The New Subaru Impreza WRX STI R205…limited to 400 only

Splattered with STi badging and high quality touches thtoughout, the new R205 comes with a brand new exclusive turbocharger, sports exhaust system, STi tuned dampers and coil springs, 18″ aluminium wheels,  exclusive grille and quarter panel upgrades, and retuned ECU.

The engine upgrades take the R205’s power to a very strong 325HP and 317.9 lb-ft of torque, with Brembo 6-pot breaks up front and 4-pot in the rear bringing the car to a quick, firm stop.

But don’t get to excited, availability for the R205 is currently limited 400 units in the JDM (that means Japan) only, and like previous incarnaitons, is not expected to land in the European, US or Australian markets (outside of grey imports).

[Ed: Your move, Mitsubishi.]

Subaru Impreza WRX STi R205

Starting at $33, 990, the Columbia gains a few upgrades over the standard Forester, including 16″ alloy wheels, fog lights, roof cross bars, rear step panel, cargo tray and a $500 voucher for Columbia merchandise. Notably the 2010 Columbia is missing a sunroof and heated seats which were present on the 2007 incarnation.

Initially 1050 Columbia’s will be available from today.

PRESS RELEASE:

01 Jan 2010
Special edition Forester X Columbia

Subaru has partnered with global sportswear company, Columbia, to produce a new special edition – the Forester X Columbia.

Australia’s best selling SUV, the Forester, adds an extensive list of extras and is priced from just $33,990 driveaway.

Forester X Columbia is ready for weekend adventures adding 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, roof cross bars, cargo tray and rear step panel.

Special edition badging is also added and customers receive a $500 voucher to spend on Columbia merchandise.

Available in both manual and automatic transmissions, this special edition is available in all Forester colours.

Only 1050 are available, and are priced at $33,990 driveaway for the manual and $35,990 for the automatic.

Standard Forester features include:

• ABS brakes with EBD
• Airbags — dual front, side and curtain
• Air-conditioning
• All-Wheel Drive
• AM/FM radio/CD player
• DataDot security system
• Electronic throttle control system
• Headlights auto off
• Hill holder (manual only)
• Immobiliser security system
• Power steering, mirrors and windows
• Three year/unlimited kilometre warranty

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Forester is the highest-selling SUV in the country and is perfectly suited to the Australian lifestyle.

“It’s a natural fit to partner with Columbia and we think this special edition offers customers a fantastic recreational package at a very competitive price.”

The Forester X Columbia is on sale from 4 January 2010.

About Subaru

Every Subaru sold in Australia features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a horizontally opposed boxer engine, standard Vehicle Dynamics Control electronic stability program, and a five-star rating for occupant safety from the independent Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The result – driving confidence.

[Source: Leap Year! — Action Sports — ESPN]

The entire event was undertaken as part of Travis’s Red Bull No Limits group in front of a live TV audience. Check it out via Youtube below

The AWD sedan comes a year after the new hatchback Impreza that debuted, and shares the same 2620mm wheelbase and price range for all three variants; R, RX, and RS. However the sedan is 165mm longer than the hatch in total, and comes with a slightly larger boot (45mm longer). The car also rides 35mm higher than the previous Impreza sedan, and provides a split-folding rear seat to improve capacity.

The sedan’s engine remains unchanged from the hatch variant, a 110KW(@6400RPM)/196NM(@3200RPM) two litre DOHC Boxer four cylinder petrol engine mated to either a 5 speed manual transmission or 4 speed SportsShift automatic. Subaru claims a combined fuel economy of 8.9L/100km for the manual variants and 8.8L/100km for automatic variants on standard (91RON) unleaded fuel.

The Impreza is available with dual front and side airbags, curtain airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, VDC stability control, active front head-rests, hill-start assist for manual cars, air conditioning and a standard 4 speaker CD audio. All models are 5-star ANCAP rated.

Purchasing the RX version adds 16″ alloy wheels, a 6-stacker, 10 speaker CD audio system, automatic climate control, a leather-rim steering wheel with audio controls and leather gearshift and optional sunroof.

The RS upgrades the alloys to 17″, adds a bodykit with rear diffuser and spoiler, mesh grille, sports seats, rear privacy glass and an upgraded trim. The RS may also be optioned with a leather trim and sunroof package.

The WRX version of the Sedan, packing Subaru’s fabled 169KW/320NM 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder is expected in December.

Pricing is as follows:

• Impreza R $24,490 (manual) $26,490 (auto)
• Impreza RX $26,490 (manual) $28,490 (auto)
• Impreza RS $29,490 (manual) $31,490 (auto)

The last model Celica. Will we see styling cues from this?

