2010 Subaru Impreza Wrx Premium Wagon 4-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

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Factory Five's Subaru WRX-based 818 kit now on sale [w/video]

The Subaru WRX has always needed a dash more style, and the do-it-yourself carmakers at Factory Five are looking to accomplish a lot more than that with their new mid-engine, rear-wheel drive 818. The sports car started with a contest in 2011 to create the shape for the company's next vehicle, while sticking within certain limits. A designer named Nouphone Bansasi had his entry chosen, and first cars were completed last year.
The 818 is named after its target weight of 818 kilograms (1,803 pounds), and it's offered in two forms. The S starts at $9,990 and is meant for street use, with two seats and a basic interior. The R model for $10,990 is more track-focused and features a tiny windshield and full roll cage. The company claims that complete cars can be built for around $15,000, after factoring in the donor Subaru. Performance is very brisk, with acceleration to 60 miles per hour in under four seconds, according to Motor Authority.
The kits are meant to be something that even a relative novice could put together. All the builder needs to provide is a 2002-2007 Impreza or WRX. The car donates its turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, transmission, axles, brakes, steering and other major components. Factory Five supplies the spaceframe, body, suspension, lights, windshield and some interior trim. It doesn't even need paint, thanks to its gel-coated fiberglass body panels. The company also offers a laundry list of options, including carbon fiber aero components, upgraded suspension parts, improved brakes and more. Kits can be ordered in either left- or right-hand drive.

Is your new-car warranty good at the race track?

We've all heard the horror stories. Your buddy knows a girl that was dating a guy whose best friend's brother once broke his brand-new, recently purchased performance car while making runs at a drag strip or laps at a track day, and the manufacturer wouldn't cover the repair under warranty. True story? Urban legend? Complete crap? Yes, no, maybe. One thing's for sure: Automotive warranties have always come with caveats. In 1908, an ad in the Trenton Evening Times clearly stated: "All Ford Cars Guaranteed for One Year." Although it changed over time, by 1925 the Ford New Car Guarantee only covered 90 days on material and 30 days on labor, and it clearly stated that that there was "No guarantee whatever on Fan Belts, Glass, Bulbs, Wiring, Transmission, Bands, Hose Connections, Commutator Shells, Rollers, Spark Plugs or Gaskets." Whether or not Ol' Henry would pay to fix your Model T if you broke it shaving a tenth off your lap time at the local board track seems to be lost to history. We're guessing no. But what about today? Do new-car warranties in 2017 cover cars when they are driven on race tracks? We researched the warranties of 14 auto brands to find out, and the answer is yes, no, maybe, depending on the brand, in some cases the model, and whether or not your car is modified from stock. Acura has been out of the high-performance car game for a number of years, but jumps back into the party in 2017 with its hybrid-powered $173,000 NSX supercar. And Acura's warranty, as well as Honda's, clearly states that it does not cover "the use of the vehicle in competition or racing events." View 33 Photos So we asked Sage Marie, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Honda and Acura. "If the car is stock, the warranty covers it on a track just as it does on the street. No question," he told us. "However, if the car is modified, say with slick tires or other components that would put higher stresses on the vehicle's parts and systems, then we would have to investigate the circumstances further." Marie went on to say the same would be true for any Acura model or Honda vehicle, including the new 2017 Honda Civic Si. This became a common theme. Chevrolet actually started this practice with the fifth-generation Camaro on the high-performance ZL1 and Z/28 models.

Subaru confirms it's found a new HQ location in Camden, NJ

Subaru is packing up shop and making a big move, announcing that it will be relocating its Cherry Hill, NJ headquarters. Is the company pulling a Toyota and moving across the country, or perhaps following the example set by Cadillac and relocating to a major metropolis? Nope. The all-wheel-drive aficionados are going just four miles down the road, to Camden, NJ. We suppose that is one way to celebrate all of the company's sales successes. The move hasn't been confirmed through the New Jersey government just yet – it needs to be approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority – but if it gets the green light, it will see the company relocate to a new, 250,000-square-foot facility that's twice the size of its current headquarters. The land the company will be developing on is currently owned by Campbell Soup Company. Provided the NJEDA approves the plan, Subaru will work things out with its developers, and is hoping to be up and running at the new facility by 2016 or early 2017. Take a look below for the company's announcement. December 5, 2014 SUBARU OF AMERICA CONFIRMS APPLICATION FOR NEW HQ LOCATION IN CAMDEN, N.J. Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. has confirmed that it has identified the preferred location of its new corporate headquarters as an all-new development in Camden, N.J. The new site is approximately four miles from the company's current location in Cherry Hill, N.J. The confirmation comes as Subaru celebrates six successive annual sales records and the new building is planned to bring on to one campus various functions of the company including Sales, Marketing, Service and Administration that are presently housed across three separate sites in southern New Jersey. The new site is adjacent to the Campbell Gateway District and is currently owned by Campbell Soup Company. Subaru of America will house more than 500 employees and contractors in the new facility that at 250,000 square feet will be double the size of the current HQ building. Subaru of America's application is now subject to New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) approval, followed by negotiations with the developer Brandywine Realty Trust and then a concluding internal cost approval process. Final decision is expected by April 2015 and subject to this approval, Subaru plans to complete the project by fourth quarter, 2016 or early 2017.