We had high hopes for the updated Subaru Outback. At recent auto shows, the company seemed like it was going tech-forward, displaying new Harmon Kardon audio systems in the Legacy and Outback. But our review of the 2010 Outback showed us that the company is still well behind the curve of car technology. Sure, the all-wheel-drive system is great, as is the car's general utility. And in how many SUVs can you get a manual transmission? But, aside from that new audio system and a very basic Bluetooth phone system, the new Outback doesn't have much to offer in the cabin tech department.
Japanese auto companies are bailing out of international motorsports, trying to save money during the global auto crunch.
Last week Toyota dropped out of Formula One racing, two days after tire supplier Bridgestone did, too. Honda quit the series last December. No Japanese teams remain in F1.
At the end of 2008, Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries and Suzuki withdrew from the FIA World Rally Championship. And in July, Fuji International Speedway, owned by Toyota, surrendered hosting rights for the Japanese Grand Prix in 2010 and beyond.
The moves reflect the absence of auto profits. When Honda pulled out of F1 racing, it estimated the move could save nearly $1 billion.
Toyota didn't divulge its annual F1 budget, but some think it's around $300 million. That was a tidy sum for a carmaker that posted losses last year--both in its financials and on the track. Since joining Formula One in 2002, Toyota hasn't won a single race.
(Source: Automotive News)
Subaru's booth wasn't the biggest at the show, but it made a killer first impression.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)Subaru's booth at the 2009 SEMA Show is located directly in front of the entrance to the show's Central Hall. And, wow, does it make a good first impression.
The first thing that you see upon passing through the doors is the towering 400-horsepower TRAX STI and its equally imposing sleigh trailer--built by none other than Subaru enthusiast numero uno, Ken Block. After finding our way around (or under) this massive one-off snowmobile, the rest of Subaru's offerings seemed a bit mild, yet were still impressive in their own ways.
For example, a VIP-styled Legacy sedan featured big wheels, big luxury, and an air suspension system to provide a super-low stance. Over on the other side of the booth, a road race Impreza sat poised to take on the Grand-Am Koni Challenge racing series. And any Subie-fan worth his salt would immediately recognize Mr. Block's other ride, the Gymkhana 2 STI from the previously featured videos of the same name.
Check out our photo tour of the Subaru booth for more photos and details; and as a bonus, check out the embedded video of Block's TRAX STI destroying some fresh snow with full reverse-lock action. You can thank me later.
Honda talks about bigger hybrids, Cash for Clunkers might have been a huge boondoggle, Infiniti will get an electric car, should DWT be punished harder than DUI? And we take you for a ride in the frustratingly fun Scion xB.
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EPISODE 142
SHOW NOTES• Should DWT being punished more severely than DUI?
• CNET drives the new 2010 VW GTI
• CNET review of the 2010 Scion xB
• World distance record claimed for driving an electric car on a single charge
TOKYO -- Subaru, which showed a concept hybrid vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show, will add a hybrid powertrain to an existing model in 2012.
But Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru cars, wouldn't say when the hybrid vehicle will go on sale in the United States.
Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Mori said the car will help Subaru meet tougher U.S. fuel economy and emissions rules that begin in the 2016 model year.
Mori declined to say which model will offer the hybrid powertrain but suggested it will be a small vehicle. He said the hybrid system will showcase typical Subaru driving characteristics but didn't say whether it will have all-wheel drive.
At the show, Subaru displayed an awd hybrid touring car with two motors, one for each axle. That car loosely resembles the Outback wagon.
It featured a new 2.0-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection engine and stop-start technology, which turns the engine off when the vehicle stops.
Subaru has been developing its own hybrid drivetrain based on technology from Toyota Motor Corp., which owns 16.5 percent of Fuji Heavy.
(Source: Automotive News)
Although the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show just kicked open its doors for the public this last weekend, industry insiders got a head start on sampling the bevy of automobiles that are debuting. One of these lucky insiders included Alistair Weaver of Inside Line fame, courtesy of Edumunds.com. Here, Alistair gives us all a teaser on the many new vehicles presented at the Tokyo Motor Show, and this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
In this video clip, Inside Line cherry shows a few more cars worthy of Web airtime. While the show seems to be short on American and European brands, there are plenty of interesting production models and concept cars to check out. Edmunds.com makes room for a couple of the forward-thinking "E-cars" that will undoubtedly be only available in limited quantities, as well as hybrid cars from Honda, Mitsubishi, and the Subaru that has doors straight out of "Back to the Future." And if you think it's all hippy-dippy cars on parade, wait till you check out the badass Lexus at the end of the clip.
What recession? That's the question at Subaru.
