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Next Subaru WRX STI could get 400-hp from a 2.4-liter boxer

Yet another report puts Subaru's FA24 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder in the next-generation WRX and WRX STI. Not only that, the story in Japan's Car Sensor magazine (translated) seconds a Forbes report from February of this year that the hardest-core Scooby will make 400 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque from a high-output version of the 2.4-liter. As we said a few months ago, a 400-hp Subaru would become the most powerful factory official Subaru sold in the U.S., ever. Car Sensor explains that Subaru moved to the 2.4-liter because of the engine's better emissions and drivability. What's more, now that the WRX STI isn't irrevocably tied to its rallying motorsports results, Subaru felt it doesn't need to lean on the 2.0-liter displacement provided by the EJ20 still put to use in the Japanese WRX STI or the FA20F in our WRX. The rumored output would mark a substantial step up from the 310 hp and 290 lb-ft available from the current 2.5-liter in the WRX STI. It's not clear yet where Subaru will rate 2.4 for use in the WRX. The Car Sensor report placed the FA24 in the context of Subaru's plan to have 80% of its lineup powered by three small-displacement turbocharged engines, the 2.4-liter at the top. The FA24 already motivates the Ascent, Legacy, and Outback, making 260 hp and 277 lb-ft in all three models. Getting to the 400 mark would be made possible by toughened internals and additional boost. A six-speed manual is a given. The CVT will need some help, however. Car Sensor suggests the current Lineartronic unit can handle no more than 295 lb-ft. It's inevitable Subaru will work out some sort of self-shifting option, since its EyeSight driver assistance tech doesn't work with a manual transmission, and we can't imagine Subaru removing EyeSight when it's found on the current WRX. It's possible Toyota could step in with an assist, similar to how Toyota is apparently consulting on the all-wheel-drive system in the next-gen cars — perhaps with bits taken from the complex driveline in the Yaris WRC. The coming WRX should arrive in the first half of 2022. At the other end of the tuning scale, the BRZ and Toyota 86 have been rumored with the 2.4-liter, but making around 255 hp and 200 lb-ft. Below the 2.4-liter, Subaru is said to be working on a 1.5-liter turbocharged mill to replace the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine that serves models like the Impreza and Crosstrek.

2020 Subaru Impreza gets EyeSight safety tech, $100 price increase

We recently saw the Japanese version of the 2020 Subaru Impreza after a subtle mid-cycle update, and now come details of the American version, which follows the same script in appearance but has a few new tricks up its sleeve. Subaru adds $100 to the starting price for the four-door model, which starts at $19.595, including destination, while the five-door hatchback is priced from $20,095. The big news is the addition of EyeSight, Subaru’s suite of driver-assist safety technologies, as standard on all Imprezas equipped with the continuously variable transmission, which is available on all four trim levels (Standard, Premium, Sport and Limited). That gets you automatic pre-collision braking and throttle management, lane-keep assist, lane-departure and sway warning, and lead vehicle start alert, which is essentially a heads-up to hit the gas when the vehicle in front of you has started moving from a stop. New for 2020 is the option of adding a reminder to check the rear seat occupants before leaving the car. Unlike in its native country, Americans buyers can still get an Impreza with a five-speed manual. ItÂ’s available on the Standard trim for the sedan and on the Standard and Sport models in the hatchback. The trade-off for driving stick, Subaru tells us, is that you give up the option of EyeSight. Steering-wheel paddle shifters are now available on CVT-equipped Premium models and above to pair with a seven-speed manual-mode function, and drivers can now select between Intelligent and Sport modes of throttle management as a standard feature. Also new are automatic power door locks with a collision-detection unlock function, which are standard on all trims, new 18-inch alloy wheels and active torque vectoring Visually, the car looks pretty much the same as the Japanese version, with a revised grille and front bumper cover, a wide air dam stretching across the entire face of the bumper and L-shaped chrome bracket trim book-ending it. Five-door models only get a new design on the combination lights. ThereÂ’s also a new color option called Ocean Blue Pearl. The engine remains the same as before, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer making 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy tops out at 36 mpg on the highway and 28 in the city, with a range of 450 miles. Other standard features include the Starlink 6.5-inch multimedia touchscreen and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. The 2020 Impreza arrives in showrooms later this month.

We're going to drive Subarus through Patagonia

Later this month, Chris McGraw and I are going on an adventure. We're heading to South America with Subaru to drive cars through the wilderness, including the gorgeous landscape of Patagonia. It'll sort of be like that Top Gear episode, just without, you know, all the bad stuff (we hope). Since this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we're doing a huge blowout of coverage, and we want to bring you along for the ride. From February 16-21, we'll be posting video updates and a ton of social media coverage, so be sure to watch the Autoblog site as well as our YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds for all of the latest sights and sounds from our amazing trip. Of course, we'll have a big feature story wrapping the whole experience up, after we get back and shake off some of the jet lag. We're stoked, and we hope you're just as excited to virtually come along for the ride. Stay tuned.