No Car is as Versatile as a Subaru

Subaru to Focus on Performance in Near-Future, New Forester Coming in 2014

Subaru may have introduced the 2013 BRZ and 2013 XV Crosstrek this year, but the automaker isn’t done fleshing out its model range. A report from Automotive News suggests the brand will focus on adding a few new performance-oriented cars in the coming years. Here’s a look at what’s in store for Subaru’s future.

Subaru Cars

The last two years have been big for Subaru cars. The automaker introduced a new Impreza sedan and hatch last year, launched the BRZ sports car this year, and will give the Legacy sedan a mid-cycle refresh for 2013.The next Subaru car due for an update will be the Impreza WRX and Impreza WRX STI. As some spyshots show, Subaru is hard at work on the next WRX. The next-gen WRX is expected to be based on the current Impreza and it may still possibly come in a two-door version. The WRX will pack a turbocharged version of the Impreza’s 2.0-liter F-4 under the hood, likely making around 270 hp. The WRX STI will produce upwards of 305 hp, and will likely feature an updated version of the driver-controlled differential used on previous models, among other rally-inspired goodies. Both the WRX and WRX STI are expected in 2014.

Though brand-new this year, an update could be coming soon for the BRZ, too. A higher-powered, turbocharged version of the BRZ, possibly wearing the STI badge, is perhaps the worst-kept secret in the industry. Also in store for the BRZ is a drop-top version. Both the high-performance BRZ and BRZ convertible are expected for 2014, with a facelift in 2016.

No major changes are expected in the rest of Subaru’s car lineup in the near future. The Impreza was new last year, and is expected to get a refresh in 2014 or 2015. A hybrid version has been rumored. The Legacy was just given a mid-cycle refresh this year. A new model will likely drop in the 2015 model year.

Subaru Crossovers

Subaru will soon give its crossover lineup some attention. With the Impreza-based XV Crosstrek new this year and the Outback the recipient of a mid-cycle refresh (a new model is due in 2015), the Forester will likely be the next crossover to be updated. Expected in 2014, the new Forester will stay on the Impreza’s platform, but will likely grow in both length and width. Inside, the Forester will get a high-quality interior to show off Subaru’s new (yet-to-be unveiled) infotainment system. A Forester Hybrid is also rumored to be a possibility. Subaru’s Tribeca three-row crossover won’t live on past the 2013 model year, but a successor with three-row seating based on the Toyota Highlander has been rumored.

-Courtesy of MotorTrend

Monday Maintenance Tip: Check Your Power Steering Fluid

Here's a Monday maintenance tip: Power steering fluid should be changed every three years or 50,000 miles. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually; otherwise, follow the dipstick method. Low power steering fluid may indicate a leak, so have your mechanic take a look.

-Courtesy of Nationwide

We've Received a 5-Star Review on DealerRater!

Here's a recent customer review on Subaru World of Newton:

"Omar was great. No sleazy sales gimmicks. He gave us a figure and stuck with it (inlcuding our trade in). Les closed the deal and we were in and out in a matter of hours with a new car."

Thanks for the continued customer feedback!

The 2013 BRZ: A Fun Car for the Ages

The news that Subaru is planning a convertible version of its new BRZ for the 2014 model year comes at a welcome juncture. At a time when cars are increasingly encumbered with all manner of electronic nannies, the revival of the traditional open-top, rear-drive, two-seat roadster is a tonic for enthusiasts. With its chunky good looks, eight-speed transmission, and 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine, the upcoming BRZ convertible, like all proper sports cars, will be aimed at a single emotion: fun.

The spiritual ancestors of the BRZ go back 65 years to the European roadsters that began arriving in the U.S. after World War II. Rakish in design, frisky on the road, and near zero in practicality, they expressed the optimism of a new generation. Over the years, they became more civilized, replacing plastic side curtains with roll-up windows and undependable electronics with more reliable ones, as Japanese and American manufacturers have developed their own interpretations of the classic formula.

Today, most of those early roadsters are parked under tarpaulins or collecting dust in museums. Some better-known marques are pictured below. Among them is one that remains on the market. Like the coelacanth, it is a living fossil -- a visible reminder of how the convertible sports car has evolved and a source of inspiration for Subaru to follow.

-Courtesy of CNN Money

Subaru BRZ: one of 2012 Best Driver’s Car Contenders

Co-developed by Subaru and Toyota, the Subaru BRZ is aimed squarely at the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Placing an emphasis on handling and driver enjoyment over raw power, its naturally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer four makes just 200 horsepower, but it's mounted as low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal weight balance and a lower center of gravity. It has more neutral handling than its Scion twin and is less prone to understeer, attributes that earned the BRZ its slot and allowed it to top the Scion FR-S and Mazda MX-5 in a recent Motor Trend comparison.

