Escape, Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW 3 series, Honda Accord, Subaru Impreza, and Dodge Charger
According to Consumer Reports, the top new cars people researched include 2 Subarus. They are Subaru Forester, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Acura MDX, Subaru Outback, and Nissan Altima.
According to the Seattle Times (1.11.12), there are no Subarus in the top 10 most researched new cars for 2012 on KBB.com. The list is Honda CRV, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Ford F150, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Escape, Nissan Altima, and Mazda3

1/8 New finance rates announced from January 8-31. No changes from December, all interest rates remain the same. Click for the NW area current interest rate page


1/5 more cars coming from Subaru's eventually-someday-will-be-expanded Lafayette plant.
They've been talking about it for years. And it's going to be years before the cars arrive from a larger factory. In the meantime, Fuji's job is to redirect cars from slow selling areas (UK, Korea, China) to hot selling areas like the US! Bring them here!
"Subaru is reportedly planning an expansion of its Lafayette, Indiana, plant that will significantly boost the automaker’s United States production capacity amid record demand.
According to Japan’s Nikkei business daily (via Automotive News), Subaru is planning to invest $230 million to increase output by 30 percent at its Indiana factory – the company’s only U.S. production facility. On an annual basis, the plant is currently capable of producing 170,000 Subaru vehicles and 100,000 units of major Subaru stakeholder Toyota’s Camry sedan.
Although Subaru has declined to comment on the Nikkei report, its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries acknowledged last month that it was actively studying a possible expansion to the Indiana plant to support booming sales.
Through the first 11 months of 2012, Subaru’s U.S. volume increased by 28 percent to a record 299,788 units, thanks in part to an 184 percent upswing in Impreza sales. Should the Indiana plant expansion become a reality, Subaru could potentially produce the Impreza as well as the new Forester in the U.S. for the first time – as both vehicles are currently built in Japan, the move would allow the company to increase its profits by sidestepping the strong yen." read the orignal article


1/4 A good article on why Subaru is the state car of... 
"The Subaru wagon is the official car of Maine,” boldly declares Dave Getchell, Jr., associate publisher of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors. Dave can be forgiven his enthusiastic overstatement because five of the nine people in his Rockland office drive Subarus and he himself races a sporty little Subaru WRX in road rallies.
One might also get the impression that the Subaru is the most popular car in Maine on any given trip to Sugarloaf, Saddleback, or Sunday River ski resorts, Common Ground Fair, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s, the parking lots of any number of environmental organizations or institutions of higher learning in Maine, or, for that matter, the offices of Down East.
Our own family owns two Subarus at the moment. We drive a 2010 Impreza sedan, and daughter Nora, an environmental educator who needs the all-wheel drive to reach her cabin atop a mountain in New Hampshire, drives an almost identical 2008 model. As Maine natives who have owned five Subarus over the years, we understand that the Subaru is a supremely sensible car for Maine — all-wheel drive (AWD) for mud and snow, comfortable ride, decent gas mileage, relatively affordable, hatchback, roof rack, just load the kids and gear and go.
Subaru, of course, is not the most popular vehicle in Maine, where there are 1.2 million registered cars and trucks. That would be the Ford F-150 pickup (34,144 ) followed by the Toyota Camry ( 24,369 ). But the 53,000 Subarus registered in Vacationland (that’s all models combined) make Maine one of the best markets per capita for Subarus in the country, second only to mountainous Vermont.
“Maine is a great market for Subarus, as are the states of the Northeast and Northwest,” says Jeff Walters, vice president for field operations at Subaru of America in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. “People in Maine are a little smarter and got it earlier. We just wish there were more people there.”
That’s because, while Subaru has captured only 2.5 percent of the total U.S. new car market, it has close to 9 percent of the Maine market. There is, of course, a pretty simple explanation for the popularity of Subarus in Maine — traction. For many years, Subaru was the only vehicle with AWD you could buy if you didn’t want to drive a truck. But the loyalty to Subaru takes a little longer to explain...
.... “People like Subarus as a daily driving car because they are extremely reliable,” adds Dave Getchell. “At four degrees below zero, you know it’s going to go.”
Bill Hager knows all about that vaunted Subaru reliability. We went to the University of Southern Maine together back in the 1970s and Bill worked at Portland International Jetport for thirty-two years until he was downsized and outsourced in 2003. That year he invested $6,200 in a 1996 Subaru Legacy station wagon with 86,000 miles on it working for a courier service delivering packages all over New England. Today that workhorse Legacy has 637,000 miles on it....
“One of the reasons Subarus are so long-lived, dependable, and reliable,” explains master Subaru mechanic Chip Levine, “is that they’ve always used the horizontally-opposed four-stroke boxer engine. They’ve had one style engine for more than twenty years.”....
It was Chip who delivered the bad news that we had purchased the wrong Subaru back in 1999 when we lease-purchased a brand new Subaru Outback from a local dealer. Chip warned us that the head gaskets tended to blow out at about sixty thousand miles on the 1995 to 1999 Outbacks with 2.5 liter engines.
Chip was also the David who went up against the Subaru Goliath a few years back when he was sued in succession by Subaru of New England, Subaru of America, and automaker Fuji Heavy Industries. “The only valid point they had was that Subaru is a registered trademark,” says Chip, who changed the name of his business to Chip’s Service Center under duress, but he also learned in the litigious proceedings that he could use “Subaru” as an adjective to describe who he is — a “Factory Trained Subaru Technician.”
When I asked Chip who his best customers were, I got a surprising answer. “Lesbians,” he said unhesitantly. “A lot of the cars we work on have rainbow decals on them.”
“I drive a Subaru specifically because they market it to the LGBT community,” explains Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, the state’s leading advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people.
Who knew Subaru has been marketing its cars through gay media since 1996? In fact, the company has won a number of awards from human rights groups for its enlightened approach to inclusive marketing....
Every motorized vehicle ever made, of course, has its admirers and adherents, its own demographics and devotees, but in Maine, where roads frost and heave, turn to ice and back to mud, the sensible AWD Subaru holds a special place in the hearts of those of us who just want to get there and back with a minimum of drama." click to read this entire article

Can Subaru possibly have 1,209 models?
Impreza- there are 189 possible Impreza model, transmission, trim and color combinations.
Crosstrek- there are 48 possible Crosstrek model, transmission, trim and color combinations
WRX/STI- there are 96 possible WRX and STI model, trim and color combinations
Forester- there are 136 possible Forester model, engine, transmission, trim and color combinations
Outback- there are 448 possible Outback model, engine, transmission, trim and color combinations, including PZEVs
Legacy- there are 240 possible Legacy model, engine, transmission, trim and color combinations, including PZEVs
Tribeca- there are 24 possible Tribeca model, trim and color combinations
BRZ- here are 28 possible BRZ model, transmission, trim and color combinations


Subaru stuff. Subaru Pleiades logo is cooked onto bread by the Subaru toaster! The toaster was a dealer sales manager bonus give-away, and wasn't for sale.
small image subaru Pleiades logo toasted bread, 2012
click for more photos of the toaster and other Subaru stuff over the years



TRIBECA NEWS AND REVIEWS

2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
  top-s
M



4/29 orders close early on Wednesday 5/1 for all 2013 BRZ, Impreza, Crosstrek and Tribeca

If there's something specific you want, these are the final days to special order it.

3/21 supplier award for Tribeca tires. Tribeca 2012 sales total was 2,075. 
The Goodyear Tire Rubber Company announces that Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) has presented it with a prestigious North American supplier award for its 2012 performance in supplying tires for the vehicle manufacturer.
Goodyear received the Quality and Delivery Award for achieving 100 percent on-time delivery for production and for reaching the "Supplier Quality Assurance minimum allowable Parts Per Million rating."
The award was presented to Johann Finkelmeier, Goodyear's vice president for North American original equipment sales, on March 13 at Subaru's 2013 Supplier Awards Ceremony. The awards program was part of Subaru's Annual Supplier Conference at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive. Training and Reception Center in West Lafayette, Ind.
"I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of Goodyear," Finkelmeier said. "As the leader in original equipment tire supply in North America, we are more driven to deliver products that help to enhance the performance and appeal of these vehicles." Goodyear supplies original equipment tires to the popular Subaru Tribeca model.' the original article

1/15 Tribeca lives abroad
"Motorcity, the sole distributor of Subaru in Bahrain, has announced the arrival of the 2013 model of Subaru Tribeca, a family sports utility vehicle (SUV). Vishal Prabhakar, acting sales manager at Motorcity commented: “The new Subaru Tribeca 2013 is a family SUV which will offer our customers a perfect combination of Comfort, Modern technology and Exhilarating performance...”

1/2 puddle light recall on various models sold before January 2012

Optional puddle lights (small outside lights under each door that illuminate the ground) may short circuit when exposed to saltwater, which could lead to overheating and possible fire. Models involved have the optional puddle lights and are the 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback, 2009-2012 Foresters sold before January 2012, and 2006-2012 Tribecas sold before January 2012. Reportedly
around 54000 cars in the US and over 633,000 cars worldwide could be involved. According to online reports, the problem has been known for years with various fixes failing to solve it. The latest repair will be new wiring with a fuse. Recall #WQE-41 the official recall notice


Outback news and reviews
2013 calendar year news
click for  archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
-


6/4 2014 Outback and Legacy finance and lease rates are available.
The 14s are coming which means this is the month to get a 2013 - dealers are motivated, there are low rates and lease specials, and there's still a good selection but not for long because they will sell quickly.

5/14 recall- 5,379 2013 Outbacks and Legacys might have a steering column shaft that was not correctly assembled that could possibly lead to a steering failure.
Not all vehicles in the VIN range will be affected. The VIN range for Legacy is D*002001-003605,  the the Outback is D*200001-204233.
Owners will be notified 5/14/13 by mail and email which is why its important to make sure Subaru always has your current contact information. This is steering column recall  #WQI-45


5/5 2014 Outback specs, options page

5/3 2014 Outback and Legacy are now available to order

Model updates/changes and prices have not been announced yet. It appears the list of options is very similar to what was available on the 2013 models.


5/2 2014 Outback and Legacy will be available for ordering 1st week of May.

2014 Legacy
Changes:  New alloy wheel/fog light package available on 2.5i CVT, All Weather Pkg now standard on Premium. Eyesight now available on Premium. Navigation now available on Sport.
Gone 3.6R base model.
Models:
2.5i 6 speed manual. Optional packages: none
2.5i CVT. Optional package includes new 17" alloy wheel/fog light pkg
2.5i Premium CVT, includes all weather pkg. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha, moonroof with Eyesight
2.5i Sport CVT. Optional package: navigation/aha pkg
2.5i Limited CVT. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, eyesight pkg
3.6R Limited, 5 speed automation. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, Eyesight pkg
Legacy colors changes: new  Tungsten Metallic.  Carbide gray metallic replaces Graphite Gray. Gone: Caramel Bronze, 

2014 Outback
Changes: New alloy wheel/fog light package now available on 2.5i CVT,  Eyesight now available on Premium. Eyesight now available on Limited Special Appearance Package.
Gone 3.6R base model.
Models:
2.5i 6 speed manual. Optional packages: none
optional CVT, Optional package includes new 17" alloy wheel/fog light pkg
2.5i Premium 6 speed manual. New for 2014: now includes the All Weather Package.  Option packages: none
2.5i Premium CVT.  New for 2014: now includes the All Weather Package Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha, moonroof with Eyesight
2.5i Limited CVT. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, eyesight pkg
2.5i Limited CVT Special Appearance Package  New for 2014 now includes Eyesight, plus Keyless access/start, Saddle brown leather, memory seat,  moonroof, navigation/aha
3.6R Limited, 5 speed automation. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, Eyesight pkg
3.6R Limited 5 speed automatic Special Appearance Package New for 2014  now includes Eyesight, plus Keyless access/start, Saddle brown leather, memory seat,  moonroof, navigation/aha
New for 2014  Outback color changes: new Tungsten Metallic.  Carbide gray metallic replaces Graphite Gray.
Special Appearance package available in Deep Indigo, Carbide gray, Satin white, Gone: Caramel Bronze.


4/22 on the nature of CVTs from the Chicago Tribune
"Q: We have a 2013 Subaru Outback with an automatic CVT transmission. At about 3,500 miles, the transmission began lurching or hunting, as the dealer called it, particularly at speeds under 25-30 MPH. When you step on the gas, as when getting on an expressway or turning into traffic, the car seems to lose power and does not accelerate like it should. The dealer said Subaru is aware of the problem, and the fix is to have the transmission re-flashed. We had this done, but the problem remains. S.D., St. John, Ind.
A: We have not seen any pattern failures from our research although we have seen other people complain that the CVT (continuously variable transmission) seems to lurch, particularly when cold. For the most part, the complaints come from first time CVT owners who are unaccustomed to the transmission's behavior. It is weird since engine speed and transmission speed don't always seem to be in harmony, but that is the nature of the beast." the original article


4/7 the Outback diesel with CVT is in Australia
'In Subaru’s own admission, this is the most important and significant car of its past decade. This, the diesel automatic version of its large-SUV category player, the Outback, is the first time the company has had a gun big and suitable enough to fight on equal terms with some powerful rivals.

“It’s the missing piece in the engine-transmission puzzle that we have longed to bring to the market," says Subaru Australia’s managing director Nick Senior. He says the biggest SUV sector is the "large" class, comprising players such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Toyota Prado and Volkswagen Alltrack.
The petrol-diesel split is 45/55 and of the diesel models, a whopping 94 per cent sold have automatic gearboxes. Subaru’s Outback diesel has only a manual gearbox. Until this week. “It’s held us back," says Senior as an understatement. “But we predict the diesel auto model will lift monthly sales from 220 to 350." So though outwardly a variation of the existing Outback, this is a model carrying big expectations.... 
The continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is a stronger version of that fitted to the petrol-fuelled Forester (which doesn’t get a diesel-auto combo until late 2014). This auto has been heavily modified and enhanced (including an oil cooler) so it offers a seven-speed stepped mode (like a conventional auto) with functions that assist downhill and engine braking.... The CVT adds $2500 to the price of the manual." read the entire article


4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277

4/1 recall- 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy sold in to Salt Belt states
Brake lines 4-way connector could corrode if exposed to salt water spray from salted winter roads on around 200,000 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy.  Salt Belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Wa, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Only 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy models are involved. Recall #WGQ-43
Other recent recalls- In March Subaru recalled around 50,000 cars with remote engine start that could start themselves if the remote was dropped and the battery moved. In January 2013, Subaru recalled more than 630,000 Outback, Legacy, and Tribeca with puddle lights because water could short the wiring and create a potential fire hazard though only around 54000 needed to be repaired.

3/23 Starlink/Aha navigation upgrade will be available April-December 2013 on 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation built prior to 1/18/13
Upgrade program to run April-December 2013. Aha is by Harman Kardon. You put the Aha app on your Android or iPhone phone (not Blackberry or Windows, though that can change) and it channels content to your navigation. Starlink/Aha is now standard on 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation starting with January 18, 2013 production but it can be added to 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation built prior to that date.  Download Aha, its free, from either iTunes or Google Play. Your Subaru dealer will do the upgrade of the navigation unit. The Aha upgrade program runs April-December 2013. The cost to upgrade your navigation is $100. Subaru will contact owners. 
For more information about Aha, check out http://www.subaru.com/owners/resource-center/electronics-audio/aha-radio/index.html

3/6 Outback or Forester vs Mini All-4
"There is no apparent end to the spousal debate over replacing one of two aging workhorses in our family fleet. But a freak snowstorm and a rash act of fiscal austerity may have tipped the argument in my favor.
Mary Anne, my wife, is a romantic. She wants another Mini Cooper—“something cute and fun,” albeit a larger model than the front-wheel-drive, two-door 2001 hatchback we now use at the house in Northern Virginia. She has her eyes, and seemingly her heart, set on an all-wheel-drive, four-door 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman S All4 wagon.
I want another Subaru, something along the lines of the Outback Limited wagon that got us through several rough winters in New York’s Hudson Valley. I’m hot for the 2014 edition of the Subaru Forester wagon that goes on sale late this spring. I find my logic sterling and view hers as faulty. And a bad decision on fiscal austerity, now owned by no one, may have tipped the argument in my favor. We somehow arrived at the conclusion that it made no sense to pay an annual fee of nearly $1,000 to have the large circular driveway at our New York home plowed after snowfalls. We figured we could do it ourselves — until a freak winter storm left nearly four inches of wet, heavy snow packed in the driveway.
Luckily, well before the storm, we chose to move the Outback wagon to Virginia for the winter. On returning here for a “house check,” we drove up clean, well-plowed local roads to turn into a driveway that resembled a wild winter wonderland. But the Outback, equipped with a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine (165 horsepower, 166 foot-pounds of torque) and a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, got us in and out of the driveway easily.
That performance greatly impressed Mary Anne, so I pressed what appeared to be my lobbying advantage. “The new Forester wagon does even better,” I said. “They’ve fixed the rear suspension and everything. The ride is more comfortable. You’ll love it.”
She retorted: “That All-Four Countryman comes with all-wheel drive. It moves better on the highway. And it’s a lot prettier.” Subaru, unfortunately, routinely leaves me defenseless in the matter of automotive styling. The company’s design and engineering mind-set is practicality. It has no concept of “pretty” or “cute.” But I told Mary Anne that the new Forester has “some” style to it, including a surprisingly attractive and comfortable interior.
She knocked that one back across the table with a dismissive, derisive “Some?” I retreated to hard points, mentioning that the new Forester came with an improved 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine — gasoline direct injection (that always sounds knowledgeable), 170 horsepower, 174 foot-pounds of torque, a bit more horsepower and torque than our Outback. “And it gets better fuel economy,” I said (24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway).
Not to be outflanked with “facts,” she went to her iPad and pulled up numbers for the 2013 Mini Countryman S All4 —1.6-liter in-line four-cylinder engine, 181 horsepower, 177 foot-pounds of torque, 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway.
“But it requires premium gasoline and the new Forester doesn’t,” I said. “And don’t forget how much money we spent fixing your Mini [nearly $6,000 in “routine” repairs in the past three years] compared with what we spent on the Outback [barely $2,000 in the same period].” She replied: “We really only use the Outback when we’re in Cornwall.” I couldn’t let that one go.
“It snows all the time in Cornwall,” I said. “It hardly snows at all in Northern Virginia.”
Which gave her an opportunity to pounce: “Is that why you canceled the plowing contract here?” the original article

3/2 Outback and Legacy orders end Monday March 4th. If you intend to special order a 2013 Legacy or Outback, you have until close of business on the 4th. Typically new models arrive in July (maybe late June). No word on any changes.

2/22 recall- remote engine start transmitters. The transmitters on 2010-2012 Outback and 2012-2013 Impreza and Crosstrek might have a loose internal battery clip that when dropped sends a signal to start the car.  If this happens the engine can run for 15 minutes, turn off, and restart. This cycle could repeat until the car is out of gas and in a garage this could lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The transmitters will be replaced. Recall #WQF-42

1/15 Diesel CVT arrives in Australia in March. Nothing in the US
"Subaru will bring its first ever diesel automatic model to Australia in March, in the form of the Outback 2.0D auto... Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect a premium of around $2000 to be added to the price tags of the Outback 2.0D manual ($39,990) and the Outback 2.0D Premium manual ($42,990)." read the entire article



1/14 more on the Starlink and Aha, by CR at the CES Consumer Electronics Show
"Car shoppers these days may not look much beyond the stereo. They come into the showroom and see if their phone will connect, then sign on the dotted line. And while we've been seeing some good cars from Subaru lately, their lack of modern connectivity systems is an overt shortcoming. Until now.
The company announced its new Starlink infotainment system at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, promising a more competitive dashboard offering than its traditional stereos. Debuting on the 2014 Forester, the Starlink system will next add Aha Internet radio connectivity to the 2013 Legacy and Outback models fitted with factory navigation. The system availability will spread with the 2014 BRZ, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek.
"We know that today's car shopper is looking for technologies that ... [help] them accomplish their daily errands without adding to driver distraction," says Akio Takai, Deputy General Manger of Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.  Aha constantly tailors content to its subscribers from among tens of thousands of stations including, news, talk radio, audio books, and on-demand music services such as Slacker, MOG, and Rhapsody. It can also provide hotel recommendations from Trip Advisor, restaurant guidance from Yelp, local weather, and audio feeds from Facebook and Twitter. Unfortunately, the new service is integrated into a touch-screen radio like the one in our Subaru BRZ. That system has hardly any physical buttons and the on-screen buttons are so small that it's hard to hit the right one when driving. We're enthused about the upcoming Starlink infotainment system, but we hope the interface is improved over the current stereo" read the original article on CR.


1/10/13 Outback and Legacy Prices updated with new Aha audio integration system. It uses your phone to funnel content to the car. Standard on, and available only on, Outback and Legacy navigation models, the price increase is $100 MSRP. Available for ordering now, with delivery starting February. 
Outback Option Packages #08, #20, #23 have been replaced by packages #18, #28, #35
Legacy Option Packages #08, #20 have been replaced by packages #18, #28

1/6 More on the new Aha audio connectivity program coming in (February?) on the 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation, and then Forester, BRZ, Crosstrek
"Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that it will debut a new STARLINK in-car connectivity brand at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  Subaru STARLINK cabin technology represents the automaker's new infotainment strategy.  For the first time ever, Subaru will have a stand-alone presence at CES, demonstrating its driver-friendly Aha integration and Eyesight® driver-assist system on the all-new 2014 Forester. 
STARLINK is the product of a new, cross-functional infotainment team created by Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.  The global team of engineers, planners, and marketing strategists are working together to enhance connectivity & safety technology features in Subaru vehicles, while also simplifying and reducing overall cabin complexity.  
"Subaru is proud to unveil STARLINK cabin technologies at the world's largest consumer electronics tradeshow," said Akio Takai, FHI Deputy General Manager, and leader of the infotainment cross-functional team (ICFT).  "We understand that the driving experience is about much more than mobility, and we know that today's car shopper is looking for technologies that are value-added but also safe, helping them accomplish their daily errands without adding to driver distraction."
The STARLINK connectivity suite offerings begin with the trend-setting Aha service by long-time Subaru partner HARMAN  International.  With Aha, Subaru drivers can safely access tens of thousands of stations of Web-based content such as: NPR® podcasts and 900 NPR member radio stations available via streaming; on demand music services such as Slacker® MOG® and Rhapsody®; news, talk radio, and podcasts from around the world; CBS RADIO's Radio.com;  free audio books; personalized hotel recommendations from TripAdvisor; customized weather, surf and local park information; Facebook® and Twitter® newsfeeds in audio; and personalized restaurant and cafe recommendations from Yelp®. The channels from Aha are constantly changing and growing, allowing customers to always be able to access their favorite content from the web.
"Subaru STARLINK is about enhancing the driver's experience," said David Sullivan, Cross-Car Planning Manager for Subaru of America.  "Aha gives drivers an easy, inexpensive and safe way to interact with information from their smartphone device without touching it while driving - the simple to use interface is transferred to your vehicle navigation screen automatically.  We research, talk, and interact with consumers regularly – and many are looking for a safe way to utilize their apps in-car.  We think the Aha app integration is a great way to kickoff our STARLINK efforts, and has much of the content our customers are looking for."
STARLINK will continue to grow, adding content partners and connectivity capabilities over time.  It will debut in the all-new 2014MY Subaru Forester in all navigation-equipped vehicles, and will also be introduced as a running change in 2013MY Subaru Legacy & Outback models equipped with factory navigation.  2014MY Subaru Impreza, BRZ, and XV Crosstrek models will all be adding STARLINK integration this summer as well..."

