2015 Subaru Forester 2.0xt Touring on 2040-cars

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2015 Subaru WRX STI photos hit the web early

Wing? Check. WR Blue? Yep. Gold wheels? Aw, yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the 2015 Subaru WRX STI, which has leaked out ahead of its Detroit Auto Show debut, courtesy of Mexican website Terra Autos.
We don't have any firm details to go on, but as we reported earlier, the STI is expected to use a turbocharged, 2.5-liter boxer four producing something like 300 to 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. (Note: The standard WRX uses a new, Forester-derived 2.0-liter engine.) Expect the usual host of STI fitments, including a more performance-oriented suspension tune and upgraded brakes, but don't expect a five-door variant - like the WRX, the STI will be a sedan-only affair.
Check out the leaked shots of the new STI in the gallery above, and stay tuned for all of the official details next week.

Subaru pulls on our heartstrings with father and daughter ad

Do you remember your first car? Was it a hand-me-down from your parents? While it wasn't actually my first car, my parents gifted me a 1990 Mercury Sable as a daily driver, considering that my own chosen car, a 1965 Karmann Ghia, wasn't exactly the most reliable steed in the world. And while I predictably disliked the new-to-me family car, looking back, it was perfect – reliable, safe and, perhaps most importantly for a 17-year-old, free. If it weren't for that car, simple things like going to school, interviewing for jobs and even going to see a movie with friends would have been a massive ordeal. I eventually traded that old Mercury in on the first new car I ever bought at a dealership, with my parents' blessing and, as you might have guessed, my dad's co-signature. While I know not everyone's automotive journey began this way, I'm certain that my story is not actually mine alone. That's why this new ad from Subaru pulls at so many heartstrings – a father cleans out his old Forester, finding keepsakes and nearly-forgotten memories along the way, as he prepares to pass it on to his 16-year-old daughter. Check out the video above, and feel free to share your own hand-me-down stories in Comments. News Source: Subaru via YouTube, Adweek Marketing/Advertising Subaru Ownership Crossover Videos first car

Subaru WRX hatchback back off the table

It's fair to see we're rather fond of the new Subaru WRX. That's not to say we don't have a number of issues with the budget sports sedan, though. Foremost among those complaints is that it's short exactly one door. Yes, the sedan-only WRX is just fine, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't missing the long-roofed, five-door model of years past. More pressing than our sentimentality, though, is the business case for a WRX wagon - half of the 2013 WRX and STI models sold had five doors. As a general rule, ignoring half of your former customers isn't the best strategy for long-term success. There was some hope, as recently as a few weeks ago, though, that Subaru would right this wrong and offer a real, five-door WRX. An Australian reporter managed to corner project manager Masuo Takatsu, who said strong interest from the US meant that the Subaru mothership was considering a WRX with a hatch rather than a trunk. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case, as Subaru USA is dashing any and all hope of a second body style. According to Motor Trend, the company's US arm reached out to Japan and, despite the statements made by Takatsu, confirmed that there were no plans for a WRX wagon. Sigh...