2023 Subaru Brz Limited on 2040-cars

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Subaru launches production of Ascent crossover in Indiana

Subaru began production Monday of the new Ascent, its much-anticipated three-row crossover, at its plant in Lafayette, Ind. It's set to arrive at dealers in June as a 2019 model and will start at $32,970, including shipping. The Ascent joins the Impreza, Legacy and Outback as vehicles built at the plant. It'll compete with three-row utility vehicles like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas. (Read our comparison of the Ascent to the former two here.) Subaru built around 364,000 vehicles at the Indiana plant last year and expects the Ascent to nudge that up to around 400,000 vehicles a year. The automaker spent $140 million and added 1,200 jobs at Lafayette to support the Ascent. The company in late 2016 shifted production of the Impreza sedan and hatchback to the factory, its lone manufacturing site outside of Japan, to free up room at its plant in Gunma Prefecture for the hot-selling Crosstrek, which has been singlehandedly lifting Subaru's U.S. sales lately. A Subaru spokesman told Autoblog recently that the company hopes to sell 60,000 Ascents in the first year and had already booked more than 4,000 sold orders on the vehicle from customers who hadn't seen or driven it. The Ascent will come in either seven- or eight-seat configurations, is offered in all-wheel-drive and is based on a modified version of the same Subaru Global Platform that underpins the Impreza. It's powered by an all-new 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder that makes 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It fills a slot formerly occupied by the Tribeca, Subaru's last three-row vehicle, which was discontinued in 2014. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Was the old one better? 2019 Subaru Forester joined by past generations

NEW YORK — Are you having a hard time telling the all-new 2019 Subaru Forester apart from its predecessor? Are you wondering what was actually changed? Well, it's as if Subaru sensed that confusion, and brought the new Forester's ancestors on stage for its debut here at the New York Auto Show. Honestly, it didn't help much. The rear looks considerably different thanks to its Honda Accord-like forked taillight treatment, but oh boy, is there a strong similarity between generations four and five. However, given the success Subaru has been enjoying these past few years, why mess with something that works. After all, the new Ascent looks the way it does because that's what Subaru customers expected. And now, Subaru Forester, this is your life. Which is your favorite? Generation 1: 1997-2002 Generation 2: 2003-2008 Generation 3: 2009-2013 Generation 4: 2014-2018 Generation 5: 2019 View 19 Photos Related Video: New York Auto Show Subaru Crossover SUV

The 2017 Subaru BRZ Series.Yellow is, wait for it, yellow

Scion is fading fast, but it seems Subaru learned a thing or two from the Toyota offshoot during their short time together. This new BRZ, with its oddly punctuated and not very subtle name, continues a line of special-edition Subarus that pair special paint and interior trim with black accents. It's called the Series.Yellow, and Subaru will build 500 of them for 2017. The Series.Yellow starts with the mildly updated 2017 BRZ and stacks the new Performance Package ( Brembo brakes, Sachs dampers, black 17-inch wheels) on top of the Limited trim. The Series.Yellow will come with the six-speed manual only, as it's required to get the Performance Pack. That also means it has the new 205-hp boxer four and a different final-drive ratio to go along with it. Aside from the yellow paint, exterior differences include black Subaru and BRZ badging, and a black surface for the rear spoiler. The interior gets it some yellow as well, with stitching on the seats, door panels, dash, steering wheel, floor mats, and shifter and e-brake boots. The interior grab handles are yellow-ized, and there are yellow patches at the top of the seat bolsters. Oh, and the seats have Alcantara inserts, but those aren't yellow. As the second in the Series series, it follows in the footsteps of the BRZ Series.HyperBlue from 2016. There's also precedent for special yellow Subarus, as 1,000 XV Crosstrek Special Editions from 2015 got yellow paint and black cladding. Yellow! Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Subaru BRZ Series.Yellow Related Gallery 2017 Subaru BRZ Image Credit: Subaru Subaru Coupe Lightweight Vehicles Performance