1/2 puddle light recall on various models sold before January 2012

Optional puddle lights (small outside lights under each door that illuminate the ground) may short circuit when exposed to saltwater, which could lead to overheating and possible fire. Models involved have the optional puddle lights and are the 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback, 2009-2012 Foresters sold before January 2012, and 2006-2012 Tribecas sold before January 2012. Reportedly
around 54000 cars in the US and over 633,000 cars worldwide could be involved. According to online reports, the problem has been known for years with various fixes failing to solve it. The latest repair will be new wiring with a fuse. Recall #WQE-41 the official recall notice



 Legacy news and reviews
2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
m



6/4 2014 Outback and Legacy finance and lease rates are available.
The 14s are coming which means this is the month to get a 2013 - dealers are motivated, there are low rates and lease specials, and there's still a good selection but not for long because they will sell quickly.

5/17 2014 Legacy research page is up

5/14 recall- 5,379 2013 Outbacks and Legacys might have a steering column shaft that was not correctly assembled that could possibly lead to a steering failure.
Not all vehicles in the VIN range will be affected. The VIN range for Legacy is D*002001-003605,  the the Outback is D*200001-204233.
Owners will be notified 5/14/13 by mail and email which is why its important to make sure Subaru always has your current contact information. This is steering column recall  #WQI-45

5/2 2014 Outback and Legacy will be available for ordering 1st week of May.

2014 Legacy
Changes:  New alloy wheel/fog light package available on 2.5i CVT, All Weather Pkg now standard on Premium. Eyesight now available on Premium. Navigation now available on Sport.
Gone 3.6R base model.
Models:
2.5i 6 speed manual. Optional packages: none
2.5i CVT. Optional package includes new 17" alloy wheel/fog light pkg
2.5i Premium CVT, includes all weather pkg. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha, moonroof with Eyesight
2.5i Sport CVT. Optional package: navigation/aha pkg
2.5i Limited CVT. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, eyesight pkg
3.6R Limited, 5 speed automation. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, Eyesight pkg
Legacy colors changes: new  Tungsten Metallic.  Carbide gray metallic replaces Graphite Gray. Gone: Caramel Bronze, 

2014 Outback
Changes: New alloy wheel/fog light package now available on 2.5i CVT,  Eyesight now available on Premium. Eyesight now available on Limited Special Appearance Package.
Gone 3.6R base model.
Models:
2.5i 6 speed manual. Optional packages: none
optional CVT, Optional package includes new 17" alloy wheel/fog light pkg
2.5i Premium 6 speed manual. New for 2014: now includes the All Weather Package.  Option packages: none
2.5i Premium CVT.  New for 2014: now includes the All Weather Package Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha, moonroof with Eyesight
2.5i Limited CVT. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, eyesight pkg
2.5i Limited CVT Special Appearance Package  New for 2014 now includes Eyesight, plus Keyless access/start, Saddle brown leather, memory seat,  moonroof, navigation/aha
3.6R Limited, 5 speed automation. Optional packages include moonroof pkg, moonroof with navigation/aha pkg, Eyesight pkg
3.6R Limited 5 speed automatic Special Appearance Package New for 2014  now includes Eyesight, plus Keyless access/start, Saddle brown leather, memory seat,  moonroof, navigation/aha
New for 2014  Outback color changes: new Tungsten Metallic.  Carbide gray metallic replaces Graphite Gray.
Special Appearance package available in Deep Indigo, Carbide gray, Satin white, Gone: Caramel Bronze.


 4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277


4/1 recall- 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy sold in to Salt Belt states
Brake lines 4-way connector could corrode if exposed to salt water spray from salted winter roads on around 200,000 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy.  Salt Belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Wa, D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Only 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy models are involved. Recall #WGQ-43
Other recent recalls- In March Subaru recalled around 50,000 cars with remote engine start that could start themselves if the remote was dropped and the battery moved. In January 2013, Subaru recalled more than 630,000 Outback, Legacy, and Tribeca with puddle lights because water could short the wiring and create a potential fire hazard though only around 54000 needed to be repaired.

3/23 Starlink/Aha navigation upgrade will be available April-December 2013 on 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation built prior to 1/18/13
Upgrade program to run April-December 2013. Aha is by Harman Kardon. You put the Aha app on your Android or iPhone phone (not Blackberry or Windows, though that can change) and it channels content to your navigation. Starlink/Aha is now standard on 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation starting with January 18, 2013 production but it can be added to 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation built prior to that date.  Download Aha, its free, from either iTunes or Google Play. Your Subaru dealer will do the upgrade of the navigation unit. The Aha upgrade program runs April-December 2013. The cost to upgrade your navigation is $100. Subaru will contact owners. 
For more information about Aha, check out http://www.subaru.com/owners/resource-center/electronics-audio/aha-radio/index.html

3/2 Outback and Legacy orders end Monday March 4th. If you intend to special order a 2013 Legacy or Outback, you have until close of business on the 4th. Typically new models arrive in July (maybe late June). No word on any changes.

1/14 more on the Starlink and Aha, by CR at the CES Consumer Electronics Show
"Car shoppers these days may not look much beyond the stereo. They come into the showroom and see if their phone will connect, then sign on the dotted line. And while we've been seeing some good cars from Subaru lately, their lack of modern connectivity systems is an overt shortcoming. Until now.
The company announced its new Starlink infotainment system at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, promising a more competitive dashboard offering than its traditional stereos. Debuting on the 2014 Forester, the Starlink system will next add Aha Internet radio connectivity to the 2013 Legacy and Outback models fitted with factory navigation. The system availability will spread with the 2014 BRZ, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek.
"We know that today's car shopper is looking for technologies that ... [help] them accomplish their daily errands without adding to driver distraction," says Akio Takai, Deputy General Manger of Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.  Aha constantly tailors content to its subscribers from among tens of thousands of stations including, news, talk radio, audio books, and on-demand music services such as Slacker, MOG, and Rhapsody. It can also provide hotel recommendations from Trip Advisor, restaurant guidance from Yelp, local weather, and audio feeds from Facebook and Twitter. Unfortunately, the new service is integrated into a touch-screen radio like the one in our Subaru BRZ. That system has hardly any physical buttons and the on-screen buttons are so small that it's hard to hit the right one when driving. We're enthused about the upcoming Starlink infotainment system, but we hope the interface is improved over the current stereo" read the original article on CR.


1/13 Crosstrek and Legacy review. The Crosstrek is cool, capable, slow and steady...
"I've been excited (but not so surprised) to see a wide collection of Subaru's new XV Crosstreks — the jacked-up, brightly colored, Mountain Lifestyle-friendly version of the Impreza — appear in Colorado since the vehicle's launch last year. As you can get one with a base price of below $23,000.
But I discovered that the car's inherent coolness also requires a bit of patience when you're actually rolling your way up our mountain passes, as that lift in suspension and the optional blazing orange paint job is still centered around a four-cylinder Boxer engine making just 148 horsepower.
On a recent re-test of the vehicle on dry roads, I swung up and over nearby Berthoud Pass and, despite a built-in natural high and a glowing feeling that I was rocking an Impreza WRX STI race car, I actually spent much of the run to the summit in second gear, eking out all of the power the car had just to keep rolling.
True-blue Subie oldsters know the feeling, and I guess they love that kind of thing — especially when you have to do the trip in a foot of fresh snow.
That's where the Crosstrek's 8.7 inches of clearance and its bulletproof continuous all-wheel drive system will leave giant SUVs and their monster engines in the dust, like a bright-orange character from a Dr. Seuss book.
And the Subaru devotees will certainly clamor around your Crosstrek, bewitched by its macho-futuristic extra bits — the rubberized corner bumper points, the air-flow wedges under the back bumper and the cool silver-outlined wheels. It's also an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Throw a gear box on the top rails and you've got a super-stylized weekend machine that will get up to 30 highway mpg, respond ruggedly to summertime camping trails and … do the full slow-and-steady routine. Meanwhile, the much-improved 2013 Legacy has absolutely no problem charging up the passes AND sticking to the snow, though its standard, non-Outback sedan shape makes it a little bit more of a rarity up here. The trade-off for not being able to load up quite as many cubic feet of outdoor equipment is an automobile that's more agile, more sporty and considerably less bulky than the ever-expanding Outback." read the entire article with the rest of the article on the Legacy

1/12 a reviewer who likes the Legacy with Navigation and Eyesight, partially because its much less expensive than an Audi or Lexus
A couple of my tweeps are giving my current car du jour some hard knocks. They're calling it dull and cheap, and they're saying it's way too expensive for what it is. They're even recommending that you should buy a BMW or Audi instead. Um. Really? I think they kind of missed the point. The Subaru Legacy is more about practical functionality than crazy luxury. And, it costs $10K to $30K less than a comparably equipped equipped BMW or Audi.
Legacy has a base price of $20,295 and comes standard with all-wheel drive, a phenomenal 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine, Bluetooth connectivity and a very nice continuously variable transmission. To get a BMW 3-Series with AWD and an automatic transmission,  you'll spend a minimum of $38,500, and to get an Audi A4 with AWD, you're looking at $34,600. Now I do have to admit that my test vehicle is the top-of-the-line 3.6R Limited, which is more closely priced to the A4 than the base Legacy. But still. At this level the extra things you get include: the 3.6-liter, 256 horsepower Boxer engine; sport shift paddles, heated front seats, 440-watt Harman Kardon audio system and leather seats. And that's for $28,895. The tester also added the inclusive Moonroof + Navigation + EyeSight System package for $3,940, and the as-tested price is $33,605.
Still less than the A4 with quattro.
What's really phenomenal here is the EyeSight System. In addition to lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control, the other interesting feature this system offers is object detection. Whether the object appears or disappears, if the car thinks you aren't paying attention, it pings you. For example, I was stopped at a red light and reaching in the center console for sunglasses when the light turned green and the car in front of me moved. Because I didn't move immediately, the car beeped at me and flashed a message on the gauges that told me to get moving. Alternatively, if I'm driving, a car pulls out in front of me or suddenly brakes and I don't immediately follow suit, I get another ping. I could see how this might get annoying, but in the age of distracted driving, I think this is utterly brilliant.
I also really like the navigation system. It's easy to use and the map is phenomenally clear and easy to follow.
I will give my tweeps the point that the Legacy does have some uninspired exterior design. But I concede nothing else. The interior at the Limited level is well appointed and downright luxurious. I love the heated leather seats. The ride and handling is smooth and fun. The V-6 Boxer engine is better than great. And the EyeSight System is amazing. At $34K, I couldn't ask for anything else. And did you catch the point that it still costs less than the Audi A4 with quattro?" read the original article


1/10/13 Outback and Legacy Prices updated with new Aha audio integration system. It uses your phone to funnel content to the car. Standard on, and available only on, Outback and Legacy navigation models, the price increase is $100 MSRP. Available for ordering now, with delivery starting February. 
Outback Option Packages #08, #20, #23 have been replaced by packages #18, #28, #35
Legacy Option Packages #08, #20 have been replaced by packages #18, #28

1/6 More on the new Aha audio connectivity program coming in (February?) on the 2013 Outback and Legacy with navigation, and then Forester, BRZ, Crosstrek
"Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that it will debut a new STARLINK in-car connectivity brand at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  Subaru STARLINK cabin technology represents the automaker's new infotainment strategy.  For the first time ever, Subaru will have a stand-alone presence at CES, demonstrating its driver-friendly Aha integration and Eyesight® driver-assist system on the all-new 2014 Forester. 
STARLINK is the product of a new, cross-functional infotainment team created by Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries.  The global team of engineers, planners, and marketing strategists are working together to enhance connectivity & safety technology features in Subaru vehicles, while also simplifying and reducing overall cabin complexity.  
"Subaru is proud to unveil STARLINK cabin technologies at the world's largest consumer electronics tradeshow," said Akio Takai, FHI Deputy General Manager, and leader of the infotainment cross-functional team (ICFT).  "We understand that the driving experience is about much more than mobility, and we know that today's car shopper is looking for technologies that are value-added but also safe, helping them accomplish their daily errands without adding to driver distraction."
The STARLINK connectivity suite offerings begin with the trend-setting Aha service by long-time Subaru partner HARMAN  International.  With Aha, Subaru drivers can safely access tens of thousands of stations of Web-based content such as: NPR® podcasts and 900 NPR member radio stations available via streaming; on demand music services such as Slacker® MOG® and Rhapsody®; news, talk radio, and podcasts from around the world; CBS RADIO's Radio.com;  free audio books; personalized hotel recommendations from TripAdvisor; customized weather, surf and local park information; Facebook® and Twitter® newsfeeds in audio; and personalized restaurant and cafe recommendations from Yelp®. The channels from Aha are constantly changing and growing, allowing customers to always be able to access their favorite content from the web.
"Subaru STARLINK is about enhancing the driver's experience," said David Sullivan, Cross-Car Planning Manager for Subaru of America.  "Aha gives drivers an easy, inexpensive and safe way to interact with information from their smartphone device without touching it while driving - the simple to use interface is transferred to your vehicle navigation screen automatically.  We research, talk, and interact with consumers regularly – and many are looking for a safe way to utilize their apps in-car.  We think the Aha app integration is a great way to kickoff our STARLINK efforts, and has much of the content our customers are looking for."
STARLINK will continue to grow, adding content partners and connectivity capabilities over time.  It will debut in the all-new 2014MY Subaru Forester in all navigation-equipped vehicles, and will also be introduced as a running change in 2013MY Subaru Legacy & Outback models equipped with factory navigation.  2014MY Subaru Impreza, BRZ, and XV Crosstrek models will all be adding STARLINK integration this summer as well..."


1/2 puddle light recall on various models sold before January 2012

Optional puddle lights (small outside lights under each door that illuminate the ground) may short circuit when exposed to saltwater, which could lead to overheating and possible fire. Models involved have the optional puddle lights and are the 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback, 2009-2012 Foresters sold before January 2012, and 2006-2012 Tribecas sold before January 2012. Reportedly
around 54000 cars in the US and over 633,000 cars worldwide could be involved. According to online reports, the problem has been known for years with various fixes failing to solve it. The latest repair will be new wiring with a fuse. Recall #WQE-41 the official recall notice


Forester news and reviews
2013 calendar year news
click for  archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
top
m






6/1 Forester review in July Consumer Reports
The Forester rated 88 points out of 100!  Worth noting is the new the new Tesla S electric sports car, also reviewed, got an astounding 99 out of 100 points.
Its a well balanced article on the Forester 2.5 Premium. Overall, they like the car through its not perfect, and they appreciate that it has continued its functional, boxy roots, keeping the utility in the Sport Utility. And its good they had a 2.5L, that's the engine more buyers will prefer over the sportier, and more expensive, and less fuel efficient 2.0XT turbos. But then CR buys its own testing products unlike most other magazines and car reviewers that depend on the manufacturer to supply it for free.
Here is a brief survey of a few of the good and bad comments. This is an article to read completely if the Forester is on the short list.
One the positive side, comments include "the Forester has undergone its own redesign for 2014, and its lofty road-test score of 88 has left it alone at the summit with its competition far below. What's it's secret? Sticking to the basics... resisted the contemporary trend of making SUVs look like sports coupes with descending rooflines and curvaceous bodies, instead focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows and big square doors...  one of the roomiest rear seats... quicker acceleration as well as class-leading 26 mpg overall.... if you're looking for a small SUV that's very functional and fuel efficient, the Forester is hard to beat... it would be hard to improve on the Forester's driving position... big windows and thin roof pillars contribute to outstanding visibility... controls are basic but simple to operate... "
Not so positive comments include "the ride which used to be calm and cushy is now rather firm and jittery.... not as agile as, say, the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 or Toyota Rav4... the interior was modestly upgraded but remains quite austere, with a few cheap-looking touches... electronics and infotainment connectivity are a little behind the curve, especially in the areas of wireless phone pairing and audio streaming... even on smooth roads, passengers experienced a small, incessant jitter that some of us found annoying. If you put a premium on ride comfort, consider a Honda CR-V instead... as is typical for this class, cabin noise is fairly pronounced...."
The article comments on the CVT without noting the CVT's disappointing, in my opinion at least, Low Mode.
Again, its a good article to read completely if you're considering a Forester- buy the magazine at your local bookstore.
Also reviewed, the Tesla S, Lincoln MKZ, Toyota Avalon, car batteries, and aftermarket car keyfobs and remotes. The Tesla S is not only stunning and stylish in person, but according to the article, is a pretty fantastic vehicle.
Other full reviews and ratings summaries in this July issue include kitchens (counter-tops, floors, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers etc), air conditioners, airlines, garden weed wackers,  TVs, Galaxy cell phone etc.


5/25 about Consumer Reports review of the Forester coming in the July print issue and now available for online subscribers
Another review that doesn't address the 2.5 CVT's low mode with its lack of driver control for safety and performance. from USA Today "The magazine says the "2014 Subaru Forester earned the top spot against a very competitive small SUV class – easily outpointing other recent redesigns including the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5."
It's the second award for Forester lately. The car also was the only small SUV to pass a particularly challenging front-offset crash test performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Consumer Reports says that the new Forester's not stylish, but that's good: "Subaru continues to put function in front of form....Forester resists the contemporary trend toward making SUVs look more like sports coupes, instead focusing on the fundamentals with a space-efficient design, large windows, and big square doors. The result is the easiest access and the best view out of almost any vehicle. It also has one of the roomiest rear seats in the class, with copious amounts of head and leg room."
Jake Fisher, head of the magazine's auto test center, says, "The Forester is hard to beat."
In its tests, Consumer Reports registered 26 mpg overall and 35 mpg on the highway, and noted: "While the CVT is an annoyance in many other vehicles, it's largely unobtrusive in the Forester. Ratio changes are quick and responsive and engine noise is only noticeable during hard acceleration." CVT is a reference to continuously variable-ratio automatic transmission, a design used more and more because it generally delivers better mpg.
The redesign "is not without trade-offs. The ride used to be calm and cushy, but now is rather firm and jittery. Handling is responsive and very secure, but CR's engineers found that the Forester isn't as agile as the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, or Toyota RAV4. And Subaru's in-car infotainment technology is behind the curve," the publication reports.
The model bought and tested by the publication was a Forester 2.5i Premium, $26,814. That is "a good value that included heated front seats, a big sunroof, a backup camera, and a power driver's seat," Consumer Reports says.
Even though it is a new design, and those usually have more problems than normal, CR says it forecasts "above-average reliability" and so gives the 2014 Forester a "recommended' rating" read the original article


5/20 more on the IIHS' Forester crash test results
"Only two of 13 small SUVs performed well in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group, with several popular models faring poorly in the evaluations.
Subaru's 2014 Forester was the only vehicle to get the top "good" rating in the results released Thursday. The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was rated as "acceptable." But fast-selling models such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Jeep Wrangler received only "marginal" or "poor" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Small and midsize SUVs, which get decent gas mileage and have the cargo and passenger space of larger SUVs, are among the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. auto market. Sales grew 50 percent from 2005 to last year, when U.S. consumers bought more than 2.5 million of them, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank.
The IIHS ratings are influential because many auto shoppers find them while researching vehicles on the Internet. The group says its crash tests and ratings are designed to get automakers to improve the crashworthiness of their vehicles.
The ratings are for the institute's "small overlap" crash test that covers only 25 percent of a vehicle's front end. The test was added to the IIHS evaluations last year, with the institute aiming to push automakers into bolstering the crash resistance of their vehicles.
The group's tests are more stringent than the U.S. government's full-width front crash test. The institute says that in many vehicles, a crash affecting one-quarter of the front end misses the main structures designed to absorb the impact of a crash. Yet such crashes account for nearly a quarter of the collisions that cause serious or fatal injuries to people in the front seats, IIHS said.
The new Ford Escape, the top-selling small SUV so far this year, got a "poor" overall rating, while Honda's CR-V, the No. 2 seller, got a "marginal" rating. Toyota's RAV-4, another big seller, hasn't done the testing yet because Toyota asked for a delay to improve the vehicle's structure, the IIHS said.
Other SUVs getting "poor" ratings were the Jeep Patriot, Buick Encore, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tuscson, the institute said. The BMW X1, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan and Jeep Wrangler two-door all got "marginal" ratings.....
...The Forester and Outlander Sport each received the IIHS' coveted "Top Safety Pick Plus" award because they performed well in multiple tests including the small offset crash. Many of the other SUVs, including the Escape and CR-V, won "Top Safety Pick" designations, but didn't get the "plus" due to their performance in the small offset tests. Only 20 vehicles across all car segments have received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick Plus" award.
"With the redesigned Forester, Subaru's engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded," Joe Nolan, the institute's vice president of vehicle research, said in a statement. "This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection." All SUVs tested, except the Forester, were 2012 or 2013 models. The institute said tests of 2012 models were valid because no significant design changes were made between model years...." read the entire article 5/19 John and Phil's Subaru in Corvallis, Oregon sold, reopened as Subaru Corvallis, at the same address



5/15 safety- the 2014 Forester gets top crash test rating from the IIHS in all five tests- Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap.

The IIHS rates vehicles as Good, Acceptable,  Marginal, and Poor.

Of the vehicles tested in all 5 crashes, Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap, only the 2014 Subaru Forester was rated Good in all tests.
The 2nd best rated was the Mitsubishi Outlander with Good on all except the Front small overlap with a rating of Acceptable.
BMW X1, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX5, VW Tiguan, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage all were also rated Good on all except the Front small overlap but they all received a lower safety rating of Marginal. The Nissan Rogue received a good rating in 3 or 5 test, Acceptable in the rollover test, and Marginal in the Front small overlap test.
Be sure to check out the IIHS press release with video of the crash test.

