Autoblog

Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award

Chris Paukert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

2010 Subaru Outback - Click above for high-res image gallery

Subaru is a historic two-timer. For the second year in a row, the Japanese company has claimed Motor Trend magazine's coveted Golden Calipers for its SUV of the Year award - the first time any automaker has managed to do so. The company's new-for-2010 Outback has evidently picked up where last year's Forester left off, and we understand why - it's a dynamite all-around package.

The lifted Legacy did face some stiff competition, including vehicles we've enjoyed driving recently - players like the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKT, and Mercedes-Benz GLK. But from where we sit, the Subie's most formidable opposition for the award were all premium priced offerings, and the Outback is a more affordable jack-of-all-trades with few compromises - especially now that Subaru's engineers have seen fit to let out the back seat a bit. In any case, you can check out the official press release after the jump or read our review of the Outback by clicking here.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award

Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend announces SUV of the Year contenders

Chris Shunk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover

Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year nominees - Click above to view high-res gallery

When Motor Trend picks its favorite sport utility vehicle, the winner will have bragging rights for an entire year. And we'll know all about it, because the victorious company behind the winning crossover or SUV will shout it from the rooftops (and in print, TV and web advertisements) about their shiny golden award. We can argue all day long about whether many of the nominees can be legitimately be considered sport/utlility vehicles, but either way, this year, there are 11 vehicles up for consideration, with pedigrees ranging from a single traditional body-on-frame SUV to a brace of competent and efficient family haulers and richly appointed luxury crossovers.

As Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus McKenzie points out on the magazine's blog, there is only one traditional SUV on the list, and it takes the size and shape of the Toyota 4Runner. The rest of the vehicles are crossovers, with seven of the 11 candidates sporting luxury badging, three coming from General Motors and one stablemate to last year's SUV of the year, the Subaru Outback. When choosing the SUV of the year, MT says it looks at packaging, presentation and intended function, along with obvious criteria like aesthetics and performance. Hit the jump to look over the candidates for the award, click below to check out our high-res gallery, or head over to Motor Trend for more details.

Gallery: 2009 Motor Trend SUV of the Year

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Motor Trend announces SUV of the Year contenders

Motor Trend announces SUV of the Year contenders originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Legacy and Outback, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring new IIHS Top Safety Picks

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Safety, Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge, Subaru

Four 2010 model year vehicles have just been awarded Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Subaru's Outback and Legacy, the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler's Sebring. Top Safety Picks are given to those vehicles that come equipped with electronic stability control and receive front, side, and rear crash test ratings of 'Good' in IIHS testing.

The Legacy has boasted a 'Good' rating for a few years now, while the all-new Outback takes the cake on its first try. The Sebring and Avenger continue their runs of 'Good' form in their current generations.

[Source: IIHS]

Subaru Legacy and Outback, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring new IIHS Top Safety Picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback has something for everyone

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Subaru, First Drive, Off-Road

2010 Subaru Outback - Click above for high-res image gallery

Before there was such a thing as a CUV, there was a jacked-up four-wheel drive wagon called the Subaru Legacy. A few special editions later, the Legacy Outback edition birthed the stand-alone Subaru Outback in 1995. The precedent was set, establishing the wagon as polymath, master of numerous disciplines: durability, capability, wide range, ease of use and maintenance on-road and off. The styling, however - well, you weren't really buying a Subaru for its styling. Autoblog went to Montana to drive the fourth-generation 2010 Subaru Outback, and all we needed was one look to realize there's finally a Subaru for the rest of us. Then we drove it, and it just got better. Follow the jump to find out why.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback has something for everyone

First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback has something for everyone originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Outback fuel economy figures released, hits 29 MPG

Dan Roth — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Green, Subaru

2010 Subaru Outback - Click above for high-res image gallery

Subaru's new-for-2010 Outback ought to silence a few critics who contend that all-wheel drive sucks up too much fuel to be a worthwhile purchase for most consumers. According to the Japanese automaker, the tip-toe all-weather wagon has studied up for the EPA test, netting 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway. That's smaller front-driver territory from many automakers, albeit with a big dash of Subaru load-lugging capacity.