Motor Trend's Impressions

On handling...
The balance is so good. I don't have to turn the steering wheel much and the balance doesn't change much through the corner, which is one of the things I really appreciate about the Subaru. I can enter the corner hard on the brakes, standing on the nose, and turn in. Yes, there's a little roll and no, there's not a lot of tire grip -- it's not a real strong, grippy tire -- but the balance is good through the entry phase. I add some power and it frees the car up a little bit. Just a little, right in the middle of the corner. After that, it just hooks up and drives off in beautiful shape. I can carry full cornering speed right to the exit. I know right where the car is going to go, right where it's going to be, so it's predictable. It's stable without understeer. That's a wonderful thing and I don't think that's easy to achieve.

On the brakes...
I had genuine brake fade, this was pad fade. The pedal was not soft. I could smell the brakes by the end of the second lap and by the third lap -- I did a third lap, too, partially just because I wanted to -- but I could feel clear fade. Firm pedal, but losing stopping grip, which is probably pad fade. I could smell the pads, too. Maybe they've never been that hot before.

On the engine...
The engine just doesn't want to be flogged all the way to redline -- it really doesn't. I'm shifting a couple hundred RPM below that. The engine is not the sweetest engine there is, but it has a broad power curve, makes it very usable. Needs more power. It wants it. I'd put more tire on it, too. I just like power. I don't really believe in that "this is enough power" theory, but power does really change a car's character. It's a lot more difficult, I think, to make cars handle well when they have more power. I think I would supercharge it so you don't lose that precision in the power delivery.

Overall...
Fabulous car! Oh my God! I mean, really just a wonderful and satisfying experience. I feel like I can just drive this car right on the edge of the friction circle. It reminds me a lot of my all-time favorites, the MX-5 -- first-gen, second-gen or third-gen. In some ways, it's actually better. It doesn't have the roll that the MX-5 has had all along. What a satisfying ride in terms of...everything.

Courtesy of Motor Trend

We Proudly Support Newton High School Football

It's football season, and Subaru World of Newton is proud to support Newton High School Football!

Right now we are offering some great incentives, including 10% off service and parts and $250 off the purchase of ANY new or pre-owned vehicle in stock.

Download the coupons below and visit us online at subaruworldofnewton.com, and cheer on the Newton High School Pride this season!

SubaruNewton.pdf Download this file

We Proudly Support Newton High School Football

It's football season, and Subaru World of Newton is proud to support Newton High School Football!

Right now we are offering some great incentives, including 10% off service and parts and $250 off the purchase of ANY new or pre-owned vehicle in stock.

Download the coupons below and visit us online at subaruworldofnewton.com, and cheer on the Newton High School Pride this season!

SubaruNewton.pdf Download this file

2013 Subaru WRX Named to Popular Mechanic's "Best New Cars for 2013"

Recently the blogosphere has been alive with chatter that the next-gen Subaru WRX will get the FA motor developed for the Subaru BRZ, and this is one instance when there's logic behind the rumor. The FA engine can sit a lot lower in the car because it's more compact. A lower engine has many advantages, chief among them the ability to shove the mass farther rearward in the car for better balance. Better still, Subaru engineered the FA for higher compression from the start, so it should tolerate the amount of forced induction required to take it from 200 hp in the BRZ to the expected benchmark of 265 hp. And let's just say here that we'd bet Subaru designed its latest Impreza chassis with the WRX (not to mention the STi) in mind, and we'd bet the newest WRX will be lighter and more nimble as a result. A bonus: Fuel economy should jump a good 15 percent.

4 Superb Subaru Concepts

Subaru very seldom seems to show off a concept car that it doesn't intend to build. This, in addition to other things, is probably why the automaker doesn't make many concept cars. That's a shame, as these cars (and the BRZ) prove that the company can create a killer concept when it really wants to. When they do we know they're serious about a production version and their track record so far proves this. If the BRZ has got you wondering what else Subaru can do, then continue below.

Word is that the BRZ STI is officially going from concept to reality. Engine details are scarce, but it's believed that the tuned BRZ will have somewhere near 250hp. What is known is that the new BRZ will sport a lowered suspension, an aerodynamic body kit and an upgraded set of brakes. The BRZ STI is expected to hit showrooms sometime in 2013.

The Subaru XV went from being a design study to a full-blown production car in no time flat. The crossover debuted at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show and was described as a "Protren." A Protren is of course a wombination (word combination) of "professional tool" and "trendy design." The XV will be a four banger with a 2.0-liter boxer engine. Like the BRZ STI, the XV will hit dealer lots sometime in 2013.

