Subaru to Unveil Custom-Made Impreza WRX STI for Rally Champ, Travis Pastrana at Chicago Show

At this week's Chicago Auto Show that runs from February 13 to 22 at the McCormick Place, Subaru will reveal a one-off customized version of the Impreza WRX STI designed to commemorate its factory rally driver Travis Pastrana's third consecutive Rally America National Championship. The Japanese automaker worked with Vermont SportsCar, builder of the team's rally car, to create the brilliant yellow "199" liveried WRX STI that has been enhanced with an array of Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) and STI parts, along with unique custom pieces.

To improve the car's handling, Subaru fitted the Impreza WRX STI with an SPT front strut tower brace, SPT lower chassis brace, and BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S 275/35 ZR18 tires on Work Evolution XD-9 18-inch alloys in custom satin black. Under its custom-made carbon fiber hood, Pastrana's WRX STI is equipped with a number of modifications including a performance-tuned ECU and custom Down Pipe that promise to add a few more ponies to the 2.5-liter intercooled turbo Boxer engine that delivers 305-horsepower in stock form.

On the outside, apart from the yellow finish and the graphics, the Pastrana's WRX STI gains a carbon fiber hood and rear wing, a sport mesh grille, STI front chin spoiler, exhaust finishers and a set of PIAA 2100 HID driving lights and rally-spec mud flaps.

Inside, the custom blue Alcantara interior upholstery is accented with Pastrana's traditional yellow piping and "199 Pastrana" embroidered logos in yellow thread that matches the vehicle's exterior. Yellow stitching is also used to accent the steering wheel, shifter boot and parking brake handle boot. Other additions include an STI short-throw shifter, carbon fiber patterned interior trims, a rally map light, co-driver foot rest, a high-end audio system with Kicker amplifiers and speakers as well as an Xbox 360 mounted under the front passenger seat.

Subaru UK Celebrates 15 Years of Impreza Turbo by Pricing WRX at 1994 Levels

In celebration of 15 years since the introduction of the first turbocharged Impreza, the Turbo 2000, Subaru UK is rolling back prices of the new Impreza WRX to exactly the same level as the first car in 1994. More specifically, Subaru has reduced the price of the recently facelifted Impreza WRX, which comes with a 230-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four boxer engine, by a hefty £2,100 to £17,998.

Lawrence Good, Managing Director, Subaru (UK) Ltd commented: "This is the last opportunity for Subaru WRX fans to buy into the latest, best Impreza WRX Turbo model – at a price they were 15 years ago! It is one of our best dealer offers in our history – ideal in these lean times. The Impreza has evolved a great deal over the years, yet has always offered a brilliant blend of practicality and performance – unrivalled by any of its competitors – while retaining its essential character as a fun, motorsport-honed, interesting, exciting daily driver with many unique charms. We shall miss the WRX Turbo when it is gone."

Subaru Legacy Concept Revealed at Detroit Show - 29 High-Res Photos

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Legacy, Subaru unveiled the "Legacy Concept" at the 2009 North American International Show, essentially previewing the next-generation model that will arrive in showrooms early next year. Though the concept car has definitely more "presence" that the current Legacy, it seems as if Subaru's designers randomly added lines and arches to the saloon in a desperate attempt to make it look dramatic and somewhat different from the opposition. Bottom line, our opinion is that this is a design you'd expect from a Chinese manufacturer and not an established automaker like Subaru.

Inside, the Legacy Concept's cabin features a four-seat layout and is distinguished by a high-tech look that is achieved by a mix of touch-screens, cameras and modern surface coverings.

The concept model is powered by Subaru's 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine that's combined with the firm's Symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Next year's production version will of course be available with a broader line-up that will include in Europe Subaru's boxer-diesel engine.