While rival automakers struggled amid a 27 percent drop in total U.S. sales in the first nine months of the year, Subaru racked up an impressive 10 percent sales gain.
Subaru, Hyundai and Kia are the only brands that are up so far this year. And Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes Subaru vehicles, expects record U.S. sales this year and even higher sales in 2010.
Yet Subaru's outlook is far from trouble-free.
Subaru needs more environmentally friendly drive trains to meet stringent emissions regulations. It is working on hybrid, diesel and electric cars.
Mori will be leaning on Toyota Motor Corp., which owns 16.5 percent of Fuji Heavy, to provide much of that alternative power-train technology. Toyota and Fuji Heavy also are jointly developing a new sports car.
... Read more
An exciting concept from the world's most boring automaker.
(Credit: Toyota)
After months of rumors and rumblings, Toyota has released photos of its small sports car collaboration with Subaru, the Toyota FT-86 Concept. What follows is a very exciting concept from the world's most boring car company.
The FT-86 is a compact 2+2 that seeks to recapture the spirit of the 1980s AE86 Corolla GT-S (better known as the Hachiroku) of drifting fame. While most of the details are still mostly shrouded in mystery, we've got a little bit of meaty info. Under the hood, we should find a variant of Subaru's 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine--dubbed the C-45 Boxer--sending 200-250 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission (thank you!) and onward to the rear wheels.
(Credit:
Toyota)
(Credit:
Toyota)
The interior of the concept is appropriately, err, conceptual. We don't expect any of the sci-fi gauges or fabric buttons to make it to production. Whether the production concept will wear the Corolla GT-S badge when it hits showroom floors is also up in the air.
If/when the FT-86 reaches the market, it'll find itself facing stiff competition from Nissan's more powerful 370Z and Hyundai's turbocharged Genesis Coupe 2.0T. However, if Toyota can take a page from the Mazda MX-5's book and create a balanced, fun to drive, low-powered (and low-cost) coupe, it may be able to carve a nice niche for itself.
Stay tuned to our continuing coverage of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show for more details as they emerge.
The Hybrid Tourer Concept debuts at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
(Credit: Subaru)For the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru built this Hybrid Tourer Concept, which manages to combine many of the latest trends in automotive development. Most major manufacturers are working on some kind of sporty touring car these days. Witness the BMW 5 series Gran Turismo, the Acura ZDX, and the Audi A5 Sportback. The Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept appears to aim at similar ground, although its profile is less sporty. The gullwing doors are a unique feature for a production car, but not so much for a concept.
The Hybrid Tourer Concept uses gullwing doors.
(Credit: Subaru)As its name suggests, the car is also designed as a hybrid, using a system under development at Subaru that would combine two electric motors with a turbo-charged 2-liter four-cylinder boxer-style engine. That boxer engine is a signature Subaru piece, along with the all-wheel-drive that would be standard on the car. But Subaru is using the concept to introduce a new gas engine, with direct injection, that should find its way into production vehicles.
As a full hybrid, the Tourer Concept would be able to drive under electric power at low speeds before having the engine kick in. Along with the new engine, Subaru is also introducing a new continuously variable transmission, called Lineartronic, designed specifically for all-wheel-drive vehicles.
The Hybrid Tourer Concept also serves as a platform for a new driver assistance technology being developed by Subaru called EyeSight. This system is designed to monitor the terrain ahead using a stereo-optic camera, while at the same time communicating with infrastructure and other cars. The system would keep the driver aware of upcoming traffic conditions and hazardous situations, and enable adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
Contrary to popular belief, carbon fiber is not a magic 'go-faster' material.
(Credit: Subaru)Subaru is creating a variant of its Impreza STI, called the WRX STI Carbon. With a name like Carbon, you just know that this is going to be a hardcore, lightweight, performance variant that will slap that smarmy grin off of the Mitsubishi Evo's face, right? Wrong. Because it seems that Subaru's forgotten to add the performance.
I don't know how exciting suede seats are, but they'll keep your backside in place in the corners.
(Credit: Subaru)The STI Carbon starts out well enough. It replaces the roof panel with light-and-strong carbon fiber to lower the center of gravity. Then, the Recaro seats are wrapped in grippy suede to hold your butt in place while you whip through corners. This is sounding good!
Next, Subaru yanks out the STI's six-speed manual transmission and replaces it with an only-option five-speed automatic slushbox. Then, Subaru's engineers (marketing department, or whomever put this package together) called it a day and went out to have a few beers. Wait, what?
I know the 305-horsepower, all-wheel drive STI is pretty bad-ass in stock trim, but to tease us with carbon fiber and suede and then cripple the performance with a crappy automatic is almost a slap in the face.
The Subaru WRX STI Carbon will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009.
