Disregard females, acquire currency.

Deze man wordt letterlijk op handen gedragen.

Subaru will introduce a new 2010 Impreza WRX STI Special Edition (model code ALU) with upgraded suspension and  improved handling, and a WRX Limited (model code AJP, ALP) at the LA Auto Show,  December 4-13. The STI Special Edition will be available in an initial limited run of 125 units. It will have upgraded, stiffer performance suspension, Aspen White paint and charcoal color 18 x 8.5″ 14 spoke alloys from the JDM WRX STI spec C. The WRX STI SE will become a regular production model later in 2010, available in standard colors. It will have halogen headlights instead of  HID, a single-disc CD player with  4speakers instead of the 6 CD changer with 10 speakers, manual air conditioning instead climate control, and body color side mirrors.

The 2010 Impreza WRX Limited adds leather interior and Sirius satellite radio to the WRX Premium model. Prices to be announced.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

- Dr. Joachim Schmidt: “We will continue this positive trend, and we expect sales in the fourth quarter to be above last year’s level.”
- Record sales in China – Schmidt: “We expect Mercedes-Benz Cars to increase its sales in China by more than 50 percent in full-year 2009.”
- Mercedes-Benz USA posts best monthly result since the beginning of the year, with sales up by 21 percent in October
- E- and S-Class sedans maintain market leadership

Stuttgart, Germany, Nov 06, 2009 – In October, global sales were up at Mercedes-Benz for the first time this year. Mercedes-Benz was able to increase sales significantly in October by seven percent to 88,400 units (October 2008: 82,500. The smart brand sold 9,300 (October 2008: 11,300) units (minus 18 percent). With the delivery of 97,700 passenger cars (October 2008: 93,800), total sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars increased by four percent. The October sales increase was due to the E-Class and the new generation of the S-Class as well as to high growth rates in many regions such as North America and Asia/Pacific. Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles were also above last year’s level in Western Europe.

“We will continue this positive trend in the coming months, and we expect sales in the fourth quarter to be above the level of the same period of last year,” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars. Contributing to this development will be the new E-Class and the new generation S-Class, as well as the ongoing strong growth rates in the Asia/Pacific region, particularly in China. By the end of September, Mercedes-Benz had already sold more vehicles in China than in all of last year. Says Schmidt: “Mercedes-Benz Cars will continue to grow at a dynamic rate in China, and we expect the increase for 2009 as a whole to amount to more than 50 percent.”

In October Mercedes-Benz once again set a sales record in China, with sales rising by 78 percent to 6,600 units (October 2008: 3,700). As a result, since the start of the year, Mercedes-Benz has been the fastest-growing premium brand in China. In October, Mercedes-Benz Cars also delivered more vehicles than ever before to the Asia/Pacific region as a whole, handing over 14,100 passenger vehicles to customers (October 2008: 10,500) for an increase of 34 percent. High growth rates were also posted in October in Australia (up 22 percent) and South Korea (up 63 percent).

In the United States, October was the best month of the year so far for Mercedes-Benz. Sales bucked the general market trend, rising by 21 percentto 18,200 units (October 2008: 15,000). This was the first time this year that sales were substantially higher than in 2008, and ensured that Mercedes-Benz remains the strongest German premium brand in the U.S. Contributing factors here included the E-Class, deliveries of which tripled to 6,100 units, and the GLK, which was once again the best-selling vehicle in its class in October, with deliveries of 1,800 units. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz posted another sales record in Canada in October, increasing customer deliveries by 28 percent to 2,200 passenger vehicles (October 2008: 1,700).

In the Western Europe region (not including Germany), Mercedes-Benz increased its sales by seven percent in October, thanks in particular to the high increases for the new E-Class. The brand enjoyed strong growth amounting to 55 percent in the UK, with a total of 5,800 units sold.

Sales of new E-Class continued to develop positively in the past month, with worldwide deliveries doubling in October to 17,100 units. Double-digit sales increases were registered in almost all markets. That made it once again the clear market leader in its segment. The company expects the launch of the new station wagon, which can be seen at dealerships starting on November 21, to give an additional positive boost to the E-Class family.

