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Subaru launches production of Ascent crossover in Indiana

Subaru began production Monday of the new Ascent, its much-anticipated three-row crossover, at its plant in Lafayette, Ind. It's set to arrive at dealers in June as a 2019 model and will start at $32,970, including shipping. The Ascent joins the Impreza, Legacy and Outback as vehicles built at the plant. It'll compete with three-row utility vehicles like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas. (Read our comparison of the Ascent to the former two here.) Subaru built around 364,000 vehicles at the Indiana plant last year and expects the Ascent to nudge that up to around 400,000 vehicles a year. The automaker spent $140 million and added 1,200 jobs at Lafayette to support the Ascent. The company in late 2016 shifted production of the Impreza sedan and hatchback to the factory, its lone manufacturing site outside of Japan, to free up room at its plant in Gunma Prefecture for the hot-selling Crosstrek, which has been singlehandedly lifting Subaru's U.S. sales lately. A Subaru spokesman told Autoblog recently that the company hopes to sell 60,000 Ascents in the first year and had already booked more than 4,000 sold orders on the vehicle from customers who hadn't seen or driven it. The Ascent will come in either seven- or eight-seat configurations, is offered in all-wheel-drive and is based on a modified version of the same Subaru Global Platform that underpins the Impreza. It's powered by an all-new 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder that makes 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It fills a slot formerly occupied by the Tribeca, Subaru's last three-row vehicle, which was discontinued in 2014. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Subaru builds 3 millionth car in America

Subaru announced August 1 that its Indiana factory completed the 3 millionth American-built Subaru, a Lapis Blue Pearl Outback. The company reached the milestone July 28. Subaru has been building cars at its factory in Lafayette, IN, since 1989. The factory opened as a joint venture with Isuzu, but Subaru eventually took full ownership. Subaru first built North American Legacy sedans and wagons at the factory, followed by the Outback, Baja, and Tribeca. Subaru plans to upgrade the Indiana facility to handle increased demand. The company will double capacity from 218,000 units to 436,000 by March 2019. Subaru will add Impreza production toward the end of the year, and begin production of a three-row crossover in 2018. Related Video:

Subaru reveals the US-bound WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS

Subaru has finally revealed the US-bound WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS, a pair of redressed and slightly better performing versions of the standard models. Despite the big wing, lightweight wheels, and upgrades suspension, those hoping for changes under the hood will be severely disappointed. The WRX STI gets a slight bump to 310 horsepower while output on the BRZ remains unchanged. That should come as no surprise, as the car is essentially the same one we drove two years ago in Japan. The WRX STI Type RA stands for "record attempt." The first RA was named for a Subaru Legacy that broke the FIA World Speed Endurance Record by clocking over 62,000 miles in 18 days, setting a top speed of 138 mph. This new model is named for the upcoming WRX STI Type RA NBR Special race car that will attempt a Nurburgring record sometime this summer. The WRX STI Type RA is lighter and more robust than the standard model thanks to a host of upgrades. The car gets a carbon fiber roof, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, and lightweight BBS 19-inch forged alloy wheels with 245/35R19 Yokohama Advan Sports tires. The spare tire has also been removed. While the engine only gets a mild power bump thanks to a new cold air intake and new exhaust, a retuned ECU, new pistons, and a revised third-gear ratio and short shifter should make the car feel much quicker than before. Aside from the carbon fiber roof and rear wing, there are a number of visual upgrades that set the car apart. There are red Cherry Blossom accents all along the bottom and a plethora of STI badges on the wing, mirrors, and bumpers. More STI logos can be found inside on the new Recaro seats. A plaque inside shows only 500 Type RAs will be made. It's a similar story with the BRZ tS. The acronym stands for "tuned by STI," implying it's not the full treatment like the WRX STI. That still leaves us wondering about these spy photos that show a similar looking car with real STI logos. We'll have to wait and see if anything emerges from that. The BRZ tS gets front and rear SACHS dampers and coil springs and flexible V-braces in the engine compartment. For the first time, the BRZ will come with 18-inch wheels, ditching the low-rolling resistance tires for a set of sticky 215/40 R 18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, aided by Brembo brakes at all four corners. Visual upgrades are similar to the WRX STI Type RA.