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Subaru BOXER Sports Car Architecture Concept Teaser

February 24, 2011 at 1:57 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Subaru

Subaru has released a higher resolution version of its Subaru BOXER Sports Car Architecture Concept image that we featured a few days ago. There’s more of the concept car’s outline to be seen. We expect it to be pretty much similar to the Toyota FT-86 except with some Subaru styling changes.

The horizontally-opposed “boxer” engine seems to be done up in a chrome finish. Very bling! This car was previously known as the “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” just a few days ago – with these new images the name has officially changed to “Subaru BOXER Sports Car Architecture Concept”.

It seems that Toyota will also be showcasing an updated version of their FT-86 concept, tentatively given the name “FT-86 II”. Both the Subaru and Toyota names seem kinda boring for such a promising car, but perhaps they’re saving the best for last!

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Subaru teases ‘Boxer Sports Car Architecture’ on website

February 22, 2011 at 2:42 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru


Click to enlarge

It was previously announced that Subaru will be bringing its version of the Toyota FT-86 to Geneva, and Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru automobiles, has opened a special website that’s open to the public. Visitors to www.subaru-global.com/boxersports.html will see a teaser image of what Subaru calls the “Boxer Sports Car Architecture”.

What’s shown is an outline of the front section of the compact sports car, with the brand’s famous horizontally-opposed boxer engine residing within. The other tech Subaru is famous for – Symmetrical AWD – won’t appear on this sports car however, as it’s rear driven. The caption on the website says that this RWD sports car will make “Subaru’s legendary on-road performance even more accessible”.

Subaru’s FT-86 is called the “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” for now. We’ll have to wait for the debut to know its real name.

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Toyota Highlander and Subaru Tribeca to share platform?

February 9, 2011 at 12:02 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru, Toyota

The sharing, caring world grows ever so bigger, which makes sense in this day and age. Reports are rife that Toyota and Subaru is working towards using the same platform for their next-generation Highlander and Tribeca models.

Both vehicles are due for replacement sometime in 2014, and the grapevine reports that the boffins are looking at ways to seat the Subaru crossover on the Highlander’s platform.

Naturally, there’ll be some tricky corners to work around – the shared platform has to accomodate a number of different powertrain configurations, in this case a longitudinally-mounted boxer pot for the Tribeca and a transverse-mounted block for the Highlander, plus a hybrid system for the latter.

Nothing that can’t be surmounted, if there’s enough will. The way, of course, isn’t so soon, so there’s plenty of time to explore the will bit.

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Subaru’s concept version of the FT-86 set for Geneva debut

January 18, 2011 at 3:44 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Subaru is set to give its version of the Toyota FT-86 coupe its world premiere in Geneva in March. It’s not officially named yet, so as of now it remains called the Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept.

Official details haven’t been announced, but Subaru says the concept will feature the use of a horizontally-opposed boxer engine, and showcase the integration of its boxer engine expertise with rear-wheel drive in a vehicle it says will offer a new and highly enjoyable, Subaru-like driving experience.

Geneva will also see the European debuts of the Subaru Impreza Concept, which was unveiled last November in Los Angeles, as well as the Trezia, which it is hoping will appeal to the increasing demand for smaller and environmentally friendly cars in Europe. The compact smart wagon, as it has been tagged, will be available in 1.3 litre petrol and 1.4 litre turbodiesel forms in European markets.

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Subaru Impreza Design Concept shows new design theme

November 18, 2010 at 11:15 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Subaru has unveiled this Impreza Design Concept in LA, which previews the carmaker’s new “Confidence in Motion” design and brand strategy. The brand seems to change ideas with every generation of cars, so it’s anyone’s guess not just when this new look will debut, but how long it’ll last.

Said to include “possible future Subaru design elements” the Impreza Design Concept (IDC) is yet another “four-door coupe” style concept with room for four. The designers blended two ideas – “dynamic flow and confident stance” – to showcase Subaru’s engineering core values of dynamic performance, safety, driving enjoyment and quality.

From the front, IDC wears Subaru’s hexagonal grille with spread wings flanked by “hawk eye” headlights. Below them are fin-shaped fog lamps. Remember this look, as it previews the brand’s future look. At the rear, the hexagonal theme repeats with the number plate garnish, where all the lines flow out from. The rear lights, which have a unique layering effect for an impression of depth, are connected to the character line along the car’s flanks.

The IDC looks muscular, and a lot the credit goes to those prominent wheel arches (current Legacy also has them). It was Subaru’s intention to use simple and clean lines and surfaces rather than complicated forms. Other details include wedge-shaped side rear-view cameras and carbon fins on the wheel spokes that aid brake cooling.

Gallery after the jump.
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Subaru Forester S-Edition concept unveiled in Australia

October 15, 2010 at 11:40 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

forester s-edition

More from Sydney, this time from Subaru. Making its world debut at the Australian International Motor Show is a Forester concept called the S-Edition, which offers strong clues to a possible new variant next year.

