2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 Xt W/premium Package on 2040-cars

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Subaru Global Platform shows us the bones of future models

Subaru will follow a current industry trend by introducing a modular chassis later this year, and the so-called Subaru Global Platform will underpin all of the Japanese automaker's future models. We'll see it first on the new Impreza, which will go on sale in the second half of 2016. Subaru claims its new platform offers 70-100 percent greater rigidity compared to the company's current models, and the stiffer chassis means less vibration travels through the vehicle to the steering wheel and seats, which results in an easier time for the driver. A 40-percent increase in impact energy absorption should also mean improved safety. Customers might experience a more exciting drive from the future Subarus, too. The company claims the new platform lowers the center gravity by 0.2 inches, which should sharpen handling. The engineers now mount the rear stabilizer directly to the body, which is said to reduce body roll by 50 percent over current models. It also supports hybrid, plug-in, and EV drivetrains to adapt to the future. After the Impreza lets us experience the Subaru Global Platform later this year, the company already has other models with it under development. For example, the XV Concept from Geneva hints at a sharper look for the next-gen compact crossover. The new WRX reportedly joins the range in 2017 and possibly gets an extra boost from hybrid power. A seven-passenger CUV also joins the US lineup in 2018. So much new product on the way could let Subaru keep up its brisk sales pace for years to come. Related Video: FHI Unveils the "Subaru Global Platform" - Subaru's next-generation platform to achieve significant enhancement in overall vehicle performance - Automobiles Data March 7, 2016 Tokyo, March 7, 2016 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, has unveiled an overview of the Subaru Global Platform, which is currently under development as the architecture to be used for all the Company's next-generation vehicles. The Subaru Global Platform is part of the six initiatives to enhance the Subaru brand described in the Company's mid-term management vision, "Prominence 2020," announced in 2014. Together with the horizontally-opposed engines, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and EyeSight that represent Subaru's core technologies, the new platform will constitute the basic foundation of the next generation of Subaru vehicles.

Hyundai, Genesis, Subaru warn their dealers about markups

Six weeks ago, word got out that Ford's VP of sales for the U.S. and Canada wrote one of those "It has come to our attention..." e-mails to the automaker's dealer body. The VP's problem was dealers trying to get reservation deposits for the Ford F-150 Lightning well above the official $100 fee. The tomfoolery resulted in interactions "with customers in a manner that is negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand and Dealer Body reputation." Two weeks later, GM told its dealers to cut out the reservation gaming and the markups on the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, banditry that's been going on for two years. Two weeks ago, Ford was back at it, this time about markups on the Bronco. Last week, Asian automakers swept into the melee, with Hyundai and Genesis, Subaru, and Infiniti writing letters to their dealers to deliver some variant of, "Stop pissing off the customers." Automotive News reported an SVP at Hyundai Motor America and the COO at Genesis Motor North America sent letters to their dealers expressing disappointment at "certain pricing practices which, if left unchecked, will have a negative impact on the health of our brand." One of the practices mentioned was dealer markups, another was the bait-and-switch, with dealers advertising one price then charging a higher price once the customer showed up at the lot. The letters acknowledged that dealers are separate companies to the automakers and have the right to set their own prices. The automakers cannot interfere with that; their leverage is distributing allocations and perks such as advertising support and financial incentives. So, like a movie boss letting the protagonist go on a technicality, the brands wrote, "we cannot stand idly by watching the actions of the aforementioned dealers undo all the efforts we collectively have put into making these brands what they are today." Jalopnik got tipped to a letter Subaru of America CEO Thomas Doll sent to that brand's dealers. Doll's polite yet insistent tone was the result of a letter a loyal Subaru owner sent to the automaker's VP of Customer Advocacy. In the market for a third brand-new Forester, the owner said they encountered a "tax" labeled a "Low Inventory Surcharge" of as much as $6,000, putting the Forester out of reach.

'Kingsman' Subaru WRX isn't your typical rear-engined stunt car

The Subaru WRX has been a hot choice for movie cars as of late. The most popular is the rear-wheel-drive Subie from " Baby Driver," of which two stunt car examples have been sold off. But a lesser known appearance was in the movie "Kingsman: The Secret Service." Now the car used in that film is up for sale, and it's got a custom twist we've never really seen before. As the photos show, this is no ordinary WRX. Although the exterior looks like any other car, the secrets are held within. Open the trunk and there lies the engine. Look inside the cabin and there are not one, but two separate steering wheels: one in the normal right-hand-drive spot for a U.K. car, the other in the rear passenger-side seat. For those who have seen the movie (if you haven't, we recommend it), it should have clicked by now why the car has this setup. For those who haven't, there is a fairly simple explanation. In one of the scenes, the main character is seen escaping the police by driving the car backward through a narrow street at a high rate of speed. Rather than trying to accomplish this task by actually driving the car backward, the movie makers apparently cut off the body of the WRX, flipped it 180 degrees, and reattached it. So, the steering wheel that appears to be in the normal spot is actually an imposter added after the fact. The real driver's seat, steering wheel, six-speed gearbox and pedals are the ones seen in the rear seat facing the trunk. According to the seller, there are several other additions to the car, which is claimed to be an STI Spec D. The seller says the engine has several upgrades to the engine, as well as a welded-in roll cage. The car apparently does not start with the key but was bump started and ran okay. Though listed on eBay, this is not an auction. The seller has posted the car, which has 67,000 miles on it, for GBP5,950.00 (about $7,605). He also claims to have two other Subarus that were used in the movie. This would be a perfect car to charge for appearances at local events and parades. Just beware of the gremlins that are sure to pop up. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: News Source: eBay Auto News Weird Car News Subaru Car Buying Used Car Buying Special and Limited Editions Performance Sedan eBay movie cars sti