SUBARU

Subaru Signs MoU to Manufacture Compact SUV in Malaysia 

Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Tan Chong Group for the local production of an unnamed compact SUV in Malaysia. The only compact SUV in Subaru’s current range is the Forester, though the vehicle in question may be the upcoming Impreza-based crossover that was previewed by the XV Concept (pictured above) at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in China this past April.
The Japanese automaker said an initial assembly of 5,000 vehicles per year will begin in October 2012 at an existing production facility of Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd (TCMA). The vehicles will be sold in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia through the Tan Chong Group’s Subaru network.
FHI established a partnership with Tan Chong Group in 1987 when the latter was appointed the Subaru distributor in Singapore. The Tan Chong Group has since expanded the sales and distribution network of Subaru vehicles across ASEAN countries that now include Cambodia, Southern China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Mark Higgins to Race Subaru Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 Against Supercars at Pageant of Power 

Subaru will take on a wide array of supercars including the Ariel Atom V8, Lamborghini LP570-4 Performante, McLaren MP4-12C and Noble M600 at this month’s Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, which is billed as “the UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed”. The Japanese company will compete in the race with its limited-edition Cosworth Impreza STI CS400, driven by none other than Mark Higgins, the former British Rally Champion who recently set the production road car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit in an Impreza WRX STI
Subaru says Higgins will not only try to win the race but also beat the 62.68 second lap record on the 1.2-mile course set last year by a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570-4.
“The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power is a perfect platform for us to showcase this collaborative effort from two of the big names in automotive performance – Subaru and Cosworth,” said Subaru UK Marketing Director, Kenyon Neads. “The circuit record will be tough to match, but we’re confident that the CS400 will take the fight to the supercar elite.”
The limited-run Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 was presented in the summer of 2010. It comes equipped with a modified 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine delivering 400 ponies and completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in just 3.7-seconds, 1.5 seconds faster than the standard 300HP WRX STI.
Other changes over the stock WRX STI include a lowered and tweaked suspension, more powerful brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance tires and some minor aero upgrades.
The 2011 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will take place at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire UK from July 15 to 17.

Subaru in the Midst of Saudi Women Driving Uproar 

Last month, a 32-year old woman named Manal al-Sharif was arrested in Saudi Arabia for committing the crimes of… driving and posting a video on Youtube urging other women to drive too. This is strictly forbidden by the Wahhabi sect of Suni Islam which is Saudi Arabia’s religion, as women are not allowed to apply for a driver’s license or mix with men (e.g. in service or gas stations) or even leave the home without male company.
Even though al-Sharif was released 10 days later, her arrest resulted in a group of women named "Saudi women for Driving" to campaign in favor of lifting the ban on women’s driving in the Kingdom.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has publicly supported the group who defied the royal family’s regime by driving in Saudi Arabian streets on June 17.
Now the group is putting pressure on Subaru and its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, to leave the country until the prohibition is lifted. The Japanese company was selected because it is considered progressive and has marketed its products to women. It is also quite possible that the group’s next targets will be Cadillac and Hyundai, the two brands of cars driven by al-Sharif.
Fuji Industries and Subaru spokesman, Kenta Matsumoto, commented that the company’s Saudi Arabia dealer’s “haven’t received information of any campaigns. We only have dealers, not factories, in the country and our annual sales are limited to 300-400 units”. 