> The IIHS report, "The 2014 Subaru Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester, the only one of 13 small SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test, and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which earns acceptable, are the latest vehicles to qualify for the Institute's recently inaugurated top honor, Top Safety Pick+. Each of the other 11 SUVs earns either a poor or marginal rating.
"With the redesigned Forester, Subaru's engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded," says Joe Nolan, the Institute's vice president for vehicle research. "This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection for people in these kinds of serious frontal crashes."
This is not the first time that the Forester has stood out in a new IIHS crash test. When the Institute first rated small SUVs for side protection in 2003, the Subaru model performed the best and was one of only two to earn good ratings.
IIHS added the small overlap test to its lineup of vehicle safety evaluations last year. It replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph. A 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy is belted in the driver seat.
Most vehicles today are designed to do well in the government's full-width front crash test and in the Institute's moderate overlap front test, but that is no guarantee of good performance in a small overlap crash. In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants. In many vehicles the impact at a 25 percent overlap misses the primary structures designed to manage crash energy. That increases the risk of severe damage to or collapse of the occupant compartment structure. Also, vehicles tend to rotate and slide sideways during this type of collision, and that can move the driver's head outboard, away from the protection of the frontal airbag.
Those difficulties were apparent in the small SUV group. Two-thirds of the vehicles had poor ratings for structure, and about half of them were poor or marginal for restraints and kinematics, meaning the dummy's movements weren't well-controlled to prevent contact with hard surfaces.
In one example of poor structure, the front pillar of the Nissan Rogue's door frame was pushed far inside the occupant compartment and after the crash was almost touching the driver seat. The Jeep Patriot was among the worst for restraints and kinematics. The dummy's head slid off the frontal airbag as the steering wheel moved 8 inches up and nearly 6 inches to the right. The side curtain airbag didn't deploy, and the safety belt allowed the dummy's head and torso to move too far forward.
In contrast, the Forester had good ratings for structure, restraints and kinematics, and all four injury measures on the dummy. The airbags worked as intended, and the space around the dummy was well-maintained. The Outlander Sport was acceptable for structure and restraints and kinematics and also had good injury measures."
the IIHS press release with video, the list of small SUV safety ratings. The IIHS rating page for the 2014 Forester


> The 2013 Outback was rated Good in the Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear, and Acceptable in the Front small overlap test. the 2013 Outback test page


 5/10 Forester carpeted floor mats have been recalled.

Subaru is looking for a new supplier and the 2014 Forester replacement carpeted floor mats should be available in June
. In the meantime, rubber floor mats are now available.


5/7  Do new cars, burn oil, do new Subarus burn oil...
 from thetruthaboutcars.com  "Jim writes: Dear Sajeev: I hope you are well. I have a 2011 Subaru Forester (silver/5 speed) which has been great since purchase. I have travelled 19K to date and change oil every 6 months or 7,500 miles. I have one somewhat troubling matter, however: I’ve added a quart of synthetic oil prior to each 6 month/7,500 mile oil change.
Is this to be expected? My friendly local Subaru dealer says that “all cars” will use oil over a 6 month period. I’ve stopped in every 1200 miles the past 6 months and verified that it is using some oil. However, my silver 1990 535i 5 speed with 250K did not use any oil when I drove it daily for many years. It is now in retirement. The local bmw guys tell me that the m30 engine was the best ever built by the Munich folks. I keep my cars for a long time and would prefer to address this now, prior to the warranty expiration date.
Thanks and best wishes,
Sajeev answers:  Supposedly many (all?) late model vehicles come with a caveat about oil consumption in their owner’s manuals.  Just for fun, I looked at my only late model vehicle’s owner’s manual and the 2011 Ford Ranger (modern Duratec or ancient Cologne V6) doesn’t have a penchant for oil consumption. So anyway…  We’ve discussed Subaru’s oil concerns several times before in this series, but I doubt they have relevance here.  So I’m not surprised to read your problem. Do I know any details off hand? Nope. Luckily, we have Google searches and the NASIOC. Do more searches there and you’ll see my point.
Odds are your dealer isn’t lying: the Subaru Boxer engine (especially the turbocharged ones) can burn oil, so be okay with it.  Kinda like Mazda RX-8 owners! Ditto the V-10 powered BMW M5 and M6. These whips prove that certain engines are designed for performance, consequences be damned.
Unhappy with my answer? Sell the Subie and buy a normal car with owners that’d call for blood if their machines started sucking down oil…and they’d get that blood, too. To wit, a quote from an interesting article I Googled:
“Do cars today consume more oil than in the past? Not according to John Ryder, a master automotive technician and Philadelphia-area manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Approved Auto Repair Network.  Ryder agrees that manufacturers now commonly insist it’s normal for a vehicle to use up to a quart of oil per 1,000 miles. But in real-world experience, he says, such consumption is rare. “You see it in a super small percentage of cars,” Ryder says.”
  Read the original article


4/25- the Forester floor mats are now an official recall.
Due to improper material used in the backing on the carpeted floor mats included with all models, the mats can curl when exposed to heat, possibly interfering with the gas, brake or clutch pedals. This affects all 2014 Foresters sold before 4/22/13. Owners will be notified. Replacement mats will be provided when available starting May 2013.
Recall #WQH-44.
Rubber mats are now available for purchase from Subaru dealers. 

4/23 Forester replacement carpeted floor mats expected in early May
.


4/16 2014 Forester carpeted floor mats that are included with the car are on hold.
You can buy a new Forester but the carpeted mats that come with the car should be removed, they should not them in the car. Replacement carpeted mats will be available, no date announced. No specific reason has been offered other than Subaru 'has detected a potential quality problem with carpeted floor mats' and they might curl and not lie flat. Rubber floor mats are now available and are fine to use.


4/10 2014 Forester brochures now at dealers. 29pgs
 
4/5 more Forester accessories available, port installed MSRP: rubber floor mats $72,  moonroof air deflector $122, upgraded speakers by Kicker $333

4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277

3/19 Canadian 2014 Forester 2.5L models have paddle shifters except the base 2.5 model. In the US only the 2.0XT turbo models have paddle shifters.

3/16 Consumer Reports buys a new 2014 Forester
'The Subaru Forester is one of the most researched cars on the Consumer Reports website. Consequently, buying the first redesigned-for-2014 Forester that we could get our hands on was a top priority. And it just arrived at our Auto Test Center.
Our Forester is the most popular trim: a Premium model with the continuously variable transmission. Since we live where it gets cold, we added the $500 all-weather package, which includes heated front seats and mirrors. Not like we had much choice, anyway; basically every Forester Premium sold around here brings these heated accoutrements. Our Forester also has various add-ons, like a $272 self-dimming mirror, a $75 cargo tray, and $147 splash guards. The sticker came to $26,814—pretty much right in the sweet spot for small SUVs nowadays. Just how vital is the Forester to Subaru? One sign is my email inbox, which has several "The 2014 Forester Is Here!" messages from local Subaru dealers. With all the excitement, you'd think the Forester was a SRT Viper or something. Another sign: a local dealer is already offering the Forester for $500 under invoice. That's crazy for a car that is still warm from being driven off the transport truck. Then again, you can't throw a stone in New England without hitting a Subaru dealer, so competition fuels the deals.' the original article

3/6 Outback or Forester vs Mini All-4
"There is no apparent end to the spousal debate over replacing one of two aging workhorses in our family fleet. But a freak snowstorm and a rash act of fiscal austerity may have tipped the argument in my favor.
Mary Anne, my wife, is a romantic. She wants another Mini Cooper—“something cute and fun,” albeit a larger model than the front-wheel-drive, two-door 2001 hatchback we now use at the house in Northern Virginia. She has her eyes, and seemingly her heart, set on an all-wheel-drive, four-door 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman S All4 wagon.
I want another Subaru, something along the lines of the Outback Limited wagon that got us through several rough winters in New York’s Hudson Valley. I’m hot for the 2014 edition of the Subaru Forester wagon that goes on sale late this spring. I find my logic sterling and view hers as faulty. And a bad decision on fiscal austerity, now owned by no one, may have tipped the argument in my favor. We somehow arrived at the conclusion that it made no sense to pay an annual fee of nearly $1,000 to have the large circular driveway at our New York home plowed after snowfalls. We figured we could do it ourselves — until a freak winter storm left nearly four inches of wet, heavy snow packed in the driveway.
Luckily, well before the storm, we chose to move the Outback wagon to Virginia for the winter. On returning here for a “house check,” we drove up clean, well-plowed local roads to turn into a driveway that resembled a wild winter wonderland. But the Outback, equipped with a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine (165 horsepower, 166 foot-pounds of torque) and a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, got us in and out of the driveway easily.
That performance greatly impressed Mary Anne, so I pressed what appeared to be my lobbying advantage. “The new Forester wagon does even better,” I said. “They’ve fixed the rear suspension and everything. The ride is more comfortable. You’ll love it.”
She retorted: “That All-Four Countryman comes with all-wheel drive. It moves better on the highway. And it’s a lot prettier.” Subaru, unfortunately, routinely leaves me defenseless in the matter of automotive styling. The company’s design and engineering mind-set is practicality. It has no concept of “pretty” or “cute.” But I told Mary Anne that the new Forester has “some” style to it, including a surprisingly attractive and comfortable interior.
She knocked that one back across the table with a dismissive, derisive “Some?” I retreated to hard points, mentioning that the new Forester came with an improved 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine — gasoline direct injection (that always sounds knowledgeable), 170 horsepower, 174 foot-pounds of torque, a bit more horsepower and torque than our Outback. “And it gets better fuel economy,” I said (24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway).
Not to be outflanked with “facts,” she went to her iPad and pulled up numbers for the 2013 Mini Countryman S All4 —1.6-liter in-line four-cylinder engine, 181 horsepower, 177 foot-pounds of torque, 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway.
“But it requires premium gasoline and the new Forester doesn’t,” I said. “And don’t forget how much money we spent fixing your Mini [nearly $6,000 in “routine” repairs in the past three years] compared with what we spent on the Outback [barely $2,000 in the same period].” She replied: “We really only use the Outback when we’re in Cornwall.” I couldn’t let that one go.
“It snows all the time in Cornwall,” I said. “It hardly snows at all in Northern Virginia.”
Which gave her an opportunity to pounce: “Is that why you canceled the plowing contract here?” the original article

3/1 2014 Forester special finance rates available- 1.90%-24-36-48 mos, 2.90% 60-62-72 mos, oac

2/25 2014 Foresters starting to trickle in to dealers.  "Introducing the 2014" brochures now available with model information and comparisons to competitive models

2/20 see two 2014 Foresters at Seattle's Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2/20-24. There's a Burnished Bronze and Jasmine Green 2.5 Touring and they're open to sit in. Jasmine Green shown
click for 2014 Forester specifications and details. Jasmine green 2.5 Touring shown. Jasmine Green

2/17 See the 2014 Forester at the large Northwest Flower and Garden Show 2/20-24


1/29  Forester review
"Six years is the standard life span for a new car design, but the current Subaru Forester, which went on sale in early 2008, is being ushered off stage one year early. This is despite the fact that the departing Forester has sold much better than its gawky, wagonlike predecessors and even in its last year accounted for nearly a quarter of the brand's volume. The new Forester, wisely, does little to threaten that success, instead largely building on the previous car's strengths, the better to face the fleet of big-name competitors in this ever-more-popular segment.
Current owners will instantly recognize this as a Forester. The largest dimensional change is in length, which grows by 1.4 inches. Better packaging helps make for an even roomier back seat, and Subaru engineers have made the car even more family friendly with easier ingress and egress and simpler child-seat installation.
The previous Forester offered excellent outward visibility, and -- defying widespread industry trends -- the new version is actually improved. On our drive outside of Tucson, we gazed at southern Arizona's rocky brown tableau through huge side windows. Slimmer A-pillars and a raised seat height make for a great forward view as well, and backing up is easier with a rearview camera (standard in all but the base model).... 
One area that was ripe for improvement was fuel economy. Subaru has finally junked the old Forester's mileage-sapping four-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, as in the Legacy, Outback, and Impreza, it was replaced with a CVT. A stick shift (now a six-speed) is still available with the standard 2.5-liter engine on base and Premium trim levels, but the vast majority of Foresters will be equipped with the automatic. Paired with the 2.5-liter -- a 170-hp unit that was introduced in the outgoing car last year -- it makes for droning acceleration. At least that acceleration is somewhat quicker, with the factory-measured 0-to-60-mph time down from 9.9 to 9.3 seconds. Moreover, fuel economy has jumped from 21/27 mpg city/highway to a top-of-the-class 24/32 mpg -- and that's with all-wheel drive, which is standard. The turbocharged Forester XT, meanwhile, has a new 2.0-liter unit that puts out 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter is based on the BRZ engine and will appear next in the new Impreza WRX. The turbo comes only with the CVT, but with so much additional muscle available from only 2000 rpm, the engine spends very little time hanging at the top of the rev range, and the CVT becomes almost a nonissue....
Electronics are elsewhere employed in a new navigation unit, which unfortunately incorporates the audio system and is a pain to use. Subaru's EyeSight system -- with adaptive cruise, precollision braking, and lane-departure warning -- is an option on Touring models only.
That new top-spec model takes the Forester's price as high as $33,820, but buyers will be reassured to know that there's plenty of good value to be found toward the lower end of the spectrum, with the base 2.5i starting at $22,820. Value is an integral part of the Forester equation, along with practicality and usability.
This early renewal enhances those strengths and should fortify the Forester against the buzz saw of competition..."  read the entire article

1/27 Forester XT turbo review
"The Forester does quite a bit of heavy lifting for Subaru. What was once a plucky little all-wheel-drive utility box has matured into a competitive crossover that accounts for a quarter of the company's total sales in the US. With those numbers continuing to swell even in the third generation's twilight hours, engineers and designers found themselves in the unenviable position of being asked to fix what ain't broke. Rather than reinvent the company's workhorse from the ground up, as we say in our first look at the CUV, Subaru honed the Forester to offer better fuel efficiency, more usable space and a more refined drive.
In doing so, the automaker hopes to toe that delicate line between luring in new devotees to the cult of Pleiades and keeping the brand's longtime fans smiling. While the fourth-generation Forester may have lost some of its trademark pluckiness in the pursuit of a more mainstream existence, there's no denying this is a more sorted vehicle than its predecessors. Make no mistake, the 2014 Forester is keen to carve out a larger chunk of the ever-plumping CUV market for itself, and for the first time in its history, it has the muscle to do so.
The 2014 Subaru Forester is larger in every direction compared to the 2013 model, but familiar proportions help keep the new generation from looking engorged. Taken on its own, the Japanese CUV looks fairly compact, but with its tall ride height and more capacious greenhouse, the model can't help but appear beefier than competitors like the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. Both the base Forester and the XT now feature more squared-off styling front and rear, and the result is a more masculine mini SUV....
...If the Forester shows its new girth anywhere, it's in profile. The new generation is 1.5 inches longer than the outgoing model, complete with an extra inch of wheelbase. There's also an additional 1.4 inches of total height, thanks in part to a larger greenhouse. Designers shifted the A-pillar forward slightly for greater visibility and larger door openings, and under a close eye, the CUV can't help but appear a bit bubble-headed. We appreciate the new roof-to-belly doors that cover the vehicle's sills, however. Anyone who's come away from a previous-generation Forester with mud or snowy slush on their pant legs will agree the design change is a good one.
Inside, the 2014 Forester doesn't exactly offer buyers any great leap forward in comfort or convenience, though a number of small changes help make the cabin a nicer place to spend time. Those start with larger door openings all around, which help make jumping behind the wheel or wrangling children into the back seat easier. Up front, designers have ditched the old square cup holders for round units, and the seat warmer controls have finally migrated to a usable position on the center console. We can't say thank you enough for that last maneuver. With an extra 0.4 inches of vehicle width and redesigned, scalloped door panels, occupants get an extra 1.3 inches of shoulder room, too, which helps make the Forester feel larger inside than it actually is. But it's the back seat that's received the most attention. Subaru has worked to make the 2014 Forester more kid friendly than its old counterpart, with tricks like a transmission tunnel that's nearly three inches lower than before. ...  Most importantly, the 2014 model delivers an extra 3.7 inches of rear legroom over the 2013 Forester, effectively making the back seat genuinely usable for adults and children alike for the first time in the model's history..." read the entire article


1/26 2014 Forester review
"The compact crossover class is one of the most competitive with a slew of excellent choices for car shoppers. Subaru's redesigned Forester won't make things any easier.
The 2014 Subaru Forester may look only slightly different on the outside, but inside, underneath the hood and just about everywhere else, it's a significantly improved SUV.
Subaru has gone to great lengths to make sure the Forester is still a capable off-road  or at least "off-pavement" vehicle — but it shines in everyday driving, too.
At a national introduction hosted by Subaru in Arizona, I tested both the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder that most shoppers will choose as well as the significantly more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in XT models. The Forester will go on sale in March.
The engine Subaru expects nearly 95 percent of Forester buyers to opt for is a 170-horsepower four-cylinder teamed to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Doesn't sound like a powerhouse, does it? But the top-sellers in the class aren't far removed. The Honda CR-V, new Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and Mazda's CX-5 get 185, 176, 173 and 155 hp, respectively.   Look at torque figures, though, and the Forester's 174 pounds-feet of torque compares well against the same group at 163, 172, 184 and 150 pounds-feet, respectively.
In the real world, when merging onto the highway, passing and accelerating from a dead stop, I put the Forester on par with the CR-V and Escape. Its one fault in these areas is the high level of noise during hard acceleration, which is partly due to the CVT.
Once up to speed, though, the Forester is remarkably quiet. Most of today's Subaru vehicles, including the outgoing Forester, allow too much road and wind noise into the cabin. Subaru says this Forester is the quietest vehicle it's ever made, and impressive aerodynamics helps the seemingly boxy SUV's fuel economy, too. Considering how tall the cabin is — with lots of tall windows — the noise level is even more impressive while still delivering terrific visibility.
The one advantage Subaru clearly has over the competition is its standard all-wheel-drive system. That's not just because of how much less a Forester costs than all-wheel-drive versions of the competition — they come standard with front-wheel drive — but just how capable the system is itself... Of course, all-wheel-drive systems generally hurt fuel economy, but Subaru has done wonders with the 2.5-liter's efficiency. It's rated 24/32 mpg city/highway and 27 mpg combined.  Those are excellent numbers even against front-wheel-drive competitors. The combined rating tops the CR-V, the Escape 1.6 and the four-cylinder Chevy Equinox at 26 mpg. Only the underpowered CX-5 outshines the field at 29 mpg combined. Highway mileage is right in line with the CR-V's 31 mpg, RAV4's 31 mpg, Escape's 33 mpg, CX-5's 32 mpg and Equinox's 32 mpg....
The Forester XT is a different beast crafted for drivers who want more speed in their little crossover. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder puts out 250 hp and 254 pounds-feet of torque...
To show off its speed, Subaru put the XT on a challenging racetrack for part of the evaluation. While it handled the circuit well, it was the open road where the XT felt really quick. Subaru says the zero-to-60 time is in the low 6-second range, which is about the same as a base Porsche Cayenne....
Whether it's worth the added price and fuel-economy hit — 23/28 mpg and 25 mpg combined — is another question. We observed 25.8 mpg on our full drive and just 20 mpg after the first leg of unpaved driving.
An area Subaru has failed in for many years is interior design and refinement.... other editors at Cars.com find fault with the quality of glossy plastics and hard dashboards.  Even they should be impressed with the new Forester's cabin. The dashboard's design is simple and has just a few pieces of the silver plastic many despise. The gauges are traditionally laid out; there are large buttons and knobs for the standard stereo and climate controls, and even the dashboard materials are softer to the touch than before.
Drivers and front passengers will appreciate the front seats. The optional leather seats I tested throughout my six-hour drive were incredibly comfortable. I routinely get a sore back after an hour-plus in many test cars, so the pain-free day stood out.  I also sat in a Forester outfitted with cloth seats, which are standard. They were definitely firmer but were still nice and wide across the seat's back and bottom..." read the entire article


1/24 2014 Forester orders accepted, and factory option prices and packages announced!
Foresters for dealer inventory are expected to slowly start arriving in late February or March. Want something specific? Order it. Factory orders placed in January will be for May delivery (or April), and orders placed in February will for June delivery (possibly May). Place your order now.
This is the best time to get a 2013- there's 0% financing, a decent selection, and excellent deals still available.

1/22 2014 Forester color codes announced

1/18 2014 Forester prices and option packages released, and features list updated.
Options and prices not released yet, and orders not yet available though they should be soon. As long expected, the car should start arriving mid to late February.
Prices increased on all models but with new features that was to be expected. Destination increased $30 to $825
Notably missing is the popular alloy wheel/roof rack value package on the base 2.5X models. The top selling Premium price increase is only $230 including the new CVT and destination. The Premium with manual transmission gets standard All Weather Package but loses the power moonroof. 
The Limited and Touring models get new power rear gate, and Touring model comes standard with Navigation. Aha smartphone audio integration is standard with navigation.
Research all the 2014 Forester specs and prices

here is a chart to compare 2014 and 2013 Forester MSRP prices.
MSRP prices include destination. All 2014s have upgrades and features not on the 13s, especially Touring and XT models.
If you want s 13, now is the time to get it
model
2014
2013
.
model
2014
2013
2.5i, manual
$22,820
$22,090
.
2.5i Limited CVT
$28,820
$27,790
2.5i CVT
$23,820
$23,290
.
2.5i Touring CVT
$30,820
$29,190
2.5i Premium, manual
$24,320
$25,090
.
2.0 XT Premium, CVT
$28,820
$28,090
2.5i Premium. CVT
$25,820
$25,590
.
2.0XT Touring, CVT
$33,820
$30,790

Important Forester Note- Some (all?) Canadian 2014 Forester 2.5X CVT transmission models apparently have Paddle Shifters which for some reason is a feature US models don't have.  While many people won't use them, paddle shifters, or other similar controls like the Sportshift on previous transmissions, give the driver the ability to manually control the CVT transmission for safety and performance reasons, and because it's fun and involves the driver.  This very important feature is missing on all U.S. 2.5X models. Will U.S. bloggers and magazine car reviewers take note of this?
For years, Canadians have come to U.S to buy new or lightly used Subarus because they're less expensive. Perhaps Americans will now go north to buy Canada spec 2.5X Foresters because they have a better, more flexible CVT setup. Here's a link for the 2014 Canadian Foresters. Scroll down to the 'selected features' list. 


1/2 puddle light recall on various models sold before January 2012

Optional puddle lights (small outside lights under each door that illuminate the ground) may short circuit when exposed to saltwater, which could lead to overheating and possible fire. Models involved have the optional puddle lights and are the 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback, 2009-2012 Foresters sold before January 2012, and 2006-2012 Tribecas sold before January 2012. Reportedly
around 54000 cars in the US and over 633,000 cars worldwide could be involved. According to online reports, the problem has been known for years with various fixes failing to solve it. The latest repair will be new wiring with a fuse. Recall #WQE-41 the official recall notice
-

XV Crosstrek  news and reviews
2013 calendar year news
check 2012 news
articles edited for length, content
.

