subaru

Scraping the bottom of Subaru's barrel

As much as we like Subaru's all-wheel-drive handling and fuel-efficient engines, cabin tech is always a disappointment, and never more so than with the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i we tested. The Legacy model comes in eight different trims, but the 2.5i is the bottom. As such, Subaru offers no factory options for the car--you have to go up a trim level to get a decent audio system, then up another to get navigation. We put it through its driving paces, but found nothing to like in the cabin.

Read our review of the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i. … Read more

Subaru takes a baby step toward tech

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 … Read more

Suped-up Subarus at the SEMA Show

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 … Read more

Car Tech Live Podcast 142: Honda hybrids, Infiniti EVs and punishing driving while texting

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.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) 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

• Wacky driving robot being developed at MIT… Read more

Highlights: Kickin' off the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show

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 … Read more

Subaru chief eyes record sales, greener cars

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

Toyota finally creates an exciting concept

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 … Read more

Subaru's Tokyo concept surfs trends

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.

As its name suggests, the car is also designed as a hybrid, … Read more

Subaru WRX STI Carbon: The performance variant that wasn't

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.

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 … Read more