2005 Subaru Impreza Sti on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Junkyard Gem: 2001 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon, Duct Tape Interior Edition

Living in Denver, I have the opportunity to view just about every model of Subaru sold since the late 1970s in my local car boneyards, from the "Making Love In a Subaru" era of super-cheap tiny cars all the way through to the odd-looking B9 Tribecas. Since the third-generation Outback wagons are now at least 16 years old, they've begun showing up in vast quantities here (which works well for me, since I'd like to upgrade my '04 Outback with options it didn't have when new). Most of these cars aren't sufficiently interesting to achieve Junkyard Gem status, though I have documented a McIntosh-audio-equipped Outback VDC and a fully-loaded Outback H6 in recent years, but today's car had such a dramatic — if horribly impractical — interior that I felt compelled to photograph it. Duct tape, while available in many splendid colors, doesn't fare too well in the hot confines of a car interior, especially when you're a mile above sea level and the sun sends its thermonuclear punishment pouring down just about every day. The tape dries out and peels up, shedding itchy flakes everywhere. Still, the concept was sound: replace those boring beige surfaces with brightly colored ones! A generous helping of anime stickers adds some style, too. Taping the seat belts seems like a bad move, though, since decaying duct tape dropping scratchy detritus down your shirt on a hot day is suboptimal. In 2001, Subaru shoppers could still buy the Outback version of the Legacy sedan. The Outback didn't become a separate model until the 2005 model year, so this car is still considered a Legacy Outback Wagon despite the lack of Legacy badging on its exterior. The Limited version got leather seats, a nicer audio system, and an automatic transmission. I wish I'd been able to grab some of these cool-looking gold-and-aluminum factory wheels when I needed an extra set for winter tires. Once you duct tape your interior, it's very difficult to un-duct-tape it, what with glue residue everywhere. We can assume that retail value on this car took a hit as a result. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. "Sport utility" had become a magical phrase in the car-selling world by 2001, so Subaru pitched this car as a deadly rival for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer. Featured Gallery Junked 2001 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited Wagon View 41 Photos Auto News Subaru Automotive History Wagon

Subaru WRX STI Type RA-R has more power, less weight

Subaru is releasing yet another special high performance WRX STI that's only for its home, Japan. This time it's a variant of the WRX STI Type RA called the Type RA-R. Though it looks very similar to the version we get in the U.S., it has some key differences. Instead of the 310-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder in ours, the RA-R has a 324-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It also produces 318 pound-feet of torque, a fair bit more than the 290 of ours. The Type RA-R also boasts additional weight savings. The company says it's about 66 pounds lighter than the WRX STI S208, another special STI similar to our Type RA. That model was already lightened thanks to a carbon fiber roof among other additions. Interestingly, the Type RA-R doesn't appear to have the Bilstein suspension of the S208 or the U.S. Type RA. It does still have Brembo brakes front and rear, though, with six-piston calipers up front and two-piston calipers in the back. Visually the Type RA-R looks fairly similar to its other special edition siblings. It has the extra "Cherry Blossom" red accents in the grille and the rear diffuser. It does have the option to go without the giant rear wing, though, for people who want the performance without shouting about it. The wheels are also downsized from 19 inches on the S208 and U.S.-spec Type RA to 18 inches. Unsurprisingly, this is a very limited edition vehicle. Only 500 will be sold, just like the U.S. Type RA. That is 50 more than the S208, though. The price before taxes is, at current exchange rates, about $41,500. Interestingly, that's a lower price than the American model. Of course it doesn't really matter because, as we already said, this car is for Japan only. Related Video:

Subaru sets Guinness world record with Subiefest car parade

Over 1,700 motorists were stuck in traffic in Southern California on October 4, 2020, but it wasn't due to one of the region's horrendous traffic jams. They got together to form the largest parade of Subaru cars ever recorded. Certified by Guinness as a new world record, the two-mile-long parade included 1,751 cars made by Subaru. Photos from the event show a diverse selection of models ranging from a late-model WRX STI to a 1980s GL. It doesn't look like the parade included a 360, the first car Subaru sold in America, but we spot a bright yellow Baja. Surprisingly, it wasn't the first time a Subaru-only parade earned a spot in the Guinness book: 549 vehicles got together on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, in 2015 to set the previous record. Now, 1,751 is an impressive number, it beats Mini's 1,450-car record, but a handful of carmakers have managed to organize even bigger parades: 2,325 Porsche owners participated in a parade in Germany in 2008, and the Volkswagen Aficionado Club of Brazil put 2,728 examples of the original air-cooled Beetle on the same stretch of road in 1995. Subaru's record wasn't set just for bragging rights and marketing fodder. The parade was part of an annual gathering named Subiefest that brings together enthusiasts from all over North America. Instead of selling tickets to the 2020 edition, it asked participants to make a donation to Feeding America, a charity created to end hunger. Subaru pointed out attendees paid for 241,800 meals, and its American division will donate the equivalent of 258,200 meals to bring the total number to 500,000. They'll be split among two food banks in California. Subiefest is also where Subaru previewed the next-generation BRZ for the first time. It's expected to make its debut before the end of 2020, and it will arrive in showrooms in 2021 as a 2022 model.