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Video: Subaru's new ads and their double-entendres

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru take the public for a ride in the 2011 WRX STI sedan - Click above to watch video after the jump

Call us sadistic, but there's something undeniably hilarious about yanking random people off of the street and plopping them into the passenger seat of a sports car. Throw a talented race driver behind the tiller, and you've got an unmatched recipe for entertainment. Subaru has decided to take a stroll down that path with a slew of new ads designed to introduce the new 2011 WRX STI sedan to the public. The company asked rally driver Dave Mirra to shuffle a few folk around under an overpass in the 305 horsepower turbo four-door, filmed the whole thing and called it a day.

Subaru has unveiled a total of five 30-second spots with a variety of regular Joes (and Janes) riding shotgun in the winged machine. The company is calling the campaign Get More Gs, and Subaru is quick to point out that the phrase is meant to equally focus on g forces as much as that "oh geez" feeling you get from slinging the car through a slalom. We see what you did there, Subaru. Hit the jump to enjoy the videos. Now... where can we get a skull antenna topper?

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: First Drive

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Video: Subaru's new ads and their double-entendres

Video: Subaru's new ads and their double-entendres originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Return of the Wing

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru, First Drives

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Click above for high-res image gallery

By most accounts, something went awry while Subaru was baking the last generation Impreza WRX STI. Maybe someone slipped in an extra cup of civility or forgot to add enough dashes of hardcore, but what was once little more than a thinly-disguised rally stage escapee had come out of the oven a little weaker than its predecessor. Subaru itself diplomatically admits that the priorities for the last generation STI were somewhat different from the 2011 model. The company stripped the line down to just the five-door hatchback in 2008, stressing functionality over style, and the whole recipe simply felt less focused than what we had come to expect from Japan's all-wheel drive hero.

But that was then, and this is now. The company assures us that for 2011, we can expect a return to the fundamentals that helped establish the STI as a force to be reckoned with. Though the drivetrain remains unchanged, a slew of suspension adjustments and a lower stance have given the STI the ability to hoover up tarmac and gravel stages indiscriminately once again. It isn't a completely new generation - more like a much needed do-over - but the changes are enough to make the 2011 model instantly recognizable from behind the wheel.

If that's not enough to convince you, allow us to direct your attention to the rear of the resurrected four-door body style, dominated once again by the kind of spoiler that could double as a civil engineering exercise. Yeah, baby. The STI is back, and on more than just a wing and a prayer.

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: First Drive

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Return of the Wing

First Drive: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Return of the Wing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Haugland Rally School - Driver's education for the terminally slow

Zach Bowman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Hatchback

John Haugland Rally School with Subaru - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our goal here is pretty simple: drive consecutive laps around a varied and technical rally training course without killing 63 year-old world rally competitor and all-around good guy John Haugland. You see, the man has been brave enough to strap himself into the copilot's chair of the same race-prepped Subaru WRX STI that we've been charged with wrangling, and judging from the relaxed look on his face and his calm tone of voice, he doesn't quite get the mortal danger he's placed himself in. He must have excellent life insurance.

Haugland has trained some of the world's best rally drivers, including the guano-crazy-fast Petter Solberg, but today, he's trying his best to impart a minute fraction of his encyclopedic knowledge on the art of going faster to a handful of journos just outside of Oslo, Norway. The idea here is that Subaru wants us all know as much as we can about flinging the beauty of all-wheel drive around a rally course before we get introduced to the 2011 WRX and WRX STI next month. To that end, we spent about 20 minutes in a classroom where the underlying message went something like this:

Forget everything you know about proper driving lines, car control, traction and speed. You're in our sandbox now.

Gallery: John Haugland Rally School

Continue reading John Haugland Rally School - Driver's education for the terminally slow

John Haugland Rally School - Driver's education for the terminally slow originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 WRX STI sedan runs 'Ring in 7:55, quickest ever for Subaru

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Subaru, Specialty

2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan at the Nürburgring - Click above for high-res image gallery

Quick: What's the fastest production sedan in the world? Does it wear a Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW badge? What about the Porsche Panamera Turbo or the Cadillac CTS-V? There's no doubt that each of these vehicular behemoths is capable of ripping off some fast times on a race track near you, but Subaru is out to prove that its new 2011 WRX STI sedan has the chops to keep pace with the best from the rest of the world.

