Archive

For July, 2008

Jul 28

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX gets upgraded to 265 hp

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A forum member at NASIOC has posted a corporate communiqué supposedly sent to North American Subaru dealers announcing the forthcoming arrival of the 2009 Impreza WRX. Two models are outlined in the release, the first, a new model dubbed the Impreza GT, will only be available with an automatic transmission and the 224 hp engine from the WRX. But that’s not the real news…

The 2009 WRX’s turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer will get a boost in output to 265 hp (41 hp more than the 2008 model) and will only be available with a manual gearbox. The ’09 WRX will also feature an upgraded suspension (no details), an STI-style front grille, standard aero kit and a new grey wheel package, along with red stitching on the steering wheel and seats.

The memo also mentions the inclusion of a moonroof on models equipped with the premium package, along with some undisclosed changes on vehicles equipped with the ivory interior.

While owners of the 2008 WRX might feel slighted, it’s nice to know that Subaru is stepping up its game on the eve of the release of the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Jul 09

Mackay WRX Meet N Greet – 27/07/08 12:30pm

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Monthly Meet N Greets are held so we can all meet up, have a chat, and even go for a cruise. The meeting place is at Supercheap North Mackay car park at 12:30pm on the last Sunday of the month.

The next meet is on the 27th of July, if your keen to meet us or catch up feel free to come along.

Jul 09

Subaru changes targets for 2008

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Subaru drivers Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson will start the second half of this year’s World Rally Championship with the freedom to go flat out and win stages in an attempt to put the new Impreza WRC2008 on the podium through sheer pace before the end of the season.

Subaru World Rally Team managing director Richard Taylor revealed that the team has changed its targets since the car was launched on the Acropolis Rally in June, with the outfit now wanting to match performance with reliability.

For Greece and Turkey, the car was run in ‘durability’ specification, but from now on, according to Taylor, speed is the key.

“We needed to get the cars through Greece and Turkey,” he said. “We needed the mileage to see what the cars could do. Now we’ve done that, we want to see the cars going as fast as they can. We’ve been testing the performance specification of the car in Finland this week, and the results have been very positive.”

The developing WRC2008 will also features improvements to its weight, both overall and distribution, and some subtle aero changes for the second half of the year.

Taylor continued: “Talking about the weight and level of protection we were running on the car, you’d have known about it if you’d dropped the sump guard on your foot! You’d also have seen how high we were running the car on the last two rallies. This will all change for the next rallies. We’re taking some of the protection out of the car to get the speed up. That was always the intention.”

D.M.: Excellent, here’s hoping Subaru manages to get up on top in this years WRC.

Jul 02

Prodrive sets up Essex police with 270hp Impreza interceptors

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Prodrive WRX Police Car
If you watched the first episode of Top Gear’s season 11, you likely smirked at the lackluster Vauxhalls that the British bobbies have to drive in pursuit of “the baddies”. But once in a while the constables in the UK gets something special in their motor-pools, like the Caparo T1, Lotus Exige, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. While few officers have actually had the chance to drive any of these epic exotics since they’re used purely for demonstration purposes, the latest addition is here to stay: Prodrive has prepared a fleet of Subaru Impreza GB270s especially for the Automatic Number Plate Recognition Team at the Essex Police department.

Not only did Prodrive set up the vehicle for the team, commonly known as “The Interceptors”, but the 21 officers that make up their ranks received a day of special instruction on how to get the most out of their new 270hp all-wheel-drive speed machines.

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