CROSSTREK HYBRID IS BELOW




5/23  Crosstrek is one of  the three cars that went into the Skagit River when the I-5 bridge collapsed. Everyone is ok.
The bridge crossing the Skagit River in Burlington, Wa, (just north of Mt Vernon), collapsed sending 3 vehicles into the river. I-5 is the main North-South interstate and a very busy highway. The Skagit River Bridge carries around 70,000-75,000 cars daily.  It fell after one of the girders was struck by an semi.  There are a few other bridges nearby but they're street bridges not intended to carry the volume the Skagit Bridge did. 3 cars went into the water, thankfully everyone is ok.
One of the cars was a tangerine orange Crosstrek. There's some body damage in addition to being dumped in the river. The driver was rescued from the top of the car. The local dealer in the area is Skagit Subaru.
2013 subaru crosstrek in the skagit river I-5 bridge collapse, may 2013

That's an orange Crosstrek in the Skagit River. The roof and right side roof rail is damaged and the side airbag is deployed against the driver's window.


 
4/29 orders close early on Wednesday 5/1 for all 2013 BRZ, Impreza, Crosstrek and Tribeca

If there's something specific you want, these are the final days to special order it.


4/9 Crosstrek review from Edmunds.com
"The Frumpy Solution to Eccentric Problems. Subaru's 2013 XV Crosstrek rides a very fine line. It is, most certainly, a Swiss army knife of the automotive world: a jack of all trades. But being a jack of all trades runs the obvious risk of being master of none. This may or may not be the case with the XV Crosstrek.
The Crosstrek, after all, does solve some eccentric problems. For example, should you be in the perilous circumstance of finding conventional crossover SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape too macho and the standard Subaru Impreza too vanilla, it's possible that the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is, in fact, your ideal car.
What Is It?  The Crosstrek replaces the Outback Sport in Subaru's lineup of pumped-up spin-offs. It is, however, a more capable off-roader than the Outback Sport, which died with the last-generation Impreza. The XV sits some 4.1 inches taller than the standard 2013 Impreza thanks to a lifted suspension and taller tires. Combined with genuinely fat fender flares and a big fender gap, the look is a combination of bravado and utility, with a little Birkenstock thrown in for balance. Also, it doesn't hurt that the wheels match the body color on our black test car.
Though Subaru does a better job concealing the platform's roots than in past examples, the XV Crosstrek is all Impreza hatchback underneath. Its powertrain options are the same, too. There's one engine available: a 2.0-liter flat four-cylinder good for 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Limited models like our tester come only with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), but a five-speed manual is available on Premium trims.....
A survey of the XV's specs reveals the full extent of its utility. There's a significant 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which might not mean much until one realizes that the 3.5-inch-taller 2013 Toyota RAV4 offers only 6.3 inches....
With this knowledge we headed for our local Subaru proving grounds in the Santa Monica Mountains to test whether the XV's hardware could deliver....
...The XV produced a 26.5-mpg average during more than 1,000 test miles. With EPA ratings of 25 city/33 highway and 28 combined mpg, our numbers are marginally off the mark. Measured against its rivals in the real world, however, the XV can easily compete. Our past tests of the 2013 RAV4 and 2012 CR-V produced 23.6 and 27.7 mpg, respectively.
By utilizing the same design and materials, the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is all Impreza inside.... There are heated leather seats and automatic climate control on Limited models like our tester. The 4.3-inch LCD screen displays navigation and audio information as well as the rearview camera display.
Nobody will accuse the XV of being luxurious, but it's also not cheap. Materials and controls feel decent and (on our long-term Subaru Impreza, at least) seem to last. The 60/40-split rear seats fold nearly flat, though cargo space is considerably less than full-fledged crossovers. At 51.9 cubic feet, the XV's total cargo area can't measure up to the RAV4's class-leading 73.4 cubes. Still, it is no less useful than other compact five-doors from Japan or Korea.
Whether the Impreza-based XV will sufficiently substitute for a RAV4 or CR-V depends on two factors: how badly you need the extra space they provide, and how badly you want the added visibility their height provides. Because in every other way (including off-road ability) this funky Subaru gets the job done.
It's not hard to be more interesting than a standard Impreza. And it's not a big ask to be more macho than a RAV4 or CR-V. So even though the XV finds itself in the largely unoccupied space between compact five-doors and crossover SUVs, it will, no doubt, be the perfect solution for many.' read the entire article


4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277

3/29-April 7- Hybrid- see Subaru's first hybrid, a Crosstrek, at the New York Int'l Auto Show, March 29 - April 7

2/22 recall- remote engine start transmitters. The transmitters on 2010-2012 Outback and 2012-2013 Impreza and Crosstrek might have a loose internal battery clip that when dropped sends a signal to start the car.  If this happens the engine can run for 15 minutes, turn off, and restart. This cycle could repeat until the car is out of gas and in a garage this could lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The transmitters will be replaced. Recall #WQF-42

2/4 Crosstrek review
"What is it? An elevated Impreza with a rakish roofline, a rear hatch and sporty trim.
How much? The entry-level model, inexplicably called the Premium, starts at $22,805 with a manual transmission. The fancier Limited with an automatic is $25,305, but adding a sunroof and navigation system would increase that by $2,000. Prices include the $810 destination charge.
What makes it run? A 2-liter flat 4 (148 horsepower) and either a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is standard.
Is it thirsty? Not for all-wheel drive. The Crosstrek automatic is rated at 25 m.p.g. city and 33 highway, the manual at 23/30.
Alternatives: BMW X1, $35,395; Mini Countryman All4, $28,000; Nissan Juke AWD, $22,730.
Anyone who lives where an eight-inch dump of snow doesn’t raise a frost-covered eyebrow knows that all-wheel drive isn’t enough: if you want to get through deep snow you need ground clearance, too.
That is the point of the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, which is basically a modified Impreza compact hatchback operating at, well, a higher level. While the Impreza has 5.7 inches of ground clearance, the Crosstrek has 8.7 inches. That’s nearly as much as the Chevrolet Tahoe, a conventional S.U.V.
Those extra three inches seriously reduce the chance of bogging down in deep snow, whether on an unplowed road or while clambering over the mounds left by snowplows in front of side roads and driveways.
The Crosstrek isn’t intended for serious off-roading, but its higher stance gives it a better chance of handling rutted, rough roads without damaging the parts down under.
While the XV is based on the Impreza, it has a different body style with jaunty, assertive styling. The biggest mechanical changes, Subaru says, involve borrowing some components from the Forester S.U.V. for the higher-riding suspension.
The Crosstrek’s cabin is virtually identical to the Impreza’s in appearance and dimensions. The interior has an economy-car look but is practical and comfortable enough for four adults — assuming nobody is much over six feet tall or feels entitled to stretch-out legroom. Subaru says there’s 22 cubic feet of space behind the back seat. Plop that seat down and you create a huge 52-cubic-foot cargo hold.
I spent about a week with a Limited with the continuously variable transmission, followed by a Premium with the manual.
The manual allows more involvement, but there are two downsides. One is a mileage rating that’s 2 m.p.g. lower in town and 3 lower on the highway.
The other is noise. At highway speeds the engine — working hard just to maintain 70 m.p.h. — adds to the already considerable racket from the road and the wind. Life is quieter with the variable automatic, which allows the engine speed to drop considerably, reducing the racket. And the C.V.T. comes with some underhood soundproofing that isn’t in the manual. A spokesman said that soundproofing would be made available for installation on the manual Crosstrek.
Of course, you pay a price in performance for the good fuel economy. Acceleration is just acceptable, at best, with either the manual or the variable automatic. The testers at Consumer Reports clocked a C.V.T. model at a leisurely 9.7 seconds from a stop to 60 miles per hour. While the manual shifter is slightly notchy, the C.V.T. works well. And because the transmission lets the engine operate at peak efficiency most of the time, it’s a big factor in fuel efficiency.
The Crosstrek makes up for its casual approach to velocity with an energetic demeanor on a two-lane road. Despite the high ride height, the Subaru changes direction quickly and the body lean is nicely controlled. It is also possible, by lifting off the gas in the middle of a quick turn, to get the tail to move slightly to the outside, helping to change direction. On rough surfaces, the ride can be a bit jolting. One question for potential buyers is whether the Crosstrek is worth its price premium over the Impreza.
For the budget-minded who don’t need the extra ground clearance, yet want all-wheel drive and good fuel economy, the cheapest Impreza with a manual transmission is about $3,600 less than the entry-level Crosstrek. But that’s a misleading comparison because the Crosstrek has a lot more standard equipment.
The closest apples-to-apples comparison would be the XV Crosstrek Premium with the Impreza Sport Limited, which has similar upscale features like heated seats. Those two models are each just under $24,000.
Buying the XV Crosstrek also means a slight loss in fuel economy. The Impreza hatchback with the automatic is rated at 2 m.p.g. more in town and 3 more on the highway. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the Impreza would consume $100 less in gasoline in a year, based on 15,000 miles of driving with a fuel price of $3.36 a gallon.
The Crosstrek comes with all of the important safety features, including electronic stability control. It is rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its performance in front and side-impact crash tests and for roof strength.
A thoroughly likable and practical crossover, the XV Crosstrek is impressive not for its speed but for its ability to adapt to driving conditions, whether meandering along a mountain road or slogging through deep snow. And wherever it travels, it goes easy on the finances." the original article


2/3 Crosstrek review
"The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is just about the perfect vehicle for Pacific Northwest singles and families on a budget.
The new compact crossover by Subaru is small enough for easy city driving but offers a surprisingly large amount of interior room and cargo space. Because it's a Subaru, all versions come standard with all-wheel-drive, which increases traction for slippery and off-road conditions. And although it is basically an Impreza five-foor hatchback, ground clearance has been increased three inches for better trail and countryside driving.
The cost is very reasonable, too, with the base Premium model starting at around $22,000 and our fully-loaded Limited test model coming in at under $28,000. And the mileage isn't bad, either, with the Continuously Variable Transmission-equipped version EPA rated at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway.
But we say "just about perfect" because some potential buyers might have problems with the CVT. It is a little noisy off the line and under heavy acceleration, which is not unusual for the new breed of shiftless transmissions that maximize mileage. On the other hand, it is much more responsive than most CVTs and comes with a manual shift mode for even more control. Those buyers uncomfortable with the CVT can get a five-speed manual transmission in the base model, but not in the Limited version. Mileage is reduce to 23 city and 30 highway, however. Although we noticed the CVT noise the first time we drove our test Crosstrek, we quickly found it easy to ignore, especially because the upgraded stereo was so good. And the numerous comfort features in the Limited also helped ease the pain, especially the heated leather seats, which were supportive enough for long drives. The navigation system's 4.3-inch display screen was a little small by today's standards, but the view from the rear view camera just fine. And the sunroof let in plenty of light.
Subaru says the Crosstrek is a different model from the normal Impreza and has taken a number of steps to set the two of them apart. The additional height is immediately noticeable, as is the protective cladding under the front, sides and rear. And the unique black and silver alloy wheels are also attention grabbers — purposeful bordering on ugly, but distinctive nevertheless.
The company went down this path once before. The last generation Outback was essentially a lifted Legacy wagon with cladding and special wheels. Subaru kept insisting it was really a different model, even though it did not actually become one until the current generation.
The Crosstrek's additional ride height was appreciated both on and off the road. Visibility was greatly increased over the regular Impreza, which is much more of a car than the Crosstrek. And we had no qualms going over the poorly maintained streets in our part of town, including the steep unpaved ones that double as our off road test tracks in a pinch.
Although the flat four is only rated at 148 horsepower, the CVT made surprisingly efficient use of it, allowing quick accelerations from dead stops and safe freeway merges. The ride was sportier than we expected, aided by the well-controlled suspension that is upgraded from the normal Impreza.
As Subaru owners know, the company's vehicles are not the most sophisticated in the world. Despite the leather seats, the interior in our test model had a lot of plastic and less-than-expensive feeling control knobs. But everything worked like it was supposed to, and plastic is easier to clean than fabric. And so is leather, which is another excuse for considering the Limited version, even if it only comes with a CVT." the original article

1/17 Crosstrek Impreza looks just right
"Subaru has this down to a science. Take one of its cars, jack it up a couple of inches, add some plastic body cladding, a roof rack and, Voila…soft-roader.
The Impreza hatchback is the latest to get this treatment, and while it’s a little more involved, that really is basically the gist of its transformation into the $22,805 XV Crosstrek.
But I can’t help wonder if the process wasn’t done the other way around. While the design of the Impreza is a little bit on the awkward side, it looks just right as a high rider. And the XV Crosstrek is definitely that.
The little 5-door has 8.7-inches of ground clearance, more even than a Jeep Grand Cherokee, although it sits lower and is easier to get into than a conventional compact crossover. Chunky wheels with a blocky spoke design combined with unique front and rear bumpers help give it the appearance of a space buggy, especially when finished in its signature Tangerine Orange Pearl paint. The interior is identical to the Impreza’s, which means plain, but appointed with excellent visibility and lots of room for the compact class. The main difference is a standard rubber cargo tray for hauling mucky gear in the back.
Not too much of it, though, as the 2.0-liter flat-four-cylinder engine only has 148 hp. All-wheel-drive and a five-speed manual transmission are standard, but with the CVT automatic the vast majority of buyers will choose, the XV Crosstrek is a little slow getting up to speed on the highway.
The tradeoff is that once you are there it delivers 33 mpg, which Subaru says is best in class for all-wheel-drive crossovers, even if the XV Crosstrek barely qualifies as one. Unlike many cars today that come up short on real world fuel economy, I saw as much as 35 mpg on a couple of runs.
One of them took me to a snow-covered dirt road where, even on all-season tires, the XV Crosstrek kept me out of the woods. The Vehicle Dynamics Control is not subtle about saving your sorry self, the system loudly rat-tat-tatting individual brakes to keep the car going straight whenever you start getting out of line. Treat it like the buzzer in a game of Operation and it can be a very good lesson in vehicle dynamics.
Slippery surfaces or not, the XV Crosstrek’s suspension does a great job in the rough stuff, soaking up the deepest ruts with nary a shock to the spine, but is a little bouncier than ideal on paved roads.
As with many “gearless” CVT transmissions, the XV Crosstrek has a manual mode and paddles behind the steering wheel that allow you to use it like a virtual six-speed. Normally very silly, this feature actually comes in handy off-road by giving you more direct control over the power delivery and some engine braking when heading downhill.
As a slightly more extreme alternative to the Impreza, the XV Crosstrek offers a nice package. But don’t waste its time unless you plan to get a little dirty now and then, or at least live where the snow gets deep. Subaru didn’t go to the trouble of making it for the likes of you." read the complete article.


1/13 Crosstrek and Legacy review. The Crosstrek is cool, capable, slow and steady...
"I've been excited (but not so surprised) to see a wide collection of Subaru's new XV Crosstreks — the jacked-up, brightly colored, Mountain Lifestyle-friendly version of the Impreza — appear in Colorado since the vehicle's launch last year. As you can get one with a base price of below $23,000.
But I discovered that the car's inherent coolness also requires a bit of patience when you're actually rolling your way up our mountain passes, as that lift in suspension and the optional blazing orange paint job is still centered around a four-cylinder Boxer engine making just 148 horsepower.
On a recent re-test of the vehicle on dry roads, I swung up and over nearby Berthoud Pass and, despite a built-in natural high and a glowing feeling that I was rocking an Impreza WRX STI race car, I actually spent much of the run to the summit in second gear, eking out all of the power the car had just to keep rolling.
True-blue Subie oldsters know the feeling, and I guess they love that kind of thing — especially when you have to do the trip in a foot of fresh snow.
That's where the Crosstrek's 8.7 inches of clearance and its bulletproof continuous all-wheel drive system will leave giant SUVs and their monster engines in the dust, like a bright-orange character from a Dr. Seuss book.
And the Subaru devotees will certainly clamor around your Crosstrek, bewitched by its macho-futuristic extra bits — the rubberized corner bumper points, the air-flow wedges under the back bumper and the cool silver-outlined wheels. It's also an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Throw a gear box on the top rails and you've got a super-stylized weekend machine that will get up to 30 highway mpg, respond ruggedly to summertime camping trails and … do the full slow-and-steady routine. Meanwhile, the much-improved 2013 Legacy has absolutely no problem charging up the passes AND sticking to the snow, though its standard, non-Outback sedan shape makes it a little bit more of a rarity up here. The trade-off for not being able to load up quite as many cubic feet of outdoor equipment is an automobile that's more agile, more sporty and considerably less bulky than the ever-expanding Outback." read the entire article with the rest of the article on the Legacy



1/1/13 Crosstrek reviewed in the February Consumer Reports. 
As is common with most Crosstrek reviews by auto writers, they appreciate the capability of the car, its ground clearance, all wheel drive, and handling, and bemoan the 2.0L and CVTs weak acceleration though the resulting fuel economy is a strong point. They also comment on the generally noisy ride.
In the same February issue they compare 3 mid-size sedans, the 2013 Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord, and Chevy Malibu. Disappointingly the Legacy, while a recommended model, comes out last, 3rd, in the bunch, with the 2013 Legacy upgrades improving emergency handling but reducing ride comfort. The Honda Accord, always a great car, comes out on top.
Also in the February issue, they list some of the the best and worst cars for the money, they review the Huyndai Santa Fe Sport,  various snow blowers, TV sound bars, handsfree soap dispensers, washers and dryers,  tablets and laptops, and much more. Its always a good resource and worth subscribing to in-print or online.


Impreza news and reviews
Crosstrek info is above
2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
m





4/29 orders close early on Wednesday 5/1 for all 2013 BRZ, Impreza, Crosstrek and Tribeca

If there's something specific you want, these are the final days to special order it.


4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277


2/22 recall- remote engine start transmitters. The transmitters on 2010-2012 Outback and 2012-2013 Impreza and Crosstrek might have a loose internal battery clip that when dropped sends a signal to start the car.  If this happens the engine can run for 15 minutes, turn off, and restart. This cycle could repeat until the car is out of gas and in a garage this could lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The transmitters will be replaced. Recall #WQF-42

2/12 Impreza review. Many reviewers comment on noise. The Imprezas and Crosstreks are pretty normal sound-wise, neither quiet nor particularly loud compared to other cars in the same price and fuel economy range. There is engine, tire, road, and wind noise and yes there could be more sound insulation, but that adds weight and this car is designed with fuel economy in mind. There are some sound deadening measures that can be added to any car aftermarket that will help, including for example cargo area, spare tire, and carpet padding. But it costs and adds weight.
"This week, we're driving Subaru's 2013 Impreza Premium Hatchback, a long wheelbase compact from a corporation that continues to enhance its all-wheel-drive technology on every car it builds. Completely re-styled in 2012, Impreza comes in four-door sedan or five-door hatchback design with a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed four cylinder Boxer engine for power.
Now in its 39th year of offering four-wheel drive passenger cars and SUVs, Subaru continues to impact the market with vehicles that not only attract all age groups, it does so with Symmetrical 4x4 as standard fare on every sale. They've been doing it this way since 1997, when the two-wheel drive Subaru was eliminated from its vehicle lineup.
Subaru's reputation is similar to Jeep nowadays when it comes to 4x4 discussions, although Jeep still offers two-wheel drive versions. Best of all, a well equipped base Impreza allows entry into "Subaru Land" for an incredibly low $17,895, proving that the word "inflation" is still not listed in the Subaru Dictionary. The entry price of our hatchback tester came in at $20,295.
Underneath, all Imprezas ride on a fully independent suspension with struts up front and a double-wishbone setup out back. For those seeking the best in performance, Impreza's high performance WRX starts at $25,795 and features a turbo Boxer engine and highly modified suspension. (It's my personal favorite of all Subarus).
Under the hood of the "normal" Impreza models sits its new design 2.0 liter four-cylinder horizontally opposed "Boxer" that puts out 148-horsepower and 145 lb. ft. of torque. This engine replaces the thirstier 2.5-liter that powered many Subarus through the 2011 model year. Because the famous "sideways" Boxer engine sits low in the chassis, it improves the overall center of gravity enhancing all handling and traction characteristics. Thus, be it a base price Impreza or top line 265-horse WRX, you'll receive the great core components and revolutionary AWD that makes Impreza a "best buy" in class.
Standard on Premium models are 16-inch tires with aluminum alloy wheels, 6-speaker stereo CD/USB/iPod/Bluetooth, air, fog lamps, cruise, vehicle dynamics control, electronic brakeforce, steering wheel audio controls, all the powers, keyless entry, four wheel ABS discs and much more....
If you want the automatic, Subaru's CVT costs extra, (about $1,000 more) but does push the EPA higher to 27 and 36, which is a fair tradeoff. The automatic also utilizes a slightly different AWD system, but it's still 100-percent Subaru technology....If you're looking for an AWD compact that delivers great fuel mileage and rides comfortably thanks to the longer wheelbase visit your Subaru dealer and take one out for a drive. Overall, Impreza is a Test Drive best buy.
Likes: Engine, interior room, price, MPG, AWD. Dislikes: Engine and interior noise, needs more insulation." read the entire article



BRZ NEWS AND REVIEWS IN 2013
2013 calendar year news

click for  archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
M




4/29 orders close early on Wednesday 5/1 for all 2013 BRZ, Impreza, Crosstrek and Tribeca

If there's something specific you want, these are the final days to special order it.

