Oh m*^%#&$f*^(3r! Subaru, you’re doing it again. Your teaser photo run on the Subaru Impreza was one of the lousiest drumbanging effort we’ve seen. The long run of teasers of nothing but dimmed photo only to reveal a total minger will always be one of the worst tricks anyone could pull.

And here’s the first teaser shot of the upcoming Subaru Impreza STI Cosworth. And it’s nothing but a rear light shot with the STI Cosworth logo.

When we say “tease,” Subaru, it’s in the same sense as “striptease” not poking your tongue out or shouting Yo Momma jokes.

No facts were given by Subaru to accompany this teaser photo. Only that the car’s jointly developed by famed British firm Cosworth and Subaru UK and that it will be a better all-wheel-drive car for high performance motoring.

I wish Subaru starts working on a new Impreza. That “new” one is ugly as hell. I’ve always picked the Impreza over the Evo but that latest styling really takes that love away.

Anyway, here’s a twist Subaru’s making with the Impreza – the new Impreza XV – which is basically an Impreza crossover. It’s basically a Euro version of the Outback Sport (pictured) model in th US.

The XV will be powered by a choice between a 2.0L gasoline or a 2.0L turbodiesel, both of which are Euro5-compliant.

The XV will only be available in Europe though there are no details yet on the exact places where this car will be sold. We’d know more about the car when it gets showcased in Geneva.

Toyota’s own version of the co-developed “Toyobaru” homage to the famed AE86 (Corolla Levin/Trueno Sprinter/Corolla GT) has already been dubbed the FT-86 and will be featured in the upcoming Tokyo show.

But since it’s a co-developed car, Subaru’s working on a version that would carry its badge. Subaru, however, will be taking its sweet time in developing one since it doesn’t have the resources that Toyota has. But at least it has begun to work on design works.

The FT-86 packs a 2.0L boxer engine from Subaru and will feature the RWD configuration of the famed AE86 that has made it quite the street racing icon.

As for Subaru’s version, rumors have it that it might pack a 4WD drive instead to keep in the company’s core technologies and to distinguish it from the FT-86.

The Toyobaru project has encountered much adversity in its development but it’s great that the two companies have managed to deliver on one collaboration. This might just pave the way for future collaborations that would fuse the best both companies have to offer.

The much-awaited Toyota-Subaru collaboration on a RWD sports coupe that was supposedly a tribute to the famed drift icon AE86 Trueno Sprinter/Corolla GT is finally showing itself to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

The collaboration will spawn not only one but two variants sharing the same underpinnings with only a few exterior changes to distinguish which badge it will be carrying.

Dubbed the Toyobaru, the car is inspired by a lightweight chassis with a hardy (though small) engine that sent power to the rear wheels of the AE86. The car became a street racing and drifting icon after Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya popularized the car.

The new incarnation will feature a larger engine with more power than the old 20-valve 1.6L engine. The car will pack a 2.0L boxer engine from Subaru that produces 200 horses and 145 lb-ft of torque.

Subaru heated up the New York Motor Show as it unveiled its new Subaru Outback crossover. The new model promises more space, has a new chassis, and offers improved ground clearance compared to the previous Outback.

The new Outback range starts from the 2.5i model, which is powered by a revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine going for 168 brake horsepower with either a six-speed manual or a Lineartronic CVT, to the range-topping 3.6R model that sports a new 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that goes for 252 brake horsepower and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Subaru says that the transmissions are designed to give improved acceleration, response, and fuel economy.

Even though the new Outback is shorter by a couple of centimeters, its interior room is bigger by eight percent. It is also wider than its predecessor and features more headroom to improve the comfort of the passengers.

With a diverse range and an better design overall in terms of space and comfort, the new Subaru Outback has become one of the more astonishing unveilings at the New York Motor Show.

For more New York Motor Show 2009 news, check out CarFront.