The new generation of the S-Class also got off to a successful start. Worldwide sales of the S-Class sedan were slightly above the previous year's level. Since the beginning of this year, the sedan has been the best-selling sedan in its segment. In China, which is now the biggest market for the S-Class, 1,100 luxury sedans were delivered to customers in October alone, which represents an increase of 12 percent. The sedan also sold very well in Germany, with an increase of 42 percent, and in Japan, where October sales increased by 13 percent. Mercedes-Benz sold 15,100 units of its SUVs worldwide (2008: 14,800), with an increase of two percent. The GLK, which was especially popular, enjoyed mainly double-digit growth rates in the Western European markets.

Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Copyright © 2009, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Nov 06, 2009 – In October, global sales were up at Mercedes-Benz for the first time this year. Mercedes-Benz was able to increase sales significantly in October by seven percent to 88,400 units (October 2008: 82,500. The smart brand sold 9,300 (October 2008: 11,300) units (minus 18 percent). With the delivery of 97,700 passenger cars (October 2008: 93,800), total sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars increased by four percent. The October sales increase was due to the E-Class and the new generation of the S-Class as well as to high growth rates in many regions such as North America and Asia/Pacific. Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles were also above last year’s level in Western Europe.

“We will continue this positive trend in the coming months, and we expect sales in the fourth quarter to be above the level of the same period of last year,” said Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars. Contributing to this development will be the new E-Class and the new generation S-Class, as well as the ongoing strong growth rates in the Asia/Pacific region, particularly in China. By the end of September, Mercedes-Benz had already sold more vehicles in China than in all of last year. Says Schmidt: “Mercedes-Benz Cars will continue to grow at a dynamic rate in China, and we expect the increase for 2009 as a whole to amount to more than 50 percent.”

In October Mercedes-Benz once again set a sales record in China, with sales rising by 78 percent to 6,600 units (October 2008: 3,700). As a result, since the start of the year, Mercedes-Benz has been the fastest-growing premium brand in China. In October, Mercedes-Benz Cars also delivered more vehicles than ever before to the Asia/Pacific region as a whole, handing over 14,100 passenger vehicles to customers (October 2008: 10,500) for an increase of 34 percent. High growth rates were also posted in October in Australia (up 22 percent) and South Korea (up 63 percent).

In the United States, October was the best month of the year so far for Mercedes-Benz. Sales bucked the general market trend, rising by 21 percentto 18,200 units (October 2008: 15,000). This was the first time this year that sales were substantially higher than in 2008, and ensured that Mercedes-Benz remains the strongest German premium brand in the U.S. Contributing factors here included the E-Class, deliveries of which tripled to 6,100 units, and the GLK, which was once again the best-selling vehicle in its class in October, with deliveries of 1,800 units. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz posted another sales record in Canada in October, increasing customer deliveries by 28 percent to 2,200 passenger vehicles (October 2008: 1,700).

In the Western Europe region (not including Germany), Mercedes-Benz increased its sales by seven percent in October, thanks in particular to the high increases for the new E-Class. The brand enjoyed strong growth amounting to 55 percent in the UK, with a total of 5,800 units sold.

Sales of new E-Class continued to develop positively in the past month, with worldwide deliveries doubling in October to 17,100 units. Double-digit sales increases were registered in almost all markets. That made it once again the clear market leader in its segment. The company expects the launch of the new station wagon, which can be seen at dealerships starting on November 21, to give an additional positive boost to the E-Class family.

The new generation of the S-Class also got off to a successful start. Worldwide sales of the S-Class sedan were slightly above the previous year's level. Since the beginning of this year, the sedan has been the best-selling sedan in its segment. In China, which is now the biggest market for the S-Class, 1,100 luxury sedans were delivered to customers in October alone, which represents an increase of 12 percent. The sedan also sold very well in Germany, with an increase of 42 percent, and in Japan, where October sales increased by 13 percent. Mercedes-Benz sold 15,100 units of its SUVs worldwide (2008: 14,800), with an increase of two percent. The GLK, which was especially popular, enjoyed mainly double-digit growth rates in the Western European markets.

