Honda, Nissan and Toyota Donate $3.75 Million Each for Japan

The massive earthquake followed by the even more devastating tsunami that struck the north-east coasts of Japan last week has brought together the country’s biggest automakers including Honda, Nissan and Toyota, which announced today that they will donate $3.75 million each for relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the disaster.
In addition to the contribution in money, Nissan said it is also studying further relief efforts including complimentary provision of vehicles, such as trucks and forklifts, donation of medical supplies and daily commodities including blankets, antiseptics and masks, gift matching donation from Nissan employees, promotion, and support of blood donation activities.
Honda announced that it will donate a total of 1,000 power generators along with 5,000 gas canisters to the people left without electricity, while Toyota is considering the provision of goods and services as needed.
The three automakers have also announced the closure of some of their factories in Japan. From March 14 through March 20, Honda will suspend all production activities at its plants in Sayama, Saitama, Ogawa, Tochigi, Hamamatsu and Suzuka, plus all facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious. From March 15 through 20, Honda will also suspend production at the Kumamoto factory.
Nissan announced that operations at the Tochigi and Iwaki plants are suspended until March 18, while the Oppama, Kyushu, Shatai and Yokohama plants will be closed until March 16. As for Toyota, officials announced that the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Miyagi and Iwate plants are closed, with all employees having been evacuated to safe areas. The factories will remain closed at least until March 16.
Other automakers affected by the earthquake include Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki, which have either suspended or slowed down production because of supply shortages.

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Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept

Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.  

The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.
On a side note, a couple of weeks ago the car was initially referred to as “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept”, but now, the Japanese automaker says it has changed the name to "BOXER Sports Car Architecture”.
The coupe concept will be joined in Geneva by the Impreza study that was first shown in LA last November and the Trezio, which is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV and will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engine.

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2012 New Subaru Impreza sale in the United States

New Subaru Impreza 2012 will go on sale in the United States in August, which means that an official said in April New York Auto Show is very possible. Like the current model, the Subaru Impreza 2012 will be offered in both sedan and five-door hatchback body style, supported by a revised car Boxer 2.5-liter flat-four that debuted in 2011 Forester. We hope that the Subaru Impreza make a lot concept of the whole line for car production,

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First Official Photos of Subaru's Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept

Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.

The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.

On a side note, a couple of weeks ago the car was initially referred to as “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept”, but now, the Japanese automaker says it has changed the name to "BOXER Sports Car Architecture”.

The coupe concept will be joined in Geneva by the Impreza study that was first shown in LA last November and the Trezio, which is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV and will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engine.

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First Official Photos of Subaru's Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept

Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.

The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.

On a side note, a couple of weeks ago the car was initially referred to as “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept”, but now, the Japanese automaker says it has changed the name to "BOXER Sports Car Architecture”.

The coupe concept will be joined in Geneva by the Impreza study that was first shown in LA last November and the Trezio, which is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV and will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engine.

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2011 Subaru Stella EV

2011 Subaru Stella EV

2011 Subaru Stella EV

2011 Subaru Stella EV

2011 Subaru Stella EV

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Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers

Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers
The Subaru Forester S-Edition concept is powered with a 2.5L turbocharged Boxer engine system with 193 kW and 347 Nm of torque up a little from the series XT model. The car features a regular all-wheel drive system.

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Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers

Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers
The Subaru Forester S-Edition concept is powered with a 2.5L turbocharged Boxer engine system with 193 kW and 347 Nm of torque up a little from the series XT model. The car features a regular all-wheel drive system.

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Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers

Subaru revealed Subaru Forester S-Edition concept cars wallpapers
The Subaru Forester S-Edition concept is powered with a 2.5L turbocharged Boxer engine system with 193 kW and 347 Nm of torque up a little from the series XT model. The car features a regular all-wheel drive system.

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Subaru Outback - suprising capability

It was Thanksgiving week and necessary to transport a lot food, cooked and uncooked, over bumpy roads, through the woods, over rough bridges, and along twisty roads. Fortunately, it was a 2011 Subaru Outback that had been made available for a test drive.