 4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277


April 1st-  BRZ convertible rumors confirmed. Reportedly the rear mounted hybrid powerplant only leaves room for a 4 gallon fuel tank, and the car, available in noseeum black, will finally have the solid WR Blue interior with matching carpet that Subaru has long wanted. Also in a separate announcement on April 1st, Subaru announced that the 2014 Forester 2.5L Premium and Limited with CVT and paddle shifters not available to US buyers will in fact be available to US purchasers who wish to pick up their car up in Canada (where paddle shifters are standard) and leave it there.
The official release on the BRZ- "Bowing to continued media and internet speculation, Subaru of America has confirmed that it will launch an AWD Twin Turbo Convertible two seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ for sale in 2015. The new model essentially takes all of the media and internet rumors surrounding the highly successful BRZ sports car and delivers them in one fell swoop. A spokesman for the company said: “Having just launched the current model to widespread critical acclaim, we are tired of fighting off the constant speculation about what’s “next” and so we are just giving in and delivering all the speculation in one vehicle.” The new model, which is expected to have a starting price, will however NOT come with a much anticipated rear back up camera. The spokesman confirmed that after shoehorning two convertible switched (up and down) onto the fascia there just wasn’t room for any more instruments. The AWD Turbo Convertible two seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ will come in a single color, noseeum black and will be hand produced at Subaru’s Brigadoon facility.
More denials about future BRZ variants can be found at media.subaru.com"


3/12 brief, concise article on the different suspension in the BRZ and the FR-S/GT86
"The BRZ has a firmer suspension up front and makes a difference in driving performance. He says, it has a “slightly sharper and more weighty steering.” Watson says the Toyota GT 86 feels “looser and a little more playful and a bit more tail happy.” The firmer suspension of the BRZ can cause it to bounce more at lower speeds but Watson notices the trade-off is at higher speeds, where it feels more planted in the corners. He says, “if you want the sharper driving sports car, get the BRZ.” He continues, “If you want to go drifting and practice tail-slides, get the GT 86.”  the original article

2/18 BRZ- does Toyota get 90 out of every 100 of the FR-S BRZ twin made? From Top Gear UK via CarScoop
"After testing the Toyota GT 86 and declaring it an absolute blast and very easy to drift even when reading a book (!), then handing it over to The Stig for the customary lap, Jeremy Clarkson sat down with the other two Top Gear hosts and discussed the news.  This is usually the less exciting part of BBC’s show. A CarScoop reader, who goes by the nickname “Uglydawg69”, though, tipped us off that in that episode during the three lads’ bantering, James May said Toyota and Subaru have agreed that the former will sell 90 out of every 100 coupes the latter manufactures at its Ota plant located 50 miles northwest of Tokyo.
In all the tons of info disclosed by the two Japanese manufacturers about their new coupes, this fact had never came up. We thought we should investigate whether this was true or not, so emails were promptly sent to Toyota USA / Scion, Toyota UK, Subaru Japan, Subaru UK and Subaru USA. The press departments of Subaru Japan and Toyota USA / Scion unprofessionally brushed us off and did not reply to our message, but we did get an answer from the other three press contacts.
Toyota GB Press Relations manager Nik Pearson, who looked into the subject, told CarScoop the following: “This is something I have heard, yes. But to clarify, I have heard that for every 90 GT 86 produced (not sold) there will be 10 BR-Zs. So Toyota has 90 percent of the production”.
Subaru USA's products communication manager, Jessica Tullman, told Carscoop: "We can’t comment on business decisions such as those you (and Mr. May) mention. We have no idea what kind of deal would be between the companies and that would be confidential."
Subaru UK's Robin Barlett said: "Toyota do have the lion share of the production but I cannot confirm numbers or split I'm afraid. Perhaps there was the usual  Top Gear  "licence" in there." the original article


WRX AND STI NEWS AND REVIEWS IN 2013
2013 calendar year news
articles edited for length, content

top
click for archived news from 2012
m
2015 WRX/STI concept car news is below



5/26 2015 STI spy video.
"Overall, the styling of the car is not as exciting as the concept showcased in New York last month since it appears the production version will adopt a regular sedan body with narrower fenders, taller roof and smaller lower intakes." watch the video on youtube

5/2 WRX Special Edition photo page
check out the 2013 tangerine orange WRX Special Edition. There are only 200of them, and 10 STIs


4/30 2013 STI photo page
WRX photo page added 5/2


2013 impreza sti special edition lower black stripe


4/22 the 200 WRX and 100 STI sedans are starting to arrive. All are tangerine orange.
2013 wrx special edition sedan, tangerine orange


4/17 on the current 2.5L WRXs and STIs.
They're great muscle cars, both the more affordable WRXs and higher performance STIs. It took multiple versions starting in 2002 with the 2.0L, through the 2008 redesign get it right in 2010.
They're well proven, dependable, and work well as daily drivers if you like to drive a car that's fast and sounds like it, sticks tightly to the road like glue and rides like it, and has bulging fenders that are as subtle as Hulk's gamma radiated muscles. As a matter of fact, the only thing missing from the 2010-2013 WRX/STI is Hulk green.
This model is ending though, it has to change. To get better fuel economy it needs to become sleeker, use new technology, its bulges will become smooth bumps, and the 2.5L will become a 2.0L that pumps out power when needed but sips gas when not. The next version of the WRX/STI will more refined in all ways, though one trusts Subaru will keep the hard-charging thrashy spirit and attitude while improving the ride, making the car more economical to drive, comfortable, quieter, less plasticy, all while not changing it from the affordable rockets they are. Its an inevitable change, but  I think the current WRX/STI will be a car people lust for 20 years from now (especially 5 door models) when everything has become a combination of battery, electric, fuel cell power, dilithium crystal. And while there's no Hulk green, collectors will look for the 300 tangerine orange Special Editions available this month.

Here are two recent articles on the passing of the WRX/STI baton
> from TFL.com "Here at TFLcar.com, we define a “modern collectible” as a vehicle with timeless looks, extraordinary performance, and extremely limited availability. A car we choose must be beautifully mechanically and aesthetically, but, above all, must be able to turn heads and create conversation wherever it travels. This last quality is the most illusive and the most difficult for a single automobile to consistently accomplish.
But what if we were to find a car with gorgeous lines, unprecedented sport, and a stunning curb presence? What if this model could even boast a manufacturer with a legendary track record for reliability and satisfaction? Could we even find anything close to such a vehicle?
Well, the engineers at Subaru, with their 2013 Impreza WRX STI, seem to think so. Essentially a street-legal rally car, the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX STI does not fail to impress on any level. A small 2.5-liter turbo four cranks out a whopping 305 horsepower delivers power to all four wheels, and speaks to the racing heritage of Subaru Tecnica International (or STI). Appearance-wise, the car is absolutely stunning, with an intimidating hood scoop, flared fenders, and a massive rear wing capable of creating ridiculous downforce for all sorts of high-speed shenanigans.....
Though the WRX STI is no limited production vehicle, Subaru has recently announced plans to suspend completely its production in the UK, one of the biggest markets for high-performance cars similar to the STI. This means that the Subaru’s worldwide availability will be severely reduced during the next few years, with the UK-spec examples of the current generation garnering especially high demand. It is these British examples of the WRX STI that will garner great collector followings in the future.
Subaru has also announced plans for production of a highly exclusive WRX STI “Special Edition,” an even more track-oriented version of the famed rally car. Only 100 examples of this model will ever be produced, all of which will sport tangerine orange paint, matte-black sport rims, and custom “STI” graphics and pin striping along the side quarter panels. An STI-specific interior also finds its way onto the “Special Edition,” covering all surfaces with a black leather trim accented by orange contrast stitching. These examples of the WRX STI will probably be the most desirable examples for collectors, fetching big money at famous auctions in the future...." read the entire article
> and on the next version, with possible spy shots, "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." read the original article with many photos

4/11 WRX and STI Special Editions due to arrive late April. 200 WRX sedans, 100 STIs with  be made, all tangerine orange.
I have a WRX available at MSRP $29565



4/3 Navigation map upgrade available. You can download the latest Q3 2012 data from Nokia/Navteq for $149.99 + tax
If you have factory navigation (excluding Forester with Tom-Tom) on a
2012-2013 Forester, Impreza, and WRX/STI,
2013 Legacy, Outback, BRZ, and Crosstrek,
2014 Forester,
you can purchase the latest mapset  Q3 2012 from Navteq for 149.99 + tax.
You need the original SD card that came with the navigation, and a windows computer with a SD-HC card reader. Be sure to remove the SD card from the navigation only after the pushing and confirming the Remove SD button in the Info screen.
You will need a registered account with the download website, where you'll also get all the details and info, at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal
The windows computer will need a copy of the toolbox. Its at https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/downloads
Questions, support, SD card questions https://subaru-na.naviextras.com/shop/portal/support or call Navteq at 888-628-6277


4/1 its the last day to order a 2013 WRX or STI

3/28 2013 WRX and STI order cut-off date is this coming Monday, April 1st. No fooling.
If you've been thinking of an order, you have a few final days to place it.


2/1 WRX Special Edition prices have been announced. They're expected in March and are only $500 more than the standard models.
The 200 WRX Special Edition sedans are MSRP $28,795 (plus additional options), which is $500 more than the WRX Premium.
The 100 STI Special Edition sedans are MSRP  $34,795 (plus additional options), which is $500 more than the STI sedan.
All are Tangerine Orange Pearl with Black Wheels, Black fender garnish, Black exterior door mirrors, special exterior side graphics, special edition floor mats, orange stitching on seat/shift boot/interior door panels.
WRX Special Edition also have a blackened headliner and interior roof trim
STI Special Edition models also have fog Lights and orange stitching on the center console armrest


1/16  On the tangerine orange WRX Special Edition due here in May. In New Zealand its the Crouching Tiger, though theirs gets a power upgrade
"This lurid range Subaru can be seen from outer space.  You know those action movies where things seem to have come to a natural ending, and then something unexpected happens and it's all on again?
That seems to be what's happening with the Subaru Impreza WRX. We all know the WRX plot is drawing to its natural close: an all-new mainstream Impreza was launched last year and Subaru has made it clear that the next WRX, while still some time away, will be a very different car to the outgoing one. Based on the platform of the Impreza as always, but this time a separate model line with its own design ethos. Not really an Impreza, more a new kind of WRX.
In the meantime, the current (and very familiar) Impreza WRX carries on and it's looking a little bit old-school. Still clearly the rally-bred machine, it has a jolting turbo engine with a throbbing boxer thrum in the exhaust, flared "wide body" guards and a five-speed manual gearbox. Yep, just five gears.
So why are we still interested? Good question.
First, the WRX is still a fantastic car to drive: one of those machines that just feels right in terms of powertrain, steering and chassis balance. A genuine pleasure to drive. Second, you can't escape the sense that it's the last in a line, as the Impreza moves more towards efficiency and sophistication and away from laugh-out-loud performance and handling. Third, Subaru New Zealand keeps sneaking intriguing limited-edition versions onto the market that make the WRX ever-more-desirable.
The latest is the Crouching Tiger. You can't miss it, because it's very orange. It's also very rare, with just 10 examples going on sale. Subaru's last limited-edition WRX, the Ace of Spades, was produced in a run of 10 examples as well.
In fact, the Crouching Tiger has a lot in common with the Ace of Spades under that orange finish. The 2.5-litre boxer-turbo engine has been tweaked to 211kW (more than the standard WRX's 195kW, a bit less than the STI's 221kW), there's an STI strut brace under the bonnet and STI front springs. Like the Ace of Spades, the Crouching Tiger has privacy glass, a 'WRX' garnish on the front fender and glossy black alloys.
However, the orange crusher ups the ante on rear spoiler size. And orangeness of course. The Tiger features orange stitching on the leather seats and 'WRX' logos in the seatbacks in the same lurid colour.
If you're thinking the Tiger is simply a brighter version of the Ace of Spades then you're probably on the right track.
I can't see anything wrong with that either, as there are only 10 to go around and it's a brilliant package. This particular setup makes for what is arguably the best WRX ever and once you drive it you can't get enough. Sure, it looks a bit old-fashioned now and the interior fit/finish is diabolical compared with the new Impreza, but the WRX still offers a real connection between car and driver.
It would make sense to say that the car's drawback is you have to go crazy to really enjoy it, but that's a WRX myth. Sure, this can be a mad machine, but it's also one of those rare cars crammed with feedback and dynamic character even at urban speeds. Like any action star with enduring appeal, the WRX knows how to pace itself." read the original article


1/5 Subaru is on a galloping roll in the US but struggling in the UK where in mid-December they dropped the WRX, STI and Impreza, and in Korea where they're just closing shop altogether.
"
Subaru is disliked by the South Koreans and can’t even sell their most popular cars to their neighbors across the sea of Japan. Subaru announced Wednesday (12/26/12)  that it will stop selling the 2013 Forester, Outback and Legacy in the Korean market on Dec. 31, 2012. ... Even though the Subaru brand is growing everywhere around the globe, the Korean people refuse to buy Japanese cars.
Subaru launched Subaru Korea in 2009 and can’t get the Korean buyers to purchase any of the models it offered: the Legacy, a medium-sized sedan, as well as the Outback and Forester, both medium-sized SUVs. According to Chosun Media, in 2010, Subaru only sold 384 cars, though sales improved slightly in 2011 to 664 and were similar this year with 558 as of last month. But that still does not look likely to be profitable...
Chosun says, Mitsubishi is also likely to end its operations in Korea soon. It has been selling the Lancer sedan and two SUVs, the Outlander and Pajero, but as of last month, it has only managed to sell 61 cars this year. The South Koreans are buying cars, and the German brands are experiencing good sales and dominated the market with a combined 70 percent market share. Both Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have been doing well....
The all-new 2014 Subaru Forester, popular Outback SUV and Legacy sedan are selling well globally, but the bitter Japanese/Korean rivalry runs so deep that neither country will export their cars across the Japan sea after 2012. " the entire article




Baja, Bricklin, SVX, Loyale, 360, Brat etc and all other older models
and other older car related news, articles etc
2013 calendar year news

click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
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4/15 what to do with a 1980 Subaru? Make it look like a car from the the movie Jurrasic Park
.
Watch the video http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2302983408001&odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cfeatured


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Subaru Hybrids, Diesels, and Concept cars

2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content
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5/26 2015 STI spy video.
"Overall, the styling of the car is not as exciting as the concept showcased in New York last month since it appears the production version will adopt a regular sedan body with narrower fenders, taller roof and smaller lower intakes." watch the video on youtube

4/20 WRX chief designer talks about the WRX concept
'Subaru's design chief Osamu Namba takes a tour of the recently unveiled WRX Concept and explains its styling. Seeing a truly fresh design these days in the automotive industry is pretty much a rare case but Subaru has managed to pull it off with the WRX Concept which hopefully won't lose a lot of its looks once the production version arrives.
The company's design boss explains the styling of the vehicle which keeps the WRX design features but in a more attractive package. The muscular look of the car is provided by the flared wheel arches, a large hood scoop, side outlet vents, a quad exhaust setup and 20-inch BBS forged wheels. Carbon fiber was used for making the roof, while the back shows a trunk lid with a built-in spoiler.' the article and video


4/13 about the WRX concept at the New York Auto Show that ended on April 7. See photos
from a March 29 article in Australia, by Haitham Razagui. ' Subaru's long-awaited next-generation WRX performance flagship is just months away, with the production version expected to be revealed by the end of this year.  And given the BRZ coupe took seven months to go from production debut to Australian launch, a similar time frame for the WRX points to an arrival in local showrooms around mid-2014.
Speaking in New York, Subaru America president and COO Tom Doll said the production version was “close”, and conceded that a November motor show reveal was “possible”, hinting at a potential world premiere at LA motor show.
It is also worth noting that the Tokyo motor show will take place at the same time as the North American event this November.  The concept revealed in the Big Apple overnight is just a styling preview, in similar vein to the pumped-up BRZ STI concept from the 2011 motor show, which was tamed down by the time it was unveiled in production form at Tokyo a fortnight later. Like the BRZ show car, the WRX concept is obviously an extreme version of what will end up in showrooms.
Strip away the carbon-fibre roof, 20-inch alloy wheels, massive racing brakes, aggressive rear diffuser, tiny door mirrors and air intake-like headlights and it is possible to get a measure of what the showroom STI model might look like.
Tame down the chunky flared wheel arches – which at the front lead into huge air vents – and the base WRX starts to materialise.  Whether the production model will retain the four-door concept’s swoopy coupe-like roof line remains to be seen.
Apart from confirmation the new WRX will maintain the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors, no mechanical details have been announced and Subaru’s global deputy general manager for corporate communications Masashi Uemura declined to comment on technical details.
However Mr Doll confirmed the new WRX will share the Impreza platform and be offered with a manual gearbox, while automatics will use a CVT with paddle-shifters.  He also quashed rumours the new WRX would be a hybrid – although he said the electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission of the XV Hybrid also revealed at New York would provide a welcome torque boost.  “It will have a manual transmission because a performance driver likes to be able to shift the car,” he said. “If you put a CVT in it you can have paddle-shifting.”
Various rumours about drivetrains have circulated but it looks likely the WRX will use a higher output version of the direct-injection 2.0-litre turbo engine of the latest Forester XT.
“In the future I think you can probably guess that with the 2.0-litres that are in the current Impreza, a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is coming,” said Mr Doll.
Although Subaru looks set to position the WRX more firmly as a standalone sportscar, further distancing it from the Impreza with which it has long been associated – the Impreza name was dropped from performance models in 2010 – Mr Doll revealed some panels would still be shared.
We are trying to strip the WRX and STI brands off and away from the Impreza to try and get their own unique styling and their own unique driving attributes,” he said.
“They share some (panels) but we are trying to create, as you can tell by this car here, its own style and its own definition as opposed to taking it from the Impreza model and saying it is just based off the Impreza.”
He also confirmed the WRX would not be produced as a hatchback this time around as “performance cars are more defined in the sedan segment”.  But due to the popularity of hot hatches in various markets around the world such as Europe and Australia, it is unclear if Mr Doll was talking in the context of his native North American market.
“For the new generation we are moving away from the five-door style,” he said. “Because performance cars are more defined in the sedan segment.
Mr Doll said the new WRX will deliver BRZ-like levels of handling and drivability but in a more powerful, all-wheel-drive package.  “We learned with the BRZ that it is not just about 0-60 it is really about drivability, handling and fun and what the BRZ taught us, you are going to see a lot of those positive attributes built into the next generation of our production cars.”
The WRX concept’s wheelbase is a significant 115mm longer than the Impreza at 2760mm while the 4520mm body length is 60mm shorter than the Impreza sedan, lending it short overhangs and a purposeful stance to go with its low (1390mm), wide (1890mm) and sleek shape.  Subaru fans will be glad to see the iconic WRX bonnet scoop has been retained – unlike the latest turbo-petrol Forester XV – but it has become even more integrated with the bonnet than on the current model.
The concept is painted in a new colour called WR Blue Pearl III that has a metal-flake look but provides a clear link to the classic WRX hue and Subaru’s rallying livery.
Flourescent yellow highlights on the badge, fat quad tail-pipes and brake callipers give the concept some sparkle without resorting to the use of chrome.' the original article

4/12 WRX concept car was at the NYIAS New York Int'l Auto Show March 28-April7
The next version is expected to arrive mid-2014 and have a 2.0L turbo like the 2014 Forester 2.0XT.
 It's expected to be more refined than the current hard-charging 2.5L WRX and STI models, and get slightly better fuel economy. 
The press release" Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled the SUBARU WRX CONCEPT at the 2013 New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The design concept hints at the design language of the next generation WRX.
The bold and muscular design emphasizes turbocharged power and AWD grip in a more agile and athletic form. The SUBARU WRX CONCEPT blends the WRX’s famous power and road-holding prowess with an even greater focus on sharp handling, steering and communicative chassis. To further improve handling dynamics, the SUBARU WRX CONCEPT features a carbon-fiber roof to enhance the already low center of gravity and reduce weight.
Considerably lower, sleeker and wider, the SUBARU WRX CONCEPT delivers even more street presence than previous generations of WRX. The new grille design is larger and bolder and sets off the classic WRX hood scoop. A pronounced powerbulge provides clearance for the new turbocharged engine and intercooler. A prominent hexagonal grille form and deep lower valences with air intakes are designed to enhance aerodynamics, add downforce and aid engine cooling.
The three dimensional mesh pattern of the grille denotes the sporting nature of the SUBARU WRX CONCEPT and sets the Subaru star cluster apart, while the new hawk-eye headlights integrate the Subaru family design heritage.
A sharp character line runs from the front corner through to the taillights, intersected by the boldly flared wheel arches emphasizing the Subaru’s AWD system. The compact cabin greenhouse draws attention to the power and solidity of the body and focuses attention to wide stance that provides a visual link between body and chassis.
The rear design echoes the hexagonal design motif from the front grille and features a dramatically curved trunk lid that also acts as a rear spoiler. The distinctive wide rear bumper of the SUBARU WRX CONCEPT adds to the powerful street presence of the car and is off-set by large quad tailpipes denoting the powerful turbocharged engine. The aggressive rear diffuser improves vehicles aerodynamics.
The all-new SUBARU WRX CONCEPT features a new paint color, “WR Blue Pearl III”, which modernizes the iconic WRX look. Fluorescent Yellow is used as an accent on the WRX badge on the front grille, the brake calipers and the exhaust tip finishers, adding character notes to the design. Filling out the broad fenders are BBS “RI-D” One Piece Forged Duralumin wheels and featuring 245/40ZR20 Dunlop tires with an exclusive tread pattern.
Key Dimensions (Overall Length x Width x Height): (178.0in x 74.4in x 54.7in ), Wheelbase: (108.7 in.)"
wrx concept at 2013 New York Intl Auto Show NYIAS, March 2013
WRX concept car shown at the NYIAS



4/8 comments on the Crosstrek hybrid due late 2013
'Urban hipsters and Portlanders, rejoice: Subaru is finally making a hybrid. It’s called the XV Crosstrek Hybrid and it stands to be the most fuel-efficient, low-emission, all-wheel-drive hybrid crossover in the United States.
Unfortunately, Subaru didn’t go with the design of the achingly attractive Hybrid Tourer Concept, instead opting to base its first hybrid on the XV Crosstrek that’s been on sale in the states for the last year. But the gas-electric version loses none of its off-road prowess or interior functionality in the transformation to eco-friendliness. There’s still 8.7 inches of ground clearance for traipsing up rutted macadam trails, symmetrical AWD with active torque splitting and the 13.5 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery mounted in the rear floor eats up a scant 0.7 cubic feet of interior space.
Subaru engineers stuck with the tried-and-true 2.0-liter boxer four found in the standard Crosstrek, but sandwiched a 13.4-horsepower electric motor between the engine and the continuously variable transmission. That allows the Crosstrek Hybrid to silently motor along on electric power at low speeds, and a new start-stop feature shuts down the boxer mill when sitting in traffic, further increasing fuel economy.Subaru’s tried-and-true 2.0-liter boxer mates with a new electric motor.
Other than de rigeur “hybrid” badges on the outside, some extra sound insulation and a new gauge cluster, the Crosstrek Hybrid is barely distinguishable from its standard sibling. And Subaru claims that the extra motor, battery and material only adds 300 pounds to the overall weight.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but expect a $2,000 to $4,000 premium over the standard model when it goes on sale this fall. Whether that’s worth the minimal boost in fuel economy is up to you — the Hybrid only manages 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway, compared to the gasoline-only model’s 25/33.
' the original article

4/7 the Outback diesel with CVT is in Australia
'In Subaru’s own admission, this is the most important and significant car of its past decade. This, the diesel automatic version of its large-SUV category player, the Outback, is the first time the company has had a gun big and suitable enough to fight on equal terms with some powerful rivals.

“It’s the missing piece in the engine-transmission puzzle that we have longed to bring to the market," says Subaru Australia’s managing director Nick Senior. He says the biggest SUV sector is the "large" class, comprising players such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Toyota Prado and Volkswagen Alltrack.
The petrol-diesel split is 45/55 and of the diesel models, a whopping 94 per cent sold have automatic gearboxes. Subaru’s Outback diesel has only a manual gearbox. Until this week. “It’s held us back," says Senior as an understatement. “But we predict the diesel auto model will lift monthly sales from 220 to 350." So though outwardly a variation of the existing Outback, this is a model carrying big expectations.... 
The continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is a stronger version of that fitted to the petrol-fuelled Forester (which doesn’t get a diesel-auto combo until late 2014). This auto has been heavily modified and enhanced (including an oil cooler) so it offers a seven-speed stepped mode (like a conventional auto) with functions that assist downhill and engine braking.... The CVT adds $2500 to the price of the manual." read the entire article

4/6 Crosstrek hybrid was shown at NY Auto Show. March 29-April 7.
Finally, a Subaru hybrid! 
After years of rumors and delays, an all new Crosstrek Hybrid, Subaru's first production gas/battery hybrid, will be available late 2013.
This is just the start. In the coming years expect Subaru's hybrid technology to advance and be used in more models.

