2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Limited Sport Utility 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue Quick Spin

On its own, there's not much to "review" about the Subaru BRZ's new Series.HyperBlue trim. Limited to just 500 units, the coupe wears a new shade of blue, its 17-inch wheels and exterior badges are painted black, and inside, the HyperBlue color carries over to the accent stitching and logos on the seats. I love – no, love – this color. If you're a fan of the BRZ, like cool blues, and are thinking of picking up a 2016 model year example, this is the one to get. Plus, this car doesn't have all that bolted-on visual stuff from last year's Series.Blue. HyperBlue aside, it's the same BRZ it's always been. Yes, Subaru's updated Starlink infotainment system is now available, and there's a frameless rearview mirror inside the cabin. That's about it in terms of 2016 model year updates. But it's still worth revisiting. I've driven the BRZ at home in Detroit, and it's lovely. It's got a great chassis, it uses rear-wheel drive, and it's powerful enough to have lots of fun at legal speeds. (Seriously, why does everyone keep complaining about "only" 200 horsepower? That's plenty for this lightweight.) But until now, I've never had the chance to experience this coupe on a truly great road. So during a recent trip to southern California, I took a jaunt out to Angeles Crest Highway for a day of HyperBlue antics. On the right road, this car is even more charming than I remember. Driving Notes I think the reason why some people complain about a supposed lack of power is because they aren't driving it correctly. Peak horsepower arrives at 7,000 rpm, and the full 151 pound-feet of torque is delivered at 6,400 rpm. So for spirited driving, don't even bother revving below 3,500 rpm. No, it's not the best sounding engine (what naturally aspirated flat-four is?), but don't let the noise fool you. Keep the 2.0-liter boxer on boil, and you'll find salvation in this 200-hp mill. To me, the BRZ's steering feel is second only to the Mazda Miata. The car's lightness is accurately communicated through the wheel, but it's direct, nicely weighted, and never void of feedback. Combined with a firm, balanced chassis, you get a great sense of what all four wheels are doing at any given time. Grip level and weight distribution is easy to sense while cornering, making it easier to push the car harder and harder. The tail steps out a smidge, and you know exactly how much corrective input to give. I love a car that works so seamlessly with the driver.

UK designer to make WRX Concept-aping body kit for production Subaru

Remember the Subaru WRX Concept shown at the 2013 New York Auto Show, the one almost everyone loved but no one expected Subaru to make? Indeed, that Parnassian "design statement" led to a production design that came from a good middle class neighborhood known for its office parks and pasture land. UK designer Michael Bond is offering to change that, the man behind the yet-to-be-produced Rumbler "Superhero Utility Vehicle" touting the Subaru WRX Concept 13, which would take a customer's new WRX and turn it into something pretty close to the original concept.
That means new front and rear clips, including a redesigned rear diffuser to increase downforce, but a spoiler can be installed if the buyer decides that what he wants. The car won't be an exact replica of the NYIAS concept since that would infringe on Subaru's intellectual property, but it isn't clear yet how the design would be altered. Bond's site says that once he gets 50 confirmed orders, his team will order a WRX and begin the process of creating the new bodywork. It is claimed that once work begins, it will be four to six months to "[present] a completed model for public view."
Bond says the price will come down depending on the number of orders beyond 50, but doesn't give any indication of how much those first 50 cars could cost. If you're keen, though, head over to the site and fill out the enquiry form. Who knows if the Concept 13 will happen, but so far this is the best chance you have of getting what could have been.

2021 Subaru Ascent adds standard lane-centering, lane-keep assist, and adaptive headlights

The 2021 Subaru Ascent, the brand's three-row midsize SUV, adds lane-centering (which works in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control) and lane-keep assist to its standard-equipment list. Curve-adaptive headlights are newly standard on the base and Premium trims. With the additional equipment, the Ascent's starting price increases by $300. The new features join the existing EyeSight roster of active-safety features, which includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert remain optional on the base trim and standard elsewhere. Prices for each trim level are as follows: Base Ascent $32,295, an increase of $300 versus 2020. Ascent Premium $34,795, an increase of $400. Ascent Limited $39,595, an increase of $200. Ascent Touring $45,445, an increase of $400. (All prices are exclusive of destination charges.) As before, the Premium offers four option packages, and the Limited offers three, effectively making for 11 different levels of equipment. All Ascents come standard with three rows of seating. The base, Premium and Limited have a second-row bench and a total seating capacity of eight. The Touring seats seven with a second-row captain's chairs, which can be optioned on the Premium and Limited. The Ascent's sole powertrain is a 260-hp 2.4-liter boxer four paired with a CVT and all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is 21/27 mpg city/highway (20/26 mpg on models with the larger, 20" wheels). The Subaru Ascent competes against the Honda Pilot, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the Toyota Highlander, among many others. Related video: