Subaru announced its lineup for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, and it includes the 5-door hatchback version of the fourth-gen Impreza.

Sure it’s not the coolest or more desirable hatchback today, but it does have some redeeming features, chief among which is the superior quality and reliability. What’s more i benefits from Subaru’s acclaimed Symmetrical AWD (All-Wheel Drive) system with the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine technologies.

It’s available in Europe with a 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Subaru will also be showing its BRZ sportscar at the Geneva show, introducing its Pure Handling Delight to the Europeans. This year Subaru is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of its core technology “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD)”.

On this Occasion Subaru will create and showcase various items at the Subaru booth: they include a special logo embodying “Responsive handling of the driver’s intents”, which is a value of SAWD and graphics illustrating the history of Subaru’s SAWD. Also visitors will experience the benefit of SAWD uniqueness through the 3D virtual game.

Subaru’s Japanese BRZ ad is more of a short drama movie than a car commercial. It has a father and son theme, and how the BRZ fixes their broken relationship. It appears to be made by a proper award-winning director, and not just some ad man in slim spectacles. Also, we have to say, the actors are great too. The dad’s shout at 0:17 is simply the best shout we’ve ever witnessed!

Subaru UK revealed prices and specs of the new XV compact crossover for the old country, and it starts at £21,295 for entry level 1.6i S.

The XV builds on good reputation of Subaru’s SUVs and crossovers, namely Legacy Spec B and the Forester, in the British market, and offers a robust, practical, safe, and value-for-money package.

The car is powered by three versions of the EuroV-compliant Boxer engines in 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol, and 2.0-litre diesel guises. The 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines develop 114ps and 150ps respectively, while the 2.0-litre diesel produces 147ps and 350Nm. All models come with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and a choice of either a five and six-speed manual or a six-speed CVT automatic (petrol only).

The most popular version in UK, Subaru reckons, is 2.0 diesel which offers fuel economy of 50.4mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting 146g/km of CO₂.  It is pretty slow though, and takes 9.3 seconds to reach 60mph.

Check below for full pricing, specifications, and options.

Subaru XV range:

Subaru XV specification in detail:

Subaru’s highly-anticipated sports car, the BRZ, will be shown to the American public for the first time at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show next week.

Sales of the 2013 Subaru BRZ will begin nationwide in late Spring. The car will introduces new standard for sports car with its low center of gravity, as a result of its boxer 2.0 liter engine, and the well-sorted chassis with RWD system.

The only downer is the output of this FA engine which is rated at 200 hp. It has to carry around a weight of 2,700lbs which isn’t particularly high, but 200 horsepower isn’t really enough for a proper sports car. The Subaru BRZ is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Subaru has realized that too, and is already working on hotter versions of the BRZ with more power and more dramatic styling cues. The STi version is probably the one to go if you want a BRZ, but there’s no confirmed date on when it arrives.

U.S. Pricing of the Subaru BRZ is yet to be confirmed.

Subaru will be unveiling new editions of its BRZ sports car — in concept form — at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, which opens its doors on January 13.

There will be the BRZ STI Concept, seen before in Los Angeles, gets a race-look body kit with a big rear wing, extended arches, chin spoiler and so on, plus STI-tuned Bilstein suspension, Brembo brakes and sport exhausts. It is only a matter of time before the STI concept makes it into production.

The other BRZ Concept at Tokyo Auto Salon is called the Black Edition and is made jointly by Subaru and Prova. Not much details have been announced on this one, but as the name suggests it’ll be black!

Subaru also brings along the Impreza G4 STI Concept, basically a normal 2.0 model riddled with STI components such as front and rear spoilers, side skirts, sport exhausts and suspension, and 18-inch wheels, as well as a couple of interior tweaks.

The new 2012MY Subaru Impreza passes IIHS crash tests with flying colors winning the Top Safety Pick Award for all models.

Regarded as the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive vehicle in America, the 36mpg Impreza come as standard with Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC) – a system which combines stability and traction control functions – while all models are equipped with ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and the Brake Assist safety system.

That’s in addition to the active safety brought by the car’s brilliant AWD system that never loses grip no matter what you are up to!

“Our customers take their safety very seriously and so we are very pleased that IIHS has recognized us again with a TOP SAFETY PICK winner for all our qualifying models,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. “To be able to include the redesigned 2012 Impreza to the list is an outstanding success and a tribute to the engineering that goes into our products. The IIHS reinforces to our customers that Subaru maintains the highest standards to produce vehicles that are fun-to- drive, durable, reliable as well as safe.”

“Subaru once again has a TOP SAFETY PICK winner for all models,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund. “It’s tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority.”

Subaru has just released a short video featuring the new BRZ’s exhaust note. It sounds like the actual noise of that flat-four 2.0 liter and not tuned exhausts. It sounds mechanical and pure. But to be honest we like tuned exhausts more! Yes those are fake, but who cares. Aston Martin Vantage’s sound is acoustically tuned and no one seems to be complaining about that. Anyhow, hear the BRZ after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The next generation Subaru WRX, no longer an Impreza, will get 270-hp courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine.