The name alone gives you an indication of how this vehicle can be utilized. All Subaru cars are All-Wheel-Drive, and that four-wheel drive ability is really useful. It allows the Subaru Outback to really go out into the outback areas and do almost any type off-roading except the extreme style reserved for Jeep, Land Rover, and Hummer.

The Outback is now in its fourth generation, but in 2010, it was re-designed. Apparently, the design engineers at Subaru got it right this time. They increased the back seat, upgraded some of the interior, and stayed with the basics – capability, utility, drivability. The initial Outback models were simply a spin-off of the Legacy station wagon. Wagons are not very popular with certain age groups. But now, the Outback, with its redesign, is competing directly against the Honda Accord Crosstour and the Toyota Venza and outselling them in most instances.

Out test model was a beautiful Cypress Green Pearl. We did not drive it down into the Lousiana bayous, but we did take it into the East Texas Piney Woods. The cypress green color blended nicely with the abundant pine trees. There are three trim levels available: Base, Premium, and Limited. Our test model was the Limited, which included a lot more comfort and convenience features, but the price was also slightly higher.

The Subaru Outback is powered by either a four cylinder engine or a 3.6 liter 6-cylinder. The 6 cylinder definitely had a lot of get-up-and-go and never even hiccoughed. I am sure, however, that the four cylinder engine would do the job necessary in almost any situation, however. The 6 cylinder engine was matched with a five speed automatic transmission that operated smoothly and efficiently. The Outback provided good steering and handling, and turned easily along the winding East Texas back roads. It bounced along the uneven dirt roads without much driver disturbance.

The Subaru Outback is an SUV, but also a Crossover, based on a car platform. The redesign was introduced at the 2009 New York Auto Show and I was impressed then, but I really like the improvements and upgrades in this latest model. It is a fairly heavy sedan style, although it is an SUV. The body is made with high tensile steel and that gives it top ratings in crash tests.

The base MSRP of the Outback Limited with the 6 cylinder engine is $31,495. Pricing for the Outback begins about $23 to $24 thousand. There are a lot of options and packages available and with a few of these added on, the bottom sticker price on the test model came to $33,724. EPA mileage ratings were 18 cities and 25 highway.

If you are thinking about a small SUV that is versatile and can go almost anywhere and do almost anything try this one. You might be very surprised at the capability of this vehicle.

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Subaru Tribeca - Surefooted and solid

TriBeCa – it’s actually the name of a well-known neighborhood in Lower Manhattan made popular by actors like Robert DeNiro, and means "Triangle below Canal Street."
But in 2006, Subaru decided the mid-size SUV neighborhood needed a new resident, and introduced its first big one, also called Tribeca.

Using the name of a New York City neighborhood for a very mainstream vehicle aimed at the suburbs was just one of those idiosyncrasies of a company that used to be known for its niche vehicles. But built on the mid-size Legacy sedan platform, it offered more room (up to seven seats) than any Subie before, plus the ever-present all-wheel-drive, definitely aiming it toward those more used to Chevrolets and Toyotas.
For 2011, the Tribeca remains much the same as it has for the past two years since a mild refreshing of exterior design for 2008. So let’s check out the neighborhood and see how our Tribeca 3.6R Touring stacks up.

· Subaru splendor – When the Tribeca was introduced in 2006, it came with a – shall we say – unique grill. It was kind of like an upside down Alfa Romeo V grill with flanking wing-like inlets under slash headlights, while a gentle beltline accent became the rear fender line that flowed into the taillights. For 2008, that odd grill was replaced with the current mainstream face of Subaru, a 3-bar design under a chrome strip with larger quad headlights that wrap into the fenders, with a slim mid-bumper air intake and a wider lower mouth intake with a faux aluminum brush guard accent and fog lamps at the bottom. A matte body color accent on gentle fender flares frames 18-inch Goodyear Eagle radials on simple 7-spoke alloys. The windshield pillar gets a tiny fake vent window, just enough to lighten the thick look inside and out, plus big body color and black side mirrors with turn signal repeaters. The only jewelry on the flanks are chrome door handles and a body-color strip, as the lower window lines rises slightly toward a junction with the D-pillar, the original tapered rear fender line still evident as it widens to meet the large taillights. A simple semi-step rear bumper with reflectors gets twin chrome-tipped exhausts, while the rear hatch is wide with a wind deflector atop the tinted rear window, twin silver roof bars offering the only other design touch. It’s a simple design, one that no one gave a second look at, but which was clean and quiet on the highway with little wind noise.