Mazda6 and Subaru Tribeca to be Axed, According to Report from Japan 

Mazda and Subaru may soon be forced to axe two of their models in the US market, the Mazda6 mid-size vehicle and the Subaru Tribeca SUV, due to low volumes that undermine the efficiency of the U.S. plants that they are built in, according to a newspaper report from Japan’s business daily Nikkan Kogyo. It should be noted though that spokesmen for both companies declined to comment on the report. Nikkan Kogyo wrote that Mazda is planning to discontinue production of the Mazda6 at the Flat Rock, Michigan plant, which it operates as a joint venture together with Ford Motor Co., as sales missed expectations. When Mazda introduce the latest generation of the mid-size model in 2008, the company expected an annual production of around 100,000 units, but last year, the plant churned out just 45,168 Mazda6s. In April, Mazda6 posted an increase of 7.8 percent but sales reached just 2,734 vehicles.
But being that the mid size segment is an important category, the report says that Mazda is mulling other options including the introduction of another model or build a similar vehicle at a lower cost factory in Mexico.
As for the Tribeca, which has been in production since 2005 at Subaru’s Indiana plant, the Japanese newspaper said the company has stopped the development of a new version and plans to use the increased capacity to build the better selling Outback and Legacy. This year through April, Subaru sold just 910 examples of the SUV model. 

Toyota Confirms 2.0-liter Boxer Engine, Six-Speed Gearboxes and LSD for 2012 FT-86 

In keeping enthusiasts on their toes, Toyota’s European division came out with a new release today on its upcoming FT-86 sports coupe. The Japanese automaker confirmed that the production version will go on sale in 2012 with power coming from by Subaru's new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine fitted with Toyota's D-4S technology. The latter consists of direct injection combined with port injection. We still don’t get any output numbers although Toyota says the D4-S technology “results in increased horsepower and torque without sacrificing fuel consumption and environmental performance.” Subaru's latest 2.0-liter horizontally opposed gasoline engine, which is offered on the all-new Impreza, develops 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) of torque, but in the case of the FT-86, output is expected to increase significantly.
Unlike the Impreza's 5-speed or CVT gearboxes, the Toyota FT-86 will be offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission. “The manual will offer quick and precise shifts with a short-throw, while the automatic transmission will feature sporty shifts controlled by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifts,” said Toyota.
In addition, the RWD coupe will also get a limited-slip differential. Toyota says the front-engined, rear-wheel drive platform will “offer the driver confident stability and maneuverability, while still being quick and nimble into and out of any corner”. Toyota added that the car's compact dimensions, lightweight design and low center of gravity will ensure “an intrinsic joy of driving”.
Toyota will sell the FT-86 coupe (the final name has not yet been confirmed) under its own badge in Europe and Japan, while North America will get a Scion-badged variant as previewed by the FR-S Concept at last week’s New York Auto Show. Subaru's version of the car will be technically identical but will feature distinct styling.

All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza Brings Smaller Engine with less Horsepower but Promises for 36 MPG 

 

The New York auto show hosts the world premiere of the fourth generation Subaru Impreza, showcased in both 4-door and 5-door body styles. Developed under the Subaru’s concept of “Redefining Value, Redefining Class”, the new Impreza is allegedly more fuel-efficient and fun to drive, while offerings better interior space, despite having the same exterior dimensions as the outgoing model. The wheelbase has been enlarged by 25 mm, the bottom end of the A-pillar has been extended 200 mm toward the front and the door structure has been redesigned, with all these changes resulting in increased shoulder and elbow space, extra foot room for the rear passengers and an improved field of vision for the driver. Naturally, cargo space is larger in the sedan with Subaru claiming that it can transport four golf bags, while the hatchback can accommodate three.
Mechanically, the base U.S. models feature Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and the third generation 2.0-liter boxer engine, mated either to a 5-speed manual, either to the new Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission.
Rated at 148 horsepower (22 less than the outgoing model’s 2.5-liter unit) and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm) of torque, the smaller engine achieved a preliminary in-house fuel consumption rating of 36 mpg (6.5 liters/100 km), a record for a U.S.-market AWD production car. This is also due to the vehicle's low weight (1,320 kg/2,910 lbs), the optimized aerodynamics and the standard low-rolling resistance tires.
Subaru says the exterior design follows the “Smart & Classy” concept, with the result being an elegant but somewhat understated look. The car's styling highlights include the hexagon grille with spread wings in the center, “hawk eye” headlights and bulged wheel arches, with the latter being a reference to all-wheel drive capability.
The new Impreza's interior appears to be inspired by German cars, with ergonomically placed controls and a classic setup. The three-spoke steering wheel and the round speedometer and rev counter add a hint of sportiness, but nothing to get excited about. Subaru didn't offer any details on pricing and launch dates.

