2001 Subaru Impreza Rs Coupe *one Of A Kind* on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Upcoming Subaru WRX STI rumored to get hybrid drivetrain

Subaru might electrify the next-gen WRX STI. According to a rumor from Motoring in Australia citing an unnamed Subie insider, the brand's engineers reportedly have two hybrid systems under development for the future model. The move would allow the STI to boost power output and improve fuel economy and lower emissions to keep up with US regulations. According to Motoring's speculation, the next STI might use an electric motor at the back to power the rear axle and an upgraded version of the FA20 turbocharged 2.0-liter at the front. A new dual-clutch six-speed gearbox would help the power get to the road, and the total system could allegedly offer around 322 horsepower versus 305 hp from the current US model. This rumor also claims the next-gen STI would continue as a sedan when it arrives in 2017. Like previous iterations, the four-door will share underpinnings with the Impreza, which will mean a move to Subaru's new modular platform. The standard hybrid might only be the beginning of electrification for the future STI. Motoring's source also claims the company has a plug-in hybrid variant under development, but it might not debut until the 2018 Tokyo Motor Show. A hybrid STI could be exciting, but until there are solid facts, this rumor joins a long history of powertrain speculation about the high-performance Subaru. In 2008 and 2010, reports emerged about a diesel version, but it never appeared. We once even heard that the current-gen WRX might boast an electric turbo.

Junkyard Gem: 1984 Subaru GL 4WD Wagon, Colorado Stereotypes Edition

I live in Denver, which means my local junkyards are well-stocked with used-up Subarus. These days, that means mostly Outbacks from the 1995-2005 period, but sufficient 1970s and 1980s Subarus remain in service that they show up from time to time. Here, in a Denver self-service yard, is a second-generation Leone wagon, from the era when this car was called just "the Subaru" in the American market. It appears that this car's final owner named it The Little D. Right next to the rag being used as a gas cap, a Yoda-ized Steal Your Face skull. This sticker from Incredible Extracts is easy to find in and on the cars in Denver-area wrecking yards. Someone made a pretty good Hunter S. Thompson stencil for the right-hand rear side glass. Neither of the two other members of the Male Hipster Holy Trinity (Kerouac and Bukowski) are to be found here, but then those two didn't live in Colorado. Anonymous is everywhere, even the junkyard. In 1984, the GL was the top trim level of the Subaru wagon, and the MSRP on this car was $8,168. That's about 19 grand in 2017 dollars. The going rate for a hooptie '84 GL wagon in 2017 is about $250. This car has manually-actuated four-wheel-drive, rather than the center-differential-equipped all-wheel-drive you'll get with your 21st-century Subaru. This meant that drivers were supposed to use front-wheel-drive on dry asphalt and four-wheel-drive on snow or dirt, but many didn't understand the concept and tore up their tires and/or powertrains by running 4WD at all times. These cars would get you to the slopes every time, and they'd do it cheaply enough for you to afford your preferred intoxicants once you got there. This car's 34 years on the road are done, but many of its kind remain. Related video:

Colorado bear locks itself inside of, destroys Subaru

A Colorado woman got a rude awakening this week when she discovered a black bear locked inside her car. According to 9NEWS, on the morning of July 12, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a bear trapped in a car on Cold Springs Gulch Road. When they arrived on the scene, deputies Tillman and McLaughlin discovered a medium-sized black bear locked inside a white, 2005 Subaru Outback. There was no damage apparent to the car's exterior, but the bear had absolutely destroyed the interior. "He looked like a dog inside the car just jumping back and forth from front to back," said Deputy Tillman. "He just demolished it." The car's owner, Annie Bruecker, told the deputies that she'd left the car parked in her driveway Monday night with the doors unlocked. On Tuesday morning, she woke up to her mother yelling about a bear in her car. "She screamed from downstairs," said Breucker. "She said, 'Annie, there's a bear in your car.' and I thought that she meant that it broke a window, and I was like, 'okay, that's life.' But, no, she actually meant that it was in my car." Deputies Tillman and McLaughlin deliberated for a while, trying to figure out how to extract the agitated bear from the Subaru. Eventually, they settled on manually opening the rear hatch. Deputy McLaughlin carefully opened the hatch while Deputy Tillman stood by with a shotgun ready, just in case. Thankfully, the bear had had enough of civilization and promptly bolted back into the forest. After they released the bear, the deputies warned campers at a nearby campground that the bear might be lurking about and that they should be cautious. "Bears are unpredictable," said Deputy Tillman. "And they're starting to realize how to do a lot of human activity." Recent Video: News Source: 9NEWS Humor Weird Car News Subaru colorado bear outback