Specifications:

Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 188.8 x 71.7 x 59.0 inches

Wheelbase: 108.3 inches

Engine: 3.6-liter six-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed engine

Tire size: 225/45R19

Occupancy: Four persons

2010 Subaru Legacy Rendering Based on Official Concept

At next month's 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Subaru will take the covers off the Legacy Concept that essentially previews the shape and styling of the next generation Legacy sedan and station models which are due to arrive in late 2009 and early 2010 in some markets including the U.S.A. Along with the official NAIAS announcement, Subaru issued a teaser picture of the concept revealing the mid-size sedan's front-end styling. The crew over at Japan's Best Car magazine took this photo and created a rendering of what the production version of the 2010 Legacy Sports Tourer (station-wagon) may look like when it is unveiled in 2009.

Even though we've yet to see the concept in full form, we reckon that Best Car's artist impression gives us a pretty accurate view of the 2010 Legacy Sports Tourer, especially in what concerns the car's fascia.

Via: Best Car - Thanks for the scan Jim!

Subaru to Unveil Legacy Concept at 2009 Detroit Show

Well it looks like Subaru won't be giving us a glimpse of its highly anticipated Toyota co-developed RWD compact coupe the Detroit auto show in January. Instead, the Japanese carmaker will perform the global debut of the Legacy Concept that showcases the styling direction of the next generation Legacy sedan that is expected to arrive in U.S. dealerships in the first quarter of 2010.

The teaser image doesn't tell us much other than that the Legacy Concept will boast a more aggressively styled front fascia and flared wheel arches. As for the interior, Subaru claims that "it embodies modern, high-tech architecture while delivering a comfortable environment for occupants". Subaru Spartan press release also informs us that the concept car will be powered by a 3.6-liter Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine and that it will feature the firm's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

Breaking: Subaru Withdraws from World Rally Championship

It's a sad day for rally fans like ourselves today as Subaru has announced its decision to withdraw from the World Rally Championship at the end of the year because of the financial crisis. "This sudden decision was made in response to the widespread economic downturn that is affecting the entire automotive industry," Subaru said in a statement. The announcement comes only a day after Suzuki said that it won't compete in the 2009 WRC for the same exact reasons.

The Prodrive-run Subaru team was one of the biggest players in the WRC the past two decades during which it won six World Rally Championship titles. Commenting on Subaru's decision, Prodrive chairman, David Richards, said: "Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons. 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."

Subaru to Present New Concept Car at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

At a time when many carmakers are pulling out of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) due to the economic crisis, Subaru has not only confirmed that it will be present in Detroit this January, but also that it will stage the world debut of a concept vehicle. As we speak, we have no official information concerning the type of car that Subaru is preparing to unveil at Detroit's Cobo Centre. However, we wouldn't be surprised at all if the Japanese automaker presented a concept version of its forthcoming rear-wheel-drive compact coupe that is being developed in collaboration with Toyota and is scheduled for a 2010 /2011 market launch. We'll keep a close eye on this story and will pass any information on as soon as we come across it.

Subaru will showcase the following vehicles at NAIAS:

• Legacy 2.5i Limited 4AT-S
  
• Legacy OUTBACK 2.5i Special Edition MT5
  
• Legacy 3.0R Limited 5AT-S
  

• Impreza 2008 WRC Replica Vehicle
  
• Impreza 2.5i 4-Door Premium 4AT-S
  
• Impreza WRX 4-Door Premium MT5
  
• Impreza WRX STI 5-Door MT6 - Silver BBS Wheels
  

• Tribeca 7-Passenger Special Edition
  

• Forester 2.5X Premium with AWP MT5
  
• Forester 2.5XT Limited with NAVI

• Feature Reveal Concept Vehicle

New Subaru Dex: Badge-Engineering At its Worst

If it looks like a Toyota bB and a Daihatsu COO (marketed as the Materia in Europe) that is because the new Subaru Dex is in fact the same vehicle. Sure Subie's designers slapped on a Tribeca-sized grille and a couple of logos here and there, but other than that, there's nothing 'Subaru' about the Dex. We never liked badge-engineering and seeing the Dex it's not hard to understand why.

The compact-size hatchback goes on sale only in Japan with a 1.3-liter (non-boxer of course) 4-cylinder engine that's offered exclusively with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Buyers will be able to choose between FWD and AWD versions. Prices in Japan start from 1,438,500 Yen which comes to around $15,000 U.S. with the current exchange rates.