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Subaru, Mazda profits dip; both blame exchange rates

While some larger automakers took a beating on Q4 earnings, some of Japan's smaller operations managed to keep their heads just above water despite currency issues and slumping sales industry-wide. Subaru, which capped off its 11th consecutive year of U.S. sales increases, reported a 42-percent drop in operating profit in the final quarter of 2019; Mazda, which operates on an even smaller scale, saw a 76-percent drop.  Per Automotive News, both companies faced challenges apart from navigating currency exchanges.  Subaru Subaru's 2019 was marred by warranty costs stemming from repairs on high-volume models, including the Impreza and Crosstrek. Despite the drop in profit, company revenues only slid 2.3 percent. The company also says that it has managed to curtail incentive spending, largely thanks to replacement models that needed less help moving out of showrooms.  America remained a bright spot, with 2019 sales volumes increasing by nearly 3 percent over 2018. Subaru is hoping that figure will increase to 4.0 percent in 2020. Subaru's wholesale deliveries also increased in western Europe, but dropped precipitously (28 percent) in the company's home market.  Mazda The smaller Mazda faced similar challenges, but its 2019 lacked some of Subaru's more dramatic bright spots. Worldwide shipments of new vehicles dropped by 8 percent, aiding a revenue decline of 5 percent. Mazda's vehicles remained profitable on a per-unit basis, but only just.  Mazda has been undergoing aggressive cost-cutting measures, but even those were no match for reduced volumes and unattractive currency exchange rates.  Despite these challenges, both companies are keeping their earnings outlooks unchanged. The fourth quarter of 2019 represented the third quarter in both companies' fiscal years, which will end in March.  Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2020 Subaru WRX STI S209 | POV Drive

2019 Subaru Impreza price goes up by $100

The 2019 Subaru Impreza is going to cost you an extra Benjamin. Pricing was announced for both the Impreza Sedan and 5-door hatchback model, which were redesigned for the 2017 model year. The base 2.0i sedan with a five-speed manual transmission starts at $19,480, including destination, while the comparable 5-door is a bit more at $19,980. Opting for the CVT costs an extra $1,000. These prices are up $100 from 2018. A marginal uptick in cost isn't the only update for the 2019 Impreza, however. The base model can now be equipped with Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology suite for a perfectly reasonable $845 given that it comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning and lane keeping. EyeSight is also now standard on the Impreza Limited trim. Note, though, that EyeSight is still unavailable with manual transmission-equipped Imprezas. The range-topping Limited trim also comes standard with a pair of new safety features: reverse automatic braking and automatic high beams. The Impreza Premium trim now comes standard with an upgraded Subaru Starlink 6.5-inch touchscreen that includes HD and satellite radios, two USB ports for rear passengers and a CD player (yay, save the CD's!). Black alloy wheels are also now included on the Premium. Finally, the Impreza Sport gains an STI short-throw shifter when, quite obviously, it's equipped with the manual. The full pricing breakdown, all including destination can be found below. The 2019 Subaru Impreza arrives in dealers "this summer," which we can only assume means if it's not on dealer lots already, it will be very soon. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2019 Subaru Impreza Image Credit: Subaru Subaru Hatchback Sedan eyesight

Cosworth teases upgrades for Subaru BRZ

Subaru may or may not produce an STI version of the BRZ. Things seem to go back and forth on the subject. But Subaru Tecnica International isn't the only company with a history of tuning Subies. So does Cosworth, and now the British racing firm appears to be turning its attention to the BRZ and its Toyota- and Scion-badged siblings.
For those unacquainted, Cosworth is more than your average tuning company. It's a racing firm first and foremost, having made F1 engines under its own name as well as Ford's (chief among them the all-conquering DFV 3.0-liter V8 of 1960s and 70s fame), not to mention engines for Indy, rally and even high-performance, road-going versions of the Ford Sierra, Chevy Vega and Mercedes 190E. The list goes on and on, but you get the point.
Now withdrawing from Formula One, Cosworth is focusing its attention on tuning road cars again with the launch of the Cosworth Power Package line, the first of which will focus on the Toyota GT86 (aka Scion FR-S) and Subaru BRZ. We don't know just yet what will be included in the packaged dubbed FA-20, but from the video teaser below, it seems there'll be upgrades to the exhaust, suspension, aero and - if we're lucky - maybe a super- or turbocharger for the 2.0-liter flat-four engine. We'll have to wait and see, but we get the feeling that with Cosworth on the job, it'll be worth the wait. Check out the minute-long video below in the meantime.