More of a 'hybrid assisted' or a mild hybrid. The battery powered 13.4 horsepower motor is used from 0-25 miles per hour, at which point the 2.0L gas engine starts and takes over.
Economy- the EPA city/highway combined economy of the hybrid is 28/34/ 31MPG, a small but reasonable improvement over the standard Crosstrek CVT's 25/33 28 MPG rating.
Its a Crosstrek 5 door, with active all wheel drive, the same body and size as the normal one with some hybrid-specific enhancements, and 8.7" ground clearance.
Cargo volume is only slightly less (1.7cf) due to the battery under the cargo floor.
2 engines:  the 148hp 4 cylinder 2.0L 4 cylinder engine, plus the new 13.4hp electric motor between the gas engine and the CVT transmission
Battery powered engine: The battery powered motor is sandwiched between the CVT and the all wheel drive's electronic transfer clutches.
Battery for the battery-powered engine: 13.5kW 100v nickle-metal-hydride battery, located under the rear cargo floor.
Brake regeneration system recharges the battery when the car is coasting or the driver is braking.
Stop/Start: There's an integrated starter/generator for stop/start functions to improve economy .
The hybrid will have a smaller and lighter 13.7 gallon fuel tank vs the 15.9 in the standard models,
Other aerodynamic changes announced to enhance economy: an 'active front grill shutter system', redesigned 17" alloy wheels, a/c temperature and humidity sensor to lower the a/c power draw.
Other changes include more sound insulation, and tweaked suspension and steering to accommodate the increased weight.
The hybrid components (engine, battery) weight 209lbs, and with other changes, it comes to around 300lbs total. Click for more info and photos
click for more info on the 2014 subaru crosstrek hybrid
plasma green Crosstrek hybrid introduced at the NY auto show March 28


3/29-April 7- Hybrid- see Subaru's first hybrid, a Crosstrek, at the New York Int'l Auto Show, March 29 - April 7

3/14 more on the Viziv concept car at the Geneva auto show from msn.com
"What is it? Viziv may be hard to say, but it's apparently derived from the phrase "Vision for Innovation" — which essentially means the Viziv may provide a few clues to the future design philosophy of the Subaru brand.
What's hot? It's really hard to say what's hot and what's not. Clearly it looks dramatic. As with many concepts of this nature, the Subaru crossover is merely a design study, although that could change.
What's not? Subaru claims the Viziv represents a direction of new designs and new technologies enhancing the Subaru brand into the future. It's a future-generation crossover concept embodying the brand values of "enjoyment and peace of mind." Be honest, Subaru, you made all that up just now, didn't you?
How much and when? This isn't something you can order from your Subaru dealer. Yet. But as with concepts of the past, if enough show-goers and customers provide positive feedback, Subaru might be encouraged to move forward toward production. So if you like it, jump on a flight to Geneva. (Although truth be told, Subaru would probably prefer it if you simply "liked" it on Facebook.)
MSN Autos' verdict: If the Viziv is providing clues about a future model, we like the look of those clues. This is exactly what a charismatic brand such as Subaru should be doing." read the original article

3/10 VIZIV diesel hybrid concept at the Geneva auto show March 5-17. the official press release
"SUBARU VIZIV CONCEPT" is a future-generation crossover concept that represents the new design direction and technologies that will take the Subaru brand into the future. "VIZIV" is a coined word inspired by the phrase "Vision for Innovation" to express Subaru's future vision of innovation and the future direction of the brand...
A future-generation crossover concept providing high efficiency and performance on all road surface conditions and driving environments has been created with a new Subaru design philosophy."Subaru Boxer Diesel Hybrid", as a proposal to the future of Subaru power units, was mounted in the "SUBARU VIZIV CONCEPT". The powertrain is a plug-in hybrid system that combines a 2.0-litre Subaru Boxer diesel engine and high-torque-compatible Lineartronic (CVT) with a front motor that provides both vehicle drive and power generation, and two independent rear motors for vehicle drive only. By achieving solid environmental and road performance with this powertrain, Subaru's "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" driving experience will be further advanced....
"Independent-rear-motor-driven symmetrical AWD" system which is leading the way to a future generation of Subaru AWD technology has been adopted for the SUBARU VIZIV CONCEPT. Subaru is constantly refining its unique AWD systems according to the development philosophy "Four-wheel management". "Independent-rear-motor-driven symmetrical AWD" system provides fine-tuned control of the four wheels to match the travel environment and road surface conditions.
Two motors exclusively developed for rear wheels' drive control the rear right and left drive power freely. Coordinated management system of the front and rear motor controls the division of drive power between the front and rear wheels. It increases Subaru's trademark active safety performance. Turning the steering wheel increases the drive power applied to the rear, creating a handling characteristic that responds nimbly to driver operations. Turning the steering wheel back increases the drive power applied to the front, creating a handling characteristic that emphasizes stability.
In stop-and-go city traffic, all wheels are driven by the motors when starting from rest, providing high starting torque and powerful acceleration, but low fuel consumption with quiet ride.
By independently controlling the drive power applied to the left and right rear wheels, the rear drive system provides more torque to the outside rear wheel and less to the inside rear wheel when cornering to generate inner-directed yaw momentum on the vehicle and achieve extremely quick and smooth "on-the-rail cornering". Besides helping acceleration and all-terrain performance, this groundbreaking AWD system also uses drive power to help turn the vehicle. Along with its thrilling handling and cornering that responds faithfully to driver operations, it also offers outstanding handling stability that ensures a high level of secure feeling and confident drive..."
read the entire press release, and check out the Viziv website http://www.subaru-global.com/special/viziv/index.html


subaru viziv concept car 2013 - Viziv subaru diesel hyrid concept car, geneva auto show 2013
2/8 At the Geneva auto show- Subaru's first diesel CVT Outback due in Australia, and a new concept car, the Viziv. The diesel CVT is of interest to the many in the US since all previous Subaru diesels have been manuals with very small potential in the US. While there is absolutely nothing to indicate it will ever come to the US, there's growth and thats what Subaru wants. and the coming Forester XT gets a new HD heavy duty) CVT which could be the same as in the diesel. There's always hope.
"Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that it will exhibit the “Subaru Viziv Concept” as a world premiere at the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show. Press day: March 5 and 6; Open to the public from March 7 through 17, 2013. In addition, FHI will introduce the world premiere of the Subaru Outback carrying the Subaru Boxer Diesel with Lineartronic CVT. It will also exhibit the all-new Subaru Forester to make its European show debut. The Subaru press conference is scheduled at 9:15am on March 5th. “Subaru Viziv Concept” represents a direction of new designs and new technologies enhancing the Subaru brand into the future. It is a future-generation crossover concept embodying the brand value of “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind”. The “VIZIV” model name is a coined word inspired by the phrase “Vision for Innovation”. It expresses a future vision for innovation, and a concept car suggesting the brand’s direction.
" The press release and Subaru's Geneva Viziv concept www.subaru-global.com/ms2013/geneva/

1/30 the slow budding story of the Subaru hybrid continues. Long expected, now to be shown (finally) at the New York Int'l Auto Show that runs March 29 - April 7
I would think it will be Impreza based, likely a 5 door for the improved aerodynamics.
"Believe it or not, Subaru doesn’t have a single hybrid model in its lineup, but according to Kenichi Yamamoto, director of product management and coordination at Subaru of America, things are going to change. This change is set to start in March at the 2013 New York Auto Show, as Suby will unveil its first hybrid model. He made the confirmation in an interview with The Detroit Bureau, when he confirmed that parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, is indeed working on a hybrid model.
This move shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone, considering other Japanese companies, like Toyota, Honda and Nissan, already offer plenty of hybrid vehicles.
While Yamamoto offered no other details on the hybrid drivetrain, it will most likely be inspired by the drivetrain in the Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept, which was unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. This was a hybrid vehicle that combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with an electric motor..." read the entire article

1/15 Diesel CVT arrives in Australia in March. Nothing in the US
"Subaru will bring its first ever diesel automatic model to Australia in March, in the form of the Outback 2.0D auto... Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect a premium of around $2000 to be added to the price tags of the Outback 2.0D manual ($39,990) and the Outback 2.0D Premium manual ($42,990)." read the entire article




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SUBARU FUEL ECONOMY, EPA AND CAFE' NEWS  
2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
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SUBARU SAFETY,  CRASH TESTS, AND RECALLS 
2013 calendar year news
click for archived news from 2012
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5/28 The Crosstrek being lifted from the Skagit River
Three cars, including this Crosstrek went into the river when the bridge collapsed, and everyone was safe. You can see the front of the Crosstrek crumpled as it was supposed to.
more photos
crosstrek lifted from skagit river

5/15 safety- the 2014 Forester gets top crash test rating from the IIHS in all five tests- Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap.
The IIHS rates vehicles as Good, Acceptable,  Marginal, and Poor.
Of the vehicles tested in all 5 crashes, Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear and the new Front small overlap, only the 2014 Subaru Forester was rated Good in all tests.
The 2nd best rated was the Mitsubishi Outlander with Good on all except the Front small overlap with a rating of Acceptable.
BMW X1, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX5, VW Tiguan, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage all were also rated Good on all except the Front small overlap but they all received a lower safety rating of Marginal. The Nissan Rogue received a good rating in 3 or 5 test, Acceptable in the rollover test, and Marginal in the Front small overlap test.
Be sure to check out the IIHS press release with video of the crash test.

> The IIHS report, "The 2014 Subaru Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester, the only one of 13 small SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test, and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which earns acceptable, are the latest vehicles to qualify for the Institute's recently inaugurated top honor, Top Safety Pick+. Each of the other 11 SUVs earns either a poor or marginal rating.
"With the redesigned Forester, Subaru's engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded," says Joe Nolan, the Institute's vice president for vehicle research. "This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection for people in these kinds of serious frontal crashes."
This is not the first time that the Forester has stood out in a new IIHS crash test. When the Institute first rated small SUVs for side protection in 2003, the Subaru model performed the best and was one of only two to earn good ratings.
IIHS added the small overlap test to its lineup of vehicle safety evaluations last year. It replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph. A 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy is belted in the driver seat.
Most vehicles today are designed to do well in the government's full-width front crash test and in the Institute's moderate overlap front test, but that is no guarantee of good performance in a small overlap crash. In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants. In many vehicles the impact at a 25 percent overlap misses the primary structures designed to manage crash energy. That increases the risk of severe damage to or collapse of the occupant compartment structure. Also, vehicles tend to rotate and slide sideways during this type of collision, and that can move the driver's head outboard, away from the protection of the frontal airbag.
Those difficulties were apparent in the small SUV group. Two-thirds of the vehicles had poor ratings for structure, and about half of them were poor or marginal for restraints and kinematics, meaning the dummy's movements weren't well-controlled to prevent contact with hard surfaces.
In one example of poor structure, the front pillar of the Nissan Rogue's door frame was pushed far inside the occupant compartment and after the crash was almost touching the driver seat. The Jeep Patriot was among the worst for restraints and kinematics. The dummy's head slid off the frontal airbag as the steering wheel moved 8 inches up and nearly 6 inches to the right. The side curtain airbag didn't deploy, and the safety belt allowed the dummy's head and torso to move too far forward.
In contrast, the Forester had good ratings for structure, restraints and kinematics, and all four injury measures on the dummy. The airbags worked as intended, and the space around the dummy was well-maintained. The Outlander Sport was acceptable for structure and restraints and kinematics and also had good injury measures."
the IIHS press release with video, the list of small SUV safety ratings. The IIHS rating page for the 2014 Forester
> The 2013 Outback was rated Good in the Front moderate overlap, Side, Rollover, Rear, and Acceptable in the Front small overlap test. the 2013 Outback test page


 
4/16 article on choosing a safe car by Seattle Times columnist Jerry Large
"How safe is the car you drive? When I wrote last week about two recent fatal car collisions, that question occurred to me. The only thing that matters more is how you drive.
Everyone who drives or rides has to share the road with other people, which can be a problem, because in most crashes, human error is to blame. You never know when you are going to cross paths with someone who is distracted, aggressive, tired or otherwise impaired, or just a generally poor driver.
A few days ago, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) released data it gathered in 2011 on distracted driving. It said, “at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cellphones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.” Other data from the agency found that “more than 3,300 people were killed in 2011 and 387,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.”
We can’t do anything about other drivers, but you and I can try to avoid being the person who causes a collision, and we can put ourselves in cars that provide us a reasonable degree of protection. I didn’t think much about safety with the first cars I bought, but 21 years ago, when our son was born, my wife said it was time to get a safer car. We bought a station wagon and it proved to be a smart choice.
One evening, my wife was on her way home, driving down Rainier Avenue South in the rain. A drunken driver in a huge boat of a car came flying from the opposite direction, crossed the centerline and slammed into the wagon, totaling both cars. The drunken driver died, but my wife survived. Police and medics who freed her from the wreckage said she would have been dead, too, if she’d been driving most any other car.
So now, safety is our first criteria. When I wrote about the recent fatal car crashes, I spoke with Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A few days later I called him again and asked an admittedly unanswerable question: “What’s the safest car a person could buy?”
Rader said that the crash tests the Institute does, and those done by the NHTSA, are based on the most common kinds of crashes. They’re a useful guide, but every accident is a mix of more factors than any test could capture. “If you could choose the type of crash you were going to be in,” he said, “you could choose the best vehicle for that, but you can’t.” So use the data to pick a vehicle that does well in multiple circumstances.
And that would be? A midsize sedan that does well in all the safety tests, he said, or a newer model SUV or minivan, if they tested well. Yes, size matters. But so do a lot of other features, such as maneuverability and sightlines.  The NHTSA held a symposium in 2011 to get expert opinions on the effect of size and mass on vehicle safety. I read some of the material, and most presenters agreed with Rader that there are way too many variables in a crash to allow for absolute answers about safety.
Hitting a tree is different from hitting a smaller car, which is different from hitting a car the same size as yours, which is different from hitting a larger vehicle. The point of impact matters, as does the speed at the time of the collision.
But they also noted the vast improvements in car safety, especially over the past two decades. Indeed, car-collision fatalities have been going down since the late 1970s.
Car safety is continually improving now because it matters to the companies that make cars, and it matters to them because it matters to buyers. That hasn’t always been the case.
A person doesn’t have to be that old to remember when cars didn’t even routinely come with seat belts. Or to remember when Ralph Nader was a young guy who wrote a book titled “Unsafe at Any Speed.” That was back in 1965, when hardly anyone was interested in automobile safety — certainly not manufacturers. Nader and other safety proponents pressured the federal government to address safety.
The creation of the NHTSA was a result of that effort and, in 1972, it began informing consumers about car safety. These days, manufacturers compete on safety ratings the way they compete on style or comfort or fuel economy.
There are many desires to balance in buying a car. While smaller usually means more fuel efficient, and larger offers more protection, price can sometimes be the driving factor. It’s very individual in the end. I asked Rader what he drives, and his answer was a BMW 3 Series from 2000. He chose it partly based on its safety-test results, but also said it’s time for a newer car.
Rader expects crash safety to continue improving, but said the next frontier is avoiding crashes altogether, using a variety of tech-based features such as electronic stability control and lane-departure warnings. Someday self-driving cars may take people out of the equation altogether. Until then, most accidents could be avoided if each of us drove as if lives depended on us. The safest car is the one free of human error." the original article

 
 
SUBARU ADVERTISING and SPONSORSHIP NEWS IN 2013
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2013 calendar year news. click for archived news from 2012
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6/2 June 1-July 1 Subaru Certified Pre-Owned 'Love Strikes Twice' event
Love your Subaru when it's new and when its time for another new one, let someone else love it anew. Thus Love Strikes Twice. Certified pre-owned are inspected and have a 7 year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty (starts when the car is first sold). And special finance rates are available during the Love Me 2x event June 1-July 1 2013. Many 1-2 year old Subarus are available with low miles. These are mostly short term owner 'program cars', ie rental fleet returns and a good way to get a car if you don't need the latest model.
subaru certified pro-owned event june 1-july 1 2013
The magazine is worth buying and available at your local bookstore or online by subscription at consumerreports.org.

5/13 advertising oops - Subaru Canada ran an ad that was supposed to be humorous but missed the mark
"Think transit commuters are unwashed, uncouth bums? Subaru does. And the carmaker doesn’t mind telling them so.
In recent Canadian editions of Metro — the free daily distributed at transit stops — Subaru ran a two-page spread spouting just about every negative transit, and transit rider, stereotype you can think of. The ad was brought to our attention by Sabrina Lau Texier, a transportation planner in Vancouver.
“While you’re sitting on public transit, just imagine your commute in a new Subaru Impreza,” the copy reads. “No weird smells, no overhearing awful music, and nobody asking you for spare change.” Classy.
On the first page are “coupons” for an “odour free ride to work” (nothing but that carcinogenic new car smell), “less chance of being asked for money” (except by Subaru and Exxon), savings on “obligatory transit conversations with coworkers” (down with human interaction!), “free confidence” (for $19,995), and our favorite: “half off arbitrary and inexplicable transit delays.” As opposed to the gridlock-free ride we can expect if we all ditch transit to drive a Subaru to the office — alone, of course, to avoid those unpleasant conversations with co-workers.
The ad implies that the Impreza has a better safety rating than transit. Canada had 6.5 traffic fatalities and 500 injuries per 100,000 people in 2010, according to the latest available figures. Think the folks at Subaru don’t know transit ridership is booming, and not because commuters just need to be sold on “symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive”? Ads like this one, as Lau Texier puts it, are “a desperate attempt to stay relevant for an industry with declining sales.” Maybe a campaign based on the premise that your target audience is a bunch of losers is not the most winning strategy." the article with a copy of the advertisement


4/21 advertising- the "Backseat" ad now playing on TV. Love has a motor and it's a beating heart and Subaru is pressing on the gas pedal of love.
Oh, its good. And no one else does an ad on the lowly backseat. Backseats aren't glamorous or sexy or particularly important other than people have to fit in them. Most buyers only sit in them when they're thinking of buying a car, and then mostly see how the 12year old fits or if the child seat goes in easily. But oh the backseat is now a symbol of Subaru's attention to what gets our attention. Subaru doesn't talk much about its engines and features in their ads, there's not a lot of hard news in their ads because Love has a motor and it's a beating heart, and Subaru is racing.
"The backseat. Where most of us sat for the first time. Cut to grandma and have the audience's minds fill in "and for the last time". The place we carry our most precious cargo. Our best friends. And so on. Oh dear, it's a manifesto of sorts, but for back seats.
That said, it looks like a really good back seat.
SPOT: Subaru “The Backseat Anthem” AGENCY: Carmichael Lynch, Chief Creative Officer: Dave Damman, Exec Creative Director: Randy Hughes, Writer: Sheldon Clay
Art Director: Jeff Terwilliger
" watch the video


4/18 advertising, and the new Cut The Cord TV ad with Dad saying goodbye to his young girl going to school, then driving his gray Subaru Legacy alongside the school bus.
"How Subaru Fell in Love and Never Looked Back. The automaker rides the relentless optimism of its Carmichael Lynch ads to record sales By Tim Nudd
Idea: Subaru owners knew it almost before the company did. It was always about love. "If you ask a Subaru owner what they think of their car, more times than not they'll tell you they love it," said Alan Bethke, director of marketing communications for Subaru of America. "It was always in front of us, but never utilized in the marketing." That changed five years ago, when Carmichael Lynch launched work with that simple theme: "Love." In the years since, the ads have told poignant stories across the four thematic pillars—longevity, safety, versatility and adventure—that resonate with the target, defined as doers deeply engaged with life, others and the world. The automaker is particularly adept at father-daughter tales—like "Baby Driver," the Emmy-nominated spot from 2010, and now "Cut the Cord," about a girl's first day of school. The results are impressive. The Japanese company has doubled U.S. sales in five years, and in March had its best U.S. sales month ever. "It's a testament to the great work happening all around the company," said Subaru spokesman Michael McHale, "but notably, I think, in marketing."
Copywriting: The writers try to find slice-of-life stories that humanize what those four themes mean to everyday people. Often, the ads are about life stages—in "Cut the Cord," a dad puts his daughter on the school bus for the first time, then drives alongside it to make sure she's OK. "That's a trying moment for anyone," said Carmichael executive creative director Randy Hughes. "He buys the safest car money can buy. And then he has to put his daughter in someone else's hands." The dialogue is minimal—small talk, mostly improvised. (Having the scripts be loose allows more truthful moments to emerge, the agency believes.) "I'm overprotective. That's why I got a Subaru," the dad says in a voiceover. "Love. It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru." The word "Love" appears—the letters stable at first, then cartwheeling joyfully around. It's followed by the Subaru logo and global brand statement, developed in Japan: "Confidence in motion."
Filming/art direction: Vince Squibb shot the spot in a day in Long Beach, Calif. He had a meticulous eye for detail, particularly with costuming. "Wardrobing that little girl and playing up her classic look—she has a timeless quality about her that's pretty charming—that was a really good move," said Hughes. The whole campaign has a brightness and warmth, rooted in realism. "These stories make you feel good in some way," said Hughes. "Sometimes they make you want to cry, but in a good way."
Talent: The girl has a remarkable presence. "She was so measured. It was amazing," said Hughes. "We're saying, 'Just look a little scared,' and she had a way of doing it that was very natural. We didn't get 100 takes like this one. The little crinkle of her face was just right, and a shock wave goes through the set, and you know you got it." The dad exudes pain and love. "He's a professional," said Hughes. "He's got a suit on, he's got a nice Legacy, he's going to work. But this is an important moment, and he goes with it. And your heart goes out to him as he reacts to her."
Sound: The song is "Keep Me in Mind," by Tashaki Miyaki. The lyrics fit perfectly, if obliquely. ("I want to be the one that's on your mind/I want to be the one that's by your side.") "We look for tonality that is part of the emotion we're trying to bring forward," Hughes said, "and then lyrics that help the story get a little bit richer."
Media: National broadcast and cable, spot TV buys in key markets, and online" read the article, watch the video