Overview of Sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Source >> Mercedes-Benz-Blog — Unmistakable. Unique. Classy. Mercedes-Benz. – Mercedes-Benz Boosts Sales by Seven Percent
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For 2010 the Legacy looks more aggressive and sporty. The headlights are angled more, the character lines create a more muscular look, along with bigger wheel arches. The Legacy has a more modern, mainstream, Japanese appearance. It will be more competitive in the midsize sedan segment, but it's aggressive styling wouldn't look at home in a forest carrying mountain bikes like the old Legacy did.

While the exterior doesn't give thoughts of the usual Subaru activities of hiking and kayaking, the interior gives impressions of a more mainstream midsize sedan at home in mall parking lots. Comfortably designed for the driver and passenger with easy to use controls, soft cream leather seats, and class leading passenger space. Steering wheel controls are standard on the 2.5i Limited are well laid out and easy for the driver to use. Subaru's shortcomings in quality with their use of hard plastic, flimsy door panels, and cheap wood trim left me disappointed, while the previous generation Legacy excelled in quality.

Subaru has used it's new Lineartronic CVT transmission in the new Legacy. It provides a very smooth drive with gearshifts that are as smooth as a hot knife through butter. The paddle shifters are possibly the easiest I've ever used for manual shifting and coupled with the CVT provide a smooth ride. The base 2.5 liter engine feels very underpowered. Subaru's have been known to have a tighter suspension and this Legacy is completely different. The drive feels more like an everyday sedan focused more on driver comfort than a Subaru has ever been. Everyday driving is more polished and tranquilizing than the previous generation Legacy. I took the Legacy through some winding country roads where Subarus usually shine, and was very surprised. Clumsiness and body roll plagued the Legacy like an old woman without her walker. The 2.5 liter 170 hp engine made the Legacy feel underpowered and heavy. The other two optional 256 or 265 hp engines would make the Legacy feel more capable for everyday driving. Even with Subaru's all wheel drive system it felt as though it lacked Subaru's willingness to go off road, instead focusing on a smooth and comfortable drive for those city folk.

The redesigned Legacy is a Subaru aimed more towards a mainstream market. It's comfortable ride and cabin make for a pleasing highway and city drive. Aggressive styling coupled with it's soft ride may scare away some loyal Subaru owners and attract a different buyer. The Legacy lacks what makes Subaru a Subaru. It has evolved into a mainstream car, one that won't be found driving through dirt trails or going on camping trips, instead will be at home on highways and city streets.

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ken block freeridin’…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeVp9tmsvMk&feature=player_embedded

The 2010 Dakar Rally is creeping up on us (January 1-17), meaning a whole lot of fast trucks are going to be storming through South America. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, just take a look at this Forester built as a joint venture between Barattero Motorsport Group and Spanish oil company YPF Elaion lubricants. The 2 liter STI engine cracks out 300 horsepower and an impressive 420 ft-lbs of torque, twin shocks carrying 9 inches of travel, and vented 295mm AP racing brakes.

In this week’s episode of Top Gear, the boys built their own car, a guest drove round the track and they performed a test of an Audi and a Chevrolet.

First off, the guest. I had no idea who this guy was, but apparently he is in some Twilight movie that is quite popular. His name is Michael Sheen, and really, that’s all I know about him. Other than he was in Frost/Nixon and does a good impersonation of Tony Blair, he is also very quick around the track. Even though he didn’t seem to be taking the correct line or driving very smooth, he somehow managed to eek out a lap that was very impressively fast. I believe that the whole lap was won in the second to last corner, where he entered at an unbelievable pace that I have never before seen. Maybe more stars should use that tactic.

In the car test, Clarkson had an Audi R8 V10 on track. He said it was amazingly quick, and it should be. The thing has a Lamborghini V10 in the back that pumps out 520 hp, but it also costs about $150,000. And it doesn’t even look that much different from the V8, except for the little V10 badge on the arches and those horrible looking wheels. Really, those wheels are horrendous and I’m surprised they were approved. Overall, the car sounds good, looks good and goes really fast; but not as fast as the Chevy Corvette ZR1. Though these two cars may not seem like direct competitors, they are actually closer than you might think. For one thing, the Vette has a supercharged V8 that pumps out a ridiculous 638 hp and 604 ft lbs of torque. This means that it is faster than the Audi through the quarter mile and has a higher top speed. It is also surprisingly faster around a track, though you really do have to work at it to make it fast. Also, the Corvette costs only $107,000, and that is a bargain for the performance that you get. However, the Audi is, of course, put together better, will last longer, is faster in the real world, looks better and isn’t made of plastic. Plus, Corvettes have some of the worst seats in the business for being a sports car. Hell, my Subaru has sportier seats that that thing. In the end, the Vette blitzed the Audi around the track, even though it was damp as well. I can’t imagine how fast that thing would be if it had actually been dry.