The automotive industry sales decline has reared its ugly head once again, necessitating the indefinite postponement of the Toyota and Subaru collaboration—a jointly-developed car dubbed the ‘Toyobaru’, something being hailed as a worthy successor to the Supra line.

Reports have been going around that the Toyobaru may not be finished until 2012. That is quite a significant delay, and experts predict that the shelving of the project is imminent because Japan’s national economy, as well as that of the world, continues to worsen. Toyota just recently announced a huge loss in 2008, so it isn’t totally surprising that even the Japanese carmaker is cutting back on projects.

“We’re discussing with Fuji Heavy the timing for the start of production and other details,” Toyota spokesperson Hideaki Homma disclosed to the media. That’s about as specific as they’d like to get, revealing no other details about the joint project.

At least it appears that the Toyobaru project isn’t stymied for good. If automotive sales rebound in 2010 as many experts believe, then perhaps the development could continue much sooner than expected.

Source: Autocar

Subaru has just announced that it is pulling out from the World Rally Championships for 2009, leaving the motorsport it has been a part of since 1990. Moreover, the pullout leaves only two manufacturers on hand for the 2009 season: Ford and Citroen.

Prodrive is one of the most affected by the pullout. The engineering consultancy company introduced and helped make Subaru very competitive in rally racing over the last 18 years.

“Subaru’s departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport’s icons,” said David Richards, chairman of Prodrive. “The Subaru World Rally Team has created true champions such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns and its absence will be felt by many the world over. Although this decision closes a significant chapter in Prodrive’s history, our focus now turns to the future.”

The announcement also comes a day after Suzuki pulled out its SX4 from the WRC. As it is, the current lineup for the WRC is quite shallow. It will be interesting to see how the WRC reacts to these developments. WRC without Subaru and Subaru out of the WRC. Now that sucks.

Source: Autocar

Call it the AE86 resurrection/Toyobaru/the new Supra, that’s quite irrelevant for now. The key idea is that the joint Toyota-Subaru project that aims to develop a compact sportscar is well on its way and will hit the market by 2011.

Power for the car comes from a 2.0L four-banger boxer engine from Subaru that will produce close to 200bhp. Power will be channeled to the rear-wheels and will be a two-seater compact.

The car is set to compete with the hot-hatch and cheap roadster market. With the street-racer pedigree of both Toyota and Subaru and a price of sub-£20k, this car is surely the car to watch out for in three years’ time.

Autocar has an exclusive rendering of the car and with that look, it does appear to be a sleeker and smaller Impreza though Subaru claims that it will not be marketed as an Impreza variant or replacement.

I wonder why Subaru’s calling it the Takumi Concept. If it’s a reference to that lead guy in that hit anime series, Initial D, I’d say this is a cheap way for Subaru to get some buzz on their latest attempt in redeeming themselves from making the Impreza WRX STi look that way.

Anyway, the Takumi Concept is supposed to be an improvement on the Impreza WRX STi. Known for their tradition in making cars sideways in the WRC, well, we could trust that Subaru knows what they’re doing.

They’ve taken the STi and slapped on some new suspension components including new springs, dampers and stiffened suspension arms. They’ve also improved on the brakes, engine and the AWD system. The car sits on 18-inch aluminum wheels. Not much details were leaked though.

Outside, the Takumi doesn’t offer much changes to the STi’s body. Changes include a black front lip and rar spoiler in contrast to its shiny white body. Inside, the Concept gets a new shift knob and race-y Recaro seats.

Source: Inside Line

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is designed to be pushed to the limits. As the road-going version of the rally car, many a driver would try and take this car to the edge and back during track days (or during daily drives for some maniacs out there). And the car can handle it, especially with all the electronic doohickeys slapped on it.

Too bad, now it needs a bit of tweaking to address a combustion issue that comes up when the car’s engine is revved past the 6,700 RPM redline and this is likely to happen when constantly pressing the pedal to the metal. Abnormal combustion (over lean air-fuel mixture) would occur that may result in engine damage. The issue was discovered by Subaru during a quality review.

