Archive for Subaru

The production version of the Subaru Exiga was just announced in May this year, but Subaru has already unveiled full details and photos of the new 7-seater wagon-like vehicle which will most likely form the base for the next generation Subaru Legacy in sedan form.

There are four models offered, with three having more sedate normally aspirated engines (2.0i, 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S models), and one more with a 211hp turbocharged engine called the 2.0GT. The normally aspirated engine features Active Valve Control System (AVCS) and is mated to a 4-speed SPORTSHIFT automatic transmission, a fancy name for a regular auto with manual override of gear sleection. The 2.0GT gets a 5-speed SPORTSHIFT auto with auto throttle blipping on downshift.

All of the models have 4WD, but two different systems are offered. The normally aspirated models get the Active Torque Split AWD system while the 2.0GT gets the more advanced Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system. The 2.0GT also gets SI-Drive, which offers three different driving modes: Intelligent; Sport; and Sport Sharp.

The interior has a large panoramic glass roof (all models except 2.0i) which covers the front and second row of seats. Sadly there are no rear air cond blowers for the second and third row, so you will have to rely on air cond vents on the dashboard that are designed to “throw” the air all the way to the third row. The second row’s chairs can be slid back and forth independently by 180mm.

Look for more images after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Subaru Exiga 7-seater wagon

I am not sure if this source is reliable, but Edmunds claims that Toyota and Subaru have decided that the Toyota-badged version of the upcoming co-developed boxer-engined rear wheel drive coupe will only be sold in Japan, while Subaru will market it internationally.

Edmunds further added that the companies have decided to mimic the dimensions and power to weight ratio of the now discontinued Honda Integra Type R, so if that is true, expect about 200 horsepower and a wheelbase of around 2400mm.

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Subaru has unveiled a front and rear shot of their new World Rally Championship car based on the latest generation Subaru Impreza hatchback, Subaru’s first rally-going hatchback in ages. The new Subaru Impreza WRC2008 features a 2.0 liter boxer turbo engine producing about 300 horsepower. It will be driven in the championship by Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg.

Notice that the new Subaru rally car loses the livery featuring many yellow stars that we’ve come to expect on every Subaru rally car. The new livery is based on a blue and silver design instead.

One more front shot after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Subaru Impreza WRC2008 Rally Car

Subaru has put up a teaser site for the upcoming production Subaru Exiga MPV, and reveals a launch date of the 17th of June 2008.

One of the teaser photos showing a view of the interior from above through a transparent roof reveals that the interior isn’t all that big - it looks somewhat similiar to the Honda Stream, instead of a Honda Odyssey’s fantastic interior space. Doesn’t seem to be much space in the rear for luggage for 7 behind the third row of seats either - so this thing could probably carry 5 people and luggage, or 7 people and luggage for two.

From what we can see from the size and exterior, a 5-seater sedan version could definitely end up as the next generation Subaru Legacy. A shot of the underlying platform shows all-wheel drive and a fully independent suspension design.

View a teaser video and a few more teaser photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
Production Subaru Exiga 7-seater MPV coming soon

Click here to read the rest of Subaru Exiga MPV gets teaser website

Subaru will be launching the production version of its 2007 Tokyo concept car, the Subaru Exiga. The Subaru Exiga is a 7-seater low-rider MPV that is 4780mm long, 1775mm wide and 1630mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2750mm.

Although many reports the production Exiga to be Impreza-based, the concept version’s wheelbase and dimensions are more similiar to the Camry-based Toyota Mark X Zio (2776mm wheelbase) and the Honda Odyssey (2830mm wheelbase).

In fact, the Exiga may have the next generation Legacy’s platform under its skin; the current fourth generation Legacy has a 2670mm wheelbase, so an increase to about 2750mm sounds logical.

Otherwise, the production Exiga could end up being a smaller car than the concept version if it is based on the Impreza. One thing’s quite likely - parts from the Impreza/Forester parts bin will be used, including the 5-speed Sportshift automatic and the 2.0 liter (or 2.5 liter) turbocharged horizontally opposed engine.

More photos of the Subaru Exiga Concept after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Production Subaru Exiga 7-seater MPV coming soon

Subaru is worried that its upcoming “AE86 spiritual successor” rear-wheel drive coupe that it will share with Toyota may erode its image as a niche all-wheel drive specialist, according to Subaru’s overseas marketing chief Masatsugu Nagato.

Its marketing team also has to figure out how to differentiate its own version of the car from the Toyota product, as it is very likely that there will be many major markets where both cars will be sold side by side as there will not be Toyota-only or Subaru-only designated markets.