In the third segment, the boys took a look at building their own electric car and posed the question, “How hard can it be?” turns out, it’s really hard. With Hammond on the chassis, May on the motors and Clarkson (the useless sod) on the body, their work all came together to create Geoff. It turned out to be a big box with a TVR chassis and two batteries for power. The top speed of Geoff was a paltry 10 mph and, as everyone should have seen coming, the boys got into trouble when they clogged up streets, caused slow downs on motorways and eventually left the car alone where it rolled down a hill and into a tree. But that wasn’t the end of the car. They came back in the second half of the segment and remade Geoff as the Thrust Eagle Hammerheadi… or something like that. Anyway, the basic car was exactly the same, with a new bumper and more batteries. They then took the car to the UK proving grounds and put it through its paces. They smashed it into a wall, put it in the side impact machine and performed a drag race with it against tough competition. The car, amazingly, passed all of the tests with flying colors and was given to the auto reviewers at Autocar so that they could test it. Turns out that it actually sucks.

Next week it sounds like they will be making rally cars or something and be figuring out which car company has made the greatest number of brilliant cars. Also, flying caravans; so stay tuned.

El Subaru Rally Team Spain realizó una sesión de test en Campoo de Enmedio, donde los pilotos Enrique García Ojeda y Javier Polidura tuvieron la última toma de contacto con los Impreza STI de cara al Rallye SHALYMAR, que se disputa este fin de semana en Madrid.

Well, the whole Street Racing thing is mostly over now every man and his dog have embraced drifting, TimeAttack and track driving. But this shot brings back memories!
Just look at that Subie ready to hit the streets!

Hill Top Subies, originally uploaded by A. Furlong Photography.

Subaru’s hero car the Impreza WRX has passed 30,000 sales in Australia.

The WRX is a turbocharged Symmetrical All Wheel Drive model from the Impreza family also known as “Rex”. Launched in March 1994 it changed the Australian automotive market and the perception of what a fast car should have under the bonnet. 15 years on it still sells for the same price – $39,990.

Given its credentials it didn’t take long before it had a cult following with buyers enjoying the raw performance and grip. When it was launched it had a similar effect as the Nissan GT-R with performance cars retailing for significantly higher prices unable to compete with the value for money.

“The dawn of Impreza WRX is an amazing milestone in our history,” said Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior.

“Just like the Subaru Forester and Outback, it effectively established a new class of vehicle, one that many have now followed.

“It paved the way for the low-volume and even more potent WRX STI versions, that have become the closest thing to a professional rally car at an accessible price.”

“It’s amazing to see that the Impreza WRX price today is the same as what we offered at launch, yet there’s so much more specification, so in many ways the current car is even better value.”

The Impreza WRX is still a favorite in Australia selling around 150 cars a month.

“WRX has seen many competitors come and go in the last 15 years, but its intrinsic engineering, quality and sheer fun have made it a true survivor with a distinct place in Australia’s automotive history,” said Mr Senior.

“I have lost count of the number of supposed competitors built up as Rex challengers, but they couldn’t cut the mustard, particularly the front wheel drive and rear wheel drive pretenders who soon got lost in the dust.”

From 1996-2005 the Impreza WRX STI took Subaru to 10 consecutive Australian Rally Drivers’ Championships, and eight Manufactures’ Championships.

First seen at the 1993 Sydney Motor Show, the Imprezza WRX came with a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder Boxer engine which produced 155kW at 6000rpm and 270Nm of torque at 4800rpm.

The currant Impreza WRX has a 2.5 litre turbocharged engine which produces 195kW at 6000rpm and 343Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

With technological improvements the WRX is not only more powerful it is also more fuel efficient with lower emissions.