To fix it, Subaru has to tweak the engine control unit (ECU). The fix will improve the combustion management above red-line speed and will not affect the other system controls. Owners will receive a notice from Subaru and can have their cars serviced for free.

Now, I wonder how many time you’d be going over the red-line anyway. Isn’t there a reason for that red-line – meaning that you can blow your engine going over it. Or is this a case of “you can still push it past the warning light though we just don’t tell everyone”?

Source: Subaru of America

I’ve always been a Subaru fan and I’m just hoping that they redeem themselves after . After a long time of trying to reconcile my fanboy whims over the reality that the new Impreza does indeed suck (compared to my ever-hated Evo). And probably that’s why they’re reconfiguring their models to deal with the Mitsu infestation.

They will be marketing the Impreza GT and the Impreza WRX. The Impreza GT, which will get a 224 hp and an automatic tranny, will be aimed at Mitsu’s poorman’s Evo – the Lancer Ralliart. But what’s the real deal with all of this is the WRX – the 2.5L turbocharged boxer engine will get boosted for 41 more horses and upgraded suspension. Perhaps a desperate move to make the WRX just more palatable.

Still, I’m not seeing Subaru winning the fight against Mitsubishi this round. Both the Evo variants and quite possibly, the Lancer Ralliart offers just so much for these Impreza variants to take head on. Still, die-hard Subie fans will be delighted. As for me, I’m a realist.

Source: Autoblog

I really get excited when news about the Toyota-Subaru RWD coupe comes up. And as fast as Internet buzz goes, we have supposed spy shots of a test mule. I know they’re really pushing for the project but I never did think that a test mule was readily in order.

With the shape of this car, it’s a bit of a stretch to think of it as a resurrection of the famed AE86/Corolla GT but if you start thinking hard, you may be able to make the connection if you take into consideration the current look of the Corolla. It does have shades of being a burlier Subaru legacy but since most of it is still under wraps, it’s pretty hard to tell.

The car still looks Frankenstein’s monster-y but so far, I think I like what I’m seeing. It would probably attract those into rice rockets. with the car having undeniable Japanese car looks but it is shaping to be a sportier and burlier car.

Inside Line has been gracious to share more information about the Toyota- Subaru tie-up on the rumored replacement to a line of Toyota RWDs (one of which would be the Corolla GT/AE 86). But you have to ask about the branding impact and direction this project is taking. Will it really be a Toyota – Subaru thing?

So far, the car is shaping up to be an Impreza that would go through Toyota’s process. The platform will be Subie. The engine will be Subie. The transmission will be Subie. And don’t those gold rims scream Impreza at yoy? So why not just get a WRX STi and slap on a Toyota badge? Not that it would matter since both companies will offer their own stylings on the car.

Uhm, okay. So the Impreza is a 4WD car and this one will definitely be a RWD. A slight modification on the powertrain will be done to accomplish that. A joint effort will be put into creating a modified version of the 2.0L boxer engine for it to generate 220 hps at 6,500 rpm.

The car is slated to be debuted in 2011 and will be priced at sub-$20,000. Still, it’s a tie-up between two of my favorite automakers. I might just have to save up for one. And I have 3 years to do it.

Nissan and Toyota seem to be duking it out in producing cars targeted at the same market. Just last month, an interesting take on whether or not the Lexus LF-A (Toyota’s first proper sports car) was pulled out of testing around the Nurburgring for improvements so that it wouldn’t pale in comparison to what Nissan has done and accomplished with the GT-R.

While the LF-A is still undergoing improvements, the GT-R is now achieving sales success. This battle of the Japanese supercars have still yet to start. But what’s this? Are the two companies set to pit every car they now develop against each other?