Then again, we can look at Audi, a car manufacturer that is much older than Subaru. Audi is now rather famous for its quattro all-wheel drive system despite having many front-wheel drive models in its line-up. Is rear-wheel drive for the new small Subaru really a cause for worry? At least it still uses a horizontally-opposed engine! As long as it is a fantastic drive, they should do fine. After all, the rear wheel drive boxer engine specialist image already has another car to “taint” it - the new Subaru Justy.

According to Autocar UK, the Subaru boxer engine in question will be a normally aspirated 2.0 liter inline-4 boxer putting out 175 horsepower for the base model, with a turbocharged 2.5 liter model to come later, possibly with all-wheel drive. Autocar says they have viewed top-secret sketches of the car and have produced the artist impression shown in the thumbnail above based on those sketches. You can click the thumbnail to view the full image. It looks rather like a Scion tC crossed with a Hyundai Coupe.

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New Toyota-Subaru boxer-powered RWD sports car to arrive in 2011!

Motor Image is looking to reignite the Subaru brand in Malaysia with the introduction of the new Forester and Impreza hatchback between June to August. This includes the highest factory spec Impreza possible, the 2.5-litre, 16 valve, turbocharged WRX STI.

Shannon Teoh was in Singapore to get an introductory feel of the two new Imprezas that will appear on our shores this year.

Read more after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Subaru Impreza WRX STI and 2.0 S-GT: A Very Short Test Drive Experience

Toyota has officially revealed plans for its upcoming sports car co-development program with Fuji Heavy Industries, who owns the Subaru brand. The compact rear wheel drive car will feature a Subaru boxer engine, and both Toyota and Subaru will market the car separately under its respective badges. It will be built on a new Subaru platform, but will be designed by Toyota.

“I think there is high potential for this car. We haven’t had a sports car for a long time. This is a long-awaited-for model. Pricing would be not prohibitively high,” said Toyota Motor Corp CEO Katsuaki Watanabe. The car should be quite fun indeed, with rear wheel drive dynamics and that rumbly boxer engine note.

Since FHI president Ikuo Mori says he has personally driven a test version of the car and is pleased with it, development must have been going on for quite some time now. The car will be launched in 2011.

Other Toyota-FHI joint ventures will also increase, and FHI will stop producing compact vehicles of its own design. It will use Daihatsu badge engineered vehicles instead. The Subaru Justy based on the Daihatsu Boon was the first such Daihatsu-based compact vehicle, with the next one set to be a Subaru-badged Daihatsu Coo in October 2008.

Also confirmed is Toyota’s increase in Subaru stakeholding from the current 8.7% up to 16.5% in a deal valued at 31.1 billion yen (US$311 million).

Naza World has brought in 3 new cars - the Nissan GT-R, the latest Subaru Impreza WRX and the Nissan Dualis SUV. These cars are priced at RM728,999, RM302,999 and RM229,999 respectively.

The Nissan GT-R really needs no introduction, with publications all around the world raving about the 911-killing supercar. Under the hood is a twin turbocharged 3.8 liter V6 putting out 450 horsepower and 502Nm of torque, hooked up to a transaxle twin clutch gearbox mounted at the rear for optimum weight distribution. Of course, the GT-R must have the ATTESA E-TS all wheel drive system. 0 to 100km/h takes 3.8 seconds.

The latest generation Subaru Impreza WRX with a hatchback body instead of the previous generation’s sedan body is powered by a 2.5 liter boxer engine. The new boxer is 22.6kg lighter than the previous model and produces more low end torque. Peak horsepower and torque are 224 horsepower and 306Nm.

Price at over RM200K, the Nissan Dualis will be an alternative to those who are jaded with all the Muranos going around. The Nissan Dualis is the Japanese/Australian market name for the Nissan Qashqai. Naza is bringing in the 5-seater version.

The Dualis has a 4WD drivetrain and a 2.0 liter engine producing 137 horsepower and 198Nm of torque. It has 6 airbags and stability control. It has a 200mm ground clearance, 30.2 departure angle and a 19.2 degrees approach angle for those who are concerned about some off-roading related numbers.

More images of the cars after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Naza World brings in GT-R, Impreza WRX and Dualis

Japanese business newspaper Nikkei Shimbun reported that Toyota is considering raising its current 8.7% stake in Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) to about 17%, in a deal that is valued at 30 billion yen, or RM937 million ringgit, pending a review by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission.

Subaru will remain somewhat independent and not be considered a Toyota subsidiary as the resulting shareholding by Toyota will be under 20%. In a response to Nikkei’s report, Subaru says it still does not have anything to announce at the moment as the stakeholding increase is not final yet and still under discussions.

Of course, such reports will always affect share prices. Subaru shares went up 6.6% on the day the Nikkei reported the news.

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