Other changes now include:

0-100 km/h 5.3 seconds (6.5 in 1994)17-inch wheels (15-inch in 1994)Framed doors, for added rigidity and securityDual front, side and curtain airbagsElectronic Throttle ControlVDC electronic stability controlFive-star ANCAP safety rating

Impreza WRX is a multiple award winner, including:

1998 – Impreza WRX: MOTOR Bang for your Bucks winner
1999 – Impreza WRX: MOTOR Bang for your Bucks winner
2000 – Impreza (including WRX): Wheels Car of the Year
2001 – Impreza WRX: Australia’s Best Car in the Sports Car Under $56,000 category
2002 – Impreza WRX STI: MOTOR Bang for your Bucks winner
2003 – Impreza WRX: Australia’s Best Sports Car Under $57,000 – an honour jointly shared with the Mazda RX8.
2004 – Impreza WRX: Australia’s Best Sports Car Under $57,000
2005 – Impreza WRX STI: MOTOR Bang for your Bucks winner
2009 – Impreza WRX: MOTOR Bang for your Bucks winner

The recession is technically over and before long, companies might actually start frakkin’ hiring people for jobs again…that is, if this isn’t just a financial bubble prefacing a double-dip recession. Naked short-selling aside, the auto industry is reaching into the future with great abandon, apparently unconcerned enough with the shakiness of the recovery to pump out some new, interesting, and in some cases, downright spellbinding new cars, trucks, and what-have-you. There will be new marques to choose from, as well as new forms of power. Here are fifteen such vehicles I’ve selected that I’m looking forward to. Complications notwithstanding, all of these should be on the road in the next year or two, if they aren’t already.

1. Buick Regal - An old name gets slapped on a new, very German car that is gorgeous and may actually be fun to drive as well. Moreover, it apparently will be powered exclusively by four-bangers. Not only is a high-performance version possible, we may (fingers-crossed) even get a wagon version, which would be awesome and hilarious at the same time: Buick wants younger buyers, so is a relatively big FWD wagon the way to go? For me, maybe.

2. Cadillac CTS Coupe - The latest and perhaps best iteration yet of 21st Century Cadillac zaniness. Art + Science Fiction. And the first hard-roof coupe from Caddy in seventeen years. It looks like nothing else on the road and has that same concept car aura of the new Camaro. Because its a bit smaller than the sedan, it should be faster too…which brings me to the V-series version, which is also coming.

3. Chevy Cruze - Chevy wants a “flawless” unveiling for the replacement for the boring Cobalt and its clone, the Pontiac G5. Looks to get 40+mpg on the highway. GM going small and Direct Injection with engines. Forget the Volt, this thing is important. If Chevy can’t steal some sales away from the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla with this, all is for naught.

4. Ferrari 458 Italia – A new Ferrari is like a new American fighter jet – really expensive, unobtainable, and almost pointless even – the F450 hasn’t aged a day – but nevertheless more than welcome. It looks and sounds the business, and with tons of F1 tech in it, it will most certainly drive the business too.

5. Ford Fiesta - It’s coming. How much different it will look from the European one isn’t known, but Ford has been without a small car since the Kia-based Aspire, which was pathetic. The Fiesta hopefully begins a trend of “cheap but not rubbish” small cars by American carmakers (unlike the awful Chevy Aveo, the only subcompact any of the Detroit 3 currently sell.)

6. Fiat 500 - Fiat Group bought Chrysler, which is awesome because it means Italian cars that don’t cost six figures will again be sold here soon. In Europe, the 500 is extremely popular, and also re-skinned as a Ford Ka, but in America the Nuovo Topolino will be sold at Chrysler dealerships, giving that sinking ship a badly-needed small car. It should sell well to people who want a car that’s cheaper and cuter than a MINI and fresher and more fun than the aged VW New Beetle. Also, it’s Italian. ‘Nuff said.

7. Lexus LFA - The most interesting Lexus ever. Not saying much, but the amount of labor and attention to detail that went into this taut driving machine cannot be overlooked. Neither can the $375,000+ price tag. Lexus will still lose money on every one they sell. One of only two radial carbon fiber looms in the world weave the A-pillars together. A manically-anal-retentive gearhead’s wet dream, this.

8. Mahindra Pickup - This awkward, dowdy pickup will likely beat the Tata Nano as the first Indian vehicle sold in America. It runs on diesel engines, which I love, and is tough, durable, and no-nonsense (well, except the optional chrome grille.) It should also be cheap. Hopefully the government will permit their sale, because they can do the same farm and labor jobs as much larger American pickups but are far more fuel efficient and take up less space.