Late last year, there was buzz going around that Nissan will be resurrecting their street racer classic – the 240SX (which shares the same platform with the Japanese Silvia). This was after the Toyota-Subaru tie-up to build an entry-level FR sports car which was initially reported as the replacement for the drifting classic Corolla GT (Trueno Sprinter and Levin AE86 in Japan). It now seems that Nissan will really be putting the pressure on Toyota as they expect the Silvia resurrection to be released earlier that the Toyota-Subaru car.

Source: 7Tune

Yey! Another Subaru WRX STi video. Anyway, after talking to another Subaru fan friend of mine. We sort of agreed that we liked the sporty four-door-with-a-trunk look of the WRX STi and that the new hot-hatch look makes it appear less fierce and aggressive. But this video made me double-back on that take. And take note of the warning at the bottom of the vid. It just plainly means that stock STis are possibly not equipped enough to be this crazy.

Via Autoblog

This buzz/news has been around for months now, with initial rumors about the resurrection of the famed AE86/Corolla GT and the news of co-development between Subaru and Toyota. Now, when two of my favorite auto makers tie-up, I’ll definitely be watching out for developments and the latest is that they’re confirming it. 1) Toyota upped its stakes in Subaru’s parent company and 2) Subaru and Toyota will be developing a sports car.

And it would be back to basics – a stripped-down two-seater with RWD. And since we have two great automakers merging technologies here, expect to have some amazing stuff here. The Impreza will be used as basis for this car with the boxer engine as probably the core of this car as it will be using the WRX’s turbocharged 2.5-litre motor.

What I’m not too sure about is whether this one they’re building will be the one dubbed as the resurrected GT. But by the looks of it, this could be highly likely.

Oh man, this is surely interesting news. Imagine what these companies could to build economical cars with performance that can shame what their European and American counterparts. How about Daihatsu (partly owned by Toyota) kei cars being slapped on with Subie technology.

Source: Top Speed

I’m more of the Top Gear guy with all of their “Ambitious but Rubbish” stuff never failing to crack me up. But hey, we still have to wait quite a while before we get to see more of the blokes (save for the last bit they did for Sport Relief). Since it’s Fifth Gear that’s on air right now and with this latest bit featuring Tiff Needell with the Subaru WRX STi, it’s definitely worth the watch.

A few years ago, diesel engines were almost exclusively for SUVs and larger vehicles all because diesels were too sluggish for cars. But developments have made it possible for cars to sport diesel engines and have the same zippy performance provided by gasoline. Probably the stop-gap solution for the rising gas prices. Diesel is cheaper and gives just a bit more mileage perfect for those who think hybrids aren’t too fun.

BMW and Mercedes are some of the manufacturers that have went into the development of zippy diesel engines which they’ve put into their lines and to good effect. Here we have Subaru launching their own line of diesel-powered cars.

Geneva will serve as the stage for Subaru’s release of the Legacy and Outback diesels. Powered by the new 2.0L CRD Boxer Engine that produces 147 horses and pulls 258 lb-ft of torque. And refinements have made sure that emissions will pass Euro 4 standards with 148 g/km of CO2.

No real improvements on the Legacy and the Outback save for the engines and the D (for diesel) badge.

Source: RevMods

I hate it with what Subaru has been doing with their cars. Presenting us with teasers and leaked images like we’d be all pissing in our pants when we finally get to see the real picture. They already pissed me off with how they handled the revelation of the Impreza WRC STi a few months ago. And now with the Forester. It’s not like it’s something really iconic like the Impreza.

The 2009 Subaru Forester will be making its official debut next month in the Detroit Motor Show and what we have here is the release of the official image. And with this incarnation, the Forester gets an all new design and platform to give it a new “bolder” and more “SUV-like” design to compete with the emerging crossover market.

The Forester is powered by a line of turbocharged/intercooled 2.5L Boxer engines. No word yet on more numbers but these would definitely be available as the motor show looms.