Subaru XV Concept is a High-Riding Impreza Crossover 

We’re going to see both the four- and five-door versions of the all-new 2012 Impreza at the New York Auto Show this week, but at the Shanghai motor show, Subaru lifted the wraps off a concept version of the hatchback model in a crossover guise. Named the XV Concept, the study essentially offers us our first glimpse at the successor of the North American market Impreza Outback Sport as well as the Impreza XV that is offered in Japan. The lime-green XV Concept combines Subaru’s all-wheel drive system with a jacked up suspension and an array of SUV-like styling cues. The five-door model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,620 mm in height sporting a 2,635mm long wheelbase. It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine linked to a CVT.
Exterior highlights include a protective armor of plastic add-ons around the wheel arches, side sills and on the lower part of the front and rear bumpers, along with large roof rails and splats of metallic trim here and there. The five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/45 ZR19 tires complete the look.
As for the interior, the XV Concept gets a two-tone color theme with white leather seats and black plastics elsewhere. There’s also a panoramic glass roof that extends from the front windscreen all the way to the rear, while Subaru fitted the XV with a futuristic touch-panel multi-information display in the center console. 

ISIS AM01 is a Subaru STI-Powered Coachbuilt Sports Car 

This odd-looking creation is the AM01 and it’s the work of a Dutch company named Isis Cars that is led by Anton van Nunen and Max Alting Siberg. In an even stranger twist, the AM01 is based on another coachbuilt sports car from the Netherlands called the Saker. Underneath the composite body shell lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine sourced from a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The four-cylinder unit churns out 275HP and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), with power being transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.
Given that the AM01 weighs just 850kg or 1,874 pounds, it shouldn’t come to a surprise that the Dutch sports car manages to return a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h (162mph).
What may come as a surprise though is the asking price that is set at €120,000, which comes to around US$174,000 at the current exchange rates.
The Dutch builder said that it is also readying a second model called the AM02, which will be powered by a 400HP 3.0-liter engine of an unknown origin and priced at around €140,000 (US$203,000).

All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza: First Official Photo of the Production Version of the LA Show Concept 

 

At last year’s LA Auto Show, Subaru unveiled an impressive concept for the new Impreza hinting at the production model that would follow. Now it’s time for the Japanese company to give us our first glimpse of the all-new 2012 Impreza, which will receive its world premiere in both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback version at the 2011 New York International Auto Show (April 22- May 1). For now, all we get is a single view of the 2012 Impreza sedan’s side and the promise from Subaru that the new design will provide “a roomier interior and improved levels of comfort and refinement” with the company adding that it will deliver up to 36mph on the highway (equal to 6.5 lt/100km).
While the single photo does not allow us to pass a final judgment on the design, we must say that at least in what concerns the profile styling, the new Impreza looks like it has more in common with the Legacy than it does with the LA Show concept car. Check out the photos of both the concept and the production model in our gallery after the jump.

Power Boost and Standard Sat Nav for UK Market Subaru Impreza WRZ STI 

Subaru has a treat in store for its UK buyers as the Japanese company is offering its Impreza WRX STI with a power upgrade and a satellite navigation system as standard with no increase to the on-the-road price of £32,995, albeit for a limited period only. The 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine delivers 300 PS at 6,000 rpm and 407 Nm at 4,000 rpm in standard trim. The in-house power package, which of course is s covered by a Subaru UK warranty, raises output by 20-horsepower and peak torque by 43Nm for a total of 320HP and 450 Nm at a lower 3,400 rpm. Subaru says that with this upgrade the Impreza STI can accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in just 4.9 seconds.
In addition to the power kit, Subaru also offers a Pioneer navigation system with touch-screen capability, Bluetooth and iPod connection fitted as standard.
Subaru’s offer for the STI runs from April 1 until June 31 and is available on both the 4 and 5 door variants.