Latest Vehicle News 
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Subaru
The result of one of the most eagerly anticipated automotive collaborations in recent times is heading fast towards Subaru dealerships.
The Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 officially goes on sale in June, and is set to offer performance-car fans the thrill of a lifetime.
Subaru has confirmed the car will boast an impressive 400PS (395bhp) at 5,750rpm, sufficient to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 3.7 seconds (compared to 300PS / 296bhp at 6,000rpm, and 5.2 seconds for the standard Impreza WRX STI). This ensures the Cosworth-tuned car will be one of the most accelerative all-wheel-drive hatchbacks ever.
Subaru also reports that the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 will feature a bespoke brake package – with six-pot callipers and 355mm discs at the front – developed in partnership with AP Racing, giving the car prodigious stopping power.
Coventry-based AP Racing is a leading supplier of brake and clutch components to teams in the Formula One Championship and the World Rally Championship, as well as to leading supercar brands including Bugatti. A wide range of further upgrades have been made to the suspension, exhaust and to the donor Impreza’s exterior and interior styling.
An exclusive, limited edition run of 75 Cosworth Impreza STI CS400s will be produced, and full details of pricing and technical specification will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Register your interest in this amazing car at cosworthimpreza.co.uk -
Subaru
The clock is ticking for entrants in 2011’s Heart of England in Bloom competition – an initiative that recognises urban gardening projects that ‘clean up and green up’ local communities. Subaru is sponsoring the event for the second year running and will be supplying the judging panel with a number of All-Wheel-Drive Foresters, allowing them to take to the road in a quest to find this year’s finalists.
The judges will embark on a seven-area tour – encompassing Birmingham and the counties of Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire – during July and August in a pair of fuel-efficient Subaru Forester XS Nav Plus models. The panel will review a wide range of urban projects, which have involved thousands of people of all ages and from all walks of life working together to improve their local environments for the benefit of all.
The vehicles chosen for this year’s event feature Subaru’s trademark horizontally-opposed Boxer diesel engine, which emits 167 g/km of CO2, while returning a pump-dodging 625 miles between fill-ups. The judging panel will also have the added peace of mind that, should the going get tough, Subaru’s sure-footed permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system will aid them both on, and off, the beaten track.
Marketing Director of Subaru UK, Kenyon Neads, said: “The Heart of England in Bloom campaign is great for local communities and is an ideal fit for the Subaru brand. We’re proud to continue our support in 2011, and we’re certain the Foresters will prove invaluable for the judging panel. Most importantly, the Foresters will help the judges cover the miles in comfort – whether in town or in the most remote rural communities.”
The Heart of England in Bloom competition is a regional element of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom campaign, one of the largest horticultural campaigns in Europe. Britain in Bloom champions horticultural good practice, environmental responsibility and community participation.
Subaru’s Forester range starts at £21,375, on-the-road.
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Subaru
Subaru has confirmed its attendance at this summer’s Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, the UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed, where it will be showcasing the limited-edition Cosworth Impreza STI CS400.
The 400PS, Cosworth-tuned, turbocharged supercar-slayer will be piloted during the event by former British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins, who recently set the production road car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit in a Subaru WRX STI.
The All-Wheel Drive Impreza will be competing alongside a wide array of supercar exotica on the 1.2-mile track, including an Ariel Atom V8, Lamborghini LP570-4 Performante, McLaren MP4-12C and a Noble M600.
Over the course of the three-day Pageant, more than 50,000 visitors will witness Mark Higgins tackling the technical track, as he attempts to beat the 62.68 second lap record set last year by a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570-4.
In addition to seeing the 2.5-litre Boxer-engined Cosworth take on the challenging sprint course, there will also be a display of two Cosworth Impreza STI CS400s within the paddock where show-goers will be able to see the cars up close, and appreciate some of the detailing like the lightweight Pro-Race 18-inch alloy wheels, AP Racing six-pot brake callipers and Cosworth-branded interior.
Marketing Director of Subaru UK, Kenyon Neads, commented: “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. The circuit record will be tough to match, but we’re confident that the CS400 will take the fight to the supercar elite.”
The 2011 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will be open to the public from 15 to 17 July at Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas, Cheshire.
The limited-run Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 is currently available from all Subaru dealers from £49,995.
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Subaru
Subaru vehicles are among the safest on the road, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in America.
The insurance-industry-backed organisation, which conducted a series of stringent frontal, side, rear and rollover crash tests on a wide variety of vehicles, found that Subaru was the only manufacturer to score enough points to receive its ‘Top Safety Pick’ Award for every model it entered. In pulling off this remarkable crash test coup, the Japanese firm outperformed the likes of Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, Honda and Ford.
Only vehicles with roofs more than twice as strong as the current minimum standard and fitted with ESP (VDC in Subaru models), were considered for the tests. Previous studies conducted by the institute suggested that, compared with minimum-standard vehicles, cars with stronger roofs reduce the risk of serious and fatal injury in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 per cent.
