2021 Subaru Outback Limited on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Evo shakes down Subaru WRX STI on Swedish tarmac

The Subaru WRX STI has never let anyone question its intentions. With a gaping hood scoop up front, massive rear wing at the back and often found with gold wheels spinning all four corners at the ground, there was never anything subtle about this Subaru. The latest 2015 version is made up of many new parts, but the formula certainly hasn't changed. Evo's Henry Catchpole aims to find if it all still jives together on some misty, Swedish backroads in a new video.
Surprisingly, the movie eschews Evo's standard shtick of big, smoky powerslides in favor of a legitimate review of the new STI. However, this isn't Consumer Reports. As the screenshot above implies, Catchpole isn't afraid to chuck the car around a little and put two wheels off the road all in the name of testing the severe sedan's limits. He just puts an equal amount of focus into how it actually drives.
Autoblog's Steven J. Ewing fell in love with the Subie when he did our First Drive. Does Catchpole concur? Scroll down to watch the STI snaking through Sweden and find out.

Subaru WRX STI S207 limited to 400 units in Japan only

Japanese Subaru fans are getting quite a treat in time for Halloween. The brand is unveiling the WRX STI S207 edition at the Tokyo Motor Show. Unfortunately for brand devotees elsewhere, the market-exclusive, high-performance model is limited to just 400 units there. For such a small run of cars, the folks at Subaru Tecnica International are adding quite a bit to take the STI's performance to new heights. Among the upgrades, the 2.0-liter, turbocharged boxer now makes 323 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque – a healthy jump compared to 305 hp and 290 lb-ft from the 2.5-liter engine in the US-market version. Beyond the extra power, the sedan also wears a load of parts to improve chassis stiffness and a DampMatic II adjustable front suspension from Bilstein. Styling sees some slight tweaks with a red-outlined mesh grille, chin spoiler, 19-inch BBS wheels, and a redesigned rear bumper. Inside, the front passengers are held tight in leather-trimmed Recaro seats. If the 400 units aren't exclusive enough, Subaru technically breaks the S207 into three special editions. A planned run of 200 units will feature the NBR Challenge Package that's inspired by the company's class victory in the 2015 Nurburgring 24 Hours. It adds a carbon fiber rear spoiler, black wheels, red seatbelts, and an Ultrasuede-covered steering wheel. A hundred of those are the NBR Challenge Package Yellow Edition that come exclusively in Sunrise Yellow with black-painted door mirrors and side sills. Depending on the version, prices before Japan's consumption tax would be between $46,050 and $48,950 at current exchange rates. Related Video: STI Releases "S207" Limited-Edition "WRX STI" in Japan October 28, 2015 Tokyo, October 28, 2015 – Subaru Tecnica International (STI),*1 the motorsports division of Fuji Heavy Industries, will launch a limited-edition model based on the "WRX STI" on December 1, 2015. Just 400 units of the model, dubbed the "S207", will be available. Taking the WRX STI as its base, this complete car from STI features exclusive engine and suspension tuning as well as distinctive interior and exterior design. Embracing the STI concept of offering the ultimate in road driving, the S207 stands at the pinnacle of the STI complete car lineup and aims to be the world's most enjoyable vehicle, providing a feel-good experience to all those who travel in it regardless of road conditions and enhancing driver skill. Special engine tuning boosts maximum power output to 328 PS.

Autoblog's ultimate holiday rides

Over the hills and through the woods, it's the time of year when many of us visit family and friends for the holidays. But getting there can be a chore. It's cold and snowy across much of the United States, and even if the climate is favorable, the drive to grandmother's house often is not. Think back to holiday road trips of yore: They probably included crying babies, antsy children, hungover adults and frequent bathrooms stops all around. Now, we're all at different life stages here at Autoblog, and the perfect car for one staffer might be as useful as a team of Budweiser Clydesdales to another. Some of us bounce from family event to family event with children and a labrador in tow, while others prefer a quieter, simpler holiday. But whatever the endeavor, we all need wheels. With that in mind, here is the unofficial Autoblog list of the ultimate cars in which to tackle the holiday season. 2015 Ferrari FF To borrow a chestnut from Top Gear presenter James May, "As you'd expect, I've done this properly." That oddly voluptuous ruby bolide in the photo above? It's a 2015 Ferrari FF – all 652 all-wheel-driven horsepower of it. What makes a Ferrari the ideal for holiday time in PaukertLand? My Midwestern winter breaks are wonderful, but they're typically frenetic and slushy, involving a lot of schlepping from house to house and even city to city, not to mention inevitable last-minute runs for forgotten presents and dinner ingredients. Needless to say, a powerful V12 is a welcome ally for such duties. And this one isn't just a friend when the road is clear. The FF has been gifted Ferrari's novel 4RM AWD system, and despite sitting lower to the ground than, say, an SUV, it's a pretty effective tool for real winter driving, especially when outfitted with a set of snow tires. Unlike other Ferraris, it's also a rather practical thing, with legitimate seating for four adults and 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space – that's precisely as much room as a Mercedes E-Class – and you can fold the rear chairs and cram 28.2 cubes-worth of holiday cheer in the back. Okay, so it's far from cheap and fuel economy isn't that great, but who cares? Just drop a paddle-shifted gear or two, bury the throttle and Repeat The Sounding Joy. Ain't the holidays grand? – Chris Paukert Executive Editor 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe My Mom gives out more presents than any other human being I've ever encountered.