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Subaru BRZ Teases Us All

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:19:58 +0000

Subaru keeps teasing us with images of the new BRZ sports car concept – but when can we see it all? The auto maker is being very secretive about their vehicle, with only glimpses of a production model being released. However, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, digital concept drawings of their Subaru BRZ STI Concept were shown off. The Japanese auto maker claims they will unveil the car at this month’s Tokyo Auto Show:

These images give us a look at what direction Subaru design is taking with this rear-wheel-drive sports car. It’s unclear if the regular, non-STI production model will mimic this look, but some key features (like the 2.0 liter boxer engine) will likely remain. Though STI will receive a turbocharged variant. Each will supposedly be attached to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The hexagonal front grille and fin-shaped fog lamps add to that Rally Car look, along with the “WR Blue Pearl II” – “a new generation of the iconic World Rally Blue paint scheme.”

The body is aero-tuned with lower front spoiler and unique rear wing for optimal down-force. BRZ also includes a carbon fiber roof to lower its center of gravity. Supported by a STI-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, and 18-inch wheels, it seems like Subaru will hit the ball out o the park with BRZ – if they actually decide to release it.

Source | Photos: MA

Subaru Teases 2011 WRX STI

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:59:58 +0000

2011 is going to be a banner year for Subaru, as the WRX STI gets teased just prior to its 2010 New York Auto Show debut.

Will it be a hatchback? Can a sedan in be Subaru’s future? Only time will tell as we search through rumors of the WRX future. The Motor Report said they have spied a hatchback WRX for next year, while other auto mags have peered at sedans.

One report states “When they tried inserting a WRX hatchback into the image, the body contours matched very closely, but the wing didn’t match the contours of the sheet.” We can’t wait to check out Subaru’s production model in New York!

The Source: WorldCarFans

Subaru Brings Tourer, Not Much Else to NAIAS

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:58:38 +0000

Subaru brought their Hybrid Tourer Concept to the 2010 NAIAS and…well not much else. But what Subaru lacked in physical flash they made up for with numbers. Mat Nagato, Executive Vice President of Fuji Heavy Industry, Subaru’s parent company, listed all the sales records set by the brand in most of its markets: which include a 16 % increase in Canadian sales, 3.9% in Australia and in China a whopping 86%! Not bad, and with hybrid cars like the Tourer on the way in 2010 – 2011, you can bet sales will shoot up even higher. Needs to refresh your memory? Check out a bit of the press release below.

SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT
1. Concept

Subaru has condensed its DNA, developed over many years around the Subaru’s core technology of “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)” and “Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine”, into the integration of a luxurious and high-quality cabin atmosphere and an eye-catching sculpted body. The concept car features Subaru’s latest evolutions in handling agility, riding comfort and superior safety performance. It proposes Subaru’s vision of a future grand touring car that excels in environmental friendliness thanks to Subaru’s unique hybrid system.

2. Design and packaging

Subaru imagined wings with a feeling of freedom and confidence for driving far and wide in any environment. A luxurious and comfortable cabin, and advanced driving performance are contained within a sculpted aerodynamic form. The design features a combination of bright, open glass areas with a solid, reliable body.

Subaru WRX STI TRAX Concept

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:37:33 +0000

The residents of Vermont will drool at this year’s Subaru SEMA entry – a WRX STI concept containing four snowmobile treads! The Subaru TRAX Concept gets up to 400 horse power even in the snow, and it’s four rotating tank-like treads, based on large snowmobiles, will tackle the mountains of Stowe and Smugglers Notch. Check out hte full (impressive) press release below:

Just in Time for the Holidays, a 400-Horse (-powered) Sleigh

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 2 — The Subaru WRX STI, when equipped with proper tires, is capable of impressive all-weather performance. But when even snow tires are not enough, Subaru offers a solution – a 400-hp WRX STI equipped with a snow tracks system, as showcased at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 3-6.

Starting with a rally-prepared 2009 WRX STI, Subaru Rally Team USA’s technical partner, Vermont SportsCar, built the one-off 400-hp TRAX STI envisioned by, and built for, DC Shoes co-founder and SRT USA driver Ken Block. The WRX STI TRAX is ready for the half-pipe, with a Yakima FatCat 4 Snowboard Rack up top, a Yakima Landing Pad rack base and DC Shoes XFB-C Snowboards. Naturally, there is a custom matching sleigh to go with it.

With the exception of the Mattracks rubber track system, the car is rally-prepared and similar in specification Block’s #43 SRT USA competition STI. Starting with a stock 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Vermont SportsCar stripped the car’s interior bare, lightened the shell and then fully seam-welded it for added strength, also installing a multipoint roll cage manufactured from T45 steel. Major differences from the stock STI include the addition of lightweight carbon/Kevlar RECARO SPA ProRacer competition seats with the Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS), carbon fiber door panels and an onboard fire suppression system.

Under the hood, the ultimate Subaru snow machine sports a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine tuned with a MOTEC M800 ECU. The engine, which kicks out approximately 400 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, is teamed with a KAPS 5-speed close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox and the Subaru programmable DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) all-wheel drive system. Employing custom machined hubs, the drivetrain – which has been dropped three inches – is mated to Mattracks 105M1-A1 rubber track conversion. The car also features Group N competition rally dampers made by EXE-TC.