The good table manners are delivered by the combination of the new Lineartronic CVT and 170 horsepower 2.5 liter boxer four. Subaru's EPA numbers for the 2010 Outback are tops for such a roomy wagon, besting the typical SUV competitors, as well as the higher-end AWD wagons offered by Audi and Volvo. The $23,000 price of entry is attractive, too, although given our recent experience with the 2010 Legacy upon which it is based, we don't imagine it being a terribly spirited drive when so-configured. Even still, for all those bloviators who keep calling for a good-sized wagon that returns reasonable fuel economy for a sensible price, here's your ~~car~~ ~~wagon~~ thing. Official press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Subaru Outback

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru Outback fuel economy figures released, hits 29 MPG

Subaru Outback fuel economy figures released, hits 29 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York: What Subaru left Outback

John Neff — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:12:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Wagon, Subaru

What Subaru left out back - Click to enlarge

While shooting the new 2010 Legacy at Subaru's display stand, we peeked behind a curtain to see if the Japanese automaker was hiding anything else out back. Usually we're confronted by a mess of wires and boxes when snooping around where we're not allowed, but this time we actually found a car! Subaru still has a press conference tomorrow and the new Legacy models are already out on the floor, so we knew the brand must have something else up its sleeve. The covered car is obviously a wagon with a high hood and fenders that appear to flare out farther away from the body than on the normal Legacy. Hmmm... What could it be? If you couldn't tell, we're guessing it's the Outback version of the new Legacy. We'll find out tomorrow morning if we're right, so stay tuned.

New York: What Subaru left Outback originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2009: 2010 Saab 9-3X ideal wagon for lingonberry picking

Chris Paukert — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Saab

Click above for high-res gallery of the Saab 9-3X

Saab debuted its 9-3X at the Geneva Motor Show, and while it's a new market for the Swedish brand (we'll try to forget about the body-on-frame 9-7X, thank you), we suspect that the lifted load-lugger will probably outsell the standard SportCombi by a healthy margin Stateside, given America's appetite for such things.

It's quite handsome in person and the inherently less-sharp handling of a sportstilts wagon ought to paper over the 9-3's occasionally soggy dynamics. Said another way, a lack of razor-sharp handling in the 9-3 platform would seem to be more appropriate/acceptable in a softroader than a sporty wagon or sedan.

While basically the same as the 2.0-liter Sportcombi, the 9-3X has a 1.4-inch higher stance and standard Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD), a fantastically grippy system that figures to give the new model sufficient softroading abilities to be a worthwhile alternative to the Subaru Outback or Volvo XC70. Other model-specific cues include contrasting lower cladding and flared fenders, unique 17-inch wheels, and a roof rack for safely displaying all of one's lifestyle accessories.

Given the effort to extract Saab from General Motors' portfolio and its uncertain future, there is a very real possibility that the 9-3X will be the last new Griffin-badged product we see in the States - the badly-needed 9-5 replacement is slated to debut before the year is out, but we expect it will go to European markets first, and there has been some talk of Saab withdrawing from North America entirely even if it continues to exist. While the 9-3X can't be fairly tasked with saving the company, it's a compelling-looking package that would appear to deserve a shot.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: 2010 Saab 9-3X

Geneva 2009: 2010 Saab 9-3X ideal wagon for lingonberry picking originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Outback wears its boxer diesel engine on the outside

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Subaru, UK

Click on the image to see high-res shots of the "see-through" Subaru

While automakers spend huge amounts of money paying marketing firms to come up with memorable advertising campaigns, sometimes something relatively simple does the job just as well. Take this Subaru Outback. Dreamed up by Stan Palmer Sales of Carlisle, a Subaru dealership in the U.K., this particular Outback appears to be see-through and was developed to promote the marque's new diesel boxer engine, the first such engine in the world. An image in a Subaru brochure was snapped with an eight megapixel camera, blown up and plastered onto the full-sized car.

