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Subaru updates EyeSight system with color-detecting cameras

Subaru is giving its EyeSight driver assistance camera system a major upgrade for the 2015 model year with new color cameras, as well as reducing its size by 15 percent over the rather bulky original system.
Subaru locates its EyeSight hardware inside the vehicle at the top of the windshield, which is unlike most other camera-based systems that have their hardware mounted somewhere in the front fascia. The benefit is that these rather expensive components are protected from any detritus that may hit the car, but the original system's size ate up a chunk of the driver's outward view. Thus, the shrinkage should be appreciated by new owners.
The upgraded stereo cameras have a 40-percent longer and wider detection range than the original system's cameras, and their ability to see color allows the system to recognize brake lights at a speed differential of 30 miles per hour, instead of 19 mph before. And as before, EyeSight continues to offer adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and pre-collision breaking that can slow the car automatically if an imminent accident is detected, even bringing the vehicle to a complete stop.

Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires | Subarus in South America

I'm writing this at 1:00 AM on Tuesday from my hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I've had maybe three hours of sleep since I woke up on Sunday morning. As the locals say, estoy agotado. But I'm also stoked. Because later today, I'll be in Patagonia. Holy crap. As senior producer Chris McGraw explains in the video above, getting to Patagonia is no easy task. We flew from Detroit to Atlanta (two hours), and then Atlanta to Buenos Aires (ten hours). Rather than continuing right away, we met up with the rest of our group of automotive journalists and Subaru reps, explored the city a little, and had a lovely dinner. It's funny, neither Chris or I have seen a single Subaru on the trip just yet, but that'll all change tomorrow when we meet our fleet of Crosstreks, Foresters, and Outbacks in El Calafate. I'm really excited to share this whole experience with you, day by day. Be sure to follow along on social media – Chris and I will be posting to Autoblog's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels. We'll have some bonus stuff on our personal accounts (@stevenewing and @thequikdraw), too. Subaru Crossover Off-Road Vehicles Videos patagonia autoblog in patagonia

Toyota FT-86 Open Concept leaves us feeling flushed

When last we checked in on our topless would-be hero, the Toyota FT-86 convertible had been reportedly placed on "indefinite hold." That was back in early October, not long after Toyota had trotted out the rear-wheel-drive canvasback to Scion dealers as a possible future product carrot if they decided not to turn in their franchises. And yet, we're here at the Tokyo Motor Show, where Toyota has taken the time to at least repaint the FT-86 Open Concept in "Flash Red," if not build a whole other car (the original Geneva showcar was white). It's enough to make our heads spin like a teenager on the verge of a breakup. Will they? Won't they?
At this point, we still don't know any more than you do - the last word we heard out of Toyota was not encouraging, although the story was that the program could still be fast-tracked if management had a change of heart. As the car has never been seen before in Japan, perhaps Toyota is merely extending its domestic audience a courtesy view before it lines this showcar in mothballs, or maybe they're still trying to make a decision on its fate and gauging public reaction on the homefront.
Interestingly, in a new story published today, Automotive News quotes Subaru brand boss Yasuyuki Yoshinaga downplaying the likelihood of a production model, saying flatly "We make the car, so if we don't make it, it can't happen." The executive went on to note, "Our engineering department told me that losing the entire roof requires a complete redesign of the structure. It would need a big change." Given that such a car would probably trade in rather small volumes, that sounds like a significant hurtle.