9. Mitsubishi Outlander - If there was a Comeback Crossover of the Year category, Outlander would win it hands down. While its European cousins the Peugeot 4008 and Citroen C-Crosser were brought to market with bold, in-your-face looks, The Mitsu was plainer than white bread, and more forgettable too. That ends immediately with a menacing new face with an Evo-inspired grille, more power, upscale-r interior, and very untrucklike road manners. In other words, it’s better in every way.

10. Nissan LEAF - Though being heralded with far less pomp and circumstance than Chevy’s $40,000, four-seat Volt, Nissan’s electric car for everyone will likely beat it to dealers. It also aims to be cheaper and more practical. But yes, it does somewhat resemble a parrotfish.

11. Saab 9-5 - The first all-new Saab seemingly ever, the new 9-5 flagship will go on sale when new sort-of owner Koenigsegg, figures out exactly how they’re going to make it. While there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the new 9-5 marks a return to more of that Saab quirkiness that was mostly lost during GM rule, when marketers thought comparing a TrailBlazer clone to a fighter jet would make people want to buy the 9-7x.

12. Scion iQ - While not a 100% sure thing, it is likely Toyota’s teeny-tiny iQ will come to America as a Scion, since they’d prefer young, hip people buy it than the average Toyota customer, who is about 75. While perhaps not as miniscule as a Smart, the iQ is better packaged, has at least one back seat, doesn’t look as stupid, carries Toyota’s vaunted reputation for quality along with it, and won’t be quite as overpriced. Hopefully its axles won’t rust away after three years!

13. Suzuki Kisashi – Suzuki’s had a bit of a raw deal in the U.S. as purveyors of stretched Equinox clones and dull-as-paste, chintzy Daewoos. The homebuilt SX4 shook things up, being the cheapest AWD car as well as the cheapest with satnav standard. They take it up a notchwith the very Japanesey Kisashi, a smart, Jetta-sized sedan that bucks the more-is-more trend and goes instead for driver involvement and all-around quality. Suzuki’s marketing sucks, but hopefully this will sell well, because it looks to be a fine car and a bargain to boot.

14. Toyota/Subaru Compact Sports Coupe - Pretty much nobody needs a sporty coupe more than Toyota, except for maybe Subaru, so the two decided to save some time and develop one jointly. I’m looking forward to their final results. So far we’ve only seen the Toyota version in concept form (and monkey-butt red metallic paint.) The Subaru will likely be larger and of course feature standard AWD. The last Subaru coupe was the epic-but-pricey SVX, while Toyota’s Celica died a slow death. Here’s hoping they have better luck with what will be far superior machines.

15. VW Golf TDI - What was the Rabbit became the Golf then the Rabbit again and now the Golf again. Golf Mark VI is more refined and mature Golf ever, and so is the TDI’s diesel engine. Not only that, the TDI is fun. Fun to dart around in. Which means even if you have to drive a little further to find a diesel pump, you’ll be grateful. And it gets 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The Mercedes SLS AMG.
Gullwings = WIN.
Q.E.D.

The 2010 Legacy is longer, taller, and wider than the previous generation model. And the engines are more powerful and more fuel-efficient than last year’s. For 2010, the Legacy is 1.4 inches longer and 3.3 inches taller, and its track is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear. Passengers in the rear seat now have an additional 3.9 inches of legroom and it makes for a much larger door opening. Interior volume is 103 cubic feet, larger than the Toyota Camry’s 101.4 cubic feet, but still smaller than the Honda Accord’s 106 cubic feet. The Legacy has 14.7 cubic feet of storage in the trunk, and will accommodate four pieces of luggage

Outside, it’s easy to identify the Legacy as a Subaru, but the new design will appeal to most midsize sedan shoppers. Subaru has attracted frugal owners in the past, but the Legacy now offers many luxurious technologies and features. The full-frame doors bring noise, vibration, and harshness levels down considerably. The Legacy also includes an auto-up driver’s window, larger, more comfortable seats, better materials, and nicer looking gauges than on other Subaru products. Options are limited but include an upgraded Harman-Kardon stereo, Bluetooth phone and iPod connectivity, a backup camera, a moonroof, and a voice-activated navigation system.

