20-mile-long convoy of Subarus to celebrate life of Colin McRae

Filed under: Motorsports, Subaru, UK, Celebrities

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/autos/20_mile_long_convoy_to_celebrate_life_of_Colin_McRae’; The picture at right was taken a just a day after the rally legend was killed in a tragic helicopter crash near his home in Lanarkshire. Without prompting, rally fans from across the UK drove to Scotland to hold a memorial in the McRaes’ hometown, which quickly filled up with Subarus, most of them WR blue.

One year on, they’ve gotten organized. Next Saturday, August 30, Colin’s dad, Jimmy, will drive his son’s famous 555 Impreza out of Lanark and head for Prodrive’s factory in Banbury, southern England. By the time he reaches Birmingham he will have 700 Subarus in his mirrors forming an all-wheel-drive parade that’s expected to stretch over 10 miles. Then, on Sunday the 31st, another 600 scoobies are set to join the tailback as it heads to Prodrive’s test track in Warwickshire. Yep, that’s 1,300 cars in a 20 -plus-mile snake, powered by 5,200 horizontally opposed cylinders.

Although official entry to the event is now closed, organizers expect even more Subarus to show up on the day. Details of the route can be found at http://www.mcrae-gathering.co.uk/

 

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VIDEO: Time lapse build of Subaru rally car over 800 hours

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Subaru

Click above to view video after the jump

It’s no secret that running a motorsports team is a lot of work, but probably most of us don’t know how much time and effort it really takes. Just building the race cars can take hundreds of man hours, as evidenced by this stop-motion video created by the U.S. Subaru rally team. Starting with a stock 2008 WRX STI, the team strips the car down to its frame by removing the engine, drivetrain, interior and even the windshield. The complete transformation takes an amazing 800 hours of labor. Knowing that makes us cringe even more when we see one roll end over end. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Subaru]

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Subaru holds the line on WRX pricing

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Hatchbacks, Subaru

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Subaru WRX

Despite being just one year since it was completely redesigned, the Subaru WRX is getting some big upgrades for 2009 including a more powerful engine with a larger turbo, new exterior enhancements and more go-fast hardware from its big brother, the STI. When we heard this news, we mentioned that buyers of the 2008 model might feel slighted. No might about it anymore, as Inside Line is reporting that the 2009 WRX will be priced almost identical to the 2008 model. The ‘09 WRX will reportedly start below $25k while the 2008 model starts at $24,995, including a $645 delivery charge. While a delivery charge might push the ‘09 model over $25k, that’s a small price to pay for all the extras you’re getting that includes a new 265-horsepower version of Subaru’s turbocharged 2.5L boxer-four.

[Source: Inside Line]

 

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2009 Subaru Impreza WRX: 265 hp, retuned suspension, STI tweaks

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Subaru

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX.

It’s official folks. Those of you that picked up a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX have been had. The road-going rally rocket gets an update for 2009 and with it comes a retuned 2.5-liter boxer four-pot producing 265 hp and 244 lb.-ft. of torque - a 41 hp and 18 lb.-ft. increase over the outgoing model. Power will be sent to all four wheels through a five-speed manual - the only transmission available — with low-profile 225/45R17 summer tires replacing the 205/50R17 rubber of the 2008 model.

The suspension has been revised to include stiffer springs, uprated dampers, upper strut mounts cribbed from the STI and larger anti-roll bars fore and aft. The Aero package is no longer an option - it’s standard - and includes an STI-inspired grille on both the sedan and hatch, while the five-door receives the STI’s rear spoiler and underbody diffuser.

Impreza obsessives that ran out to buy a 2008 model might be miffed, but Subaru had to make adjustments to keep the WRX competitive, particularly with the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart becoming a serious contender in the turbo’d sedan segment.

All the details are available in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX: 265 hp, retuned suspension, STI tweaks

 

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London 2008: Subaru shows off Impreza trifecta

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Hatchbacks, Subaru, Misc. Auto Shows, UK

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI 330S.

Subaru loves London. How else can you explain the simultaneous release of three special edition Imprezas in one venue? In a move that’s obviously aimed at competing with the Mitsubishi Evolution X variants available in the UK (FQ 300 and FQ 360), Subaru has unveiled a 252 hp WRX-S, 325 hp WRX STI 330S and a 375 hp WRX STI 380S concept.

Read on for all the details.

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