The S-Edition builds on the existing Forester XT, but its turbocharged 2.5 litre engine offers 259 hp. a jump up from the 227 hp available from the XT. Torque is up too on this one, with 347Nm to the XT’s 320Nm.

forester s-edition 2

Additions to the Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) All-Wheel Drive vehicle include a revised sport suspension, paddleshifters accompanying the five-speed auto gearbox, 17-inch high lustre alloy STI wheels and unique styling accents, including of course S-Edition badging.

Inside, new to the kit list are drilled alloy pedals, new Alcantara seat trim bearing S-Edition logos as well as luminescent instruments with a centre design unique to the model.

Gallery after the jump.
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Info on 2011 Subaru Forester released – gains new 2.5 boxer

September 25, 2010 at 11:23 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Subaru

Following the announcement of Subaru’s third generation boxer engine, the company has shed initial details of the 2011 Forester, which will debut with the new engine. The engine is in a form of a 2.5 litre, with different bore and stroke configurations that give a larger displacement, 2,498 cc to be precise. The engine it replaces has a 2,457 cc displacement. The new engine also benefits from a chain-driven cam, instead of belt.

Power remains the same at 170hp while torque increases to 236Nm from 230Nm. This peak torque is achieved at 4,100 RPM, lower by 300 RPM. Fuel efficiency has been slightly improved. Both manual and automatic models offer 21 MPG for city and 27 MPG for highway respectively. This compares to 20/27 MPG for the manual and 20/26 MPG for the automatic in the 2009 model.

Pricing in the US starts from $20,495 for the base 2.5X with a manual transmission and tops out with the 2.5XT Touring with a $29,995 price tag. The 2.5XT models retain the 224hp turbocharged engine. Features that will be offered include Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), remote keyless entry, HD radio with 4.3-inch LCD screen and 6 speakers (standard for 2.5X Limited), rear-view camera (optional) and the list goes on.

Pictured above is the 2009 Subaru Forester.

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Subaru to debut 3rd generation boxer engine next year

September 24, 2010 at 9:25 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under International News, Subaru, Technology

Fuji Heavy Industries, the owners of Subaru has developed a new and improved boxer engine for the Japanese auto brand. This will be the third generation model of the four-cylinder gasoline engine and it has been renewed for the first time since 1989. Accommodating this new engine, the company has built the new Gunma Oizumi Plant just for this purpose. Available in either in 2500 cc or 2000 cc forms, the engine still maintains lightweight, compact, low centre of gravity and good vibration balance. In addition to that fuel efficiency has improved by 10 percent.

Changes on the inside of this completely new engine include a more compact combustion chamber as well as a longer stroke, previously difficult due to chassis mounting conditions. There upgrades are said to improve combustion efficiency and help generate a sufficient mid-low speed torque with improved fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency has been further optimized with improved intake port configuration and the addition of partitions inside the port, the use of TGV (Tumble Generated Valve) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation).

The engine also uses AVCS (Active Valve Control System) on both the intake and exhaust valves. The intake particularly will benefit from an intermediate lock system that allows valve timing to be advanced or delayed for precise control over intake and exhaust valve timing. Apart from that, the engine employs lighter moving parts such as pistons, connecting rods and a compact oil pump, which provides approximately 30 percent reduction in friction loss.

The cooling for the engine uses a separate circuitry for the block and the head, which again improves fuel efficiency and output levels. The company also pointed out that the new 2.0 litre boxer can produce 146hp and 196Nm of torque. The new engine is expected to debut with the 2011 Forester, due next year.

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VIDEO: Subaru Impreza WRX STI ad – ‘Ken Block’ style!

July 24, 2010 at 12:07 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under International News, Subaru, Videos

Subaru went in a different direction with their ads for the latest generation Impreza WRX STI – it involves getting normal people off the street and scaring the life out of them with the help of rally driver Dave Mirra.

Powered by a 2.5 litre turbocharged engine producing 305 horses, the car shuffles through the underside of an overpass, very Ken Block-esque. Egging it on is the more than substantial amount of torque which stands at 393Nm.

The reaction on their faces should be enough to keep you entertained for a few moments. Watch a total of five different reaction shots after the jump. The first video from the top is the best of course ;)
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Subaru to rebadge 10,000 Toyota Ractis annually

July 1, 2010 at 1:34 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru, Toyota

Subaru of Japan will be adding a subcompact model to their vehicle line-up thanks to Toyota. This comes after the Nikkei reported that Toyota has confirmed supply of subcompact cars to Fuji Heavy Industries, parent company of Subaru, on an OEM basis.

The model in question is the Toyota Ractis which is available either with a 1.3 or 1.5-litre engine. Fuji Heavy will receive about 10,000 units a year from Toyota as demand for low priced, fuel efficient cars within that segment increases.

Toyota owns 16.5 percent of Subaru, so it is not surprising to see this rebadge take place, considering Subaru already has an existing rebadged Toyota model – the Subaru Justy is based on the Toyota Passo, just like our Perodua Myvi. This will allow Subaru to concentrate on its core models while Toyota will benefits from increased Ractis sales.

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