The entry-level Legacy I tested is powered by a 2.5-liter Boxer four cylinder engine that produces 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. A new six-speed manual is paired with a viscous center differential that splits power equally between the front and rear wheels. Those opting for the automatic CVT will get a slightly more sophisticated AWD system that uses a slip-clutch and fancy electronics to determine which end of the car needs more torque. Subaru says this is the first application of a CVT with a Boxer engine. The 170 hp does not do much to raise a driving enthusiast’s pulse, but it provides enough power for getting around town and getting up I-70 into the mountains. Those considering the 2.5i will likely be most interested in the standard AWD at its $20,690 base price. Equally impressive is the 31-mpg highway rating for the new Legacy.

One of the biggest changes for the 2010 Subaru Legacy is the ride quality thanks to the double-wishbone rear suspension and front Macpherson-strut setup. This combination is what all Subaru’s now use in their suspension design. Body lean is well controlled, and the Legacy is stable going down the road thanks largely to its wider track and longer wheelbase. Braking performance has improved noticeably from last year’s model. Subaru claims a 20% improvement in response from the new brake booster. Though the midsize Legacy is not a sports sedan, it is fun to drive. With fuel prices starting to head up again, the normally aspirated four-cylinder model should be in demand. The Legacy offers a good mix of power, fun, and frugality, and it comes standard with all-wheel drive. A basic 2.5i Legacy with the six-speed manual transmission will cost $20,690 with destination; the CVT transmission is $1000 extra, but there are no other options. Stepping up to the Premium trim level runs another $1000 and comes with an eight-way power driver’s seat, 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust tip, auto up/down driver’s window, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 2.5i Limited runs $25,690 and adds a power passenger seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, mirrors, and wiper de-icers, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, and a premium audio system.

The Subaru Legacy delivers a refined drive that’s surprisingly agile in a sensibly sized package that won’t bust the budget. Lower trim levels are high on value and Subaru has an almost cult-like following among those who live in snow country.

No one will notice.

Looks like tino’s built motor that I was discussing last week has found it’s new home.

Roger Clark Motorsport at Donington. Clash Productions never ceases to impress.

O assunto do Marea me fez relembrar desse carro que a pouco tempo, alguns meses mesmo, era lenda no Racha de Interlagos, o Subaru AP do piloto Edvaldo Posses, o “Picolé”. Picolé é um cara que curte carros com misturas entre fabricantes, o cara possui por exemplo um Mustang com traseira de Skyline R33 que já foi matéria da Fullpower e apavorava no evento do autódromo paulistano a bordo do seu Subaru Impreza WRX equipado com motor de Golf, AP 16V, o carro primeiramente era apenas de uso pra rua mais sempre faturava umas vitórias em Interlagos, mais fotos:

O carro foi montado na oficina Steel, pelo preparador Pezão que é nome forte nas pistas de arrancada do Brasil

Há boatos circulando por aí de que o Picolé estourou o motor do carro e por isso ele não foi mais visto no racha em Interlagos, mas carece de fontes oficiais, de qualquer forma é mais um carro que indigna tanto os apzeiros quanto os fãs do Subaru, mas uma coisa temos que convir: quando o assunto é custo benefício em preparação o bom e velho AP não perde pra ninguém! Talvez por isso iremos continuar a ver por anos essas adaptações quase sempre vitoriosas nas pistas e nas ruas, afinal Chevette e Fusca AP não é dificil de achar por aí não, fiquem de olhos abertos pra não levar sufoco de um “aptransplantado”!!

Thiago Marinelli

Fotos e informações adicionais:

Autodynamics

Dragster Brasil

Scott has the top rated Subaru Brat on CarDomain. Check out his ride page for more on this awesome Subie!

Looks like Do-Luck is getting ready for Super Lap Battle next month. Their insane bugeye STi has been rumored to be competing this year. I really hope the car makes a showing. It’s been too long since bugeyes dominated the tarmac at Tsukaba.

I’d never rock a wing like this on my daily, but it looks great on this dude’s car!

I love car pictures with fall foliage in the background. I really wish we had leaves like this in California.