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Honda, Subaru airlifting parts to bypass port labor diputes

It should be abundantly obvious that a vital element in building cars is actually having the components on hand to assemble them. A labor dispute on the West Coast between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and management is not making that quite so easy for some Japanese automakers. Work slowdowns at the ports have pushed Honda and Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries into flying some parts into the country. The two automakers began shipping by airplane late last month to avoid production delays, according to Bloomberg, but it has been an expensive solution. Subaru's chief financial officer said the decision cost around $60 million more per month than sending components by cargo ship. They aren't the only companies dealing with the problem, either. Toyota reportedly stopped overtime assembly at some of its factories here because of the delays in getting parts, according to Bloomberg. The dockworkers have been negotiating on a new contract since May 2014, and the current offer on the table to them has offered a 3 percent raise, according to Bloomberg. Although, the union is reportedly considering another slowdown at 29 ports along the West Coast in the coming days. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Nick Ut / AP Photo Auto News UAW/Unions Honda Subaru Toyota shipping port labor dispute

Subaru introduces special BRZ and WRX STI models in Tokyo

Subaru has given its BRZ and WRX STI models some more of that Subaru Tecnica International feel. A special JDM model of each was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show. The BRZ gets a STI Sport range-topper version, which Subaru says is sharper and more responsive thanks to a stiffer front suspension and new "V-braces", along with STI-tuned Sachs dampers. The 18-inch wheels are bespoke to the model version, and the interior has been given a smarter once-over with two-tone shades. In addition, there is a Cool Grey Khaki edition, which will be limited to 100 units and the lucky buyers will be picked by a lottery. No matter how special the BRZ STI Sport is, the power figures are unchanged from the stock 197 horsepower. The S208, based on the WRX STI, will now be Subaru's high-performance king on offer. Following the S207 unveiled in 2015, the S208 is more powerful and has a lower center of gravity thanks to a carbon roof. The power output is 329 horsepower instead of 323, and the STI-enhanced parts include what Subaru calls a DampMatic II front suspension and active torque vectoring both front and rear. Wheels are BBS-built in 19-inch size, brakes are Brembo. There will only be 450 S208 models made, and they will be Japan-only; also on offer is a Nurburgring-themed NBR Challenge Package in 350 units. The editions will be separated by color options: the regular S208 is available in blue or white, and the NBR can be had in the pictured Cool Grey Khaki as well. Related Video:

2020 Subaru Outback Suspension Deep Dive | More than meets the eye

The 2020 Subaru Outback is a completely redesigned car. It has a lot to offer in terms of new convenience features, and the driving experience is much improved. A good deal of that comes from chassis improvements, and indeed a lot of work went into making the body shell and suspension subframes more rigid so the suspension attachment points could be more robust and stable. Don’t let all of that rigidity talk make you think the ride itself is stiff. It isnÂ’t. Any suspension tuning engineer will tell you that a stable platform is necessary even if a smooth ride is the goal. Rigid attachment points make it easier to control ride motions and road imperfections within those components designed for that very job – the springs, dampers and suspension bushings. So letÂ’s take a look at what Subaru has done under the new Outback. What weÂ’re about to see doesnÂ’t just apply to the Outback wagon, but to the closely-related and also-redesigned 2020 Legacy sedan as well.   ItÂ’s no surprise that a vehicle like the Subaru Outback uses strut front suspension, but from here, a couple of details do look curious.   Like any strut suspension, the steering axis (yellow line) is defined by the pivot bushing at the top of the strut and the center of the lower ball joint. The entire affair will pivot about this line when the wheels are turned. The lower control arm (red) of the newly redesigned 2020 Outback is now a lightweight aluminum piece instead of the steel hunk that was used last year. As before, thereÂ’s a “direct-acting” stabilizer bar link (green) that attaches to the strut housing, an arrangement that maximizes the efficiency of the stabilizer bar because the motion ratio is 1-to-1 motion with respect to wheel movement. As for the stabilizer bar itself, itÂ’s now hollow to save a bit of weight.   This spacer (yellow) raises the body relative to the suspension. The Outback has one, but the lower-riding Legacy sedan does not. The spacer pushes the arm down (or the body up - take your pick), so that means the OutbackÂ’s reinforcing bracket (green) will also differ from that of the Legacy. While weÂ’re here, look at the round rubber bushing just below the spacer. That void space and square nub you see pointing directly at you will make sense in a short while.   Subaru couldnÂ’t simply put a spacer on the OutbackÂ’s rear lower control arm pivot and call it good. They had to do something of similar magnitude at the front.