2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium on 2040-cars

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2021 Subaru Crosstrek First Drive | A bigger engine equals a better car

BERLIN, Ohio — If horsepower is good, then more horsepower must be better. And in the case of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, more horsepower comes courtesy of an optional 2.5-liter engine that provides potential buyers with a long-desired alternative to the meager 2.0-liter four-cylinder that remains standard equipment. Of course, thereÂ’s more to the 2021 Crosstrek story than more displacement. ThereÂ’s a nip here, a tuck there, and the addition of a new Sport trim level. It all adds up to what we think is the best buy in its segment. And thatÂ’s saying something, considering that the number of subcompact crossover choices has grown exponentially since the Crosstrek went on sale for the 2013 model year. ItÂ’s important to note that the larger engine only comes with the CrosstrekÂ’s top two trim levels: Sport and Limited. Base and Premium models soldier on with the same 152-horsepower 2.0-liter engine that all 2020 Crosstreks were equipped with. And, if you want a six-speed manual transmission, which comes standard on base and Premium trims, youÂ’re stuck with the smaller engine since the 2.5-liter sends its 182 horses and 176 pound-feet of torque solely to a continuously variable transmission. As youÂ’d expect from Subaru, the Crosstrek comes standard with all-wheel drive. For a closer look at the differences between the Sport and Limited trim levels, check out the video just below. Up front, the Crosstrek gets a new grille, bumper and foglight covers. ItÂ’s a subtle update, but we think the Â’21 model looks a bit more aggressive than the version it replaces. The new-for-2021 Sport trim level goes even further with unique neon yellow badges, plus a gunmetal finish for the grille, wheels, side mirror caps and badges. Sport models also have different wheel arch moldings, but they arenÂ’t hiding any changes to the suspension. Inside, the Sport gets unique StarTex vinyl upholstery that is completely free of any animal-derived materials (though the steering wheel is still swathed in leather) and yellow stitching to go along with darker trim and faux carbon fiber accents. Yellow metallic highlights also feature in the gauge cluster. We found the StarTex interior to be pretty nice. We wouldnÂ’t mistake it for leather, but itÂ’s soft to the touch while still feeling grippy enough that occupants donÂ’t slide around too much, even though the seats donÂ’t feature significant bolstering.

Subaru secures permit to test self-driving car in California

The list of automakers that can test their self-driving cars in California is getting less and less exclusive by the minute. Its latest addition? Subaru. The Japanese company has secured an Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit from the state's DMV on February 9th, bringing the total number to 22. Some Subaru models already have assisted driving features thanks to their camera-based Eyesight system, such as adaptive cruise control, sway warning and pre-collision braking. However, the company is developing new capabilities meant to kick in while doing speeds of up to 40 mph, including the ability to auto-start and stop in slow traffic. Subaru also wants to offer lane switching and auto-steering around bends and curves -- semi-autonomous driving capabilities for highways -- by 2020. It's unclear what features Subaru will be testing exactly, and if they're any of these. All that's certain is that it's joining both big-name and little-known companies on California roads, like NVIDIA, Ford, Good and Baidu. This article by Mariella Moon originally appeared on Engadget, your guide to this connected life. Related Video: News Source: DMV Government/Legal Subaru Technology Autonomous Vehicles California

2013 Subaru WRX Special Edition

Two months ago, I was carving pumpkins in a canyon - last week, I was carving canyons in a pumpkin. I genuinely prefer the latter.
It's hard to miss the 2013 Subaru WRX Special Edition. The twins (the automaker is offering the package on both the WRX and its higher-performing STI sibling - just 300 copies in total) arrive in Tangerine Orange paint with Jet Black wheels, black exterior mirrors and black front fender badges. The purely cosmetic upgrades are carried inside the cabin with black cloth upholstery contrasted with orange stitching on the seats, doors, shift boot and piping on the floor mats.
After a day, I completely forgot about the controversial orange paint (you either love or hate its burnt pumpkin color) and focused on the simple joy of driving the rally-inspired Subaru WRX.