Source: Subaru

Read the headline and weep. So Subaru doesn’t really experiment much when it comes to their cars in terms of how they put power to the ground. Most of the cars they produce (with the exception of the “kei” cars) come with AWD and 4 cylinder engines. However, with the market preferring to get more miles to the gallon than performance, Subaru may be in a bind.

Reports in the Go Auto News (via Automotive) raised the possibility that Subaru can be dropping AWD to simpler and more fuel-economic options. While this report is confined to Subaru of Australia, there just might be the same discussion going on in the US.

This green drive has really revolutionized the way automakers are approaching. And with oil reaching $100 to the barrel, fuel economy can just supersede everything else.

Oh just please let the WRX STi in its AWD glory. I can’t really imagine the STi charging using only two of its wheels.

Okay, okay. So I am an Impreza junkie. So what?

Beams, if you haven’t heard of it, is a Japanese clothing brand that has been around for more than quarter of a century. With Subaru not being alien to tie-ups, well, tied-up with Beams to bring us this cutesy Impreza. Hah!

I bet this will be a subject of ridicule by the likes of Clarkson et al. With a gleaming orange paint job plus matching stitches in the interior, Subaru says that it’s “a car that makes you feel happy.”

I’m happy with the WRX STi. I’m happy with the Impreza hatch. I’m not so sure with this one though. But if it’s all in the spirit of Japanese trendsetting, sure. Tokyo will be seeing it on the stands later this month.

After weeks of getting teased by Subaru, they’ve finally had the common sense of showing us the new Subaru Impreza WRX STi in its full glory. Not just the shady silhouettes that they’ve shown use but in broad (day)light.

It definitely takes after the Subaru WRC Concept. The hatch, the widened front fenders, the imposing mug… One difference is the missing large rear wing. Still, it looks rally-worthy as it is. It really looks great but for some reason, I’m liking the old one’s looks. The old one just seems to be more aggressive. This may yet to just grow on me.

Here are some more pictures. The larger mug, a shot outdoors and the spiffy interior.

Damnit, Subaru! Why not unveil the damn thing already!!!

While I am excited with the debut of the Impreza WRX STi at the Tokyo, I am quite annoyed at how Subaru is playing us with their incremental release of teaser shots, which are being released at a rate of one a week. So do we have to expect to get one until Tokyo later this month? How about some panty shots while you’re at it?

Okay, let me calm down. The latest photo features a good bird’s eye view vantage point. As always, the picture’s too dark to get a good look at the beast. So here’s the picture with the levels adjusted (Sorry for some pixelation).

Source: Subaru

Another teaser image of the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi has been released giving us two good looks of this dark, brooding monster. It’s nice for Subaru to give us some looks before it is finally unveiled on October 24.

The latest teaser shows us a good look at the rear end of this thing. The large roof wing (not a rear wing since this one’s a hatch) and four exhaust tips makes it look a lot more aggressive. The fenders have been flared just a bit more lending to its iron-fisted look.

So far, I’m liking it a lot more than the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X which has been the Impreza’s competitor in the rally-car-for-the-road market.

It may not look like the Impreza of old, but I damn sure I’m liking it.

Just the type of news that will get me all excited. The demise of the Toyota MR2 production probably left fans of Toyota-made sports cars (like me) saddened. But the news of the Toyota-Subaru team-up in producing an entry-level sports car made me all excited. I am, indeed, a big fan of both Japanese car makers.

Latest on this bit is that the development is clearly well on its way. A test mule is spotted on a test course near Toyota’s headquarters in Japan. So far, there are only a few details to go around with. The chassis is said to be based on the Subaru Legacy platform which is said to still be changed to a shortened Impreza 15S platform later in the development. It currently sports a 2.0L SOHC flat-four engine and will sport 4-wheel drive. The car will most probably boast of aggressive performance fitted in a lightweight body. Those details alone makes me anticipate for more developments as the partnership alone is a dream come true for me.

While being made by two Japanese automakers. Report has it that the main target for this machine is Europe.

Source: 7tune