· Tribeca transport – As simple as the exterior looks, a Tribeca interior is a pretty upscale and flowing place to be, but doesn’t look all that different from the last one I tested years ago. That’s just fine, because it works. The black over tan design, with silver center bar, flows around the driver and passenger, surging in between them to put the most-used climate and audio controls in easy reach of both. Under a hard (but matte leather-grained) plastic cowl sits two inset analog gauges, a 150-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tach, ringed in red at night. White LCD gas and temperature gauges flank the pod, while power mirror, plus HID headlight dip angle controls reside to the lower left of the tilt-adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel, which has basic stereo and cruise controls. Set back in its own black dash center frame is a decent-size LCD touch screen for the satellite navigation, trip computer and 385-watt AM-FM-XM Satellite-CD harmon-kardon sound system, its center speaker mounted just in front over basic stereo/navigation/computer controls. The silver dash center section centers on a big stereo volume knob flanked by audio function and select buttons. Novel dual-zone temperature controls and a fan speed control frame temperature and fan/mode displays, but felt a bit flimsy. Silver mode and seat heater buttons sit at the dash center’s base forward of the 5-speed automatic gearshifter and two big (hidden) illuminated cup holders and cellphone/MP3 player slots under silver doors. The bucket seats, 8-way power driver and 4-way power passenger, were comfortable and fairly supportive on trips, both getting manual lumbar support. The glove box is big enough, as are the hard plastic door map pockets, while there’s decent storage and twin 12-volt outlet and an MP3 input jack under the padded center armrest. All controls are red lit at night, with an overhead red LED spotlight to illuminate the center dash. Bluetooth cellphone buttons and microphone live overhead, with the sunroof control. The back doors open wide to a leather-clad second-row seat with adjustable recline and a center armrest, plus our tester’s optional rear-seat entertainment system with nine-inch wide-screen format LCD screen and a DVD player with remote inputs for video games and a video camera. There were two wireless headphones and a wireless remote control for the clear video system, plus a rear a/c fan control. All Tribecas now have a 7-seat configuration. To fit in a third row, the second row’s leg room was tight for teens and adults, even though it can slide fore/aft. It’s also a bit tight to get to the third row seats, even though the second row seats fold and slide forward. Once there, legroom/foot room was minimal for anyone over 12, although headroom was fine, and there are fender well-mounted cup holders, A/V inputs and overhead rear a/c vents. Nice touch - molded grab handles on the lower C-pillar are there as you get into the third row seat, while a simple clip holds the second-row seat belts out of the way. Cargo space is usable (8.3-cu.ft.) behind the third-row seats, with some hidden storage under the floor. Dropping the third row and their integral head restraints expands it to 37.6-cu.ft, and dropping the second row doubles that, with four steel tie-down loops. But I found that with the LCD screen down and second- or third-row head restraints up, rearward vision was reduced.
· Tribeca traveling – Power for our mid-size SUV comes from a 3.6-liter, 256-hp Boxer Six (think classic Porsche 911-like horizontally-opposed design). It offered a lot of low- and mid-range punch, and launched our 4,256-lb. SUV to 60-mph in a decent 7.8-seconds when the 5-speed automatic was in Sport mode. Fuel mileage on regular was about 19-mpg. With 4-wheel independent suspension and all-wheel-drive, the Tribeca was a secure driver in dry or rainy weather, only betrayed by a slightly soft suspension tune and some body roll in turns. Push into a turn, and the 20-year tradition of all-wheel-drive in Subies is appreciated as Variable Torque Distribution from the planetary gear-type center differential and electronically controlled hydraulic transfer clutch control power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Normally, the torque split is 45/55, with a rearward bias. But push harder, and we detected some front wheel action that did neutralize the understeer a bit. That said, it’s sure-footed if not as sporty as some other mid-size crossovers we could name. We didn’t go off road, but it can probably handle most soccer dad grassy fields and beaches. The power steering had a nice feel, and the all-wheel disc brakes stopped us fine with minimal nose dive and only a slight hint of fade after some repeated hard use. Add an accessory towing package, and the Tribeca handles up to 3,500 pounds of trailer.

