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2017 Subaru Impreza starts at $19,215 and comes with a five-speed manual

Subaru released pricing for the all-new 2017 Impreza sedan and hatchback, which were unveiled at this year's New York Auto Show. With the $820 destination and delivery fee, the 2.0i Impreza sedan with a five-speed manual starts at $19,215 (the CVT is an extra $1,000 on both body styles) while the hatchback costs $19,715 – $500 extra regardless of trim. Both the four- and five-door Imprezas represent a price increase of about $100 over the previous model. The range-topping Limited trims, though, are an additional $1,500 from the previous year. The Impreza sedan and hatchback are available in four different trims including 2.0i, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Sport, and 2.0i Limited. The 2017 Impreza rides on Subaru's new Global Platform, a modular platform that will underpin all of the automaker's future vehicles. Besides the new platform, the new Impreza gets a host of standard features, which include: a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, power windows, power door locks, and a tilt and telescoping steering column. Subaru's faithful Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system returns, as does the 2.0-liter Boxer engine. The motor, though, produces 152 horsepower, up from 148 horsepower, thanks to direct injection and other unnamed enhancements. With the release of the Impreza's pricing, Subaru also confirmed a five-speed manual transmission will be offered on the base 2.0i models, as well as the 2.0i Sport trims. The 2.0i Premium and top-of-the-line 2.0i Limited models only come with a CVT. The 2.0i Sport trim, which sounds like the most enthusiast-oriented option, adds sportier suspension tuning, Active Torque Vectoring, and 18-inch wheels. The 2.0i Limited trims, while carrying a substantial increase over last year's model, are much more opulent with LED headlights, a leather-trimmed interior with contrast stitching, automatic climate control, and an optional Harman/Kardon audio system. The 2.0i Sedan with the CVT is the most fuel-efficient model with an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Those figures are a one-mile per gallon increase over the previous 2.0i model. Imprezas with a CVT will be available later this year, while vehicles with the five-speed manual transmission will go on sale early next year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Subaru Impreza Pricing Subaru Car Buying Hatchback Sedan pricing

Subaru parent company celebrates 60th birthday

Fuji Heavy Industries, parent company of Subaru, celebrated its 60th anniversary on June 15. And while the company is largely known in the automotive world for its innovative all-wheel-drive cars, its history stretches far back before the days of symmetrical all-wheel drive, World Rally Blue and gold wheels.
FHI was founded, much like Germany's BMW, as an aircraft company. It went through a series of names before settling on its current title in 1953. And while its aerial successes were never quite as famous as Mitsubishi and its Zero, FHI did fly Japan's first jet-powered trainer. The same year, 1958 to be exact, it unveiled the iconic Subaru 360 minicar. While the 360 never quite caught on in the US (at least not with the fervor of the similarly laid-out Volkswagen Beetle), the small, affordable and simple Subie had a wide-ranging appeal across the island of Japan.
The rear-drive, rear-engined 360 was eventually joined by the 1000, Subaru's first front-engine, front-wheel-drive car. More importantly, the 1000 ushered in Subaru's use of a horizontally opposed engine. The Subaru Leone, which arrived in 1971, expanded on the 1000, by offering a combination we're all familiar with nowadays - all-wheel drive with a flat-four engine.

Subaru Legacy Concept has us getting our hopes up

It happens all the time. We get excited about a really attractive Subaru concept, and then the production car comes out and, well, "disappointed" isn't a strong enough word. (Compare that hot Impreza concept to the final production car.) So while we're hopeful that this new Legacy concept previews something sleek for Subaru, allow us to be fully on record as not getting our hopes up.
Anyway, let's talk about how good this car looks. From the front, comparisons to the Buick Regal GS are warranted, but from all other angles, it has a very four-door coupe-like shape. The concept rides on 21-inch wheels with bulging wheel arches that Subaru says hints at the car's all-wheel-drive system (standard Subaru fare, BRZ aside).
As for what exactly this concept previews, the safe guess is, of course, the next-generation Legacy midsize sedan. And while we'll keep our fingers crossed for a sweet-looking production sedan to come out of Fuji Heavy in the near future, it's safe to say we're still skeptical.