The B9 Scrambler  was shown off at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show where it wowed the crowd with its hybrid engine, run-flat tires and a surprising amount of ground clearance.

Subaru practically reinvented the family wagon when it showed off its Advanced Tourer Concept (ATC) at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The hybrid wagon has aggressive styling, with its front scissor doors and rear suicide doors highlighting its exterior. The interior features leather seats, wood trim and built-in steering wheel display. The ATC, or some variation of it, is expected to go into production sometime in 2013.

 

Courtesy of Car Buzz

 

We've Recieved a 5-Star Review on Yelp!

Here's a recent customer review on Subaru World of Newton:

"I recently purchased a new vehicle from Subaru World of Newton. The customer service was excellent! The salesman was very friendly and informative. There was no pressure to buy a vehicle from them, they provided me with the information I was looking for and waited for me to make a decision. I absolutely love my new Subaru!"

Thank you for the contined feedback!

We've Received a Positive Review on Google+Local!

Here's a recent customer review on Subaru World of Newton:

"My experience with Subaru of Newton was to purchase a new vehicle. The Sales person was very accommodating and knowledgeable of their stock and of the vehicle's performance aspects. My overall experience was that it was a very friendly and clean facility. There was no "high pressure" to purchase."

Thank you for your continued customer feedback!

2012 Subaru Impreza WRX 5-Door review notes

I had this 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX for the weekend, and I was surprised by how little I missed our long-term 2011 Impreza WRX STI version. This car provides almost all of the fun, without many of the drawbacks of the hard-core model.

The WRX is down 40 hp from its big brother, but in between 3,000 rpm and 5,000 rpm you’ll hardly notice. It makes the same sounds as the STI and rips off the line with the same aplomb. Unfortunately, fuel mileage didn’t seem to improve; my two fill ups averaged about 19 mpg.

I did like the feel of an old-school five-speed manual in the hatchback, instead of the six in our sedan. The cogs could be held for a bit longer, and there are no extra steps to get into reverse. Like the STI, the driver doesn’t need to shift out of top gear to pass on the expressway. Also, the shifter felt robust in the hand. There wasn’t a lot of flexing from any of the linkage parts.

The steering and suspension are both softer than the STI. I put a good amount of miles on the car over the weekend, and not having to dodge every road imperfection was a blessing. I didn’t realize how stiff our long-term car actually was until I jumped in this one.

Ninety percent of the time, having a softer suspension and easier steering are a good thing. But those few times when you do want the razor sharpness of the STI you’ll miss it. Luckily for me, spirited driving wasn’t needed on Saturday or Sunday.

I still like the sedan body better than this hatch. I like the big wing on the four-door, something I wouldn’t trade for the extra space of the hatch. I might be alone in that. I also love this gunmetal color much better than the WR blue.

So, the upgraded STI gets you more power, upgraded brakes and the driver-controlled center differential. If you’re looking for a track car, that’s the one to have. But if you want a car that’s good everywhere, except when being pushed to 10/10ths, the WRX will do. And being $8,000 less expensive doesn’t hurt, either.

Courtesy of Auto Week

The Subaru EyeSight safety system makes an impact at the track

We recently took delivery of our new 2013 Subaru Outback, with some improvements over the previous 2010 model we tested. One is Subaru's new EyeSight system. This pro-active safety system uses a pair of cameras over the rearview mirror to know when to stop the car, if the driver isn't paying attention. We had a chance to try this and several other EyeSight features in a brief demonstration Subaru recently set up at our test track.

The EyeSight manages adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, lane departure warning, lane swaying, pre-collision warning, and pre-collision throttle management and braking. In other words, the EyeSight system sounds an alert if the driver approaches an object in front too fast, strays outside the lane, or begins weaving inside a lane.

The EyeSight system looks like a big plastic box, with two heads peaking down from the on either side of the rearview mirror, almost like police lights—except the boxes are for stereo cameras, not lights. The cameras detect cars and other obstacles in front of the Subaru. The system sounds a warning if the driver is approaching them too fast, and it can apply the brakes up to maximum force if the driver still doesn't respond.

Insurance industry studies have shown such forward collision warning and systems have been effective in reducing accidents. (Read: "Automatic braking and better headlights reduce accidents.")

In the demonstration, Subaru set up 12 large foam blocks with the image of a stopped Outback near the end of our track. As we approached (in Subaru's EyeSight-equipped Legacy), our driver was told to hold the speed at 20 mph and not let up on the gas. The car automatically applied the brakes in time to stop in front of the target. However, when our driver instinctively adjusted the gas, the car assumed he was paying attention and released the brakes, so we smashed into the foam Outback ahead of us.