“With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all four of the most common kinds of crashes,” said Institute President, Adrian Lund. “Consumers can use this list to zero-in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety. Cars and SUVs that win Top Safety Pick are designs that go far beyond minimum federal safety standards.”
Subaru’s five IIHS Top Safety Pick awards came in four different categories: the New Legacy and Outback were recognised in the Midsize Car group; the Impreza was named in the Small Car category; the Forester was awarded the prize in the Small SUV section; and Tribeca in the Midsize SUV class.
Prices for the New Legacy start at £23,295 for the 2.0D S, and range up to £27,295 for the 2.5i SE NavPlus Lineartronic. The New Outback is available in five different guises. The line-up starts with the £26,295 2.0-litre diesel SE and 2.5i SE petrol models, and is topped by the £33,295 petrol 3.6-litre R.
The Forester SUV costs from £19,115 for the base 2.0-litre X model and rises to £25,965 for the range-topping 2.0-litre D XSn. Impreza hatchbacks start at £12,730 for the entry level 1.5-litre R and rise to £30,350 for the 330PS 2.5-litre STI 330 S.
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Subaru
Subaru’s presence at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show will feature a number of technological and environmentally friendly innovations, including a revolutionary ‘Boxer’-hybrid concept vehicle and a pure-electric city car.
- Stunning Hybrid Tourer makes European debut
- STELLA EV charges in to Swiss motor show
- Unique ‘Boxer’ diesel technology on display
Subaru’s presence at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show will feature a number of technological and environmentally friendly innovations, including a revolutionary ‘Boxer’-hybrid concept vehicle and a pure-electric city car.
Featuring the world’s first ‘Boxer’-hybrid powerplant and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), the Hybrid Tourer Concept will make its European debut at the Swiss expo. The striking show car marries Subaru’s design DNA with an opulent and spacious cabin accessed through elongated gullwing-style doors, and an eye-catching, sculpted body.
The absence of B-pillars affords a heightened sense of light and space to the interior, providing occupants with a less obstructed view of the outside world. The swept-back panoramic windscreen and a height-adjustable dashboard afford the driver a similarly unhindered vantage point.
The innovative hybrid system uses Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed, direct-injection, turbocharged petrol ‘Boxer’ engine, allied to two electric motors – Subaru remains the only company to mate this engine layout to a hybrid drivetrain. The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries – a 10kW item at the front and a 20kW unit at the rear.
In normal driving conditions the direct-injection petrol engine is used, but at lower speeds and start-up, the rear electric motor drives the car. The forward electric unit, which is mainly used as a power generator, kicks in to assist performance and efficiency while tackling inclines. Subaru’s in-house designed Lineartronic automatic transmission is featured, further boosting fuel efficiency and driving performance.
STELLA EV
Continuing the ‘green’ theme, Subaru will be showcasing its Plug-in STELLA EV. The lithium-ion battery-powered, 90km-per-charge, 40kW, electric vehicle can be recharged up to 80 per cent of its capacity in about 15 minutes when using its quick charging system. Under normal circumstances the city car is fully rechargeable in five hours when using an AC240V power outlet.
‘BOXER’ DIESEL TECHNOLOGY
Visitors to the Japanese manufacturer’s stand will also be able to take in a number of ‘Boxer’-diesel model displays, highlighting Subaru’s unique Horizontally-Opposed engine technologies. Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback models are all currently available with the unique-to-Subaru 2.0-litre diesel engine configuration, which offers both improved fuel economy and a low centre of gravity.
With these exhibits and throughout the entire show stand design, Subaru will be showcasing its efforts to integrate enjoyable and reliable driving with environmentally friendly motoring solutions.
The company press conference, hosted by President Ikuo Mori, is scheduled to take place at the Subaru stand in Hall 2 on March 2nd, 2010 at 15.45h.
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Subaru
They’re unbeatable off road, sure-footed on treacherous terrain and great to look at...and that’s just the horses!
Subaru UK has announced the continuation of its vehicle sponsorship of UK show jumping and eventing, with the first competition of the season, Burnham Market International, scheduled to take place between 1 and 3 April.
The Japanese manufacturer will provide a number of its All-Wheel-Drive vehicles to competition judges and course officials. Event organiser, Alec Lochore, believes that the Subaru Outbacks are ideally suited to the job: “We need vehicles that can get around a muddy course quickly and reliably, while at the same time delivering a refined ride and offering a spacious interior for the officials’ assorted gear. Subarus tick all of the boxes.”
The Burnham Market International is one of the UK’s top eventing showdowns, with many of the sports superstars attending. For example, this year will see World Champion Zara Phillips, World Number One William Fox Pitt, and eventing legend Mark Todd all take to the saddle.
What’s more, somewhere in the region of 8,000 spectators are expected to turn up over the course of the three-day event. Not only will they be able to take in all the show jumping action, but there will also be over 40 exhibition stands and stalls on site, including a display of Subaru vehicles.
Subaru UK Marketing Director, Kenyon Neads, said: “The connection between Subaru and horse eventing is a logical and strong one. We make cars that are ideally suited to those who lead action-packed outdoor lifestyles, including horse owners and riders. We’re looking forward to an eventing summer packed with equine thrills.”
