2014 Subaru Brz 2dr Cpe Man Limited on 2040-cars

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Climb to the Clouds returning thanks to Subaru title sponsorship [w/video]

The Mt. Washington Hillclimb, otherwise known as the Climb to the Clouds, hasn't been done since 2011. That year, Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins set a new record for the event first held in 1904, running the 7.6-mile vertiginous course in 6:11.54. The race will be return in 2014 with the help of that very carmaker, Subaru of America having stepped in to the title sponsor role for what will be the Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb.
Taking place from June 26-29, 75 modern and vintage cars will spend three days racing up the 6,288-foot-high mountain. It's not as long nor as high as Pikes Peak, but it does have something that the Colorado competition doesn't: gravel; about 13 percent of the Mt. Washington Carriage Road still hasn't been paved.
If you want to know what a record-breaking run up the northeast's highest peak looks like, check out Higgins behind the wheel in the video below.

2018 Subaru Impreza price increase just $100

Subaru announced pricing on the 2018 Impreza sedan and five-door. The model was all-new for 2017, riding on a new platform with new sheetmetal and interior. Since there weren't any changes for 2018, prices only jumped by $100 over the 2017 model. As with nearly all Subarus, the 2018 Impreza comes with standard all-wheel drive and a flat-four engine. 2018 models will hit dealerships sometime this fall. The Impreza-based 2018 Subaru Crosstrek starts at just a few thousand more. The Impreza will be offered in 2.0i base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trim levels. All models come with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-four making 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through either a five-speed manual or a CVT. In an attempt to alleviate some complaints about CVTs, Subaru says pre-selected gear ratios will mimic a seven-speed automatic. The 2.0i base starts at $19,355 for the sedan and $19,855 for the hatchback. Standard equipment includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power windows, power locks, power door mirrors, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and carpeted floor mats. The CVT option is $1,000. The 2018 Impreza Premium starts at $22,155 for the sedan and $22,255 for the five-door and only comes equipped with a CVT. It builds on the 2.0i base model, adding automatic headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and the all-weather package with heated front seats, windshield, and exterior mirrors. Impreza Premium five-door models come with permanent roof rails. A moonroof and some driver assistance features like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert are available on the Premium. The Impreza Sport starts at $22,955 with a manual and $23,755 with a CVT, with the five-door starting at $23,455 and $24,255 respectively. Like the Premium, the Sport builds on the model below it. As the name implies, the Sport is intended to have a fun-to-drive demeanor. It gets stiffer suspension, active torque vectoring, 18-inch wheels, and an STI shifter on the five-speed model. It gets LED daytime running lights, a black grille, body-color rocker panels, and turn signal side mirrors. The sedan gets a rear spoiler while the five-door gets unique black trim. Inside, the Impreza Sport comes with black upholstery with red stitching. That same red color accents the steering wheel, shifter, instrument panel, and door trim. The trim also gets different gauges than the other models.

2020 Subaru Ascent: An update in a minor key

With the Subaru Ascent, Volkswagen Atlas, and Kia Telluride recently joining the field, the three-row SUV segment is as competitive as ever, so value is key to attracting buyers. For 2020, Subaru is keeping the Ascent's pricing the same but is adding a few new tricks. Albeit minor tricks, but new tricks nonetheless. The most notable addition to the Ascent range is Rear Seat Reminder. Every 2020 Ascent will come standard with the increasingly common technology, which alerts the driver to check the rear seat for a pup, a child or both. The system operates not by sensors, but on the recognition of specific scenarios. If the SUV is started within 30 minutes of a rear door being opened and closed, it will go off. If the rear doors are opened and closed when the Ascent is running but stationary, it will go off. If the vehicle is turned off and on within 30 minutes and the rear doors stay closed, it will go off. If the Ascent registers any of these conditions, the driver will be notified with a noise and a warning message once the vehicle is turned off. Subaru offers the Ascent in four different trim levels: Base, Premium, Limited and Touring. For the 2020 model year, Premium, Limited and Touring trims will come equipped with "one-touch interior illumination on/off controls." The Touring trim also adds new power-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Despite the minor upgrades, Subaru is maintaining the same pricing for the 2020 Ascent as the 2019 model. The Base trim starts at $33,005, the Premium trim starts at $35,405, the Limited trim starts at $40,355, and the loaded Touring trim starts at $46,055. As mentioned in our review, the Subaru Ascent is a solid, though not the best, option in the three-row game. It's offered in seven- or eight-passenger configurations, has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, is rated to tow 5,000 pounds, comes standard with Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive, and is powered by a 260-horsepower turbocharged Boxer engine that makes 277 pound-feet of torque. The 2020 update makes it a tiny bit better.