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Mazda MX-5 Miata goes Head 2 Head with Subaru BRZ

It's a battle that's been in the making for some time now: the Subaru BRZ versus the Mazda MX-5 Miata. And now that the new Miata has arrived – and in Club spec to boot – that's exactly what Motor Trend has lined up for its latest episode of Head 2 Head. Now before you go screaming that one's a coupe and the other a convertible, take a few commonalities into account. Roofs aside, both feature a 2.0-liter four mounted up front, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Both are made by Japanese automakers and cost around $25-30k, give or take. Both produce around the same amount of torque, and while the Subaru may be more powerful, the Mazda's considerably lighter. To create a more even contest, then, you'd have to line a BRZ up against a Scion FR-S, or the MX-5 against the upcoming Fiat version of the same. Of course, being that close on paper doesn't mean that it's a draw. One has to come out on top. And after taking both along country roads and the Streets of Willow racing circuit, our friends at MT have picked one over the other. You'll want to watch the 22-minute video above (or at least skip ahead to the end) to see which came out on top, but if you're as enthused by a purist driver's car as we are, you'll enjoy every minute of it. News Source: Motor Trend via YouTube Mazda Subaru Convertible Coupe Economy Cars Performance Videos motor trend mazda mx-5 head 2 head

Subaru recalls 200k vehicles in snowy states to reapply anti-corrosion wax

This past summer, Subaru issued a recall for some 660,000 of its vehicles over a problem stemming from salt from the road corroding brake lines. It was the second such recall the company had issued, and now it's issuing another. Under this latest recall, Subaru is bringing in 198,900 vehicles that were already covered under the previous recall to fix the same issue. This time around, the notice is issued for the 2008-11 Impreza, 2008-14 WRX and STI, and the 2009-13 Forester – specifically those registered (currently or formerly) in 20 states that use salt on their roads: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia. The remedy is the same as last time, coming down to applying a special anti-corrosion wax to prevent corrosion, but needs to be carried out again due to "incomplete repair instructions provided to dealers" last time around, according to the statement below from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. RECALL Subject : Brake Line Corrosion at Four-Way Connector Report Receipt Date: DEC 31, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V830000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Potential Number of Units Affected: 198,900 Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc. SUMMARY: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Impreza, 2008-2014 WRX and STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia that were remedied under recall 14V-311 prior to December 23, 2014. The brake lines may experience brake line corrosion due to salt water splashing on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector. CONSEQUENCE: Brake fluid may leak due to the brake line corrosion and may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will apply an anti-corrosion wax to the four-way joint connector area of the brake line system, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.

Subaru Impreza Sport Hybrid launches in Japan

Subaru is adding the Impreza Sport Hybrid to its lineup, but it's exclusive to the Japanese market for the moment. The latest Impreza variant is rated at 48 miles per gallon on the Japanese testing cycle, and it joins the XV Crosstrek as the only hybrids in Subaru's lineup. The brand doesn't currently list overall horsepower or torque specs for the new model. However, given that they share a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, CVT, all-wheel drive, and battery packs mounted under the rear cargo floor, figures similar to the Crosstrek hybrid's 160 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque seem likely. Subaru's EyeSight system is standard on all models of the hybrid Impreza, and the tech is programmed to work with the adaptive cruise control to eke out the best fuel economy possible while driving. There are also some styling tweaks, including updates to the lower air dam, revised side sills, a roof spoiler, and LED taillights. Don't get too excited about parking an Impreza Sport Hybrid in your garage any time soon, though. Subaru of America's Jessica Tullman told Autoblog, "At this point, there are no plans to bring it here." The model goes on sale in Japan on July 10 with a starting price of the equivalent of about $18,900, before the country's consumption tax. A higher trim S model with an upgraded interior goes for around $19,900. Subaru Launches "Impreza Sport Hybrid" in Japan Tokyo, June 19, 2015 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, will launch an "Impreza Sport Hybrid" on July 10, 2015, through Subaru dealerships in Japan. The new Impreza Sport Hybrid is the second fun-to-drive hybrid from Subaru, following on from the Subaru XV Hybrid launched in 2013. The motor assist function offers smooth, linear acceleration, which is teamed with sharp, sporty handling to bring out the distinctive enjoyment of driving a hybrid model while achieving fuel economy of just 20.4 km/liter (JC08 mode).*1 Designed to make optimum use of the low center of gravity and superior weight balance that characterize Subaru's unique Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) layout, the electric motor and high-voltage batteries of the hybrid version are positioned for superb driveability. The hybrid model further enhances the appeal of the Impreza Sport lineup by embracing Subaru design values to achieve its own sporty, top-quality exterior look and a refined, up-to-the-minute interior style.