2008 Subaru Impreza on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Autoblog's ultimate holiday rides

Over the hills and through the woods, it's the time of year when many of us visit family and friends for the holidays. But getting there can be a chore. It's cold and snowy across much of the United States, and even if the climate is favorable, the drive to grandmother's house often is not. Think back to holiday road trips of yore: They probably included crying babies, antsy children, hungover adults and frequent bathrooms stops all around. Now, we're all at different life stages here at Autoblog, and the perfect car for one staffer might be as useful as a team of Budweiser Clydesdales to another. Some of us bounce from family event to family event with children and a labrador in tow, while others prefer a quieter, simpler holiday. But whatever the endeavor, we all need wheels. With that in mind, here is the unofficial Autoblog list of the ultimate cars in which to tackle the holiday season. 2015 Ferrari FF To borrow a chestnut from Top Gear presenter James May, "As you'd expect, I've done this properly." That oddly voluptuous ruby bolide in the photo above? It's a 2015 Ferrari FF – all 652 all-wheel-driven horsepower of it. What makes a Ferrari the ideal for holiday time in PaukertLand? My Midwestern winter breaks are wonderful, but they're typically frenetic and slushy, involving a lot of schlepping from house to house and even city to city, not to mention inevitable last-minute runs for forgotten presents and dinner ingredients. Needless to say, a powerful V12 is a welcome ally for such duties. And this one isn't just a friend when the road is clear. The FF has been gifted Ferrari's novel 4RM AWD system, and despite sitting lower to the ground than, say, an SUV, it's a pretty effective tool for real winter driving, especially when outfitted with a set of snow tires. Unlike other Ferraris, it's also a rather practical thing, with legitimate seating for four adults and 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space – that's precisely as much room as a Mercedes E-Class – and you can fold the rear chairs and cram 28.2 cubes-worth of holiday cheer in the back. Okay, so it's far from cheap and fuel economy isn't that great, but who cares? Just drop a paddle-shifted gear or two, bury the throttle and Repeat The Sounding Joy. Ain't the holidays grand? – Chris Paukert Executive Editor 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe My Mom gives out more presents than any other human being I've ever encountered.

Toyota GT86 turbo, convertible, sedan variants back on the table

Okay Toyota, make up your mind. Figure it out. Quit playing games with our heart. Either build a bunch of variations of the excellent GT86 (also known as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ) or don't. At this point, we're just tired of the back and forth. After no shortage of denials, an Australian website is claiming that Toyota is reconsidering convertible, four-door, turbocharged and all-wheel-drive hybrid variants of the GT86. Kindly pass all the salt.
It's not that we don't want to believe the Aussies; we do. But when the story lists the same "sources in Japan" as a lot of the other denials and confirmations about GT86/BRZ/FR-S variants, well, there's a certain sense of the "Boy That Cried Wolf," here. Ignoring all that, then, what does Motoring.com.au claim to know?
Sources claim the GT86 Convertible will arrive in October 2014, while the turbocharged and hybrid sedans are slated for 2016.

Subaru prices 2015 XV Crosstrek from $21,595*

Less than a month ago, Subaru announced a series of minor revisions for its ruggedized Impreza, the XV Crosstrek. And now it's revealed US pricing for that updated model. For 2015, Subaru has introduced a new entry-level model, the XV Crosstrek 2.0i, that starts at $21,595 (*plus an $850 destination charge). That's $400 less than it used to charge for what was the base 2.0i Premium, which has grown $300 more expensive but includes a new multimedia system. (The destination charge has also increased by $25.) Go for the CVT instead of the five-speed manual that comes standard and you'll be looking at $23,295 for the Premium model, and step up to the top-of-the-line Limited trim (which comes with the CVT) and you'll shell out $24,795 – again, those prices not including delivery. The hybrid version holds the same pricing as the previous model year at $25,995 or $29,295, depending on trim (plus the new $850 destination charge). The EyeSight system that earned its place on our Technology of the Year shortlist, bundled with the multimedia system, adds another $1,295, the moonroof another $1,000, but if you tick all the options (moonroof, nav, keyless entry, push-button start and EyeSight) it all comes bundled at $2,795. Certain trim levels encompass some of those options though, so prospective buyers will want to thumb through the full press release below. SUBARU ANNOUNCES PRICING ON 2015 XV CROSSTREK® MODELS - Well- equipped XV Crosstrek begins at $21,595 - Subaru-developed driver assist technology, EyeSight® now available - XV Crosstrek Hybrid pricing holds the line at $25,995 - New multimedia systems with rear vision camera standard Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc., which has posted record-breaking sales every year for the past six years, today announced pricing on the enhanced 2015 XV Crosstrek models. The 2015 XV Crosstrek models will arrive into retailers in December. Pricing on the newly added XV Crosstrek 2.0i begins at $21,595. With just a $300 increase over previous year, the new Premium and Limited trim levels feature the updated Subaru STARLINK Multimedia system. The XV Crosstrek Hybrid pricing remains at $25,995. The versatile, fun-to-drive XV Crosstrek combines bold five-door design, a highly capable chassis, best-in-class fuel economy and updated multimedia features. Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, 8.7-inches of ground clearance, 17-inch alloy wheels and ample room make Subaru XV Crosstrek a high-capability crossover.