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Everything we know about the Subaru BRZ STI

May 30, 2017: It seems an STI-tuned Subaru BRZ was even closer than we thought. Subaru posted to its official Twitter page a teaser image of the upcoming car. It's a shot of the trunk lid with a big STI logo on the endplates. If that weren't enough confirmation of the car, the tweet included the hashtag "#STI." The only other information given was the date of June 8, 2017, and the promise of more information. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. May 23, 2017: Spy shots reveal our first look at a new STI-tuned Subaru BRZ, and it will likely come to the US. The reason we say this is that the car was spotted near a Subaru office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We also know this is an STI badge because we can make out the distinctive logo underneath pieces of tape at the front and back. It features a huge wing that isn't found on any other BRZ, though the body kit appears to be the optional one available on regular models. There aren't any obvious signs of forced induction on the car either. No top-mounted intercooler scoops or front-mounted intercoolers are visible anywhere. We hope Subaru will give this car more power, but we're not optimistic, especially when the last STI-badged BRZ for Japan didn't get any power upgrades. April 1, 2015: Subaru reveals an amazing STI-tuned BRZ concept. Like the Subaru BRZ tS by STI, this STI Performance Concept has a huge rear wing, and subtle, functional-looking aerodynamic parts. Most importantly for BRZ fans, it also has a more powerful engine. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four used by the GT300-class race car. It makes about 300 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. However, Subaru said that it's unlikely a turbocharged model like this will come out soon. We expect that Subaru will first launch a tS-style BRZ in the near future, and possibly introduce a turbocharged BRZ variant with a new generation of the car. Subaru STI Performance Concept | 2015 NYIAS View 24 Photos April 19, 2013: Subaru announces the first STI-tuned BRZ, and it's not quite what we were hoping for. It's called the Subaru BRZ tS, and it has the same naturally aspirated engine, and thus, the same amount of horsepower. It's furnished with suspension upgrades, Brembo brakes, a front spoiler, and on the GT model, a big rear wing. Only 500 units will be made - and they're all for Japan. View 27 Photos

'Baby Driver' is a car chase movie set to music

The Fate of the Furious is certainly the 6,000-pound SUV in the garage of automotive movies, but that doesn't mean gearheads are starved for options. The upcoming film Baby Driver looks to be a winner for car guys, featuring exciting chases with cars including a "hawk-eye" Impreza WRX, a Dodge Challenger, and a 1980s Chevy Caprice. The movie is written and directed by Edgar Wright, whom you may know as the man behind movies such as Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And based on the two trailers released so far, seen above and below, it's about a young man by the name of Baby, who is a getaway driver for criminals. He's apparently the best in the business, and the secret to his success is the music he listens to while he's driving. He also wants out, but his boss, played by Kevin Spacey, has no intention of letting him go. Spacey is one of a number of major stars in the film, including Jamie Foxx and John Hamm. The driving action shown in the trailers definitely looks entertaining. The WRX is seen doing an array of drifts and J-turns. There is some driving precision on display here that wouldn't be out of place in a Gymkhana video. And it looks like Wright's attention to detail in his shots and transitions, as well as some solid comedy relief, are all going to be present. The film comes out this August. Related Video: News Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube via Road & TrackImage Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube TV/Movies Chevrolet Dodge Subaru Videos baby driver

If your TV rats you out, what about your car?

Vizio, the TV manufacturer, recently had to pay a $2.2-million fine to the FTC recently because it was discovered that its sets were collecting data about viewers' watching habits and then using the information for its own benefit. Last year, it was revealed the Samsung smart TVs were busy listening to what was being said, even if the conversations in question had absolutely nothing with switching the channel away from the Matt LeBlanc Top Gear. Nowadays, auto manufacturers seem to be tripping over each other pointing out that they offer Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. And more recent phenomenon are announcements—from companies including Ford and Hyundai—that they are offering Amazon Alexa capabilities. You talk. It listens. In late January, General Motors said it is releasing a next-generation infotainment software development kit (NGI SDK) to software developers to write apps for GM cars. The NGI SDK includes native Application Program Interfaces (APIs) that allow access to expected things - like oil life and tire pressure and whether lightbulbs are burned out - but unexpected things, as well. Like the presence of passengers in the vehicle. When your TV set is ratting you out, isn't it likely that your car will? In making the announcement of the NGI SDK, GM pointed out that it has the largest connected fleet on the road, some 12-million vehicles. The company also noted: "From 2015 to 2016, GM has seen data usage by customers increase nearly 200 percent. Mobile app use for GM vehicles also hit an all-time high in 2016, with more than 225 million interactions." Is it not plausible that they know more those interactions than simply the number of them? GM's privacy agreement is like most privacy policies, which boils down to: You use it (the device, software, etc.), you potentially give up a portion of your privacy. While on the subject of apps, coincident with this year's CES, Subaru announced that it has added eight cloud-based apps to the STARLINK multimedia system in the 2017 Impreza. Some are familiar, like Yelp. Some are a bit narrow in focus, like eBird, which was developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for birdwatchers. And one ought to give a bit of pause: RightTrack. According to Subaru, "RightTrack Test Drive from Liberty Mutual Insurance monitors driving habits and provides customers with tips on driving safer to help lower their insurance rates and improve their safe driving skills." Or said more simply: You drive. It watches.