That's the way the system is designed, so if there is an escape route to the side, for example, you can accelerate into it. The next time, our driver held the throttle steady, and the car stopped short of the target.

The automatic collision-avoidance braking can only keep you completely out of a collision if you're closing on the car or obstacle in front of you at less than 20 mph. (For example, if the car in front is going 50 mph, you can't be going more than 70 mph.) That's because it takes 2.5 seconds for the system to recognize an obstacle and brake. At higher closing speeds, the system will still apply the brakes to reduce the severity of a collision, but it can't stop the car in time.

At lower closing speeds, EyeSight also uses pre-collision throttle management. It will reduce the throttle to as little as 5 percent to encourage the driver to slow down before the pre-collision warning and pre-collision braking are needed.

EyeSight's cameras can also help in stop-and-go driving (once the driver has engaged the adaptive cruise control) by following the car ahead at one of three preset distances. The system can't be turned on below 25 mph, but once activated, it will stay on even if you fall below that speed, maintaining pace with and stopping behind the car in front when needed. When traffic restarts, it sounds an alert and requires a quick tap on either the accelerator or the cruise-control Resume switch to restart, Subaru says.

Two switches in the headliner can shut off the lane departure and lane sway system, along with the pre-collision braking system, but you have to hold down the buttons for two seconds. Holding the main cruise control switch down for two seconds engages the traditional cruise control.

Other automakers have had similar systems for several years, and we have tested several. But they tend to be bundled into expensive technology or safety packages on pricey luxury cars. EyeSight is a standalone option on Outback and Legacy models that costs $1,295. One thing it lacks is side blind-spot detection, which typically illuminates a light by the appropriate side mirror if it detects an obstacle to the side.

 

-Courtesy of Consumer Reports

2013 Subaru Legacy First Impressions

A gentleman's Subaru

Whereas some Subaru models might be a bit rougher round the edges (read: STI and even the new BRZ), the Legacy is all about class and sophistication. A gentle, refined ride that will get you to your destination no matter what the climate and/or driving conditions thanks to Subaru's stellar AWD system.

The Legacy has always been Subaru's pseudo-luxury model, and the 2013 model maintains that image quite well.

Just like the 2013 Subaru Outback, the new Legacy feature subtle exterior changes, such as a bolder, more aggressive front grille coupled with hawk-eye headlights. Exaggerated fenders sit atop new wheel designs.

On the inside, much remains the same save for the addition of available wood inserts instead of chrome accents and an available Harman/Kardon sound system. The Subaru Legacy boasts a massive interior in both the front and back with 96 mm of legroom for rear passengers and 415 litres of trunk space. There's no denying, the Legacy is a comfortable ride no matter what seat you're in.

It's all about the BOXER

Just as the 2013 Subaru Outback features an all new 2.5L 4-cylinder DOHC engine, the 2013 Subaru Legacy gets the same treatment. Horsepower is up a few at 173 as is the torque at 174 lb-ft. As for the top-of-the-range 3.6R Limited engine, it remains the same 3.6L H6 pushing out 256 hp.

As with the Outback, the 2013 Legacy has a new and improved CVT. Response is good and Subaru have managed to make it quieter, as well as making sure it “shifts” to stop the driver from wanting to drive into the lake due to droning revs.

The new 2.5L engine helps the 2013 Subaru Legacy (in 2.5i Convenience trim) be one of the most fuel efficient midsize sedans with AWD. With NRCan figures approximately 0.5L/100km better than the previous generation's, Subaru has done its very best to keep the greenies happy and the green in your wallet, not at the pumps.

Of course, the most exciting bit of new kit available on the 2013 Subaru Legacy is their EyeSight driver assistance system. For the moment it will only be featured on the 3.6R Limited model, however it will trickle down to other trims in the near future.

With four trim levels available (starting at approx. $24k and reaching up to the $37k mark), the 2013 Legacy is a great family sedan that will see you through winters as well as it does summers.

-Courtesy of Auto123.com

Subaru's Offering A Lot to Love

Subaru already offers a lot to love, and now through Aug. 31st, there's even more to love with special offers on select 2012 models. It's all part of Subaru's A Lot to Love event. Don't miss out! Visit us online! http://bit.ly/OZF4Wj

Subaru Forester- Consumer Reports Review

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/cars/suvs--minivans/subaru-fores...

Car Care Tip

Did you know that more automobile batteries fail in the heat than in the extreme cold? Temps under the hood can reach 175 to 200 degrees, affecting the corrosion factor within the battery. Have your battery and electrical system professionally tested every 3-6 months, especially before heading out on a trip.