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Prodrive builds new Isle of Man Subaru for record attempt

Prodrive have released photos of their new weapon for the Isle of Man TT Course. The three-time British Rally Champion Mark Higgins has set a number of records driving a Subaru on the famed Manx course throughout the years, and this time Subaru Technica International and Higgins are teaming up with Prodrive. Prodrive are famous for building Subaru's rally cars in the past, from 1990 to 2008, so the joining of forces gives the Isle of Man TT car an extra helping of motorsport magic. These days, Prodrive is also known for rally-prepared Minis and for building Aston Martin racing cars. They've had their share in giving UK-specification customer cars more power as well, along with creating a one-off, Subaru-based P2 sportscar to showcase their engineering skills and close ties with the Japanese manufacturer. This year's motorcycle event takes place on the treacherous 37-mile circuit in the end of May and early June. Past years' record drives have been especially memorable, and Higgins has been at it since 2011, first dipping under 20 minutes with a 19-minute, 56.7-second run five years ago – besting Tony Pond's 1990 laptime by over two minutes. The latest time for Higgins is 19 minutes and 15 seconds, so it will be interesting to see if the new car does it in less than 19 minutes. Related Video: Featured Gallery Subaru Prodrive Isle of Man Motorsports Subaru Racing Vehicles isle of man tt mark higgins road racing

2017 Subaru Impreza makes a stand in the compact segment

If the 2016 Honda Civic was a revelation for the brand as a rebuke of the past couple of generations of their brand-and-butter compact, the 2017 Subaru Impreza appears to be on a parallel trajectory for the lauded all-weather performance brand. Unveiled Tuesday at the 2016 New York Auto Show, the 2017 Impreza brings in an all-new platform that is stiffer, sportier, and a much-needed improvement to stay competitive as the segment tightens up. The car features styling cues that are potentially the most attractive we've seen on a non-WRX model since the turn of the century. The car looks downright European in either sedan or hatchback form, stealing much of the thunder that the Mazda 3 and Civic had brought just a short time ago. Its lines are clean all around, the front and rear are largely without aerodynamic clutter, and much of that style is carried over to the interior that gets a much needed refresh. Gone are the overly utilitarian surfaces and buttons; a clear shift has been made to make the car seem on-par with class leaders like the Civic and Mazda 3, albeit with its own distinctive Subaru style. The dashboard seems just as straightforward as before, but packs the necessary technology to remain competitive in the segment. It seems that Subaru has listened to critiques of the outgoing Impreza, and sought out a way to continue the tradition of making AWD alternatives to the mainstream compacts, but this time without compromises on content. Up and down the four-trim model chain (2.0i, Premium, Sport, Limited), standard equipment is greatly improved. Even the standard 2.0i model will come with the necessary power features that anyone would expect, along with a much-needed 6.5" touchscreen interface that dual-boots with Android Auto and Apple Car Play - something that even the base trim Honda Civic LX does not have, and perhaps, that should put Honda on notice. In the very competitive compact segment, content is king. With standard equipment being on par with or exceeding the headlining Civic and Corolla, the added convenience of AWD is the cherry on top in places with cooler climates. Without major changes to the powertrain (slight power gains for the standard 2.0 H4 and an updated CVT), fuel economy perhaps remains to be the only caveat to the Impreza being a class-leading choice. With the current model rated at 28/37 compared to the Civic's 31/42, a slight improvement wouldn't be much in the grand scheme of things.

2018 Subaru Impreza price increase just $100

Subaru announced pricing on the 2018 Impreza sedan and five-door. The model was all-new for 2017, riding on a new platform with new sheetmetal and interior. Since there weren't any changes for 2018, prices only jumped by $100 over the 2017 model. As with nearly all Subarus, the 2018 Impreza comes with standard all-wheel drive and a flat-four engine. 2018 models will hit dealerships sometime this fall. The Impreza-based 2018 Subaru Crosstrek starts at just a few thousand more. The Impreza will be offered in 2.0i base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trim levels. All models come with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-four making 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through either a five-speed manual or a CVT. In an attempt to alleviate some complaints about CVTs, Subaru says pre-selected gear ratios will mimic a seven-speed automatic. The 2.0i base starts at $19,355 for the sedan and $19,855 for the hatchback. Standard equipment includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power windows, power locks, power door mirrors, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and carpeted floor mats. The CVT option is $1,000. The 2018 Impreza Premium starts at $22,155 for the sedan and $22,255 for the five-door and only comes equipped with a CVT. It builds on the 2.0i base model, adding automatic headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and the all-weather package with heated front seats, windshield, and exterior mirrors. Impreza Premium five-door models come with permanent roof rails. A moonroof and some driver assistance features like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert are available on the Premium. The Impreza Sport starts at $22,955 with a manual and $23,755 with a CVT, with the five-door starting at $23,455 and $24,255 respectively. Like the Premium, the Sport builds on the model below it. As the name implies, the Sport is intended to have a fun-to-drive demeanor. It gets stiffer suspension, active torque vectoring, 18-inch wheels, and an STI shifter on the five-speed model. It gets LED daytime running lights, a black grille, body-color rocker panels, and turn signal side mirrors. The sedan gets a rear spoiler while the five-door gets unique black trim. Inside, the Impreza Sport comes with black upholstery with red stitching. That same red color accents the steering wheel, shifter, instrument panel, and door trim. The trim also gets different gauges than the other models.