2006 Subaru Impreza Wrx Sti on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Subaru previews Viziv Performance Concept and 2 tuned STIs for Tokyo

Subaru will be rolling deep at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show next month. The Japanese automaker has announced a number of different models that it will bring to the show, including three concepts, and limited editions of two different STI models. At the top of the list, teased above, is the Subaru Viziv Performance Concept. This car sounds like it could be a sneak preview of a next-generation WRX, as Subaru describes it as a sport sedan that combines "enjoyment and peace of mind." The very nature of the model encourages active engagement, but Viziv Performance uses Subaru's EyeSight tech to provide advanced driver assistance. The teaser images don't give us much else to go on, but we'll keep our ear to the ground in case Subaru drops any more information ahead of the show on Oct. 25. View 2 Photos Also coming to Tokyo will be to Japan-only limited edition versions of two STI models. The first is the Subaru S208, based on the WRX STI. A successor to the S207, the S208 is limited to just 450 units. It's quicker and more powerful than the S207, and features a carbon fiber roof to help lower the center of gravity. Engine output isn't given, but the S207 made 323 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. The S208 also has an upgraded suspension and exclusive interior and exterior styling upgrades. View 5 Photos The other special edition is the Subaru BRZ STI Sport. It doesn't get more power, but Subaru did work to improve ride and handling. The BRZ STI Sport has a stiffer body and a specially tuned suspension to improve dynamic performance. It also gets its own interior and exterior touches, and a special Cool Grey Khaki paint color. Like the S208, it will be available only through lottery, but will be even more exclusive, at just 100 units. View 4 Photos Subaru is bringing two yellow concepts to the show, the XV Fun Adventure Concept and the Impreza Future Sport Concept. The XV Fun Adventure gets off-road tires and updated body cladding. The Impreza Future Sport gets revised front and rear bumpers, a low center of gravity, and a central exhaust. Last, and probably least, Subaru will display the Outback Limited Smart Edition, with a few design touches like an exclusive grille and wheels, microfiber seats, plus navigation and a Harman/Kardon sound system. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Subaru recalling 32K Imprezas for potential airbag fault

Following a preliminary evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April 2015, Subaru is recalling 32,400 examples of the 2012 Impreza sedan and hatchback to repair the Occupant Detection System. The affected vehicles have production dates between April 21, 2011, and February 16, 2012. However, the WRX and STI are excluded from this campaign because they use a different part. The Impreza's problem concerns the front passenger seat's Occupant Detection System. In these models, the part uses capacitance to determine if someone is present and activates the airbag. According to the documents submitted to NHTSA (as a PDF), if the person sitting there uses a device plugged into the accessory outlet or touches an electrically grounded part like the metal seat adjuster, the ODS recognizes an increase in capacitance. It can then deactivate the airbag. Obviously, this could be a hazard in a crash, but there would be a warning light showing the safety device as off. To solve the problem, dealers will install a modified Occupant Control Unit. The initial investigation was prompted after 26 complaints to NHTSA about the ODS not working properly. In 2012, Subaru also issued a technical service bulletin that attempted to repair the issue. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Front Passenger Air Bag may not Deploy Report Receipt Date: JUL 01, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V419000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 32,400 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) SUBARU IMPREZA 2012 Details Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc. SUMMARY: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012 model year Subaru Impreza 4-Door and Station Wagon vehicles (except WRX/STI models) manufactured April 21, 2011, to February 16, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may deactivate if a front seat passenger operates a device that is plugged into the power outlet such as a music player or cell phone, or touches a metal part of the vehicle such as the forward/rearward seat adjuster lever. CONSEQUENCE: If the ODS deactivates, the front passenger air bag will be turned off and the front passenger air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant. REMEDY: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Occupant Control Unit with a modified one, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Lexus tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study again, Buick bests Toyota

It shouldn't surprise anyone, but Lexus has once again taken the top spot in JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That'd be the Japanese luxury brand's fourth straight year at the top of table. The big news, though, is the rise of Buick. General Motor's near-premium brand beat out Toyota to take second place, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles compared to Toyota's 111 problems. Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles. Besides Buick's three-position jump, Scion enjoyed a major improvement, jumping 13 positions from 2014. Ram and Mitsubishi made big gains, as well, moving up 11 and 10 positions, respectively. In terms of individual segments, GM and Toyota both excelled, taking home seven segment awards each. The study wasn't good news for all involved, though. A number of popular automakers finished below the industry average of 147 problems per 100 vehicles, including Subaru, (157PP100), Volkswagen (165PP100), Ford/Hyundai (188PP100 each) and Mini (193PP100). The biggest losers (by a tremendous margin, we might add) were Land Rover and Fiat, recording 258 and 273 problems per 100 vehicles. The next closest brand was Jeep, with 197PP100. While the Vehicle Dependability Study uses the same measurement system as the Initial Quality Survey, the two metrics analyze very different things. The VDS looks at problems experienced by original owners of model year 2012 vehicles over the past 12 months, while the oft-quoted IQS focuses on problems in the first 90 days of new-vehicle ownership. Like the IQS, though, the VDS has a rather broad definition of what a problem is. Because of that, a low score from JD Power is no guarantee of extreme unreliability, so much as just poor design. In this most recent study, the two most reported problems focused on Bluetooth connectivity and the voice-command systems. The former leaves plenty of room for user error due to poor design (particularly true of the Bluetooth systems on the low-scoring Fords, Volkswagens and Subarus), while the second is something JD Power has already confirmed as being universally terrible. That makes means that while these studies are important, they shouldn't be taken as gospel when it comes to automotive reliability. News Source: JD PowerImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL Buick Fiat Ford GM Hyundai Jeep Land Rover Lexus MINI Mitsubishi RAM Scion Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Auto Repair Ownership study