2008 Subaru Legacy Gt on 2040-cars

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Subaru recalls new Forester over pedal entrapment fears

Pedal entrapment and unintended acceleration are hot-button topics these days, so automakers are always staying alert for potential problems. For Subaru and its newly introduced 2014 Forester, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall due to improperly manufactured floor mats that could become an obstruction for the gas, brake or clutch pedals. The good news, of course, is that even if drivers experience this problem, the 2014 Forester comes standard with brake override.
At issue with the floor mats on 10,137 Forester models built between January and March of this year is that the resin material used on the underside of the mats can curl when exposed to heat. If the leading edge of the driver's mat curls enough, it can come in contact with the pedals making acceleration, braking and shifting more difficult - possibly resulting in a crash. To fix the problem, Subaru is replacing the entire set of floor mats in all of the affected units. The official NHTSA recall notice is posted below.

Motor Trend pits Subaru WRX vs. Ford Focus ST

The Ford Focus ST has enjoyed a relatively calm, if brief, reign in the world of hot hatches. With nothing else in the class (in the States, at least) but the aging Mazdaspeed3 and Subaru Impreza WRX and the slow-selling Volkswagen Golf R, the Blue Oval's 252-horsepower five door has been the go-to vehicle for those that don't need the high-octane lunacy (and expense) of the rally bred Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
Now, though, as the new Subaru WRX (it's not an Impreza anymore, though, neither is it a hatchback...) starts to arrive at dealers, the Focus ST appears to be under threat for the first time. Naturally, Motor Trend is here to figure out which one is the best, with another one of its Head 2 Head videos. Host Jonny Lieberman puts both cars through their paces, going above and beyond, quite literally, at the very end of the video.
Have a look below and let us know what you think of MT's verdict in Comments.

Subaru pairs with Liberty Mutual for built-in driving monitor app

A new app for Subaru's Starlink infotainment will give owners easy access to Liberty Mutual's RightTrack usage-based insurance program later in the year, and those that take part will be able to save up to 30 percent off their bill. Users will also get nearly realtime feedback about their driving that could make them safer behind the wheel. "RightTrack is designed to benefit drivers," Jeff Wright, vice president of usage-based insurance at Liberty Mutual, said to Autoblog. The program monitors a participating driver's behavior and looks for factors like hard acceleration or deceleration, the number of miles driven, and a journey's time of day. Users then receive a report after a trip on their smartphone or the infotainment screen about these events behind the wheel. Everyone gets a five-percent discount just for signing up for the usage-based insurance, but after 90 days the safest drivers can get the maximum discount. Liberty Mutual also doesn't increase RightTrack client's insurance rates. "This partnership combines Liberty Mutual's extensive experience and reach in usage-based insurance with Subaru and Clarion's cutting-edge connected car technology to bring RightTrack savings to consumers in new ways," Hamid Mirza, auto product manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance, said in the announcement. A 2015 study indicated that 27 percent of older drivers had privacy concerns about usage-based insurance programs, but younger people had a growing willingness to try them. The industry says that showing clients how they drive can make them safer because folks realize what they're doing wrong. Plus, many people are attracted to the potential monthly savings. The RightTrack app should be available in late spring on any Subaru with the Starlink infotainment system, company spokesman Anthony Landamia told Autoblog. Liberty Mutual plans eventually to update the software to support other helpful features like severe weather alerts, accident scene assistance, and roadside assistance. Liberty Mutual Insurance and Subaru Introduce New Technology to Promote Safe Driving and Savings on Auto Insurance RightTrack® in-vehicle app powered by Clarion Smart Access™ features new innovation in usage-based insurance for SUBARU STARLINK™ Cloud app suite BOSTON – January 4, 2016 – From commuting to work to shuttling the kids, how safe of a driver are you?