Motoring in Spain - ON THE ROAD
From hardcore performance to soft styling
ON THE ROAD From hardcore performance to soft styling
Some focus on the style, others on the comfort… For Subaru’s “hardcore” new Impreza WRX STI, however, the team of engineers had one key aspect in mind: performance. The result – unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show – is a heavily revised new 300 PS turbo-charged 2.5-litre “boxer” engine, new platform and suspension, and more advanced symmetrical all-wheel drive system. In short, “a World Rally Championship look-alike sure to satisfy Subaru traditionalists”. Not that style and comfort have been overlooked: the WRX STI has a plusher interior than before, offering leather/Alcantara-covered sports seats as standard; the audio system has been upgraded; and the new suspension offers a smoother ride and increased grip thanks to the multi-link wishbone rear suspension.
Appropriately rugged it might be, but the 2008 Outback range is also reported to be more refined and capable than before, with sleek styling and smart 17" alloy wheels on all models, meaning it is better equipped to handle any road conditions (town, forest, mountain), in any weather. Improvements include upgraded CD auto-changer audio systems with MP3 compatibility; improved satellite navigation systems with DVD playback; and, for the 3.0 models, Subaru's new S-I drive, a “revolutionary” system that puts the driver in control of the vehicle's engine and transmission characteristics.
Last year Subaru celebrated the production of its one-millionth Forester, highlighting the model’s success as a “cross-over SUV combining off-road ability with sporty handling”. This versatile vehicle offers high levels of comfort, utility and style, with “each control thoughtfully positioned to best connect the drive to the vehicle… and high-quality materials complementing clever-ergonomics”.
The 2008 Legacy Saloon is described by Subaru as “a fusion of gracious, understated styling with a driving experience that appeals to the intellect and every emotion”. And if that’s not enough: “Every model in the range promises optimal performance no matter what the weather or road has in store… and combines modern sophistication with the experience culled from decades of racing heritage”.
Of course, tradition and heritage are only part of the overall concept, as Subaru’s engineers refine the plans for such future models as the B11S coupe and HM-01. Developed by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, the Subaru B11S is said to represent a new type of four-door coupe, with “superb driving performance ensured by a symmetrical AWD (all-wheel-drive) system in combination with a horizontally-opposed engine”. Included in the “mid-size family car” category, the HM-01 brings back memories of the 1958 Subaru 360 − one of the first cars produced in Japan after World War II.
