Nother CarGuy

Peugeot has some serious rally chops behind it. But while it has left the top tier of the World Rally Championship to its sister-brand Citroën, it actively competes in rallycross – and this is its new contender. The French automaker’s will compete in this year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship with the new 2018 Peugeot 208 WRX. It’s based on the same vehicle the French marque has fielded in the series since 2014, but upgraded with key enhancements for the season ahead. Those upgrades include a new aerodynamics package to increase downforce, with a new wing and rear bumper. The suspension has been revised as well, with a new front setup, fresh dampers and bigger wheels, as well as a quicker-shifting gearbox and a new roll cage. It’s all wrapped in a fresh appearance that ought to make it stand out further from the crowd of other entries on the grid. Peugeot developed the new challenger in-house this time, instead of farming it out to Hansen. Timmy Hansen will st...

It’s been 50 years since Subaru of America first started its operations, and to celebrate the event, the automaker has launched limited edition models of some cars. Presented during the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, these include the Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback, limited to 1,050 units each, and the BRZ, WRX, and STI, with a combined total of 1,050. Subaru BRZ Already on sale at the brand’s dealers nationwide, all anniversary models are based on their respective range-topping trim level. They also get a new exclusive color, called Heritage Blue, special exterior and interior accents, and unique ‘SOA 50th Anniversary’ emblem. Subaru Forester Satin chrome trim on the outside, along with different alloy wheels on all vehicles except for the BRZ, and side mirror casings finished in Satin Chrome (except for BRZ, WRX, and STI), further define their special character. Subaru Legacy The cabin of each of the eight special models features the ’50th Ann...

Subaru says that the next-generation WRX will bear a close resemblance to the Viziv Performance concept unveiled a couple of months ago. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru design chief Mamoru Ishii said that the positive reception to the Viziv has encouraged the carmaker not to mess with the design significantly when the next WRX hits the road. “Such a car brings lots of expectation, from within the company and from our customers. What we know is that our customers’ lifestyles are changing and we have to respond to that. The question was whether we have done that in a correct way with this concept. “For instance, we know that autonomous and connective technology are coming, and for many customers that is great, but we don’t think that is what all of our customers want. For some, driving pleasure is still very important and that is what we are exploring,” Ishii said. According to Ishii, customers can expect to see the next WRX adopting a similar body shape, bold arches, and bonnet...

Subaru has no plans for a direct replacement of the WRX STI but that doesn’t mean that we won’t get a new one at all. With the current WRX STI steadily heading to retirement, Subaru will soon have a very emotionally significant hole in its range that will remain vacant for a few years, before the successor shows up. The reason for this delay, according to Subaru Europe’s General Manager of sales and marketing David Dello Stritto who spoke with Dutch Autorai, is because the company is still looking at how the market develops in order to finalize the concept of the next WRX STI. With the current turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine being too dirty to pass the upcoming stricter emissions regulations, Subaru has to find another way of giving its customers their rallycar-for-the-road fix. "We're not really giving up on ‘fun to drive’. The new Impreza also provides this, but in a different, more environmentally sound way, "said Dello Stritto. Among their options is of...

Subaru has decided to give enthusiasts from its home country a track-ready variant of the WRX STI, dubbed the S208 Special Edition. Seemingly taking some inspiration from the brand’s STI Type RA NBR Special, the limited-edition variant will be restricted to just 450 units throughout the country. Power for the model comes thanks to an uprated 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder which now delivers 324 hp, a 28 hp increase over other STI models. Additionally, Subaru has fitted adjustable Bilstein dampers, active torque vectoring for the rear wheels, and a faster steering rack. Visually, the S208 Special Edition immediately stands out thanks to 19-inch wheels, a small rear spoiler and a prominent front splitter. The car can be painted in World Rally Blue Pearl and Crystal White Pearl but if customers want something special, they can opt for Cool Grey Khaki with the NBR Challenge Package and also receive a larger rear wing and carbon roof. Carscoops

Subaru has released new details about the VIZIV Performance concept, ahead of its official unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show. Billed as a "next-generation sports sedan," the concept resembles a futuristic WRX and features a sporty front bumper with carbon fiber accents. Designers also installed a ram air hood, a prominent grille, and stylish "hawkeye" headlights. Moving aft of the engine compartment, we can see ventilated carbon fiber fender flares and muscular bodywork. Other highlights include a carbon fiber roof and 20-inch alloy wheels. At the rear of the car, designers installed an aggressive diffuser and a four-tailpipe exhaust system. There are also LED taillights and a trunk-mounted spoiler. Overall, the concept measures 4,630mm (182.2 inches) long, 1,950mm (76.7 inches) wide, and 1,430mm (56.3 inches) tall with a wheelbase that spans 2,730mm (107.4 inches). Technical details remain elusive but the company says the concept has a "high...

