At its current status, the Indiana facility has the ability to pump out 156,000 Outbacks and Legacys during regular shifts.  According to an Automotive News article, the 52,000-square-foot expansion will allow a jump up to 180,000 vehicles strong which is much closer to the Subaru’s short-term goal.  The automaker’s parents, Fuji Heavy Industries, hopes to have Lafayette at the 200,000 mark by 2014. 

Source: Subaru

“This is a big win for us and gives us a really firm grip on the championship,” said Higgins, Subaru’s driver.  On the first day, Subaru ended the first four stages with a nine second lead.  The next two days proved even faster as technical and sweeping roads of Portland’s Mt. Hood seemed to mesh perfectly with the STI’s setup.  Even after a day two slide that damaged the suspension and body, the all wheel drive wonder managed to blast through the stages ultimately winning 12 of the event’s 16.  A big thanks can be given to the Subaru Rally Team who quickly pieced the STI back together. 

. “We took maximum points and Antoine [L’Estage], our closest rival, did not finish, so it couldn’t have gone any better really.  Our Subaru was just perfect, it’s so well suited for these conditions and really proved this weekend to be equally as tough too,” said Higgins.  The next leg of the 2012 Rally America Championship will take place in Wellsboro, Pa.  The  Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally and four race of the season will go down on June 2, 2012.

Source: Subaru

Read on to find out what we discovered.

In the earlier reviews, the 500c was decided to be a fun little car to drive, but was lacking in space and was inflated in price. The Subaru Impreza is spacious and comfortable, but lacks the driving dynamics Subaru has become known for. So how does the VW stack up against the competition?

The car is question is a 2010 Golf TDI. Equipped with a smattering of options like HID headlamps, navigation and the upgraded Dynaudio stereo, our Tornado Red (because red ones go faster) Golf 2-door holds a retail sticker of $26,300. The car was purchased with 18,700 miles on the odometer, and after a bit of haggling, was picked up for the princely sum of $19,980. That is about a grand less than the other two cars here.

We here at AutoTalk enjoyed the Golf TDI back when we reviewed it in 2010, and we are pleased to say that little has changed over the years. This used model still drives with the verve and precision of its German roots, while maintaining incredible fuel economy. On more than one occasion we have seen greater than 50 mpg on the highway. The seats are some of the most comfortable we have ever spent time in, and the ride and handling compromise is nearly spot on. It is very easy to see why the Golf has been a perennial favorite the world over, but is it better than the other cars here?

This is where things get murky. The Golf is the best of the three cars, and by a large margin. It possesses the “Goldilocks” complex. It gets everything “just right” plus bests the other two in interior quality and pricing. It may not be the one you should buy though.

With most of its factory warranty over, the TDI will soon start accruing costs for all further maintenance, and this can become extremely costly. The Subaru would likely be the best choice to keep maintenance costs down over the long haul. Also, while the little red car may hold a phenomenal lead in the highway fuel economy race, it falls short during hectic city driving. It is not uncommon to see economy numbers drop to near 20 when the going gets busy, making the Golf severely impractical for someone living in the city. With its smaller size, and better city economy, the 500c would be the best choice for an Urbanite.

It is also hard to split them on driving dynamics. The Golf has the best ride handling compromise, but the Fiat is more fun to drive. The Subaru has the added safety of AWD which can be a very important factor depending on where you live.

What it all comes to  the end, it  is personal needs and preferences that decide the car. This is one of the reasons we have such a wide and diverse car culture in this country. Would we buy the Golf again? Of course, it is the perfect car for our perfect situation, but it is more than understandable why anyone could and would pick one of the other two cars here.

Moral of the story, the best car is not always the winner, and your true winner depends on you.

For us, the winner wears red.

Photos Copyright Christian Moe © 2012

Using two charge-coupled device cameras mounted inside the cabin on the upper windshield, EyeSight constantly monitors the area around the Subaru.  The controller is tied into the vehicle’s stability control system so it can utilize the brakes and cruise control.  If the system detects a future obstacle and the driver has not reacted in enough time, EyeSight will activate the Pre-Collision Braking Control to slow or stop the car entirely.  Side monitors will emit a warning if a driver strays out of their lane without a turn signal and Adaptive Cruise Control can keep a desired distance between the Subaru and the vehicle ahead.  If that wasn’t enough to impress, recently announced will be the addition of a TSA derived body scan system will be an absolute first.  Pushing the obstacle detection even further, the optional system will allow EyeSight to scan a person ahead and detect if they are carrying a hidden object.  “This [EyeSight] is an obvious extension of the innovative Eyesight system. We look forward to its application in real world situations. It is sure to be a transparent hit,” said Subaru.

Source: Subaru

Underneath the Crosstrek’s armor-clad skin is a modified version of the new-for-2012 Impreza compact.  The fully independent suspension with struts up front and a multi-link rear has been raised and beefed for the XV.  A total ground clearance of 8.7 inches can be found which is honestly impressive, especially in the vehicle’s segment, and 225/55R 17 all season tires should help out in the muck.  Like its bigger Outback brother, the XV sports black body cladding for wheel arches, bumpers and side skirts.  VDC, four wheel disk brakes with electronic brake distribution and Subaru’s iconic Symmetrical All Wheel Drive all come standard.

