2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 Manual Caramel on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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.

Man posts dashcam video of epic crash over cliff

YouTube user TurboFoz uploaded dashboard camera footage Monday of a terrifying crash that occurred last year as he was driving the popular Angeles Crest Highway in California. Last January, TurboFoz was zipping through the San Gabriel Mountains in his 2004 Subaru Forester XT. The engine sound was so alluring, TurboFoz opened up his Forester in the tunnels that dot the scenic highway for the full effect. "As an auto enthusiast, when you have a nice relatively fast car with a loud exhaust you tend to like tunnels," he wrote. "They make your exhaust sound that much better, sort of like singing in the shower." What he didn't know was that the road curved sharply just outside of one of these tunnels. A bystander tried to wave him down, but TurboFoz wasn't sure why the man was signaling to him. It was only when he saw the angle of the road up ahead that he realized the man was trying to tell him to slow down. He applied the brakes, but it was too late. The Subaru slid across the road and tumbled off the cliff. He rolled several times before coming to rest on a large drainage pipe jutting from the steep mountainside. If it wasn't for that small ledge on the sheer cliff the accident could have been much worse. "It was the only horizontally level piece on an extremely steep sloped hill," he wrote. "Had I spun off a few feet before or after, I'd be dead. TurboFoz says driving too fast on an unfamiliar road cost him his beloved Subaru and almost his life. Luckily TurboFoz was unhurt, but unluckily his beloved Forester was a total loss. TurboFoz hopes he can save other enthusiasts from the same, or worse, fate. "This is a reminder to be safe, pay attention and KNOW THE ROAD before you try to have "fun" on it," he said. "I failed on all 3 of those accounts and it nearly cost me my life. I've more than learned my lesson and would hope some others do by my example." News Source: YouTube Subaru Driving Ownership Safety Autoblog Minute Videos

Buyers resent low inventories, prices over MSRP, study says

Vehicle inventory low, vehicle transaction prices high, customers fretting … welcome, J.D. Power, to the era of supply and demand. In a recently published survey from one of the auto industryÂ’s top analytical firms, findings show that customers' satisfaction with vehicle purchases in the United States this year has dipped for the first time in 10 years. The 2022 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study found that overall sales satisfaction has dropped to 786 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 789 in 2021. In that year, higher than expected trade-in values softened the effect of new vehicle price increases. But in 2022, on top of trade-in prices shrinking, many dealers elected to charge more than the ManufacturerÂ’s Suggested Retail Price, a factor that did not sit well with buyers. “When dealers charge more than MSRP, particularly with long-term loyal customers, they risk a potential long-term negative effect on customer advocacy and service business," said Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. Satisfaction among buyers who paid more than sticker price is 757, while satisfaction among those who paid the sticker price or less is 850, the Power report said. The lack of dealership inventory was also a customer irritant, J.D. Power found, a point that automakers and their dealers may want to consider. Many have maintained, or considered maintaining, a smaller inventory in the wake of the pandemic, keeping costs down and driving more customers toward factory orders. Regarding those consumers shopping for electric vehicles, the survey said that more than a third of them “failed to get instruction on EV charging before they left the dealership, which notably affects satisfaction.” Said Sutton, “Salespeople donÂ’t need to show gas-powered vehicle buyers how to fill their tank, but they do need to show EV buyers how to charge their vehicle.” There are positives to the Power conclusions, however, especially for Alfa Romeo dealers. The Italian brand ranked highest in customer satisfaction among premium brands with a score of 833, with Porsche a very close second (831) and Lexus (819) third. Alfa is on something of a roll these days, with its compact Tonale crossover due for release in the spring, and a new sports car in the works. Meanwhile, in PowerÂ’s “mainstream brand”” segment, Buick ranked first with a score of 825, followed by Dodge (816) and Subaru (804), all performing higher than the industry average.