This engine is apparently the turbocharged version of the BRZ’s FA20 engine which might be used in a hot version of the sports coupe as well. It replaces the current 2.5 liter unit which makes roughly the same power, but the 2.0 liter will be more fuel efficient.

The new WRX will also be lighter and more focused than the current gen and will be more of a sports car. That’s why Subaru has dropped the Impreza name and reserved it only for the normal family models. The WRX will get a sportier design as well.

With these consideration, the next WRX, to be launche din at least two years, could be a 30 mpg sports saloon offering a whole new driving experience.What’s more exciting is the STI version. With the standard WRX getting 270 hp, the STI should be getting like 350. Oh joy!

Looking forward to it.

via: MotorTrend

Following Toyota’s decision to launch a supercharged version of the 86, Subaru too can be expected to make a hot version of its BRZ boosted with a turbocharger.

The Supercharged 86 is expected to make 250 hp, 50 more than standard. And the way Subaru-Toyota relationship is going the BRZ will probably be getting roughly the same.

Now it becomes kinda clear why they started out with 200 hp for these cars. It is nowhere near enough for a well-sorted sports car as the 86 or the BRZ. They did that so they can later launch these hotted-up versions and charge you more for it!

There’s still no details on the kind or size of the turbocharger Subaru is going to bolt on the 2.0 liter D4S boxer engine, but it will affect the car’s driving feel and gives it a different character than the 86. Toyota says they went for a supercharger because it’s sportier and will make the car more fun. The Subaru then, will be the more serious, more aggressive version for those into track days and street racing.

source: MotorTrend

The new Subaru BRZ sports coupe is such a good-looking car. But what if Subaru decided to launch a convertible? What would that look like?

Here’s an unofficial answer to that question. This speculative rendering shows that it might not be a very good idea to drop the top on the BRZ anyway. It looks kinda creepy and slimy! It would work as a two-seater roadster with shorter wheelbase, but in this spec, no.

The thing is, cars that started life as a coupe and then turned into convertibles have never been as good as the ones that were born as a convertible. That’s why a Porsche Boxster is better than a Nissan 370Z, and a Honda S2000 better than an Audi TT.

Toyota and Subaru definitely have many many plans for the new 86 family. For instance we know that high-performance versions of both cars are already in the works. Let’s hope making a convertible version is not among those plans.

Theophiluschin via WCF

The GT300 is the racing version of the newly revealed Subaru BRZ sportscar. It is set for competing in next year’s Japanese SuperGT series. As good as the car looks in its standard form, it looks even better with all the racing bits and pieces on. We especially like the massively flared arches and the side exhausts. These are the elements that could make it into production as a BRZ special edition.

Watch a cool promo clip of the car after the jump.

Here’s the first footage of the lovely Subaru BRZ in action in its magnificent blue color. Just ignore the awful music by muting the sound and enjoy! Despite the previosu reports suggesting the BRZ will be more powerful than Toyota 86, it turns out the Subaru too has only 200PS and 151lb/ft maximum torque. Good news is, it only weighs 1.2 tons so it’s not going to be a slouch. This is our favorite of the three 86 coupes.

Technical Specifications

With the Tokyo Motor Show’s doors wide open Subaru has no choice but to full unveil the BRZ sports car.

As we’ve said it times and again you probably know full well that the BRZ is Toyota GT86 identical twin. They are both built upon a new sports coupe platform and both are powered y a flat-four engine that makes 200 hp in the Toyota and a bit more in the BRZ.

Both cars look pretty much the same, which is bad. We were expecting the Subaru to be noticeably different than the 86 but it just isn’t. We have to say though, it looks pretty awesome in Subaru’s racing blue.

No that the pictures are released, Subaru is reluctant to release technical specs of the car. We probably have to wait a bit longer for that.

Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures.

At the Tokyo Motor Show Subaru unveils its fantastic new concept Advanced Tourer, a demonstration of the brand’s ‘Confidence in Motion’ motto.

This sporty station wagon previews the next Legacy Tourer and introduces a new design philosophy for the Japanese car maker in which there is no sign of the usual dullness. It looks just exquisitely brilliant from almost every angle!

Our very favorite part is the back-end. If it weren’t for the badge, you wouldn’t be able to tell it’s a Subaru in a million years.

The interior design is great too, but it’s very conceptual and will not make it into the production. It’s got some fancy features, such as the full glass roof. Various textures such as wood and metal are incorporated into the inside layout to produce ample ambiance. A large monitor is built into the steering wheel allowing access to maps, television and internet services. Information will be available at hand to support contemporary lifestyles even in the car.

Subaru Advanced Tourer is also technically advanced and gets a new Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) system and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology for optimum performance in all conditions. The powertrain consists of a downsized 1.6 liter turbocharged version of Subaru’s renowned boxer engine. It is mated to the world’s first longitudinally-mounted chain drive CVT.

Another feature of the concept car is Subaru’s advanced driving assist system EyeSight (Version 2). Subaru could and should put this car into production with the same design. Well, apart from those show-offy doors!