Under the XV’s hood will be another Subaru staple: a Boxer flat four.  Displacing 2.0 liters, the new FB puts out 148 horsepower and can be matched to either a five speed manual or CVT.  Now in its second generation, the Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission features a manual shift mode with six figurative gears.  available on the base Premium trim and standard on the Limited, the CVT is a Subaru oddity and one that we have yet to make our minds up over.  The manual transmission assumingly will fit the Crosstrek’s personality better but even still, both versions should be efficient, especially for an all wheel drive wagon.  Estimated fuel economy is placed at 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway and the XV will hold up to 15.9 gallons of fuel.  Inside will be a variety of features from supple to rugged.  The optional navigation will allow you to find your way out of the woods.  Text messaging read back will allow you to traverse muddy trails without staring at your phone while heated seats will keep your butt warm while your 2013 XV Crosstrek stays true in a blizzard.

Source: Subaru

“Since our incorporation on March 17, 1987, our mission has been to contribute to society through the growth of our Company. Now, a quarter of a century later, we’ve stayed true to our mission, employing a record number of Associates, producing a record number of vehicles and continuing to lead the auto industry in quality, safety and environmental stewardship,” said Tom Easterday, Executive Vice President for Subaru of Indiana Automotive.  To celebrate the long years, the plant will host a variety of events across the next months.  Earth Day, an open house and charity raises will all take place as well as plenty of opportunity for people to witness the birth place of such cars as the Outback, Legacy and Tribeca.

Source: Subaru

At this point in time, Subaru is investigating approximately 275,000 vehicles.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Foresters at risk are 2009 through 2012 model years manufactured from November 26, 2007 through March 13, 2012.  In order to remedy the issue, certified Subaru dealers will replace the center seat belt assembly with a modified and new automatic locking retractor.  The recall will take place at no extra cost to owners and should begin on or before April 13, 2012.

Source: NHTSA

Many people think stereotypes are a bad thing, but one auto manufacturer has decided to take an associated stereotype and run with it: Subaru. “Subaru People” are the type of people who like the outdoors, they bike and camp, and prefer their dogs to their co-workers. Subaru’s new “Work Play Love” tour is designed to celebrate the balance in life that comes between work and play.

Todd Lawrence, promotions and sponsorships manager, Subaru of America explains the tour as, “Subaru is visiting companies that are recognized for having a positive work-life balance. Our ‘Work Play Love’ tour is a recognition of those efforts and an invitation to come out and play.”

Subaru has partnered with many active lifestyle companies such as Keen Footwear, Yakima and Trek to set up 50+ therapy stops. During an event, employees are encouraged to play outdoor games, see product demonstrations and mix up their own trail mix. There will also be giveaways for those in attendance.

Attendees to the events are considered Weekday Warriors, and Subaru wants to demonstrate just how their vehicles will uniquely suit these buyers.

To demonstrate what kind of people are Weekday Warriors, Subaru has prepared three seperate”personas” to choose from, the Balance Seeker, the Urbaneer and the Fresh Air Follower. Subaru has also built a 2012 Impreza to match those traits associated with each persona.

All in all it sounds like a load of fun, and we hope they manage to make a visit to our local business park soon.

If you are interested in details on each of the “Personas” provided by Subaru, check out the list and explanations below, followed by a high-resolution gallery of the all-new 2012 Impreza.

2012 Impreza Work Play Love Tour Personas

The Balance Seeker finds harmony in the fresh air and on the yoga mat.  While they are successful at their jobs, they never live to work.  A typical Saturday might include a visit to the farmer’s market, a walk with the dog and the tree pose in a nearby city park.  In short, they know how to breathe.
Favorite Impreza features: fuel efficiency and moonroof.

The Urbaneer is an explorer of both cement jungles and tucked-away neighborhoods.  Come rain or shine, workload or deadline, they always make time to get out and play.  Their car might be filled with flea market finds, bike tubes, restaurant guides and backpacks.  That’s because their curiosity cannot be contained and they are up for anything.
Favorite Impreza features: zippy handling and built-in Bluetooth.

The Fresh Air Follower loves having a pack on their back and a challenge in their sights.  Whether its mountain biking to a hidden spot or camping under the stars, they escape to the trees every chance they get.
Favorite Impreza features: all-wheel drive and major cargo space.

Head over to Subaru.com and you can browse through the full dealership catalog, including all the specifications and details, with the addition of interactive sections. There are 360-degree models of the exterior and interior where users can experiment with paint and option combinations. Each brochure features videos, high-quality photography and engaging demos.

Click for full size view

“Our dynamic brochures give our consumers interactive content they can use to compare models, learn about Subaru technology and share their findings with friends,” said Sondra Shiffer, brochures manager for Subaru of America. “This format allows car shoppers easy access to our product information and also reduces the amount of unnecessary printed material.”

“It was a great battle and ultimately I’d like to have been able to win but Ken [Block] is very fast here, and it simply became a matter of safety to push too much in the dust,” said Higgins.  After day one was complete, Block and his Ford were 18 seconds ahead of Subaru.  A large gap by rally standards, Higgins hit a break on day two when Block suffered a tire puncture, hurting the Fiesta’s time.  Dry conditions meant that the dust levels were massive and try as he might, David and his Subaru simply couldn’t bridge the time gap, ultimately ending up in second place.  Even still, the flat four wonder earned enough points to add to Subaru Rally Team’s overall win at last month’s Sno*Drift Rally and continue their lead in Rally America.

“David and Craig confirmed the pace capable from our Subaru WRX STI and drove a smart rally to consolidate our championship points position under very challenging driving conditions,” said James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America.

Source: Subaru