If there's one thing that Subaru fans can't seem to get enough of, it's more potent versions of the WRX STI. And that's just what the Japanese automaker has in store for the Tokyo Motor Show this year. Called the S208, the upgraded STI builds upon the previous S207 launched in 2015. As to how, exactly, Subaru has unfortunately only given us bits and pieces, but they look promising so far. The manufacturer says the S208 will feature a carbon-fiber roof and an as-yet unspecified power boost, to the benefit of both handling and acceleration. That sounds a lot to us like the Type RA recently introduced in America to celebrate the Nürburgring record run. That model packs a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer four upgraded to 310 horsepower (instead of 305). Considering that the previous S207 boasted 328 hp, we'd expect the S208 to pack even more. Whatever's under the hood, Subaru will only offer 450 examples, exclusively in Japan. As with the BRZ STI Sport ...

Subaru USA has finally released details about the latest editions of the BRZ and the WRX STI. Subaru will offer just 500 units of each model, with both of them expected to reach Subaru dealerships in early 2018. The new Subaru WRX STI Type RA offers a purer driving experience through the classic recipe of shedding weight and upgrading the chassis and the engine. The new limited version of the WRX STI comes with a carbon-fiber roof panel, a carbon-fiber wing and a set of lightweight BBS 19-inch forged alloys. Subaru has also removed the spare tire. The chassis has been upgraded with inverted front struts and Bilstein dampers all around, with the VDC also tuned to the needs of the new Type RA. A set of six-piston Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors makes sure that stopping power will always be there. Subaru has updated the turbocharged 2.5-litre flat-four engine to an estimated 310hp, thanks to the use of a new cold air intake, high-flow performance exhaust, retuned E...

Subaru teased a new photo of the WRX STI Type RA which will be unveiled on June 8th. The car will be a production model and the picture confirms it will come with a carbon fiber roof. Full details will be released a week from now but the car is also slated to have a carbon fiber rear wing and 19-inch BBS wheels with a gold finish. Drivers can also look forward to a host of interior tweaks including the addition of Recaro seats and possibly some sportier trim combinations. Given the WRX STI Type RA is a performance model, it comes as little surprise that it will come equipped with a retuned suspension that reportedly features Bilstein shock absorbers. We can also expect a handful of engine and transmission upgrades but the company is keeping details under wraps. Carscoops

Subaru has given the  WRX and WRX STI  a nip and tuck for the 2018MY that covers several areas, but not the engines.  These updates were made to keep the performance models that are based on the previous Impreza current, as the next iterations of the WRX and STI aren't expected before 2018, when Subaru switches them to its new global platform. On the visual front, the  two performance models  benefit from a restyled front fascia, highlighted by a more pronounced grille and larger lower openings. In addition, both get new roof rack mounting brackets for improved visibility, redesigned wheels, while the WRX Limited and STI sport new LED adaptive headlights. Inside, both models  come with  upgraded materials, new door grips, rear seat armrest with cup holders, and faster remote trunk opening. Subaru has also reduces noise by adding thicker door glass, foam filling the windshield header beam, and revising the door sealing.  The list of  interi...

A facelifted  Subaru WRX  is expected to be revealed for the 2018 model year but won't bring with it any serious changes. Australian publication  Motoring  has learnt that the refreshed WRX will retain the current model's platform rather than adopting Subaru's new global platform that supports hybrid powertrains.  Although the  updated  WRX won't be radically different, a senior engineer from Subaru said that an all-new model is on the cards and tipped to arrive early next decade. “The WRX will have a facelift soon, not a full model cycle, because the new model just launched in 2015. The full model cycle will be about four or five years, and that’s when you’ll see a full model.  “We would love to have the WRX on the new platform, because the car would be a lot better … but the 2018 will be a facelift only,” the source said. When the  next-generation  Subaru  WRX  does arrive, the Japanese company is expected to install a rev...

Subaru Tecnica International (STI) has launched a limited edition of the WRX S4, which inherits  some expertise of the S207 .  Wearing the WRX S4 tS moniker, the  new model features  10 percent improved torque during acceleration, achieved by modifying the air intake and exhaust parts, better braking thanks to Brembo's opposed-piston 4-pot brakes up front, and  enhanced handling  thanks to the flexible tow bar, DampMatic II front suspension with adjustable damping and front-rear Active torque Vectoring. On the outside, the  limited edition Subaru  has a large front under-spoiler, cherry red pinstripe on the mesh-type grille and rear bumper, black roof antenna and 19-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels  designed by STI , while the cabin's highlights include the exclusive luminescent speedometer and the STI-spec Recaro front bucket seats.  Created to commemorate the automaker's 2015 and 2016 victories in the SP3T class at the Nurburgring 24...