To prove its point, Subaru recently sent test driver and four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen out to the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife course in Germany with a 2011 STI test car. According to reports, the vehicle used in this testing was equipped with a few significant upgrades including a larger turbocharger that normally sees duty in the Japanese R205 model and some lightweight aluminum bits, but one thing is for certain: the 7:55 lap time is a mighty impressive result.

For those keeping track of such things, the previous best lap set by a Subaru WRX STI was in 2004 at 7:59.41 and the new mark set by Subaru - albeit with a prototype, not a production car - is quicker than any of the aforementioned competition. Best of all, there's a video of one entire lap around the 'Ring and you can find the in-car footage after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Subaru WRX STI at the Nurburgring

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Video: 2011 WRX STI sedan runs 'Ring in 7:55, quickest ever for Subaru

Video: 2011 WRX STI sedan runs 'Ring in 7:55, quickest ever for Subaru originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Latest Subaru WRX STI sedan gets new advert

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Subaru

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Click above to view the video after the jump

Yes, the wing is back, and with it comes even more of the adrenal gland-kicking performance we know and love from the Subaru WRX STI. Fuji Heavy Industries will have you believe this is the fastest STI ever, and judging by the fact that the 2011 model weighs less and uses a revised suspension, they may be right. Sure, there's no extra horsepower on tap, but why add ponies when you can shed pounds?

The company has released a new teaser for the four-door version (2011 will let you pick between the STI wagon and sedan), and we have to say the wide body treatment and that rear wing do much to give the latest WRX body some attitude. Sure, we wouldn't call it pretty, but that's an adjective we reserve for the intake on that devilish little turbo boxer four. Hit the jump to see the flick.

Gallery: New York 2010: Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Continue reading Video: Latest Subaru WRX STI sedan gets new advert

Video: Latest Subaru WRX STI sedan gets new advert originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan has wing, needs gold wheels

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Subaru

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time in three years, Subaru is offering up a four-door sedan version of their performance icon, the WRX STI. This is the first time that Subaru has ever offered an STI in two body styles. That's right, you can also buy the five-door STI. And while we love hot little performance wagons, you have to admit the wing is pretty sweet. Or at least admit that the four-door Impreza body is so... awkward looking (we know, we know) that the looks are actually improved by a 14-inch wing.

New for the STI(s) this year is an improved suspension consisting of stiffer bushings, stiffer springs, and thicker anti-roll bars at both ends of the car. The 2011 STI also sports less unsprung weight than the 2010 model due to lighter 18-inch wheels that are a combined 17.6 pounds less heavy. While power is unchanged (305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque), high-speed stability of the four door is greatly improved, as is at the limit handling, by - you guessed it - that mega wing.

Since the sedan is marginally lighter than the five-door, 0-60 mph times might improve. However, since there's less weight over the rear wheels (and since the STI's diff is slightly rear-biased) they might be a bit slower. Also, the sedan STI features two mufflers (still has four pipes) as opposed to the wagon's one giant muffler (and four pipes). Subaru claims that while this has no bearing on horsepower or torque, it makes the car sound, "Meaner and louder."

We mentioned to Subaru that we dig the new wing, but really think the wheels should be gold like the classic STI/BBS marriage of years past. Even the optional 18 x 8.5-inch BBS wheels are silver. Our Subaru PR pal smiled at us and said, "Glad we gave you something to bitch about." Also, a quick PSA for those of you thinking about buying a new STI and deleting the wing: Subaru highly recommends you also change the trunk springs, because minus the weight of the wing, the trunk will smash in the rear window.

Update: The 2011 STI is also available in Limited trim, meaning leather seats plus a sunroof.

Gallery: New York 2010: Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan has wing, needs gold wheels

New York 2010: 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan has wing, needs gold wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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