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Why I chose a Subaru WRX over a BRZ

It was early 2012, and I was ready to get a new car. Not just any car, but the car I had dreamed about for no less than a decade: the Subaru Impreza WRX. There was something about this car that always appealed to me, even before the WRX was sold stateside; originally it was the Impreza 2.5RS that caught my eye. What was so special about the WRX? Well, I loved the idea of having a small car with all-wheel drive and good power, all in a relatively affordable package. It was one car that could do it all. Oh, and that fresh rally blue paint and signature boxer rumble were easy on the eyes and ears. It was a long time coming. I was just about ready to place an order with my Subaru dealer. But wait. What's this? A new kid on the block. Subaru was releasing its long-time-coming, rear-wheel-drive sports car: the BRZ. I was enticed early on when it was announced that Toyota and Subaru would jointly develop a lightweight sports car, and my interest was piqued once I saw the beautiful FT-86 concept. Now I kind of had a tough choice. I still wanted the WRX, but also liked the idea of having a proper sports car with a low center of gravity and low weight. Very different cars, I know, but both offered the fun I craved. I didn't get to drive a BRZ, but I did sit in one and enjoyed the low seating position and crisp feel of the shifter. I could tell it was one car that would feel connected to the road, a true driver's car. After some deliberation and research, I ended up ordering the WRX, my original goal. Why? For one thing, the BRZ was so new that I couldn't get invoice pricing. Plus, with the winters here in Chicago, I really wanted AWD; I was pretty much tired of FWD, and didn't want to risk driving RWD in snowy/icy conditions. Further, the WRX provided usable back seats and plenty of cargo space in the hatchback version (which is the one I chose). To top it off, I loved the power I'd get with the WRX, even though it wouldn't handle quite like the low-slung BRZ. Long story short, it came down to what I mentioned earlier: one car that could do it all. The WRX is a jack of all trades. It offers a nice blend of performance and practicality. Do I have any regrets? Not at all. If my financial situation allowed for it, I would love to have an AWD daily driver and a RWD sports car for occasional use (either a BRZ, MX-5, or S2000), but since I could only afford one vehicle, the WRX was the right choice for me. I liked it so much, in fact, that I upgraded to a 2016 WRX.

Subaru celebrates 4-millionth vehicle built in Indiana

Subaru has produced its four-millionth vehicle at its Lafayette, Indiana factory. The Deep Indigo Blue 2014 Outback is pictured above, alongside the very first Subaru to leave the Lafayette facility, a first-generation Legacy. Formally known as Subaru of Indiana Automotive, SIA opened its doors in 1989 and currently produces the Outback, Forester and Tribeca for Subaru, in addition to the Toyota Camry.
The plant, which was originally a joint venture between Subaru and Isuzu, has produced nine different models for four different manufacturers over the years, and is getting ready to add a tenth as Impreza production will be coming to SIA. Subaru announced plans to move Impreza production to Indiana when it made a $400-million investment in the facility earlier this year. As production continues, the Lafayette Journal-Courier reports that SIA will produce another million units by the end of 2017.

2015 Subaru WRX to get CVT option?

The 2015 Subaru WRX will make its debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show next week - that much we know for sure. We'll have all of the official specs very soon, but it seems Jalopnik has stumbled upon an official-looking document that spells out some of the 'Rex's finer details, including the availability of a continuously variable transmission.
Now, before you throw your laptops and phones out the window, know this: a proper manual transmission will still be available. Do remember, the WRX has always had an automatic option, and the move to a CVT for the 2015 model isn't terribly surprising. According to the document, the new WRX will use a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four - a change from the 2.5-liter engine in the current car. Subaru also employs a 2.0T boxer engine in the Forester, where it's mated to a CVT. What's more, the Impreza on which the new WRX is based also uses a CVT in favor of a conventional automatic.
Jalopnik points out that the more hardcore WRX STI will use a 2.5-liter turbo-four, and will only be available with a manual transmission. Additionally, there will reportedly be a "launch edition" of the STI, painted in the car's signature WR Blue (fingers crossed for gold wheels!).