Burnham Market is situated just off the A149 near Burnham Deepdale, Norfolk. It will take place on 1-3 April. For more information, contact the event organisers on 08456 209 961.
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Subaru
Subaru claimed an impressive class win at the infamous 24 Hour Nürburgring race last weekend, setting a blistering pace and achieving unbeatable levels of reliability during what is arguably the most world’s toughest motor race.
The All-Wheel-Drive WRX STI tS, prepared by Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the firm’s in-house motorsport division, completed 142 laps (approx 2,953km) in 24 hours - 62.4km further than the car covered in the keenly-fought 2010 race. The WRX STI tS finished first in the SP3T class for sub-2.0-litre turbocharged vehicles, ahead of some notable race-proven machinery, including Team Raeder Mortorsport’s Audi TT S, Kissling Motorsport’s Opel Astra GTC and Michael Kraus’ Mitsubishi Lancer CTO.
Starting at 16.00hrs (local time) on Saturday 25 June in wet conditions, the car was driven around the famous race circuit by Toshihiro Yoshida, who has taken part in the Nürburgring 24-Hour race every year since 2008, and Kouta Sasaki, who competes in Japan’s Super GT series with a Subaru Legacy. Dutchman Carlo van Dam and Germany’s Marcel Engels completed the four-man team. Engels and van Dam both joined the Subaru team last year.
The Nürburgring 24-Hour is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most demanding races, combining both the Grand Prix circuit and the legendary Nordschleife course. One lap of the race is over 25km in length, with 170 corners and a 300m difference in elevation for drivers to contend with. The gruelling event attracted more than 210 entrants this year, including some of the best European touring cars.
Hideharu Tatsumi, General Manager of STI’s Vehicle Experiment Department and Team Manager for the 24-hour race, said: “As always, taking part in this race presents an enormous challenge, and our team has put in a mammoth effort to fight against some of the world’s best cars. In our third year of racing in the SP3T class, it’s clear that we have come a long way. Our success in 2011 stands as testament to the fundamental capability of the WRX STI, and that STI’s direction in creating cars is not wrong” Tatsumi continued.
Based on the standard Subaru WRX STI, the tS competition vehicle has been developed with a focus on weight-saving, improved aerodynamics and performance upgrades on its EJ20 turbo engine. The Nürburgring 24-Hour racer retained the standard model’s permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a setup that delivers unrivalled balance, stability and handling.
The WRX STI is currently available from all Subaru dealers from £32,995, with free satellite navigation and engine upgrade, taking the power output to 320PS.
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Subaru
Speaking in Car Magazine, Toyota's European Product Planning and Marketing Manager, Duncan McMath:
"But the modern flat-four engine is so indelibly linked with Subaru, how exactly will Toyota ensure that this thing feels like a Toyota? I think the high-performance Subaru DNA is about the grunt, about four-wheel drive and electronic systems, which means they tend to be quite heavy. This is a purer car and will feel quite different."
The main advantage of the flat four is it contributes to an incredibly low centre of gravity. "This unit is 110mm lower than a conventional inline engine would be, but the the top of it is all manifolding. The real weight is much lower than that." The Boxer engine is also significantly shorter, meaning that the weight distribution is close to 50:50 even with the gearbox located at the front rather than the rear."
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Subaru
The nation might still be shivering following the coldest December in 110 years, but there is one area of decidedly hot activity – Subaru’s official website, subaru.co.uk.
Last month, when Britain was consistently battered by record levels of snowfall, freezing temperatures and atrocious travelling conditions, the number of visitors to the site increased by 57 per cent compared to the same period in 2010, when visitor numbers hit a previous record high. On Monday 20th December, one of the worst days of the cold snap, hits on Subaru.co.uk rocketed by 135%.
Subaru UK Marketing Director, Kenyon Neads, commented: “For the second year in a row, we’ve seen a direct correlation between wintery chaos on UK roads and people looking to find out more about our sure-footed range. Growing numbers of people understand that in slippery and icy situations there is simply no substitute for our Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, and that’s why our website has been receiving so many hits.”
The Subaru range starts at £17,345 for the 1.5 RC Impreza hatchback and rises to £35,795 for the 3.6R Outback crossover. The new 300PS, 158mph* WRX STI costs £32,995 for both four and five-door models and the last few remaining 400PS Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 are priced at £49,995.
*Figure is for four-door model. Five-door models have a top speed of 155mph.
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SubaruUNCOMMON PERFORMANCE. UNCOMMON PRICE.
With the coming together of two of the biggest names in automotive performance, you could be part of one of the most eagerly awaited collaborations of recent years. The new limited edition Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 is an intoxicating blend of raw power, supreme poise and surprising practicality. With a limited run of just 75 models, this is your chance to own an exclusive part of history as only a few models now remain.
The Cosworth Impreza is not only unlike any other Impreza, it's unlike any other car. And it's now available for less than you think.
