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Subaru debuts tougher-looking Outback for Australia [w/poll]

If you're going to name a car after a specific location or region, you'd better make sure it's taken seriously in the place it's named for. You're not likely to see a Chevrolet Monte Carlo in Monaco, and the Alfa Romeo Montreal was never even officially offered in North America, but the Subaru Outback is another story.
Subaru apparently takes the Australian market, whose wilderness its jacked-up Legacy wagon is named for, very seriously. So it is apparently rolling out a revised version of the current Outback in Australia itself. The updated Outback, which arrives less than a year before the all-new model is expected to bow, answers Aussie customer feedback with a more rugged look. It's got new roof rails, body cladding, wheel arches, mud flaps, underbody protection plates and blacked-out headlight surrounds and grille trim.
The Motor Report reports that the AUD $2,500 worth of extra equipment - around $2,300 USD - comes with just an AUD $500 ($468) price hike. As far as we can tell, though, there are no plans to bring this latest look to our shores - Subaru has already detailed North America's Outback for the 2014 model year, and these changes aren't mentioned. Should this look be offered in our market? Vote in the poll below and then have your say in Comments.

California adapts ZEV mandate with PHEVs for smaller automakers

California is the nation's largest market for zero-emissions vehicles with over 100,000 of them estimated to be on the roads there. The state's goal is to keep that number growing every year. To that end, the California Air Resources Board is now tweaking its rules in a way that might not boost ZEVs but could mean more plug-in hybrids for the Golden State. Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Volvo asked for an exemption to the state's zero-emissions vehicle mandate last year due to their relatively small development budgets compared to larger automakers. CARB denied their request but did craft a compromise, according to Automotive News. Rather than being required to offer a ZEV in the state, companies with an annual global revenue of less than $40 billion, like those in this group, may instead sell plug-in hybrids to earn ZEV credits. The companies aren't completely off the hook, though. If these plug-in hybrids don't earn enough credits, the corporations must buy them on the market to make up the difference. Automakers with popular electric models like Nissan and Tesla have made a big business through this trading system by selling their surplus to rivals. Tesla alone pocketed $51 million in the first quarter from this part of its business, according to Automotive News. The changes to the regulations also aren't set in stone, yet. CARB is meeting in 2016 and could adjust things further at that time. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req. via Hybrid CarsImage Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Government/Legal Green Jaguar Land Rover Mazda Mitsubishi Subaru Volvo Emissions Electric Hybrid California zev credits zero emissions vehicle

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