But perhaps even more surprising is the rumor that the car will be engineered to a large degree by Subaru. In November Toyota confirmed rumours of a new sports car and Celica replacement, with the sports car being a collaboration between Subaru and Toyota, and now it seems the car is the performance model of the Celica line. However, the new car will not come with a Toyota bred turbo four in the tradition of the (somewhat) underpowered motor of the old model — instead it’s going to be carrying a Subaru Boxer turbo, most recently seen in the all grown up Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

The new model is said to come in two distinct performance variants. First, the base ‘GT’, packing a front engined, RWD drivetrain and naturally aspirated 2.0L 4 cylinder Boxer (most likely from the Impreza RX), designed to slide in under the $20,000 bracket. Secondly the full fat GT-4, which carries the new JDM STi’s 224KW (300HP) Boxer turbo and AWD system standard, with Motor Trend claiming the engine will be closer to the cars firewall in order to facilitate the installation of in-wheel electric motors to help with traction.

The GT and GT-4 will be built in in coupe and three-door hatch variants, but no five door variants because of Toyota and Subaru not wanting to compete in the Impreza’s arena, which is rather tongue in cheek considering this new car will inevitably be seen as either a Impreza in Toyota clothing, or as direct competition by tuners. This begs the question then; will the new GT-4 be a real contender in the hotly contested price for performance bracket? Will the Toyota be lighter, faster, and more capable than the new STi? Would Subaru shoot themselves in the foot, and does it matter considering Toyota’s widening stake in Subaru?

Does this mean Subaru will become more and more the performance arm of Toyota? Time will tell, but we certainly hope not.

Other features expected include:

• Dual AVCS DOHC 2.0L (1994cc) 16 valve Boxer
• Twin-scroll turbocharger
• 6-speed manual. Multi-mode, SI-DRIVE
• Drivers Control Center Differential (DCCD
• Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
• Quad exhaust

[Source: Autoblog]

Three hot cars, but which one is the most fun? Prepare for Mitsi vs Subie fan battles!

Although not immediately clear in the pics, it seems the STi is going to be designed to stand apart from it’s WRX base with a more masculine, bulked up appearance, with bulging muscular fenders, quad tips, a roof wing, and possibly black versions of the clear tail lights, though it’s hard to tell. It seems Subaru have listened to STi owners classically complaining about the STi looking too similar to the ‘standard’ WRX (Though we’re sure some fans must be wishing Subaru had listened on overall styling, period.).

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. These photo’s have been brightened

The STi will be revealed on the 24th of October at the Tokyo Motor Show (write it in your diaries or something, Scooby fans!)

Suzuki X-HEAD. Funny name, funky car, err… tank.

Expected at the Tokyo Motor Show, the X-HEAD is aimed at companies and individuals with practicality in mind, and is perhaps the most intimidating vehicle Suzuki have ever concepted. The X apparently means unknown or unlimited possible uses, meaning someone at Suzuki is probably a fan of algebra. No word on what the HEAD bit means or possible specifications, though this clearly looks like an off-road capable vehicle so 4WD, and possible diesel could be on the cards.

[Source: Suzuki via Autoblog]

New ‘AE86’?

The car is apparently being aimed at the under 2,000,000 yen mark. In itself this is interesting because typically, a JDM RWD coupe could very easily exceed this. Keeping this in mind, cost is the reason for the car’s 1.5L (EL15) DOHC flat-four engine. This DOHC engine puts out a very ho-hum 110ps @ 6,400rpm and 14.7kg/m @ 3,200rpm, and is a cheap, cost effective motor. Knowing this, Toyota wants the car to be under 1100kg to provide any sort of performance.

The test mule currently sports a 200mm shorter version of the Legacy chassis, 4WD running gear (minus front drive), double wishbone suspension, and a Subau differential. However, 7tune tells us the differential is a weak link, and it is more likely we will see the Impreza 15S platform over any further variations of the Legacy platform.

The aspect of this car that confuses us is that EL15 engine and it’s dismal output. Why? Both Subaru and Toyota have plenty of experience in making decent power DOHC motors in the 2.0L range, and in making light vehicles when they wish. Cost is a factor, but one has to wonder if the new collaboration wouldn’t be better served by adding 500,000 yen and giving us a more potent motor, even if it’s a sourced turbodiesel, like the new Boxer TDi.

Perhaps Subaru and Toyota are using the EL15 only to deter us, and have something more potent in the works. Something along the lines of the Mugen Civic RR’s 177kW N/A — or even ditching N/A for a turbocharged flat four. Perhaps add a few pounds to sort out the rear end, drivetrain mechanics and chassis strength — the extra weight would easily be accounted for with greatly increased power.

Perhaps Toyota has forgot how to make a sports car in the long years since the Supra, and even longer years since the AE86.

[Source: 7Tune]