3/15 drink and run in wine country this summer in Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Willamette Valley, Healdsburg, and Kolona BC
"Destination Races (www.destinationraces.com) and Subaru of America announced today that Subaru has signed on to be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2013 Wine Country Half Marathon series. The series consists of “boutique” destination running races held in scenic wine regions, complimented by wine, food and entertainment activities.
Produced by Destination Races of Sonoma, California, the series began in 2004 with the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, scheduled in 2013 for Sunday, July 21st. The series includes other US events in Santa Barbara wine country, Saturday, May 11, the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Sunday, September 1, Healdsburg, California, Saturday, October 26 and Northern Virginia, Saturday, June 1. An inaugural Canadian event is slated for Saturday, September 7, in Kelowna, British Columbia. The first three events in the 2013 series have already sold out.
“Subaru will play a prominent role in our US events, helping to enhance the experience for our participants, while building brand association and loyalty”, said Matt Dockstader, President of Destination Races. Subaru is also the official vehicle of the Wine Country Half Marathon series and will provide the lead race vehicle and transportation for VIP. Subaru will host various hospitality functions and offer a Grape Stomp competition after the race. Subaru owners receive special benefits, such as a post-race brunch and VIP parking.
Tim Tagye, Promotions and Sponsorship Manager for Subaru, sees the partnership as a natural fit. "Destination Races is able to blend a healthy activity with fun, customer-driven wine and food events in popular wine regions. Subaru is all about the active lifestyle, combining fun and functionality, and making our customers feel special." ...." the press release

3/11 Subaru to fund pet car safety restraint research
 Subaru today announced a partnership with the Center for Pet Safety, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to companion animal and consumer safety, to fund testing of pet car safety restraints. 
Currently, there are no performance standards or test protocols in the U.S. for pet travel products. Although many manufacturers claim to test their products, without test standards, these claims cannot be substantiated. Together, Subaru and the Center for Pet Safety will create standards for testing restraints, while announcing those that perform best.
"The Center for Pet Safety conducted a pilot study which showed that the majority of pet safety restraints currently on the market do not provide acceptable protection in a crash situation," said Michael McHale, Subaru's director of corporate communications. "As many of our owners have dogs, we feel it's our responsibility to help them keep their pets as safe as possible when they journey with us."
The Center for Pet Safety conducted rigorous crash testing on commonly available pet safety restraints using realistic, specially designed, crash test dogs, not live animals. A 55-pound crash dummy dog was used to see how the seat belts would hold up in a collision at 30 miles per hour, patterning the same motor vehicle safety standards used to test child seats. Of the four popular dog car harness brands, none held up in the tests. All of them demonstrated that they either could lead to plausibly serious or fatal injuries for not only the canine but driver, too.
"We are thrilled to have the support of Subaru as its love for pets is as deep as ours," said Lindsey Wolko, Center for Pet safety's founder and CEO. "We have received requests from all over the world from manufacturers who want guidance on developing a safer harness and, through this partnership, we can finally conduct additional testing to help develop a suitable standard, provide the needed knowledge-base to manufacturers, as well as determine the top performers." The Center for Pet Safety is not affiliated with the pet product industry. The organization uses scientific testing and references Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to study pet products and establish criteria and test protocols to measure whether pet safety products provide the protection claimed by advocates and intended by the manufacturer." The Center for Pet Safety

3/8 advertising- Tim Mahoney, the Subaru marketing wizard who left Subaru for Porsche, Porsche for Subaru, Subaru for VW, now leaves VW for Chevy
"Tim Mahoney, Chevrolet's new global marketing chief, knows something about sparking struggling brands and focusing confused marketing.
When he returned to Subaru of America in 2006 -- his second stint with the company -- he found a brand that had lost its way. Executives in Japan had upped sticker prices, aspiring to become the Japanese BMW. Marketing consisted of a mishmash of campaigns.
A quiet man with a wicked sense of humor, Mr. Mahoney and the team slashed prices and stopped using celebrities in Subaru's advertising. New ads concentrated on the brand -- mixed with a bit of goofiness. Subaru's market share has been surging ever since, and Mr. Mahoney has become a hot commodity.
Now 56, he comes to General Motors after a two-year stint at high-flying Volkswagen of America. That was preceded by Subaru and a successful run at Porsche Cars North America.
At GM, Mr. Mahoney will be charged with unifying Chevy's splintered global marketing under the newly adopted "Find New Roads" campaign, which GM expects to underpin its largest brand for many years. GM also needs Mr. Mahoney to become a stabilizing force for a Chevy marketing enterprise that has been plagued by executive turnover and criticized as aimless.
Mr. Mahoney began his automotive career in 1984 as a marketing-research analyst for Subaru of America.
In the mid-1990s, he was part of the team that revived the brand by shifting all of its vehicles to all-wheel drive and giving it more recognition with ads featuring Australian actor Paul "Crocodile Dundee" Hogan and tennis star Martina Navratilova.
In 1999, Mr. Mahoney moved to Porsche as head of marketing, overseeing the launch of the Cayenne, Porsche's first SUV. He was a good fit at Porsche. He had lived in Austria and Germany as a student, was fluent in German and embraced Porsche's engineering-driven culture.
Subaru called in 2006, seeking help in getting the brand back on track. Mr. Mahoney ditched the celebrity ads that had included Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow. He focused on the tagline "It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru" and the much-copied "Love" campaign, in which owners talked about why they loved their cars.
And he kept his innovative approach. While other automakers fought it out during the Super Bowl, Subaru began sponsoring the Animal Planet Puppy Bowl in 2010.
"Not one dealer asked us why we weren't in the Super Bowl," Mr. Mahoney said in 2011.
With Subaru's sales soaring, he was named chief marketing officer of Volkswagen of America in May 2011.  Mr. Mahoney oversaw the successful launch of the U.S.-built Passat in 2011. Last year, the VW division sold 438,133 units, up 35%, far outpacing the overall market.  At VW, he kept the focus on "the Power of German Engineering" and stuck with offbeat humor in the advertising. A video tease to VW's 2012 Super Bowl commercial featured dogs dressed as characters from "Star Wars" barking out the movie's "Imperial March."
At Chevy, Mr. Mahoney will have a much larger scope. Elevating the Chevy brand into a true global player is a central goal of GM CEO Dan Akerson. Last year, he encouraged Joel Ewanick, then GM marketing chief, to execute a massive consolidation of Chevrolet's creative ad agencies from dozens to just one, Detroit's Commonwealth.
GM also consolidated its global media-buying duties under London-based Aegis' Carat unit. Mr. Mahoney will handle media buying for all GM brands under his dual role as marketing operations leader.
Mr. Mahoney will enter a management structure that is in flux. He'll report to Alan Batey, a high-energy Brit who serves as both head of GM's U.S. sales and interim global chief marketing officer. It's unclear whether Mr. Batey will remain as chief marketing officer, whether someone else will get the job or whether it will go unfilled.
Also, Mr. Akerson has said he's considering the appointment of an executive to run Chevy globally, similar to the setup he installed recently when he tapped Bob Ferguson as global VP of Cadillac. Taking on marketing responsibilities for the sprawling brand is a big job. Last year, global Chevy sales hit a record 4.95 million units across 140 countries and represented 54% of GM's global sales.
And Chevy is embarking on the busiest vehicle-launch schedule in the brand's 102-year history. It will roll out 13 new or redesigned models in the United States this year, including its next-generation Silverado pickup, and plans another dozen rollouts overseas.
It's a challenge even for the most seasoned marketing veteran.
Mr. Mahoney on more than one occasion has called himself a dinosaur in the auto advertising and marketing world because he has been at it since 1984. In fact, after joining VW, he expressed surprise that his career had lasted as long as it had: "Chief marketing officer life expectancy is measured like babies in months. I have been doing this since I was 39. I have seen it all."  read the original article


3/7 advertising- more on Lance Armstrong's time with Subaru
"Subaru first started bringing the WRX to the U.S. back when I was in high school. God, I wanted one so badly. It had a turbo engine! It had all-wheel-drive! It had a stick shift! It could give BMW and Audi a run for their money at a fraction of the cost! That car was a true game changer.
And to sell it, Subaru had a ton of great ads that let the car's performance speak for itself. (They couldn't really sell it on looks, you know.)
But at some point, they must have decided they needed a bit of star power to help sell it. Someone who knew all about performance. Someone young and athletic that the kids could look up to. Someone who takes what he wants. The man for the job... um, Lance Armstrong.
It's kind of laughable now, but Lance was Subaru's pitchman for many years.
Then he switched to Nissan, who dropped him last year after his whole "I used performance-enhancing drugs but spent years lying about it and waging wars against anyone who said I did because I'm a sociopathic asshole" thing..At any rate, the WRX ads with Lance are fun to watch today, even in light of how far he has fallen. And the ad is right -- the car had excellent performance, as many of us know. It may have been the most honest thing Lance was ever part of." watch the WRX video and read the article

3/5- Subaru goes 1960s flower power at the annual Philadelphia Flower show, through March 10, 2013.
Here's their 2013 Outback on display, channeling the 1960s with a flower power love theme. Looks like something artist Peter Max would appreciate! Click for more photos
click the subaru love flower power 2013 Outback for the 2013 philadelphia flower show

3/4 Subaru Spring Love Event
advertising through March. Stop by your local dealer to see the new 2014 Forester and pick up a free package of spring planting seeds- basil, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber and oregano, while supplies last.
click for photos

click for more photos for Subaru's March 2013 Spring Love Event

2/23  2 skiers drive a Crosstrek across the US, with Champlain College film student producing and editing videos
Subaru and Nordica USA will team up to kickoff snowsports season with the XV Crosstrek Run. Two talented free skiers will journey from coast-to-coast hitting major mountain resorts and events along the way, while piloting the all-new Subaru 2013 XV Crosstrek. Digital content will give fans a look into the free skiers lives, their slope side skills, and the versatility and capability of the XV Crosstrek.  http://www.multivu.com/players/English/59476-xv-crosstrek-run/.

2/19 advertising - does Subaru's newest worried father/cute baby daughter TV ad have the the father driving on the wrong side of a school bus?
Q. There’s a lovely commercial for Subaru, I believe, that depicts a father putting his daughter on the school bus for the first time. He is concerned about her and drives alongside the bus, only to see her laughing with other children.
 The problem is that he is driving along the right side of the bus. I believe that this is illegal throughout the United States, and not just in New York State, where I live.
A. Yes, dear reader, the commercial, called “Cut the Cord,” is indeed for Subaru. The spot is part of the “Confidence in motion” campaign for Subaru of America that features drivers saying: “Love. It’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru.”
According to Michael McHale, a spokesman at Subaru of America, what the driver does in the commercial “is not an illegal activity” because “you can pass a bus in one lane while you are in the other lane of a four-lane highway.”
What you cannot do is “pass a parked bus with its sign out,” he adds, which he learned last year, much to his chagrin, when he was ticketed for doing just that.
The creative agency for Subaru of America is Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies." the original article


2/16 advertising. Subaru's 5th Share the Love event was from 11/21/12- 1/2/13
During this 5th Share the Love Event, Subaru again donated $250 to the buyer's choice of five charities, for a total of $5,000,000. The 2012 charities are Alzheimer's Association, The ASPCA- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Make-A-Wish, Meals On Wheels, and the USO.

2/14 Valentine's Day
candy cover chocolates in a Subaru heart shaped tin, just for Valentine's Day
free candy covered chocolate in a subaru tim, valentines day 2913

2/11 advertising- it's February and time for Subaru's month long 2013 Subaru True Love Event.
Subaru's advertising is all about love and nothing says love on Valentine's Day like flowers, diamonds, a new Subaru, and chocolate. Heart shaped tins filled with candy-coated mini chocolates are available at some local dealers just for Valentine's Day 2013. (I have a few if you're in the Shoreline area, please call me at 206 769-7821).
2013 Subaru True Love Event Valentine's Day heart shaped tins with candy covered chocolates

2/5 advertising- growth by focusing on areas where Subaru hasn't sold well or been as popular. But with limited production, does this mean that some regions where Subarus are not as popular get vehicles that would sell much faster in other areas where people are waiting? 
"The car market in the U.S. is at its most competitive. Not only are big companies like General Motors and Toyota slugging it out, but in order to survive, small-niche players like Subaru also are trying to push into the mainstream.
The Japanese carmaker is popular in Denver, the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Now Subaru has its sights on Texas and Tennessee.
The comedy show Portlandia pokes fun at all things Portland, Oregon's famously liberal city. In one sketch, two characters, both driving Subarus, meet at a four-way stop. "No, you go," they repeatedly urge each other in an absurd standoff of politeness. The fact that they're driving Subarus is part of the joke, but that's not some idle stereotype.
Because most Subaru models are all-wheel drive, they're particularly popular in places where the weather can be dicey, like the Northeast or the Pacific Northwest.
An Opportunity In Texas. "If you're No. 4 in Portland and you're No. 20 in Texas, probably the opportunity is in Texas," says Michael McHale with Subaru.
He says the company had to be more ambitious and rethink the U.S. market. "Sometimes we look at the differences around the country. ... But underlying all of that, there are still basic human truths," McHale says. Not only did the company think about the country differently; it started to sell in a different way by beefing up distribution and dealerships.
Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst and director of pricing and industry analysis at edmunds.com, says Subaru had a strange problem: Its cars were almost too good and its customers were too loyal. "I think they have a core, loyal following and you would never want to get rid of that ... but at the same time, they keep their cars for a long time and you can't have people keeping their cars for a decade or more when you want to sell new cars," she says.
Success In A Conventional Look. Caldwell says the company tried to expand sales to the middle of the country by making its cars wider, rounder, less boxy, more conventional looking and more fuel efficient.
It worked. During the economic downturn, when other car companies' sales were declining, Subaru's increased by a third and it began building more of its cars in the U.S.
They don't have to be everything to everyone; they have to be something to someone. It's one of the fastest growing car companies, with its biggest growth markets in Houston, Dallas and Florida.
Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, says Subaru can serve as an example for other carmakers looking to grow. "They've kind of taken this slow, systematic approach and just really concentrated on what they needed to do to be competitive in the market," he says. Subaru has solidified its place in the American market, but Fisher says it'll probably never be as big as Toyota or Ford. "I don't think they have to be a Toyota; they don't have to be everyone else. They don't have to be everything to everyone; they have to be something to someone," he says.
Subaru's McHale says, "If you're buying a big truck in Texas, keep buying the truck — we're not the brand for you. But if you're looking for an all-wheel-drive vehicle that you can throw the dog in the back, the skis on the roof and go in the mountains on the weekend, I think they have some nice hills in Tennessee, too." McHale says Subaru has conquered Portland, Ore., and Portland, Maine, and now it's on to the Portlands in Texas, Michigan and Tennessee." the original article



1/28 advertising- Subaru returns as a sponsor of the Puppy Bowl IX on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb 3rd on the Animal Planet. Check out the press release with details on Subaru's Super Bowl dog activities and some entertaining advertisments.


1/20 Lance Armstrong did Subaru ads in 2003-2004.
Its sad. We all thought he was the guy to look up to, overcoming adversity and winning. But he turned out to be a liar and cheat.
The new tag line in 2003 was 'Subaru. Driven By What's Inside'. On February 3, 2003, Lance Armstrong signed with Subaru (for $12m?). He had a relationship with Subaru since the early 1990s on a Subaru sponsored bike team. According to Fred Adcock, Subaru exec VP at the time, "Lance Armstrong is a perfect fit. He's a rugged individualist. He's authentic and passionate about what he believes. He's engineered like no other to perform like no other".  “Lance Armstrong is a hero that everyone can identify with,” says Adcock. “He is an inspiration to millions of Americans.” Subaru used other sport figures, most memorably Martina Navritolova in 2001 for the Forester.
Ads using Lance run through early late 2004 or early 2005. more on Subaru advertising
Lance Armstrong Subaru advertising from 2003

1/6 advertising. Sex sells, but not Subarus. But what about Love, and the award winning Baby Driver TV ads? Here's an article on Subaru advertising in Canada and the US.
"Some day the people who run Subaru will grab hold of and then start running hard with this very core idea in marketing: sexy sells. Yes it does. Sexy is everywhere selling everything. Cars, even.
But instead of sexy, from Subaru we get: “Subaru named only manufacturer with IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models four years running.”
Safety is certainly important and it might move vehicles, but sexy? Nah. Alright, I am impressed to learn that the 2013 Legacy and Outback models (built after August, 2012) won the Top Safety Pick + award from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – meaning both had “good” ratings for occupant protection in at least four of five IIHS evaluations. The trickiest of the five is a new Small Overlap test and it’s a killer to pass and a lifesaver for owners of cars that get a “good” rating: it is intended to measure how a vehicle will do if its front corner collides with another vehicle or, say, a tree or utility pole.
Okay, now consider this from Subaru: “Best Mid-size Car in the Automotive Lease Guide Canadian Residual Value Awards.” So Subies hold their value. In fact, ALG says Subaru is the No. 1 mainstream brand for residual value in Canada – better than Honda and Toyota – retaining about 42 per cent of their value after four years, says ALG.
Resale values matter, but they won’t get your heart fluttering. If I tell you that the $23,995 2012 Legacy I recently tested will be worth, according to ALG, $13,537.10 in 2016, are you all in, emotionally? Doubt it.
Which brings us to reliability. “Subaru,” notes Consumer Reports in its most recent study of predicted reliability, “also improved its standing, with its redesigned Impreza debuting with top marks and none of its models scoring below average.” Subaru is ranked fifth overall (behind Scion, Toyota, Lexus and Mazda) and my Legacy tester is ranked third among family cars (behind the Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid). That safe Legacy with the high value rating is expected to be about 40 per cent more reliable than the average for family cars, says CR.
Very nice. But isn’t risk-taking considered sexy? If you buy a Legacy, you’re not taking much of a risk. It’s not likely to break, you’ll be protected in a smash and over time you’re not going to get whacked with outsized depreciation. How sensible. And dull.
But not really, not in the driving. Subaru doesn’t play up how interesting and entertaining its cars are to drive, unless you happen to follow rally driving, which on the scale of popular sports, ranks right up there with arm wrestling and barrel jumping. A few triathletes also understand what a Subie can do because they haul around their biking, swimming and running gear from race to race in a reliable, safe and affordable ride – one that, because all-wheel-drive is standard, won’t get stopped by bad roads or rotten weather.
Moreover, the “boxer” engine design, with its pistons laid flat in opposition to one another, is just superb for pushing the car’s centre of gravity way, way low down to the ground. A low centre of gravity does all sorts of wonderful things for handling and cornering. And the very base Legacy I tested felt as solid and planted as any mid-size car I’ve driven this year – at least among cars less than $40,000
I know some of you who are familiar with Subie’s boxer four-bangers will say they sound a little clunky and I’d agree. There’s nothing sexy about the sound of the four in a base Legacy. It, in fact, sounds a little like a lawnmower on its last legs. But we all know that Subarus last and last (see above), so durability and reliability are not issues. Unfortunately that engine just does not sing like a high-revving four-cylinder of a more traditional design – such as you get, say, in a Ford Focus.
The Legacy’s fuel economy is not particularly brilliant, either: 10.6 litres/100 km in the city, 7.4 on the highway. That’s okay, but not eye-popping. At least regular fuel is all that Subie asks for.
The real issue here is, well, there are two fuel economy issues. First, weight. A base Legacy weighs 44 kilograms more than a base Camry (1,485 versus 1,441) and that $23,700 Camry is a front-driver, versus a Subie with its Symmetrical AWD (all-wheel drive). The AWD piece adds weight, complexity and mechanical drag. Not good for saving gas.
Last of all, let’s quickly touch on design. The Legacy’s sheetmetal is not sexy and the cabin is equally bland, though perfectly functional. This Subie is roomy inside and has a big trunk, too. Yawn.
By now I’m sure you’ve got the picture. Subarus make sense, but the Legacy is not exactly the automotive equivalent of Eva Mendes in a bikini. All that said, Subaru is having a record year for sales in Canada. Sensible does sell. Just imagine what might happen to Subaru sales if the company ever discovered sexy." read the original article


1/2 Last day for the 2012 Share the Love. Each of the 5 charities to get $1m as ion years past,  but with the record number of cars sold, maybe SoA will step up and generously contribute even more this year.

top



SUBARU SALESPEOPLE AND DEALER NEWS
2013 calendar year news. Updates and news wanted.


click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content

unofficial information, edited for length and content. subject to change, correction
.





5/1 New finance rates announced for May, Seattle area-

2013 Outback 0% x48 months, 0.90%x60/63 and 1.90% x 72 months.
2013 Legacy, 0.90% x60/63 month. Rates on approval of credit
Take advantage of the low rates and great prices while there's still a selection of 2013s. All finance rates


4/28  interview with SoA chief Tom Doll by Joe Cooney, Courier Post
Thomas J. Doll joined Subaru of America in 1982, four years before the carmaker would set up its national headquarters on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, site of the former Latin Casino.
Over the years, Doll has held the positions of director of treasury operations, director of accounting and vice president of business and strategic planning. Earlier this month, Doll was named president of SOA; he also serves as the company’s COO and CFO.
Subaru of America was incorporated in Philadelphia in 1968 by Harvey Lamm and Malcolm Bricklin, two entrepreneurs with no auto experience. The first car they introduced to the U.S. market was the Subaru 360 Mini, which was powered by a two-stroke engine, got 66 miles to the gallon, and cost $1,297.
In 2012, nearly 270,000 people bought a Subaru, accounting for nearly $4 billion in sales. Doll is a graduate of Villanova and received his master’s degree from Drexel University. He lives in Bucks County, Pa.
Question: What has been the key to Subaru’s success of late?
Answer: We have set record sales for the last four years, and we are the only maker to have such a strong record. It’s really a lot of things rather than one big thing. We repriced and resized our vehicles from 2008, meaning we made our prices smaller and our cars bigger. We also improved our dealer network and got a better read on our customers through our “Love” campaign. We realized that while we had a relatively small owner base, they were strongly passionate about their Subaru, so we used that passion to draw other buyers to the brand.
Q: What is Subaru doing to create more energy-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles?
A: We have just launched the XV Crosstrek Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient crossover in the country. We’ve also improved our MPG figures and we now sell the most fuel-efficient (all-wheel drive) sedan and crossover in the United States. Our products get very good reviews from car and consumer magazines, which also helps people to decide to come to us.
In 2009, we created an employee community garden on our headquarters land to support environmental issues and the community. Nearly 3,200 pounds of the food and crops we’ve harvested have gone to the Food Bank of South Jersey.
Q: Why did Subaru choose South Jersey as its headquarters?
A: It was because one of our two founders, Harvey Lamm, was based in Philadelphia. South Jersey is a great place to work, although it means we do have some time difference to our Japanese headquarters. Most Asian carmakers are based on the West Coast.
Q: What’s the status of the training/distribution center being built in Florence?
A: It is coming along quite nicely. We have the structure in place and hope to be open in 2014. It’s going to be a state-of-the-art, 526,000-square-foot distribution facility and will use solar energy. We’ve partnered with NFI Industries (an industrial development and transportation company with offices in Cherry Hill and Vineland) to set up the site. NFI will transport our vehicle parts. It’s the largest built-to-suit industrial development site underway right now in New Jersey.
Q: Has there been a decision made about moving out of Cherry Hill? There have been a lot of rumors floating around that you’re looking to move to Camden? Any truth to that?
A: No decision yet on where our expansion will take us. We have really outgrown our current buildings and we would like to be on one campus rather than split, as we are now along Cooper River. (Subaru’s operations center is in an office building on Park Boulevard just south of the Route 70 headquarters.) We expect the new offices not to be more than a 30-minute radius of where we are now." read the original article


4/3 Subaru corporate changes
"SoA announced the
appointment of Alan Bethke to vice president, marketing from his previous role as director of marketing communications.
Reporting to Dean Evans, chief marketing officer for Subaru of America, Bethke will continue to be responsible for the company's national & spot advertising and marketing communications activities.Mr. Bethke joined Subaru from Suzuki in 2003 as a district sales manager. He has worked in a number of positions within sales and marketing for Subaru and assumed his previous title as director of marketing communications in 2010.
"Alan has delivered excellent work," said Dean Evans, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.  "His team has helped drive the Subaru brand to record sales, awareness and market share. Alan’s experience in marketing, advertising, strategic planning and media will continue to help the brand’s growth and this promotion reflects the level of work being executed.” Bethke lives in New Jersey with his family and is currently completing his MBA. He holds a degree in marketing from Pennsylvania State University.
In a related move, Robert Font, previously manager, digital marketing is promoted to director, digital marketing communications. Font will continue to report to Bethke."
Other changes in the past few years include last weeks promotion of Thomas Doll, executive VP, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Office to President of SoA. In May 2011 Bill Cyphers becoming sr. vice president sales from Eastern region vp,  Mike Hafertepe moved from regional vice president, Central Region to replace Cyphers as regional vice president, Eastern Region. Jeff Walters became vice president, field & distributor operations, Previously Walters was director, field & distributor operations and prior to that was a regional sales manager in Atlanta for SOA.

