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Apr 17

Born again: Subaru WRX STI & MackayWRX bites back

By DennisNo Comments

Subaru WRX STI 2010

Subaru has revived the car on which the rally-bred WRX legend has been built with a sedan version of its fastest model, the WRX STI. Recently unveiled at the New York motor show, the new WRX STI sedan gets more aggressive styling, including a huge rear wing and boldly flared wheel arches that give the small pocket rocket more visual presence and a wider track, for better handling.

Like the WRX STI hatch that’s been on sale for some time – and will be updated later this year – the STI sedan will be the performance hero in the Subaru range.

Subaru WRX STI 2010 2

The new STI will be powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine driving through all four wheels, expected to give the $60,000-odd four-door 0-100kmh capability of a little over five seconds. Subaru says the WRX STI sedan will be in Australia by the end of 2010 joining the revised Subaru WRX line-up that brings with it more aggressive styling as part of a model update.

MACKAY WRX:
With news of this upcoming addition to the subaru range, MackayWRX.com is also planning to make a comeback. I would like to organise a cruise in about a month or so and advertise that we are still up and running. I would like to get some help from the members in keeping the website running, making posts on the front page and also the forum. I will be able to go into more detail on this on the cruise. I will setup member accounts and create a working document which will help you to login and create posts of interest in regards to the group or just Subaru news in general.

Feb 24

First Subaru Impreza World Rally Car up for Sale by Prodrive

By AdminNo Comments

The very first Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (WRC), a 1997 model with chassis number PRO-WRC-97-001 has been put up for sale by the Japanese firm’s official partner in the WRC (before its decision to withdraw from the sport late last year, that is), Prodrive. The two-door Impreza WRC was the very first car built under the new WRC regulations introduced in 1997 and during that season, the chassis was used by the late Colin McRae, Pierro Liatti and Kenneth Erikkson before being rebuilt and sold to a Prodrive customer in 1998.

The rally-prepped Impreza has been fully restored to its original condition by McKinstry Motorsport in Ireland and liveried as it was at the Rally of Finland in 1997. And now the answer to the question we’re sure that all you Subie fans are dying to know; how much? Well, the car carries a price tag of £85,000 which come to around $123,000 U.S. or €96,500 with today’s exchange rates.

And if the ’97 Impreza isn’t your cup of coffee, Prodrive has also put up for grabs another seven former works Impreza World Rally Cars and 17 Prodrive Impreza Group Ns via its new site. Prices range from £50,000 ($72,000 U.S. or €56,700) for a 2005 Prodrive Impreza Group N to nearly £350,000 ($504,00 U.S. or € 397,000) for an early 2008 specification Impreza WRC.


Feb 21

Toyota/Subaru FR sports car code-named 086A, will include direct injection

By AdminNo Comments


Over the past few months, rumors have circulated that the joint venture between Toyota and Subaru to develop an affordable, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe has been delayed. ToMoCo president, Akio Toyoda, sought to address those concerns at last month’s Tokyo Auto Salon, and according to Toyota’s new overlord, development is still underway.

Toyoda told the assembled masses that the new FR sports car is an essential part of the automaker’s “rejuvenation” efforts to bring younger people into the fold, and a large part of that is price. The coupe is still expected to cost around 2,000,000 yen (a little over $21,000 US) and is set to go on sale in 2012. According to Toyoda, the production postponement has nothing to do with the delay in construction of the Toyota/Subaru factory, where the two-door was due to be built next year. Instead, Toyoda claims that the hold up is due to the adaption of Toyota’s new D-4S direct injection system for the flat-four engine. Currently, the FR sports car is codenamed “086A,” and for those of you schooled in the world of Hachirokus, that spells good things to come.

[Source: 7Tune | Image: Holiday Auto (colored by AB)]

Feb 20

Chicago 2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Travis Pastrana Edition

By AdminNo Comments

Click above for high-res gallery of the Subaru Travis Pastrana Impreza WRX STI

Tucked away in a corner of McCormick Place was this custom WRX STI built in as part of a cooperative effort between Subaru and Travis Pastrana’s race team, Vermont SportsCar. The car commemorates Pastrana’s third consecutive Rally America National Championship, and although a one-off, many of the parts on the car can be purchased through your local authorized Subaru dealer.

The exterior features custom yellow paint, a carbon fiber hood and rear spoiler, front chin spoiler, and a set of PIAA 2100 HID driving lights. Handling is improved thanks to an SPT strut tower brace, lower chassis brace, and BFGoodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S tires wrapped over satin black Work Evolution XD-9 wheels.

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter boxer engine gets an upgraded ECU and custom downpipe, while the interior now sports custom blue Alcantara seats with yellow piping, short-throw shifter, Kicker sound system and… an XBox 360.

Feb 20

Forgan Bridge Replacement & Duplication Project – Mackay CBD Traffic Changes

By AdminNo Comments

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The $128m Forgan Bridge Project is the most significant project for the Mackay region since the duplication of Ron Camm Bridge and includes the replacement of the existing bridge with a new four lane structure, replacement of Barnes Creek Bridge and upgrading of the Kooyong Intersection.