Though the whole project took just one day, the effort has drummed up plenty of interest. According to Dealer Principal Ian Armstrong, "The reaction has been fantastic, with people almost tripping up as they walk past." Considering that the Outback isn't exactly a fresh model, the added interest has caught the attention of Lawrence Good, Managing Director of Subaru Limited in the U.K, who said: "This car has become quite a talking point back here in head office and is a fantastic and cost-effective advertising initiative. It should inspire other dealers to either copy the idea or come up with their own innovative campaigns." Sounds like they love it.

Gallery: See-through Subaru Outback

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru Outback wears its boxer diesel engine on the outside

Subaru Outback wears its boxer diesel engine on the outside originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 May 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Wagon, Crossover, Subaru, Toyota, First Drive, Lifestyle

There are few words in the English language which can conjure up as much meaning, and likely so many memories, as these: road trip. We've all been on them before; some are the highlights of your life and some... well, not so much. But having the right vehicle can make all the difference in the world. Thule, maker of "transportation accessories", has added its name to the ever-growing list of companies that have invented an "__ of the year" award. For this particular honor, Thule has broken the automotive landscape in half, dividing its choices for the best vehicle to take a road trip in at the $30 grand mark. Without further ado, the winners are:

Best road trip vehicle under $30,000: Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Best road trip vehicle over $30,000: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited

If you really want to read all of the reasons that Thule offers for choosing these vehicles, there's a whole press release pasted after the break. We're not going to argue with their choices, as both the Outback and the Highlander are fine vehicles, which would be suitable for a group of four people and their assorted belongings. Sure beats the old funny-smelling air-cooled VW van that had trouble keeping up with the slow-moving traffic that some of us can remember from our childhood.

Gallery: 2008 Subaru Legacy and Outback

Gallery: Highlander Hybrid 2008

[Source: Thule]

Continue reading 2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule

2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ghosbusters spotted in the Colorado Outback

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Etc., Subaru

After seeing a midnight showing of Ghostbusters in early October of 2005, a couple of friends hatched a plan. The self-described "nerdy near-adults with interests in "science fiction, computers, technology, and filmmaking" decided that with Halloween just around the corner, they might as well dress as Ghostbusters. Kevin and his friend Will wanted to build homemade backpacks and uniforms, then go into a local hotel on Halloween to prank them. "Essentially we would run out with smoking ghost traps, handing the hotel manager a bill for $5000, and then run away. Then it hit me. 'Will... I'll make you a deal. You build the packs, and I'll build the car.' A few months later Will moved to New York and the plans were shelved."

The following spring, Kevin and his roommate, Austin, got the project started. They started with Kevin's white 1998 Subaru Outback and went to town, adding lightbars, tubes, packs, decals and a lot of hours to make the car into the Ecto-1K. But just days before Halloween, the Ecto was rear-ended by a semi and written off. A replacement 2003 Outback was located, and with insurance money and donations in hand, they rebuilt the Ecto-1K in just a few weeks. The car has made quite a splash in and around Fort Collins. Car shows, comic conventions, parades, and the like. You can read the whole story and see lots of pics by following the Read link. Funny anecdotes abound. We especially liked the idea of just driving it through town at random on weeknights, making those who caught a glimpse of it wonder if they had perhaps been seeing things. Or using it to help snow-stranded motorists get unstuck. Always nice to see someone with an appreciation for fine art, a great sense of humor, and a Subaru putting it all together for the betterment of mankind.

[Source: NASIOC via DieselStation]

Ghosbusters spotted in the Colorado Outback originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 May 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru's Legacy and Outback score high on NHTSA tests

Chris Tutor — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Subaru

Like any proud parent, Subaru is pretty proud of its offspring's safety records. And with the NHTSA awarding five star crash ratings across the board to both Legacy and Outback, they've got plenty of reasons to be proud. Both models also received four out of five stars for rollover safety.

This is thefirst time the Legacy's gotten five stars across the board (in 2005, it got five for front passenger and driver, but was not rated for side crashes), but the Outback has consistently scored tops since at least 2002.

That now makes two safety agencies smiling upon the Legacy, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick for 2007.

[Source: Safercar.gov]

Subaru's Legacy and Outback score high on NHTSA tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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