Don't let the horrible name fool you — there is no Impreza STI coming to the L.A. Auto Show along with a concept of a new sports coupe. There's just a new version of Subaru's BRZ rear-wheel-drive concept with touches from the team behind the famed Impreza WRX STI.
Still, the fact that we'll see the concept in a more finished form is promising, especially considering how long the car has taken to come to fruition.
Fall should mean only one thing to attentive auto enthusiasts: a new auto show season is upon us.
With the 2011 L.A. Auto Show less than a month away, we have a pretty good understanding of what to expect, though there still looks to be a few surprises. Like in previous years, the show will be a heavy mix of luxury car debuts intertwined with some fuel efficient, green options.
There will be at least 21 all-new releases at the show, and 25 vehicles that will make their North American debuts (about the same as last year). This fresh new clutch of vehicles will be shown to the media, and subsequently to you on KickingTires, Nov. 16 and 17.
The everyday car shopper should keep tabs on the redesigned Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Azera, all of which will debut at the show.
Subarus are some of the most researched vehicles on Cars.com, especially if you take into account their overall sales being a fraction of popular models from Toyota and Honda. That’s why we figured we’d dedicate an entire podcast to the redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza. Editors Joe Wiesenfelder and Bill Jackson talk about the entry-level Subaru and how it holds up to the competition.
It’s been delayed, discussed and priced, but until now it hadn’t been driven. The redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza will be Subaru’s latest revised model, and it has a lot to live up to compared with the impressive sales of the Outback and Forester. Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder is enamored with the new styling and upgraded interior, but he sure doesn’t think the Impreza is fun to drive. Read his review and our past coverage to get a full picture if you’re considering an Impreza when it goes on sale in November.
2012 Subaru Impreza Review
2012 Subaru Impreza Priced at $17,495
Pictures and Trim Level Breakdown
2012 Subaru Impreza Video
Subaru’s plan for the next four years, like most automakers, is to quickly launch new vehicles that are more fuel efficient, according to Ward’s Automotive.
The company plans to release four completely new vehicles over the next four years, said Toshio Masuda, the automaker’s senior general manager of product planning. Those models exclude the 2012 Subaru Impreza, which goes on sale in the coming months. A high-powered WRX and STI are also coming to the Impreza, Masuda said. The goal is for the top-of-the-line Impreza to get a boxer engine rated at 300 horsepower.
Overall, Subaru wants to raise fuel economy by 30% for each of its subsequent models. The Impreza will be the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive car when it hits dealerships, achieving 27/36 mpg city/highway. Subaru will reach the new fuel economy targets with two new engines — a 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder — that have already shown up on the 2012 Impreza and 2012 Forester, respectively, and by using a new continuously variable automatic transmission. That’s debuting on the 2012 Impreza, too.
While this is likely the last year for the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, which will be replaced by the Subaru XV, Walter Rigsby of Golden, Colo., bought one for his long-distance trips between Ohio and Colorado. So, how does a 1,000-plus-mile trek feel in the 2011 Impreza Outback Sport? Continue reading to find out. If you want to share your thoughts about your car, you can write a review here.
Subaru is recalling 69,590 2011 Subaru Legacys and Outbacks because of a problem with the moonroof on select models, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Some models, built between August 3, 2010, and July 1, 2011, may have had their moonroofs installed incorrectly. The moonroof glass may become loose or fall off completely due to inadequate adhesive. If this happens while driving, the glass may turn into a potential road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Subaru dealers will inspect, repair or replace the moonroof, depending on its condition. The recall will begin in October. Affected owners will be notified beforehand. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.
Subaru has always perplexed us by offering a more capable version of its compact Impreza hatchback and calling it an Outback Sport. The company is addressing the problem with its new XV, which will join the Impreza family next year in the U.S.
The model will feature the same engine and transmission as the new Impreza hatchback that’s going on sale later this fall, but it has some differences. The most notable will be the increased ground clearance from 5.7 inches on the regular Impreza hatch to 8.6 inches for the XV. A Subaru Outback has 8.7 inches of ground clearance but a Jeep Wrangler Sport has 8.8 inches, so the XV might be the choice for off-road duties.
Of course, you’d be putting the cool-looking black aluminum wheels at risk. The rest of the car gets some unique bodywork but much less gray cladding than the last Outback Sport. On the XV, the gray cladding looks more attractive, especially around the lower front bumper.
Inside, the XV is similar to the next Impreza with less alteration.
We doubt the XV will be the first choice of Impreza shoppers, but at least it does more to stand out — especially in the orange paint color we see here — than the Outback Sport. Hopefully, fewer car shoppers will be confused by the Subaru models.
Subaru is recalling 195,080 2010-2011 Subaru Legacys and Outbacks because of a potential defect with the windshield wipers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
On some models built between Jan. 7, 2010, and May 20, 2011, the windshield wiper motor may overheat, causing it to fail. If this happens, the driver will likely experience reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, the overheated wiper motor can melt its casing and potentially catch fire.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor assembly free of charge. The recall will begin in November. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.
“Bullyboy” from Raleigh, N.C., already was a loyal owner of a Subaru WRX sedan, but he was looking for something that could better accommodate his recreational gear. So what did he do? He bought a Subaru WRX hatchback, of course. The hatchback is better at hauling Bullboy’s gear, and he likes the improvements to the newer WRX’s mechanics, particularly with the manual transmission. Continue reading the full review to find out more. Once you’re done, write a review about your own car here.
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