· Subaru salary - The base Tribeca starts at $30,495, with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, dual-zone automatic climate control and 3-stage heated front seats. Our Tribeca 3.6R Touring, the range-topper as of 2010, starts at $35,620, with a well-applied Azurite Blue Pearl paint, leather seats, a 10-speaker Harman kardon audio system, rear a/c, 2-position driver's seat memory, power tilt/sliding-glass moonroof, rear-vision camera and 7-spoke alloy wheels. Standard Bluetooth hands-free phone is also standard, as is XM satellite radio, while a navigation and entertainment package with DVD video player and wide-screen LCD monitor added $4,000. Final price - $40,520. Competition like the Chevrolet Traverse (288-hp) and Hyundai Santa Fe (276-hp) have more power, slightly better fuel mileage, and better second row leg room. The Traverse is longer and roomier overall, the Santa Fe less expensive and lighter. And a Toyota Highlander, with 270-hp and a base price of about $33,000, is lighter, slightly shorter and also offers more second row leg room as well. These are just a few of the many mid-size SUV options out there. For safety, dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side impact air bags and standard curtain side air bags front and second rows.
· Bottom line - Built at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana, the Tribeca is a solid, handsome, sure-footed family vehicle with good value, power, road-holding and OK fuel mileage. It was well built to boot. But it isn’t as roomy as it could be if maybe those third row seats had been ditched and the second row moved aft a bit. And it isn’t a sporty driver, although it is very capable in all the weather we drove it through. Just like a Subaru, it is a sensible choice, but it needs a bit of updating.

2011 Subaru Tribeca Touring
Vehicle type - 7-passenger crossover SUV
Base price - $35,620 ($40,520 as tested)
Engine type – Horizontally-opposed DOHC, 24-valve aluminum block 6-cylinder
Displacement – 3.6 liters
Horsepower (net) – 256 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) – 247 @ 4,400 rpm
Transmission – 5-speed automatic with manual shifting and Sport setting
Wheelbase – 108.2 inches
Overall length – 191.5 inches
Overall width – 88.8 inches w/mirrors
Height – 66.7 inches
Front headroom – 38.9 inches
Front legroom – 42.3 inches
Second row headroom – 38.2 inches
Second row legroom – 34.3 inches
Rear headroom – 36.2 inches
Rear legroom – 30.9 inches
Cargo capacity – 8.3 cu. ft./37.6 w/2nd row folded/ 74.4 w/2nd and 3rd row folded
Towing - up to 3,500 lbs.
Curb weight – 4,256 lbs.
Fuel capacity – 16.9 gallons
Mileage rating - 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway
Last word – Solid, comfortable - a sure-footed Subaru

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Not for U.S.: Subaru Launches 259HP Forester S-Edition in Australia

First unveiled in the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October, the Subaru Forester S-Edition has now gone on sale in Australia, alongside the revised lineup of the Japanese compact SUV. Boasting a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine delivering 259HP (193kW) and 347 Nm (256 lb-ft) of torque, the new range-topping model is the most powerful Forester ever to be sold down-under.

“We have had increasing customer interest in a more powerful Forester and are delighted to be the first export market for S-Edition, which made its worldwide debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October”, said Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia. “It combines the best of two winning Subaru formulas – WRX and Forester, the latter of which is firmly entrenched as Australia’s favorite compact SUV.”