3/26 Thomas Doll, SoA executive VP, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Office is now President of SoA.
He left Arthur Young  Co to join Subaru in 1982. From 1985-88 was Manager of Treasury operations, in 1988 he was made Director of Treasury and in 1989 Director of Accounting. In 1991 he became VP of Business and Strategic Planning,  then became CFO. In April 2009 he added Executive VP and COO to his CFO title.

2/10 Subaru wants a new dealer in Tyler, Texas.
Located on I-20 between Dallas and Shreveport, La, the greater Tyler/Jacksonville metro area has a population of around 260,000. Currently the nearest dealer is Randall Noe Subaru in Terrell, Texas. Peltier Subaru is expected to open late March 2013


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an unofficial, unimportant list of the Top 50 New Subaru Salespeople in 2012

this list is totally unimportant - a lot of people work hard to sell Subarus and don't make the list,  so contact your local dealer for a salesperson who will know the cars and make a deal
.
this list subject to change, updating. corrections welcomed. * new to the list
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#1  Desiree Farey, 644 cars, Irvine Subaru, Lake Forest, Ca (note- she is listed as the General Manager on Linked-in, and as 'leading the sales team' on her dealer website).
#2  Craig Parsons, 462 cars, Groove Subaru, Englewood, Co.
#3 Daniel D'Andrea, 461 cars, Grand Subaru, Bensenville, IL
#4 Andre Tocci, 355 cars. Rafferty Subaru, Newtown Square, PA.
#5 Harold Gosnell, 314 cars, #1 Cochran Subaru, Monroeville, PA.
#6 Aleksey Petrushkin, 309 cars.  Ramsey Subaru Ramsey, NJ.
#7 Mir Masood, 304 cars. Stevens Creek Subaru, Stevens Creek Ca. 
#7 Vincent Rizzo 304 cars. Metric Subaru, Huntington, NY
#9 Lawrence Fung, 295 cars. Carlsen Subaru, Redwood City, Ca
#10 Vincent Bovenzi,390 cars, Van Bortel Subaru, Victor NY
#11 Margaret Walsh, 287 cars. Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY.
#12 Reid Ferris, 282, Colonial Subaru, Danbury, Ct
#13 Jeff Miletta, 265 cars.  Liberty Subaru, Oradell, NJ;
#14 Joe Khattar, 277 cars. Goldstein Subaru of Albany, Colonie, NY
#15 Robert Mantell, 273 cars, Ramsey Subaru, Upper Saddle River, NJ
#16 Paul Solko, 272 cars, Flartirons Subaru
#17 Shawn Pies, 269 cars. Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY
#18 Ronald Hall, 267 cars, Shortline Subaru, Aurora Co
#18 Ahmad Rahimzadah, 267 cars. Livermore Subaru, Livermore, Ca.
#20 Michael Reed, 265 cars, Wagner Subaru,  Fairborn, Oh
#21 Joe McAvoy, 256 cars, Roto Subaru
#22 Zhou Kan, 235 cars, Fitzgerald Subaru of Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg, Md
*#23 Patrick Corbett, 242 cars, Minooka Subaru, Scranton, Pa
#24 Jack Berkowitz, 241 cars. Manchester Subaru, Manchester NH.
*#25 Tommy Quach, 240 cars, Capitol Subaru,
San Jose, Ca
*#26 Paul Bushnell, 238 cars, Lithia Reno Subaru, Reno, Nv
#26 Ronald Kula, 238 cars. Brunswick Subaru, Brunswick, OH
*#26 Tom Shields, 238 cars, Minooka Subaru, Scranton, Pa
*#29 Luke Gunther, 234 cars, Walkers Renton Subaru, Renton, Wa
*#29 Scott Obst, 234 cars, Wilde Subaru, Waukesha, Wi
#31 Jeffrey Barkan, 231 cars, Competition Subaru of Smithtown,
#31 James Smith, 231 cars, Stivers Decatur Subaru, Decatur, Ga
#34 Karen Berval, 230 cars, Brunswick Subaru, Brunswick, Oh
*#35 Stephan Szagbo, 229 cars, Stohlman Subaru, Vienna, Va
*#36 David North, 228 cars, Carter Subaru Shoreline, Shoreline, Wa
#37 Karl Lindemuth, 227 cars, Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY
#38 Theresa Ali, 226 cars. Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY.
#39 Jamie Cassidy, 223 cars. Capitol Subaru, Salem, Or
*#39 Christopher Garchitorena, 223 cars, Subaru of Glendale, Glendale, Ca
#41 Jeremy Vitale, 222 cars, Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY
#42 Shelly Catanzano, 221 cars, #1 Cochran Subaru, Monroeville, PA.
*#43 Andreas Beckman, 220 cars, Steven's Creek Subaru, San Jose, Ca
*#44 Peter Marconi, 219 cars, Subaru of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
*#45 Anna Johns, 216 cars, #1 Cochran Subaru, Monroeville, Pa
*#46 Saeed Farahani, 214 cars, Bertera Subaru of Hartford, Hartford, Ct
*#46 Wes Guthrie, 214 cars, Go West Subaru, Golden Co
*#48 James Rutledge, 213 cars, Gillman Subaru, Houston SW, Houston, Tx
*#49 Ann Marie Givigliano, 212 cars, Go Subaru Arapahoe, Centennial, Co
#49 Chris Ledoux, 212 cars, Betera Subaru of Hartford, CT
*#49 Chris Ledoux, 212 cars, Bertera Subaru of Hartford, Ct

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an unofficial list of the Top 50 New Subaru dealerships in 2012
since bigger dealers aren't always better and since all dealers pay the same for the same car, always contact your local dealer

this list really is irrelevant. contact your local dealer.  list subject to change, updating. corrections we3lcomed.  *new to the list
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#1 Heuberger Subaru, Colorado Springs, Co
#2 Shortline Subaru, Aurora, Co
#3 Van Bortel Subaru, Victor, NY
#4
Groove Subaru, Englewood, Co
#5 Lithia Reno Subaru, Reno, Nv
#6 Carter Subaru Shoreline, Shoreline, Wa
#7 Go Subaru Arapahoe, Englewood Co,
#8 Capitol Subaru, San Jose, Ca
#9 Manchester Subaru,  Manchester NH
#10 Continental Subaru, Anchorage, Ak
Wentworth Subaru, Portland, Or
Carr Subaru, Beaverton, Or,
Patrick's Subaru, Shrewsbury, Ma.
Colonial Subaru, Danbury, Ct
Bill Kolb Jr Subaru, Orangeburg, NY,
Stevens Creek Subaru, San Mateo, Ca,
Becker Subaru, Allentown, Pa
Cityside Subaru, Belmont, MA
#1 Cocharan Subaru, Monroeville, PA
Flatiron's Subaru, Boulder, Co
Bertera Subaru of Hartford, Ct

Liberty Subaru, Oradell, NJ
Irvine Subaru, Lake Forest, Ca
Carter Subaru Ballard, Seattle, Wa
Chaplins Subaru, Bellevue, Wa,
Walkers Subaru, Renton, Wa
Hannah Subaru, Vancouver, Wa
Stohlman Subaru, Herdon, Va
Mike Scarff Subaru of Auburn, Auburn, Wa,
Brunswick Subaru, Brunswick, OH
Ramsey Subaru, Urbandale, IA
Goldstein Subaru, Colonie, NY
Nate Wade Subaru, Salt Lake City, UT,
Go Subaru West, Golden, Co
Mike Shaw Subaru,  Thornton, Co
Burlington Subaru, Burlington, VT
Bruce Titus Eastside Subaru, Kirkland, Wa
*Ganley Subaru of Bedford
, Ohio
Baierl Subaru, Pittsburg, Pa
Bloomington Subaru, Bloomington, MN
*Curry Subaru, Cortlandt Manor, NY
Sommer's Subaru, Mequon, WI
*Carlsen Subaru, Redwood City, Ca
Rafferty Subaru, Newtown Square, PA
*Patriot Subaru, Saco, Maine
*Mid-Hudson Subaru, Wappinger falls, NY
*Ganley Westside Subaru, North Olmsted, Oh
John Howard Subaru, Morgantown, West Va
*Grand Subaru, Besenville, IL
*Dan Perkins Subaru, Milford, Ct



SUBARU SALES IN 2013
and related car sales news and statistics

click for archived news from 2012
articles edited for length, content

unofficial information, edited for length and content. subject to change, correction
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1/3 December sales and 2013 grand totals
For the year, Subaru sold 424,683 cars, a healthy increase of 26% over 336,441 cars sold in 2012.
Coincidentally, 2012s total was also 26% over 2011's total of 266,989.

2013 totals by model
Forester 123,592, a whopping 62% increase over 2012s 76,347
Outback 118,049, 496 cars over 2012s 117,553
Impreza 58,856, down 14% from 2012s 68,175
Crosstrek 53,741, the first full years of sales, up 627% from the 2012s total of 7396. The Crosstrek was introduced September 2012
Legacy 42,291, down 10% from 2012s 47127
WRX, STI 17,969, up 32% over 201s13,624
BRZ 8587 for the first full year of sales. The BRZ was introduced March 2012, and sold 4144 that year
Tribeca 1598 for what is expected to be the final full year of sales since Subaru announced production has stopped and the model discontinued. In 2012 there were 2075 Tribeca's sold.

December 2013 totals by model
Forester 13,229 up 51% over 8764 for 2012
Outback 11,002 down 9% from 12072 in 2012
Impreza 4949 down 16% from 58623 in 2012
Crosstrek 5525, up 62% December 2012's 2409 total
WRX, STI 1680, 38 cars over 2012's 1642 cars
BRZ 705, up 208 cars, 42% over December 2012s 497
Tribeca 143, down from December 2012's total 189

12/3 November sales total 36,621. That's 8,415 cars more than November 2012's 28,206
YTD sales 384,411. Subaru hopes to blast through the 400,000 total number on their way to 415,000+ total sales for 2013.
Outback 8,852, down 13% from 10,124 11/12
Forester 13,410, up 135% over 5,703 11/12
Crosstrek 5,311, up 158% over 2,060 11/12
Impreza 3,767, down 17% from 4,552 11/12
Legacy 2,911, down 22% from 3,723 11/12
WRX/STI 1,507, up 11% over 1,353 11/12
BRZ 756, up 43% over 527 11/12
Tribeca 107, down 35% from 164 11/12


11/1 October sales 34483, 32% more than October 2012's 26119 total
YTD 13 total is 347,890 cars, compared to 271,582 YTD 2012
Outback 8122, down 20% from 10153 10/12
Forester  12581, up 137% over 5309 10/12
Legacy 3090, down 14.1% from 3598 10/12
Crosstrek 4886,up 181.6% over 1735 10/12 (2nd mo it was available)
WRX, STI 1356, up 23.3% over 1100 10/12
Impreza 3567, down 2% from3638 10/12
Tribeca 101, down 45.1% from 184 10/12. The Tribeca final months supply dwindles.
Why other car companies are jealous... 60% of Subaru sales are to people who haven't had one before.
Bill Cyphers, senor sales VP says that "We have seen record number of consumers shopping ghe Subaru brand and we have seen wonderful acceptance across our line-up. Consumers are not just shopping a single model- there has been demand for Outback, Forester, XV Crosstrek, Impreza as well as our performance models WRX and STI. Almost 60% of our sales this year have been to customers new to the brand...."



10/1 September Sales
31,775 total, another record setting month for Subaru- this is now the new record
YTD sales 313,407, which is 28% more than the 245,643 YTD 2012.
Outback 8,143, down 23% from 10,583 in 2012
Forester 10,620, up 755 over 6,066 2012
Legacy 2,847, down 31% from 4,124 in 2012
Crosstrek 3,536
WRX, STI 1,167, up 8% over 1,079 2012
Impreza 4,622, down 7% from 4,992 in 2012
BRZ 704, up 39% from 508 in 2012
Tribeca 116, down 175 from 139 in 2012


9/4 Subaru sells 41,061 cars in August- the best month ever in the company's history, a whole new record.
The previous best month are this past May with 39,892 and December 2012 with 35,512.
Going back, August 2009 was Cash For Clunkers and set a huge new record of 28,683. Subaru's fortunes have changed since then.
By model, August 2013
Forester 13,163, up 89.2% over August 2012
Outback 10,163 , - 9.9% from 11285 August 2012
Crosstrek 4757
Impreza 6874, up 43.8% over 4719 August 2012
Legacy 3954, up 2.1% over 3782 August 2012
WRX, STI 1235, up 81.4% over August 2012
BRZ 868, up 39.3% over 623 August 2012
Tribeca 137, down 12.7% from 157 August 2012
YTD Subaru is at 281,652 (a 29.3% increase over YTD 2012's 217,780) and the goal of over 400,000 for the year is well in reach



8/1 sales- July 2013 sales total is 35,955, the best July ever and 43% better than July 2012's 25,132.
This is the 12 straight month of monthly records, and the 20th consecutive monthly sales increases. 
With these numbers, Subaru has officially revised the 2013 sales goal upward to 410,000 for the year from the previous goal of 380,000 for the year.
Forester and Outback are the volume leaders. The Impreza's July total of 5,614 is a healthy 23% increase over the 4,553 July 2012, so the Crosstrek version isn't poaching Impreza sales at all.
July 2013 by car line
Outback 10,456, up 13% over 2012
Forester 9,841, up 53% over 2012
Crosstrek 4,636
Legacy 3,142, down 5% from 2012
Impreza 5,614, up 23% over 2012
WRX, STI 1,471, up 59% over 2012
BRZ 706
Tribeca 128, down 15% from 2012
7/2 June sales, Subaru's 2nd best month ever with 39,235 cars sold!
The best month was just May, with 39,892. Subaru is on track to sell over 400,000 cars this year and is the 10th best selling car in the country.
YTD total is 204, 597  or 40,293 more than 164,203 YTD 2012
Outback 12,210 which is 32% or 2956 more than 9,254 June 2012
Forester 10,170 which is 41% or 2937 more than 7233 June 2012
Crosstrek 4652
WRX, STI 1697 which is 559 or 49% more than 1138 June 2012
Impreza 5210 which is 29 or 1% more than 5181 June 2012
BRZ 789 which is 29 or 4%  less than 818 June 2012
Tribeca 144 which is 40 or 40% less than 184 June 2012


6/3 May sales total of 39,892 is the best month ever in the company's history, besting the previous record of 35,513 set last December 2012.
The Subaru juggernaut continues with year to date sales of 165362, up 21.1% over 136602 YTD 2012. At this pace, Subaru will beat the stated sales goal of 380,000 for the year
The Crosstrek outsells all the other 2.0 Imprezas combined for the first time, a trend likely to continue as more people discover the new crossover, especially when the hybrid version is released later this year. Forester sales are very strong and will grow as availability increases. IIHS's crash test and the Consumer reports review both put the model at the top of the SUV pyramid, and word is spreading that some people actually better economy than expected with the 2.5 models.
May 2013 total is 39892, up 34.2% over last May's 29724. 
Outback 12270 up 33.5% over 9192 last May. YTD is 49,101, up 4,301 or 10% over 44800 YD 2012
Forester 10068, up 35.7% over 7323 last May. YTD 40,578, up 10,715, 36% over 29,863 YTD 2012
Crosstrek 5295, YTD  20,438
Impreza 5219 down 23% from 6786 last May. YTD is 24,343, down 30% from 34,677 YTD 2012
Legacy  4430, down .7% from 4462. YTD 19,045, down 1333 or 7% from 20375 YTD 2013
WRX 1829, up 19.9% over 1525 last May. YTD 7,856, up 2150 or 38% over 5706 YTD 2013
BRZ  679. YTD 3,279
Tribeca 102, down 38% from 165 last May. YTD 722, down 185 or 20% from 907 YTD 2012

5/2 April sales total 32,943.
The Forester outsells the Outback, and Crosstrek outsells the Impreza which is down 30.9%. If Subaru can get cars, they will be sold.
April sales were 25% over April 2012 26310.
Total YTD sales 125,470 which is 17% over 2012
Outback  8730, up 2.1% over 8548 in 2012
Legacy 3286, down 13.5% from 3799 in 2012
Forester 9366, up 65.3% over 5666 in April 2012
Crosstrek 4433
WRX STI 1508, up 11.5% over 1352 April 2012
Impreza 4692, down 30.9% from 6791 April 2012
BRZ 812
Tribeca 116, down 24.7% from 154 in April 2012

Canada sales totals:
3,562 units sold, 29.4% over April 2012. Forester sold 1,194 67.5% over April 2012


4/2 March sales-  Wow! Subarus best month ever with 36,701 cars sold which is 13.3% over
32,387 March 2012
And best 1st quarter with 92,527 cars sold YTD 2013, up 14.8% from 80,568 YTD 2012
Forester 9050, 46.2% over 6192 in March 2012. YTD 21,144
Outback 10453, down 3.5% from 10886 March 2012, YTD 28,101
Crosstrek 4688, YTD 10,710
Legacy 4400, down 18.3% from 5384 March 2012. YTD 12,117
Impreza 5327 down 37.7% from 8545 March 2012. YTD 14,432
WRX, STI 1727, down 44.3%  1197 March 2012. YTD 4,519 which is up  59.7% from 2829 YTD 2012
BRZ 905, YTD 1,788
Tribeca 151, down 17.5% from 183 March 2012, YTD 504.

3/1/13 February sales total 28,163. Last February the total was 25,374.
The February 2013 numbers would have been higher but the 13 Forester sell down, including 0% and dealer incentives,  worked and the supply was tight by mid month. The 14 Foresters are arriving on lots now. Impreza numbers are off 28.7% but if you add the 3258 Crosstreks to the 4515 Imprezas, the total is 7773 which is a considerable increase over the 6334 Imprezas February 2012.
Outback 9016, up 2.9% over 8762 2/12
Forester 5529, down .7% from 5565 2/12.
Impreza 4515, down 28.7% from 6334 2/12
Crosstrek 3258
Legacy 3745, up 3.6% over 3614 2/12
Tribeca 194, down 9.6% from 177 last Feb, 2012
BRZ 420

2/2/13 the January sales total 27,663, up 21.3% over 22,807 1/2012.
With strong increases in the soon-to-be-gone 2013 Forester numbers helped by 0% and incentives, and the Outback continuing to be popular, Subaru has an excellent month. While Impreza sales are down for the month adding in the Crosstrek sales gives the entire model line 7354 which is a good increase. WRX and STI demand continues to be strong though supply is low as Subaru makes the other Imprezas.  The waiting list for BRZs continues as only 463 were delivered for the month. Tribeca sales dribble on.
Outback 8,632, up 16.5% over 7,412 1/12
Forester 6,565 up 28.3% over 5,117 1/12
Impreza 4,590 down 26.2% from 6,221 1/12
BRZ 463
Crosstrek 2,764
Legacy 3,184 up 2% over 3,119 1/12
WRX STI 1,306 up 84% over 710 1/12
Tribeca 159, down 30.3% from 228 1/12

Canada January sales total 1,813 slightly under the record 1750 sold last January 2012.  Crosstrek 404

1/3 2012 sales totals. Subaru breaks all their previous year records.
336,441 for the year. Thats up 26% over 266,989 for all of 2011.  Even with some models in tight supply, like the Impreza and its new Crosstrek cousin, and the low production BRZ, Subaru exceeded their own sales predictions that just 12 months ago seemed just a more dream than reality
The Outback is the star, selling 117,553 for year.  Forester is #2 with 76,347, and Impreza is #3 with 68,175, and they're almost tied if the Impreza and its sibling Crosstrek are combined, with 75,571 total.
The Legacy sedan
The Tribeca is still with us despite on-going rumors regarding its immanent demise, though its on life support with only 2075 for the entire year.  Thats less than the high dollar, glamorous Bentley.
The question will be if Subaru can maintain the growth. With its first hybrid and a redesigned Forester due in 2013, its possible. First they'll have to solve the inventory problems that have left customers waiting months and months for some models. And with growth, can they maintain the quality- note the recent recall of vehicles with optional puddle lights.
> Here are the 2012 totals by model
Outback 117,553 in 2012, up 12.6% over 104,405 in 2011
Forester 76,347 in 2012, up .2% over 76,196 in 2011
Legacy 47,127 in 2012, up 11.2% over 42401 in 2011
Impreza 68,175 in 2012, up 148.9% over 27391 in 2011
Tribeca 2,075 in 2012, down 25.7% from 2791 in 2011
WRX, STI 13,624 in 2012, down 1.3% from 13805 in 2011
BRZ 4,144 for 2012
Crosstrek 7,396 for 2012

> December 2012 sales totals
Outback 12,072, down 10.1% from 13430 December 2011
Forester 8764, up 1.9% over 8601 December 2011
Legacy 4217, down 8.8% from 4625 December 2911
Impreza 5863, up 7.3% over 5464 December 2011
Tribeca 189, down 41.7% from 324 December 2011
WRX, STI 1,642, up 30.6% over 1257 December 2011
BRZ 497
Crosstrek 3409


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