Click on the image above for our high-res 2008 WRX STI gallery

Subaru of America announced a service campaign this week focused on the 305-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four powering the 2008 WRX STI. According to the verbiage on a letter sent to an owner, Subaru states that "abnormal combustion" could occur when the engine is repeatedly or continuously operated above redline (6,700 rpm). At these high engine speeds, the Engine Control Module cuts fuel to the powerplant to protect the engine from even higher revolutions (this is common industry-wide, not just with Subaru). Unfortunately, under certain situations the Subaru 4-cylinder Boxer is still under high boost and the fuel cut-off causes the engine to run "over lean" resulting in combustion that breaks piston ring lands... eventually destroying the engine.

Subaru's "Service Program Campaign WVE15" reprograms the Engine Control Module software to improve combustion at engine speeds above redline, preventing engine damage. Subaru is quick to point out that the revised programming "will not adversely affect the peak performance" of the vehicle, so owners need not worry about the free campaign messing up their 0-60 sprints. Letters from Subaru will go out to owners in the next week or two. In the meantime, try keeping the white needles out of the red zone!

Gallery: Review: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

[Source: IWSTI]

Continue reading Subaru WRX STI getting ECU reflash for combustion issues

Subaru WRX STI getting ECU reflash for combustion issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Feds investigating Solstice GXP, Sky Redline brakes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What's the deal? Sky sales rallying, Solstice waning originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Review: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

Continue reading Review: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

Review: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: eBay: Carrera GT from "Redline"

eBay find of the day: Wrecked Carrera GT from "Redline" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spiegel, Cohn, Welles, and Spielberg are unlikely company for the name of Daniel Sadek, producer of the new auto-themed movie out in theaters called Redline. According to Cinematical's review of the movie, however, this real estate mogul turned producer has bankrolled a movie guided by passion rather than the bottom line.

It certainly won't win an Oscar, but a RAZZIE for Redline is definitely a possibility. While the movie presents no real surprises, no mythic overtones, and nothing goes against type, it also doesn't make any attempt to pretend otherwise. It's a sea of B-listers with hot girls; really fast, really expensive cars; crazy, bored rich people casually risking other people's lives; and tough-yet-good-looking underdog guys who are going to make good.

Yet in real life, a real guy put his real money and his real cars in the service of that celluloid vision. And did we mention that his really fast, really expensive cars spend much of the movie actually going really fast? In fact, Sadek even sacrificed his sacred Enzo for the pic when it was practically destroyed at the hands of actor Eddie Griffin, who plays rap mogul Infamous in the film. If nothing else, Cinematical rates the movie as "agreeably psychotic" -- and who doesn't want to say hello to that?

Apparently Sadek even wrote lyrics to some of the score. Even if the movie isn't worthy, the review is. Check it out.

[Source: Cinematical]

Cinematical reviews Redline... and nails it originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You all remember Eddie Griffin, the celebrity gent who recently hopped in a borrowed Enzo and decided to test his theories on speed vs. coefficient of friction, vector change, and impact absorption? Well, like a proud papa whose kid blows up the chemistry class but gets on the front page of the local paper, the team behind his new movie, Redline, has decided to share the results of Eddie's physics experiment with the public: the And-There-Went-Another-Enzo is on display at Graumans' Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in advance of the movie's Thursday premiere.

It is entirely possible that Griffin was trying to show people at the Irwindale Speedway a scene from the film, which, based on the trailer, looks like 90210-meets-the-Gumball-Rally-meets-demolition-derby. Apparently people who go to movies bursting with multimillion dollar machines want to see them run into every solid object possible. A movie spokesperson, who said the car would be lying "in state," added that "Surrounding the car, in tribute, will be several high-profile sports cars as well as floral, candle and tribute displays to the car. It'll be a very special memorial service."

Oh Enzo, we hardly knew ye.

[Source: SFGate via Jalopnik]

Redline red carpet: Eddie's crashed Enzo on display for movie premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hot Wheels offers limited edition Camaro and Challenger

Hot Wheels offers limited edition Camaro and Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line & Green Line

Continue reading Chicago Preview: '08 Saturn Vue Red Line & Green Line

Chicago Preview: '08 Saturn Vue Red Line & Green Line originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: 2007 Opel GT

Continue reading Sky's the Limit: GM intros the Opel GT for Europe

Sky's the Limit: GM intros the Opel GT for Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The 2007 Saturn Aura is a critical car for General Motors; GM will even tell you that to your face. It represents a solid break for Saturn towards the European-inspired brand that it should be. By leveraging the resources of Opel in Europe, GM was able to bring a vehicle with European character to a brand that desperately needed direction. To that end, GM is reinventing Saturn, while still maintaining its no-hassle, no-haggle pricing. Clearly aimed at import-intenders who would normally shop for an Accord, Camry, or Passat, the Aura is representative of this new direction. There will also be an Aura Greenline offered later in 2007 that will use a mild-hybrid powerplant similar to the one found in the Vue Greenline.

There are two trim levels for the Aura. The XE is the base model, with a revised version of GM's OHV V6 that displaces 3510 cc and produces 224 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 220 ft-lbs. at 4,000 rpm, which finds its way to the ground via a 4-speed automatic transmission. The XE is supposed to start around $20,595. The Aura XR, meanwhile, is the top of the line model, receiving motivation from a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 that produces 252 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 251 ft-lbs. at 3,200 rpm. It is paired with GM's new six-speed automatic transmission. The XR also has an optional Morocco Brown interior trim that adds brown leather to the seating surfaces with matching trim on the doors, which definitely lends character to the interior space. Pricing for the XR will start just under $25,000.

Continue reading Thirty minutes with the 2007 Saturn Aura

Thirty minutes with the 2007 Saturn Aura originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"It's an Opel! It's a Vauxhall! No... it's a Saturn!" Even the haters are a little excited about Saturn going all Madonna on everyone (you know, pretending she was born and raised in Europe all of a sudden). The trio of Saturns set to appear at next month's New York Auto Show stand as shining examples of models GM hopes will trigger a brand revitalization. The Saturn Sky Red Line (the planetary brand's counterpart to Pontiac's Solstice GXP), sources the family 2.0-liter, 260 hp direct-injection turbo. The Saturn Aura (which looks suspiciously like the Opel Astra), is the brand's call to the upscale, with an interior that is by far the richest in the marque's stable. And finally, the Saturn Outlook, which goes into production later this year as an 8-person crossover based on GM's new CUV platform.  The Sky Red Line will go on sale this fall, and the Aura hits dealership lots this summer.

In related news, the Big Apple will also play host to the North American premiere of the Geneva Motor Show favorite, Saab's Aero-X.

(The General's full release can be found after the jump)

[Source: General Motors via WebWire.com]

Continue reading Saturn Sky Red Line, Saturn Aura among GM's New York Auto Show offerings

Saturn Sky Red Line, Saturn Aura among GM's New York Auto Show offerings originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.