A production-spec Subaru WRX STI sedan has broken the Isle of Man TT’s road-car lap record, which is more than two decades old. The WRX STI, driven by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, posted a lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds over the 60.8 km long course, translating to an average speed of 181 kph. The top speed achieved during the lap was 260 kph.

The lap time set by Higgins is more than two minutes quicker than the previous record, which was set by the late Tony Pond 21 years ago, on June 6, 1990, behind the wheel of an Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 160 kph barrier in a road car, and his lap record has stood ever since. The TT event organisers gave Higgins just one lap to conduct his record attempt in the car, and there was no opportunity to carry out high speed practice runs.

The record-breaking WRX STI was a standard Subaru production car with a 300 PS engine, unmodified brake callipers and road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres, with the springs and dampers adjusted to tackle the various bumps and jumps at high speed along the course.

With little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the WRX STI was fitted with some essential safety enhancements, including an MSA-specification T45 integrated roll cage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To help forewarn spectators – who were out in force cheering the attempt on – of the presence of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the WRX STI with a high-decibel exhaust.

The outright lap record for the TT course was set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle, with a time of 17 minutes and 12.3 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 210 kph.

Fuji Heavy Industries, which began its automobile business making minicars, is set to stop producing its small Subaru vehicles in February next year, ending a 54-year heritage of doing so.

The company started out with the Subaru 360 in 1958, the first minicar marketed in Japan. Over the years, FHI’s minicars sold well enough, reaching a peak in 1990 when 270,000 units were sold domestically, but in recent times the number has been dwindling – in 2010, sales only registered 93,000 units.

Production of the Subaru Stella ended in April, and the Sambar commercial vehicle – its mainstay product, in truck and van form – will be the company’s last minicar line, sources within the company said. FHI will however continue selling minicars made by Daihatsu under an OEM arrangement.

Once production ceases, the assembly lines for minicars will be redeployed to assemble vehicles under joint development with Toyota, the sources added.

You’d have thought amidst the rise of the Koreans in America with their flashy models and the recent troubles faced by the Japanese, tiny little Subaru would have been wiped out, or totally ignored. But the opposite is true. Last year was a record year for Subaru of America – the 263,820 cars they sold was 22% up on 2009 (itself a record year, 14% up in a market that’s down 24%) and 50% up in two years, which is truly impressive.

So it’s no surprise that the fourth-gen Impreza you see here was launched in New York, not Tokyo. While it looks like just another face change, there’s more to it including a longer wheelbase and a new engine. There are two bodystyles – a five-door hatch and a sedan.

Looks wise, the front end follows the theme set by the current Legacy, which is smarter looking than the outgoing Impreza, if a little nondescript. Like its big brother, the wheelarches are given prominence, while the glasshouse is generously sized, unlike many modern cars. Subaru says visibility is a design priority, which is refreshing in a sea of design led products.

Continuing the functional theme, the bottom of the A-pillar has been moved 20 cm forward. This allows for a front door opening that is nearly 13 cm longer for easier entry/exit, further helped by door sills that are 2 cm lower. Rear doors are also larger on both body styles. The wheelbase has been extended by 24 mm to 2,644 mm; this coupled with a scalloped-style front seat backrest frees up 50 mm of rear legroom. Vehicle length and width remain the same

Under the hood is a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine with 148 hp and 197 Nm. It’s from a new engine family that uses twin cams and Dual Active Valve Control System (DAVCS). Compared to the outgoing Impreza’s 2.5L boxer, this 2.0 is 30% more frugal and features a longer stroke to maximize low and mid-range torque.

It’s paired to a five-speed manual or the new Lineartronic CVT. Compared to the CVT in the the Legacy, this version is lighter, quieter and more compact. It also has a 6-speed manual mode with steering paddles.

It’s not a Subaru if there’s no AWD, but this Impreza gets two different systems. In manual transmission models, Continuous AWD uses a viscous-coupling locking center differential to distribute power 50/50. Slippage at either set of wheels will send more power (up to 100%) to the opposite set.

CVT models get Active Torque Split AWD that uses an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch to actively control power distribution. This system can transfer more power to the rear wheels under acceleration and can transfer up to 100% available torque to the rear wheels in response to road conditions.

The WRX and STI versions aren’t out yet. Gallery after the jump.
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Okay, the bright yellow-green shade isn’t the only thing that’s funky about the Subaru’s Shanghai debutant, the XV Concept crossover. The key design concept for it is too – “Protren” then is the word for the day, and it’s coined from the terms “professional tool” and “trendy design.”

Supposedly, it expresses the integration of “authentic functionality as a professional tool” and “urban and stylish design.” Well, yes, whatever works, then. The product itself is simpler to digest – the front of the vehicle contains standard design elements that are common to the Subaru stable, including the new hexagon grille, winged motif and hawk-eye headlights.

At the back, the vehicle features the hexagonal design as in front, and more hexagons engraved into the clear blue base under the license plate complement the consistent design theme. The black lower bumper and wheel arch protection, combined with the car’s metallic highlights, underline its crossover status.

The XV wears a distinctive five-spoke alloy wheel design which features contrasting silver spokes, black rims and clear blue centre caps, chosen to intentionally generate more flash. Not that the exterior matte shade, called Electro Yellowgreen, isn’t striking enough already. Elsewhere, the XV features a roof with a continuous glass sheet and metallic/clear-finish roof rails.

The interior gets a silvery white leather finish – with yellowgreen piping – for the seats, which provides a distinct contrast to the dark interior trim. The concept features Subaru’s Eyesight advanced driving assist system; a LCD monitor positioned between the two well-balanced and highly visible combination meters allows the driver to check the images captured with the EyeSight’s stereo cameras.

Measuring in at 4,450 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,620 mm tall, with a 2,635 mm wheelbase, the XV Concept is equipped with a 2.0 litre Boxer engine, mated to a Lineartronic CVT gearbox. The five-seater sits on 19-inch wheels wrapped with 245/45 series tyres.

Photos after the jump.
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Subaru will be unveiling its redesigned Impreza at the upcoming New York International Auto Show later this month. The third-generation model has been around since 2008, so while it’s about due time for the usual midlife freshening bit, the way it’s shaping up it could very well pass off as a fresh new car.

Two versions of the vehicle – sedan and five-door hatch – will be introduced at the show, both significantly reworked exterior and interior-wise. No major details as yet, but Subaru says the All-Wheel Drive vehicle will feature an interior featuring inproved design elements and refinement, as well as greater cabin space.

It’s also supposed to be more frugal in terms of fuel consumption, welcome news given the way fuel prices are climbing – the company estimates the US version will offer a 36 mpg (15.3 km per litre) figure on the highway, the highest in terms of fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive car sold in US.