Proposed Traffic Changes

The following changes will be made for the Mackay CBD Area:

Removal of traffic signals from the River Street/Sydney Street intersection

No access onto Forgan Bridge from Sydney Street (u-turn facility provided for local traffic)

Modification of various River Street intersections for safety and efficiency purposes including:

- Roundabout at Macalister Street intersection

- Protected right turn from Gregory Street

- Restricted left-in/left-out at Wood Street.

Closure of west bound lane on Victoria Street at Macalister Street intersection (u-turn facility

provided for local traffic)

Single lane exit from Forgan Bridge into Sydney Street and River Street Benefits

Continuous traffic flow on and off Forgan Bridge

Avoids the need for frequent traffic changes

Improves safety and efficiency for the travelling public and project construction

Head to the Forums for the traffic changes map.

Feb 19

Meet & Greet: 22nd Feb, 12:00pm – Supercheap Nth Mackay

By AdminNo Comments

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 12:00pm on the last Sunday of the month.

The next meet is on the 22nd of February, if your keen to meet us or catch up feel free to come along.

Click here to download the flyer to hand out to other subarus you might feel want to come along.

Feb 04

Subaru Up-Specs

By AdminNo Comments

 

Subaru has announced a second round of price reductions and added features, despite recent increases among several importers under exchange rate pressure.

Impreza RS recommended retail pricing (rrp) is reduced by $1000, while at no extra cost Subaru has now added:

  • Alloy wheels to Impreza R
  • Electric sunroof to Impreza RX, representing $2000 extra value

 

In addition, Subaru is now offering a leather trim with sunroof and Xenon headlight with pop-up washer package on Impreza RS, for $3000 – a package worth more than $5700 recommended retail price. 

Subaru recently announced a $1500 reduction in the price of Impreza R sedan and hatch, and a $2000 reduction on entry-level Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan, wagon and Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Our currency hedging strategy has again enabled us to offer customers more value at a time when many competitors are looking at price increases.

“Inevitably we will have to consider our pricing in the future, but for now we intend to pass on the benefit of our successful currency strategy to our customers.”  

Impreza MY09 pricing and specification updates:

These are recommended retail prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.

Impreza R manual, now with alloys $22,990 (-$1500)
Impreza R SPORTSHIFT automatic, now with alloys $24,990 (-$1500)
Impreza RX manual, now with electric sunroof $26,490
Impreza RX SPORTSHIFT automatic, now with electric sunroof $28,490
Impreza RS manual $28,490 (-$1000)
Impreza RS SPORTSHIFT automatic $30,490 (-$1000)

Impreza RS option package:
Leather trim, electric sunroof, Xenon headlights with pop-up washers $3000

Revised Liberty 2.5i pricing:

Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan   $32,990 (-$2000)
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon   $34,990 (-$2000)

Revised Outback 2.5i pricing:

Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic   $36,990 (-$2000)

Source: Subaru Australia

Jan 12

Detroit 2009: Subaru Legacy Concept shows its face

By AdminNo Comments

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Subaru Legacy Concept

The official unveiling doesn’t take place until later this afternoon, but Subaru has already released the details on the Legacy Concept it’s introducing this year at Detroit. We only have the head-on shot at the moment, but what you’re seeing here is likely the new face of the Legacy, complete with funky-shaped headlamp lenses and a trapezoidal theme to the prow. According to Subaru’s, that paint color is called “Ultimate Silver” and the overall design theme is “High Definition,” for what that’s worth. Power comes from the automaker’s 3.6L six-cylinder boxer mated, of course, to an AWD system. 

Inside, you’ll find a technology carnival, with a multitude of displays available to the four occupants, including the driver. The instrument panel gets a multifunction touchscreen display instead of a traditional center control stack — no mechanical controls are present — and those teensy side mirrors house cameras that display the view aft on the widescreen rearview “mirror” in the cabin. Rear passengers get their headrest-mounted LCD screens and their own touchscreen control interface. Outside of the obvious show-car tech, the shapes you see inside are likely what to expect when the production car makes its eventual debut.

Gallery: Subaru Legacy Concept

[Source: Subaru, Autoblog]

Head to the Forums for the Press Release.

Jan 09

Q & A with Petter Solberg

By AdminNo Comments

Subaru’s sudden departure from the World Rally Championship has left 2003 title-winner Petter Solberg on the sidelines.

During a visit to the Autosport International Show, he spoke about last month’s shock news, his search for a new drive, and the current state of the WRC.

Head to the forums for the interview.

Petter Solberg

Jan 08

Preview: Subaru Legacy Concept Headed for Detroit

By AdminNo Comments

Legacy Concept

We had heard some rumors that Subaru would be showing some sort of concept at the upcoming North American International Auto Show, and we’ll be the first ones to admit that we were hoping for some sort of rear-wheel-drive coupe concept. However, this teaser shot of Subaru’s Legacy Concept is indeed a surprise, and we’re pleased to see the direction in which Subaru is taking their design language. The mean fender flares and lower fascia look great, though we may need a moment to warm up to those stacked headlamps.

This concept marks the Legacy’s twentieth anniversary and will likely be a preview of what we can expect when the current model bows out in a few years. We’ll be sure to give you the full details when this concept makes its official debut in Detroit next month.

Source: Next Autos

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