This is the production version of the Subaru BRZ STI Concept. And, well, we liked the concept better to be honest.

It has apparently lost some of the nice features of the concept car in the transition to a production model, and that makes it like a copy of its twin brother Toyota GT86. It’s not bad by any means, but it would be nice it they’d put in an effort and make it a bit different.

The BRZ is supposed to be the sportier of the two – which is why it gets its own front fascia – but when you look at them both, the Toyota looks more dramatic. The BRZ is powered by the same four-cylinder boxer engine as the Toyota, and while it’s a bit more powerful Subaru is not yet ready to reveal how much.

A six-speed manual or an automatic with paddle shifter, a very low center of gravity, sport suspension and 17-inch wheels are all evidences of a great handling car.

There is really no significant difference between the GT86 and the BRZ. The BRZ might be a bit faster, but that is yet to be proved.

Japanese Domestic Market gets a new, even hotter, version of Subaru Impreza STI, codenamed S206.

Limited to only 300 units, the S206 features many tweaks and upgrades, all of which designed for a more thrilling driving experience.

Thanks to a modified exhaust system with sports mufflers, remapped EU, and tweaked turbocharger and optimized parts like pistons and crank, the engine now generates 320 hp and 430 Nm of torque.

The S206 also features uprated suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers and STI coil springs, in addition to 19 inch BBS aluminium wheels for a perfect chassis setup. The wheels come with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

As for the looks, the new STI gets a distinguishing grille and new spoilers front and rear, plus a couple of badges. Recaro bucket seats, leather steering and push start button are the major upgrades for the interior.

For the most hard-core fans Subaru offers 100 NBR versions of this car inspired by the Impreza’s Nurburgring 24 Hours career. It comes with carbon fiber body components such as a tall rear wing, and show-off stickers.

Here’s another video of one of the hottest Los Angeles Motor show premieres. The BRZ is an all-new sports car by Subaru and Toyota and, at least as a concept, it looks yummy. This cool promo film they’ve put together for the car shows it from many different angles. But, like the car itself, its not real. Subaru BRZ STI might lose some of its charm in the process of becoming a production model. What remains intact is the 2.0 liter boxer engine and rear-drive chassis.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Subaru’s long awaited BRZ sportcar has been finally revealed in L.A. in STI concept form.

As you probably know by now, the BRZ is a sportier version of the Toyota FT-86, built upon a bespoke rear-wheel-drive platform powered by a 2.0 liter Boxer engine.

The BRZ also looks kinda cooler than the FT-86, featuring a low slung bonnet, hawk eye headlights and fin-shaped fog lamps, as well as large rear-diffuser, and twin dual tailpipes plus a big rear wing. The car also rocks the new WR Blue Pearl II, emphasizing on the car’s sporty character as it’s the official color of Subaru’s racing cars.

Thanks to the boxer engine which is mounted very low, the BRZ STI sits an impressive 120 mm lower and is positioned 240 mm closer to the center of the chassis. As a result, this car has achieved one of the lowest possible center of gravity in cars on the market today. STI-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels are other factors contributing to the car’s great handling.

The final production version might be a bit different in looks or some of the specs, but this to all intents and purposes this is the new Subaru Sportscar. Looking Good.

Subaru’s new BRZ sportscar is yet to be revealed in concept form, but already they’re establishing a motorsport career for it.

According to Subaru Motorsport Magazine, a version of the BRZ will be entered in the 2012 season of Japanese Super GT series, in GT300 category.

Subaru is already present in this class with a racing version of the Legacy B4. The BRZ will step things up a bit as it’s a focused sportscar. The racing career will also be good for the road going version of the car. It has no predecessor and no history to boast, so a couple of pics at the track will, at the very least, make its brochure look good!

The standard BRZ, as you know, is based on the Toyota FT-86, or vice versa it doesn’t really matter, but it will be more powerful and a bit stiffer and sportier. The Toyota version will probably be revealed as the new generation Celica.

The wait for the Subaru BRZ is almost over now as the company made it officially official today that the car will on display at the Tokyo Motor Show.

It is in fact will be side by side with its Toyota version, the FT-86. Based on the pictures we’ve seen so far of the BRZ, we have to say the Subaru is the better looking of the two. It is also said to be a bit more powerful than the FT and sportier in nature.

Here’s how Subaru describes their BRZ:

Concept Based on its product concept of “Pure Handling Delight”, at its core is the Horizontally-Opposed engine known for its light weight, compactness, and low center of gravity. That combined with Subaru’s rear-wheel drive platform, the SUBARU BRZ seeks a new level of lowness in center of gravity, one of the lowest in the world, and offers excellent handling performance. It is a sports car that can provide a pure handling delight experience to anyone behind the wheel.

Truth be told, we are far more excited about the other Subaru debut at the show, the Advanced Tourer Concept. That car, to all intents and purposes, is the new Legacy. It will spawn a saloon version that will be beautiful, good to drive, tough as hell and most importantly affordable. It will have all the ingredients of a truly great car.