The flat-four is coupled to a 5-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, which sends power to all wheels through Subaru’s Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel drive system. To improve handling, engineers fitted the S-Edition with sport suspension and 17-inch Subaru Tecnica International (STi) alloys, wrapped around in 225/55 R17 Yokohama rubber.

With plenty of torque available from down low – and constant between 2,800-4,800 rpm –, the Forester S-Edition sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph).

Wringing this car's neck will surely result in some scary consumption figures, but, according to the official fuel economy estimates, a laidback driving style can result in the burning of just 10.5 lt/100 km (22.4 US mpg) in a combined cycle, which is downright acceptable.

Compared to its more mundane siblings, the S-Edition also comes with a black grille, various chrome accents, silver roof rails and, for a limited period, World Rally Blue color option.

Inside, sport seats clad in a combination of alcantara and leather, S-Edition seat embroidery complemented by blue stitching, sporty instrument display and special gear shifter set this model apart.

The Forester S-Edition’s base price is AUD $50,990 (about US $51,301 at today’s exchange rates).

As previously reported, the revised Forester lineup benefits from the new naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, capable of 170HP (127kW) and 235 Nm (174 lb-ft) of torque.

All new models feature a redesigned front grille, while inside the dashboard has a darker finish with matching metallic accents. The standard equipment list now includes seats clad in a more water resistant cloth trim, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, while XS models and above receive reversing cameras as standard.

4:53 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Not for U.S.: Subaru Launches 259HP Forester S-Edition in Australia

First unveiled in the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October, the Subaru Forester S-Edition has now gone on sale in Australia, alongside the revised lineup of the Japanese compact SUV. Boasting a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine delivering 259HP (193kW) and 347 Nm (256 lb-ft) of torque, the new range-topping model is the most powerful Forester ever to be sold down-under.

“We have had increasing customer interest in a more powerful Forester and are delighted to be the first export market for S-Edition, which made its worldwide debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October”, said Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia. “It combines the best of two winning Subaru formulas – WRX and Forester, the latter of which is firmly entrenched as Australia’s favorite compact SUV.”

The flat-four is coupled to a 5-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, which sends power to all wheels through Subaru’s Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel drive system. To improve handling, engineers fitted the S-Edition with sport suspension and 17-inch Subaru Tecnica International (STi) alloys, wrapped around in 225/55 R17 Yokohama rubber.

With plenty of torque available from down low – and constant between 2,800-4,800 rpm –, the Forester S-Edition sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph).

Wringing this car's neck will surely result in some scary consumption figures, but, according to the official fuel economy estimates, a laidback driving style can result in the burning of just 10.5 lt/100 km (22.4 US mpg) in a combined cycle, which is downright acceptable.

Compared to its more mundane siblings, the S-Edition also comes with a black grille, various chrome accents, silver roof rails and, for a limited period, World Rally Blue color option.

Inside, sport seats clad in a combination of alcantara and leather, S-Edition seat embroidery complemented by blue stitching, sporty instrument display and special gear shifter set this model apart.

The Forester S-Edition’s base price is AUD $50,990 (about US $51,301 at today’s exchange rates).

As previously reported, the revised Forester lineup benefits from the new naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, capable of 170HP (127kW) and 235 Nm (174 lb-ft) of torque.

All new models feature a redesigned front grille, while inside the dashboard has a darker finish with matching metallic accents. The standard equipment list now includes seats clad in a more water resistant cloth trim, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, while XS models and above receive reversing cameras as standard.

*Note: The Subaru Forester S-Edition study is featured in the photos below

By Csaba Daradics

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Subaru Trizia cars 2011 With Latest Reviews and Prices

Subaru Trizia cars 2011 With Latest Reviews and Prices
Maybe someone slipped in an extra cup of civility or forgot to add enough dashes of hardcore, but what was once little more than a thinly-disguised rally stage escapee had come out of the oven a little weaker than its predecessor.

Subaru itself diplomatically admits that the priorities for the last generation STI were somewhat different from the 2011 model. The company stripped the line down to just the five-door hatchback in 2008, stressing functionality over style, and the whole recipe simply felt less focused than what we had come to expect from Japan’s all-wheel drive hero.

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