And Now for Something Completely Different

The WRX STI TRAX can bring four more friends along for the fun with its one-of-a-kind custom sleigh. Constructed with hand-laid fiberglass using sandwich-core construction, the sleigh runs on custom built steel skis with torsion bar suspension. Yakima FatCat 4 snowboard racks carry Qty 2 DC XFB Snowboards.

Protected beneath the padded roll bars are four heated and embroidered leather RECARO Speed seats with Sabelt 4-point harnesses. For music on the slopes, a marine grade water resistant Alpine digital media receiver is coupled with marine grade Kicker speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. The rear of the sleigh features a large cooler and a grab-bar for towing snowboarders. Cup holders and LED lighting finish off the interior.

The sleigh also features a carbon fiber dashboard, center tunnel cover and rear-cooler cover. Tucked into a glovebox within the carbon fiber covered dashboard are two Viosport POV.1 camera systems. One camera lens is flush-mounted within the dashboard to film passengers, and the other is mounted high on the roll bar to record action around the sleigh.

Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:04:16 +0000

Subaru is bringing the DeLorean back in style – or maybe not. But the Tourer Concept has, without a doubt, one of the oddest looks of any Subaru vehicle yet. Subaru vehicles hardly ever strike-out when it comes to wagon design/sales – so of course they’d want to take the future of their R&D into the 3-door passenger vehicle realm. The tradition hatchback design is elongated into the size of a 5-door, with everyone’s favorite gull-wing door design.
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Not to take away from the Impreza, but Subaru obviously went “balls to the wall” with Tourer. It’s sleek look and sharp front end look as though it could pierce any wind resistance hurtle, or the snowbank of your average Vermont road in February.

The Subaru Tourer hybrid system is primarily powered a 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo, coupled with Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system. The “hybrid’ part comes from a 27 horse power motor connected to the rear axle, along with a power boost of 13 horse power up front used to generate power for the lithium battery pack. Check out all the lovely details in Subaru’s press release below.

SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT (Concept car)

1. Concept

Subaru has condensed its DNA, developed over many years around the Subaru’s core technology of “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)” and “Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine”, into the integration of a luxurious and high-quality cabin atmosphere and an eye-catching sculpted body. The concept car features Subaru’s latest evolutions in handling agility, riding comfort and superior safety performance. It proposes Subaru’s vision of a future grand touring car that excels in environmental friendliness thanks to Subaru’s unique hybrid system.

2. Design and packaging

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Exterior

Subaru imagined wings with a feeling of freedom and confidence for driving far and wide in any environment. A luxurious and comfortable cabin, and advanced driving performance are contained within a sculpted aerodynamic form. The design features a combination of bright, open glass areas with a solid, reliable body.

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Interior

The original point of the ideal grand touring car is its interior design, featuring four independent and comfortably positioned seats. Passengers are enclosed within an atmosphere that provides a surpassing feeling of openness and stress-free reassurance, through the further pursuit of a human-centered philosophy, the essence of Subaru car design, and the incorporation of functions that are friendly to passengers.
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The top of the dashboard is movable up and down to provide an optimal driving environment for the driver according to driving conditions.
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A flat floor in the rear seat was achieved even with the implementation of AWD, for improved use and movement inside the cabin.
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Specialized shielding is incorporated in the windshield to reduce eyestrain on the driver.
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New leather covering developed with superior breathability and a ventilation function is used in the seats for improved comfort and texture.

3. Mechanisms

In addition to refinements to Subaru’s core technology such as Symmetrical AWD and Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine, further enhancements were made for improved environmental friendliness, driving performance and high safety performance by offering a next-generation power unit system and advanced safety technologies.

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Next-generation power unit system

2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine

The Horizontally-Opposed turbo gasoline engine, with a reputation for powerful acceleration, is combined with a direct fuel-injection system for improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, and improved torque and response in practical range. This evolution in Subaru turbo technology excels in both environmental friendliness and engine performance.

Lineartronic (CVT)

Lineartronic, Subaru’s new generation automatic transmission, achieves further improvements in both fuel efficiency and driving performance by reinforcing parts for use with the high-power output of a turbo engine.

Hybrid system

To further enhance the appeal of the Symmetrical AWD system, this unique hybrid two-motor system features a power/drive motor in the front and a drive motor in the rear.

At start-up and extremely low speeds when fuel efficiency is low, such as when driving the car into a garage, the rear motor is used primarily to allow driving without utilizing the power of the engine.

During normal driving, the front engine is primarily used. The direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline mated with the Symmetrical AWD offers a whole new, Subaru driving experience.

During acceleration, the rear motor assists the driving power of the engine to achieve advanced driving performance.

Further, when accelerating uphill, the front motor, which is normally used as a power generator, assists to drive the front axle for improved performance.

The implementation of a non-idling function that stops the engine when the car comes to a halt reduces unnecessary fuel consumption.

The use of a high-performance lithium battery is based on experience and know-how achieved with the Subaru Plug-in STELLA electric vehicle, launched this summer. This includes the use of a precise energy management system and regenerative brake controls, for improvements in excellent fuel efficiency.