2003 Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited on 2040-cars

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2015 Subaru Outback

"We like producing cars that are different." That's the company line trumpeted by several Subaru executives during the launch of the 2015 Outback - one of Fuji Heavy's most successful vehicles to date. Managing Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski accurately noted that while Subaru has never really found salvation with its mainstream sedans, it's the higher-riding, butcher offerings like the Outback and the Impreza-based XV Crosstrek that have been sales stars for the Japanese company. In 2013, for example, Subaru sold nearly three Outbacks for every Legacy it moved. And in 2014, the XV is on pace to outsell the Impreza upon which its based.
But Subarus have always been different, catering to unique customers that desire something a bit more special than your run-of-the-mill sedan or crossover. It's clearly worked, with Subaru having posted 30 months of year-over-year sales increases as of this writing. And even as the automaker's portfolio goes more mainstream, smoothing out its serially awkward styling and gunning for a larger market share here in the United States, that intrinsic Subaru differentiation is still baked in to each and every product.
It's that new Outback we're here to talk about today, a vehicle that's been comprehensively redesigned for the 2015 model year while not shaking up the formula that's made it successful since its inception in the mid-1990s, back when it (arguably) launched what we now know as the crossover utility vehicle segment. It's still plenty different - and plenty good, too.

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 prices limited edition Hyper Blue models

In the market for a new Subaru BRZ or WRX STI but aren't interested in World Rally Blue or any of the other shades on offer? Prefer your car look like a very loud, boxer-powered smurf? Then get in line for one of the limited-edition Hyper Blue models. We've covered these two before, but now, Subaru has released the pricing details on the rare models. All 500, manual-only Hyper Blue BRZs will be sold for $28,845, or just $655 more than the 2016 BRZ Limited 6MT. If you prefer more power and an extra set of doors, the 700 special-edition STI demands $39,790, which is $4,300 more than the base STI, but $1,000 less than the range-topping Limited model. In addition to their paint, the Hyper Blue models add black alloy wheels – 17-inchers for the BRZ and 18-inch BBS-branded hoops for the STI – black badges, and black wing mirrors. In the case of the BRZ, the cabin even gets Hyper Blue accents throughout the cabin, including contrast stitching on the seats, shift boot, and emergency brake handle. Read on for the full press release from Subaru detailing the pricing and equipment options. SUBARU ANNOUNCES PRICING ON LIMITED EDITION 2016 SERIES.HYPERBLUE BRZ AND WRX STI MODELS Production limited to 700 WRX STI & 500 BRZ BRZ receives upgraded SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia Rear Vision Camera now standard on BRZ Exclusive Hyper Blue exterior paint and interior trims Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. has announced pricing on 2016 Series.HyperBlue limited edition BRZ and WRX STI models. Production is limited to 700 WRX STI and 500 BRZ cars for the United States. Vehicles arrive in retail locations this fall. The $38,995 Series.HyperBlue WRX STI brings exclusive Hyper Blue stitching to the standard Alcantara® seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, manual transmission shifter boot, and console as well as carpeted floor mats with the traditional Cherry Red STI logo. The Series.HyperBlue WRX STI wears 18-inch BBS® Black Alloy wheels and black exterior badging as well as exterior mirrors. SUBARU STARLINK 7.0" Multimedia Navigation System comes standard on this trim with 9 Harman/Kardon® speakers and 440-watt amplifier. Powered by a 305-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged/intercooled BOXER engine, the WRX STI helped to pioneer the sport compact segment with a rally-bred drivetrain and Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.