2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited Wagon 4-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

NHTSA, IIHS, and 20 automakers to make auto braking standard by 2022

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and virtually every automaker in the US domestic market have announced a pact to make automatic emergency braking standard by 2022. Here's the full rundown of companies involved: BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo (not to mention the brands that fall under each automaker's respective umbrella). Like we reported yesterday, AEB will be as ubiquitous in the future as traction and stability control are today. But the thing to note here is that this is not a governmental mandate. It's truly an agreement between automakers and the government, a fact that NHTSA claims will lead to widespread adoption three years sooner than a formal rule. That fact in itself should prevent up to 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. The agreement will come into effect in two waves. For the majority of vehicles on the road – those with gross vehicle weights below 8,500 pounds – AEB will need to be standard equipment by September 1, 2022. Vehicles between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have an extra three years to offer AEB. "It's an exciting time for vehicle safety. By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives," said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in an official statement. "It's a win for safety and a win for consumers." Read on for the official press release from NHTSA. Related Video: U.S. DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment of 20 automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.

Subaru Crosstrek gets a modest price increase for the 2021 model year

Subaru has published full pricing information for the 2021 Crosstrek, which gains a bigger, more powerful engine and a handful of visual modifications. It's slightly more expensive than the outgoing 2020 model. Buyers have four trim levels — base, Premium, Sport, and Limited — to choose from. Pricing for the entry-level model starts at $23,295 once a mandatory $1,050 destination charge enters the equation, a figure that represents a modest $100 increase over the cheapest 2020 model. This price gets you a relatively basic crossover powered by a 2.0-liter flat-four rated at 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. It spins the four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission; motorists who ask for two pedals will be charged $24,645. Subaru priced the Premium trim at $24,345 with a six-speed stick and $25,695 with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive and the base model's 2.0-liter flat-four come standard regardless of the transmission chosen. Stepping up to the Premium variant adds features like fog lights, body-colored door mirrors, a six-speaker sound system, a better infotainment system, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. New for 2021, the Sport trim benefits from a 2.5-liter flat-four that finally gives the Crosstrek the power it badly needed. Its output checks in at 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, yet it's nearly as efficient as the aforementioned 2.0-liter four. Priced at $27,690, the Sport model gains Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud drive modes, 17-inch alloy wheels, water-repellant upholstery, plus a handful of trim-specific accents inside and out. It's exclusively offered with the CVT; buyers who want a manual will need to forgo the bigger engine. Finally, the last rung on the Crosstrek hierarchy is occupied by the Limited model, which carries a base price of $29,045. It receives the same 2.5-liter as the Sport, but it boasts a longer roster of standard features including LED fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, plus additional driving aids like reverse automatic braking, high-beam assist, and blind spot detection with lane-change assist. Made in Japan, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek will begin arriving in American showrooms before the end of the summer. As of writing, nothing suggests the Impreza that the Crosstrek is based on will get the 2.5-liter four. Related Video:    

Chile is beautiful, and we drove there in a Subaru

For me, the most beautiful part of our recent Patagonia road trip was the two days spent inside the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. In terms of breathtaking vistas, this place has a ton. Everywhere you look, there's something beautiful to behold. And our merry band of Subarus had no trouble traversing the gravel, mountain roads that wind endlessly through the park. Because our trip to Patagonia was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we played hookey for a day and went finishing in one of Torres del Paine's many rivers. Sure, the Subarus got us there without issue, but the main focus of this day was trying to catch one of the huge salmon swimming upstream. We failed, but still, if you're into fishing, Torres del Paine offers bucket-list quality stuff. Above, you'll see more of our sights from Chile's most beautiful park. We'll have the rest of our Patagonia impressions coming in the not-too-distant future. Subaru Videos chile patagonia autoblog in patagonia