Subaru Impreza News

Crocker, driving the Les Walkden Rallying-entered Subaru WRX STI, scored maximum points for finishing first in each event contested this year; Canberra, Rotorua, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.Remarkably, the three-time Australian champion also collected the maximum bonus points for winning ten of the twelve heats contested along the way, meaning his total points score of 94 was only two shy of the highest score possible.Crocker's domination of Rally China, with co-driver Ben Atkinson, matched their form throughout the season.Not only was he first APRC car home, he was also first outright, winning by over five minutes from Richard Mason, with Hiroshi Yanagasawa third."The roads were a quagmire here, absolutely diabolical, but we stayed clean the whole way and got the points," Crocker said of the trhee-day China event."Even though we came here with the championship wrapped up, it is fantastic to formally get the business done and now we can celebrate."This championship is second in standing only to the World Championship, so it means a lot to the whole team to win it."It really is a fantastic feeling and I hope that something can come of this for Ben (Atkinson) and me, either at the World Championship level or the chance to try and win this championship again."AAP

Nick Adamidis, national sales and marketing manager for automotive research company Glass's Information Service, says people are being forced to sell their cars cheaply."The new-car market has been booming for the past few years and as a result there's an oversupply in the market place, which means that used cars are not necessarily bringing the prices people believe they are worth," he said."The price of fuel has had a big effect on cars with V8 engines, for example, which are depreciating faster than other vehicles as people try to get rid of them."People now expect a discount if they are buying a V8, because of their petrol usage."In 2000, a three-year-old V6-engined Holden Commodore Executive sedan could be bought for just over 50 per cent of its original purchase price, but today buyers have to pay only 44 per cent of the original price.Mr Adamidis said drops in tariffs on imported vehicles were also driving prices down."It affects the whole market, because if the makers of imported vehicles drop their price by $2000 or $3000 then the local makers have to drop their prices as well to stay competitive," he said."It's a great time to be buying a used car — it's a buyers' market."But we've still got a fair way to go. In the US and the UK, where the markets are more free, the average car, after three years, is worth 30 per cent of the original purchase price."In Australia, the average is 45 per cent, but we're heading in that direction and we'll get there in the next five to seven years."The drop in used-car prices has also been noted by the NSW Department of Commerce, which manages the Government's fleet.A department spokeswoman said State Fleet had tracked a downward trend in the prices it was getting for its used vehicles.Large, locally manufactured cars have had the biggest drop with much less in the small car segment. The drop in prices was spurring sales, however, with clearance rates at government auctions over the past two weeks of 99 per cent and 94 per cent, respectively.David Smith, senior manager of divisional services for the Motor Traders' Association of NSW, said prices would continue to fall."Some of the less fuel-efficient cars are definitely feeling it, but small cars are holding their value fairly well," he said."That's a reflection of the new-car market, because a lot of people are buying smaller cars and a lot of them are being traded in."He said that used-car dealers were the ones being squeezed by the price falls."There are a lot of dealers out there who are doing it tough," Mr Smith added. BEST VALUE RETAINED*SmallSubaru Impreza ............. 62%Mini Cooper .................. 61%Mitsubishi Lancer .......... 59% MediumSubaru Liberty .............. 58%Mazda 6 ....................... 55%Honda Accord ............... 53% LargeToyota Camry(4cyl) ....... 45%Toyota Aurion ............... 42%Ford Falcon LPG ........... 42% 4WDNissan X-Trail ................ 64%Subaru Forester ............ 63%BMW X3 ....................... 61% WORST VALUE RETAINEDSmallKia Rio ......................... 38%Suzuki Swift ................. 38%Proton Savvy ................. 38% MediumKia Optima ................... 37%Kia Magentis ................ 37%Hyundai Grandeur ......... 37% LargeNissan Maxima ............. 37%Ford Fairmont ............... 34%Ford Falcon .................. 32% 4WDLand Rover Freelander ... 42%Land Rover Discovery .... 40%Ssangyong Musso ........ 40%* Based on wholesale prices of three-year-old vehicles in average condition.

Alfa Romeo stepped up straight after the Peugeot unveiling of a woman, I mean a car. A 207 apparently.

After a nervous wait, the Queenslander was given the green light to resume with Subaru in 2007 and is now eyeing a top five result in his Impreza WRC 2006.It will be his second outing in the event. Last year Atkinson and co-driver Glenn Macneall had a dramatic debut, with the pair forced to retire on the first Leg after ripping a rear wheel off on a rock.Atkinson is clearly relieved his immediate future has been resolved and he can concentrate on finishing the season with a clear mind."It's certainly a good feeling knowing that we are here with a clear path ahead for the rest of this season and throughout 2007," Atkinson said."It is a clear vote of confidence by the team in what we have achieved across the past two seasons and what they think we can do in the future."My mind is now free just to focus on the immediate, and that is doing our very best in Turkey."No doubt it's going to be another difficult weekend as it's a tricky rally with very varied conditions," he said."Last time we had rain, hard-packed roads, some loose stuff, slow bits and flat-out sections."This year I'm expecting a bit of everything and changing conditions again. It's a fairly entertaining rally."Coming so soon after Cyprus I think it's going to be a difficult rally, too."In Cyprus we weren't expecting a fantastic result, we were realistic about our chances, and that's what we got."But this week I'm hoping to keep things more consistent and just hang in there. Going at the same pace we were running at in Cyprus I think a top-five finish is possible - we'll just have to wait and see," Atkinson said.Since Rally Cyprus on September 22-24, Atkinson and Macneall have spent three days in Sicily doing development work on the Impreza.Subaru World Rally sporting director Luis Moya is hopeful that the work put in by the team since the mid-season break will start to show."In Turkey the main objective for (lead driver) Petter (Solberg), Chris and the team is to put both cars in the top six," Moya said."That said, of course we'll do our best to get a better result if the opportunity is there.""Since the last rally our engineering team has continued its work on the car's performance and we have held a five-day development test in Sicily."We're making steady progress and are doing everything possible to get the team fully competitive again as soon as possible."Rally Turkey will again be based in the town of Kemer, 40km south of the holiday resort of Antalya.AAP

The Japanese brand's controversial aircraft-inspired grilles, as featured on the Impreza and Tribeca, will disappear from the radar. Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, chose to use the pr

The Japanese rally kings will not only feature an Impreza WRC2006 as driven by Gold Coaster Chris Atkinson for Subaru World Rally Team in the 2006 World Rally Championship, but also a Liberty Blitzen.This special edition car will be available in June and is based on the Japanese domestic market Blitzen that hasn't previously been available in Australia.Using the underpinnings of the Liberty 3.0R Spec.B, it includes an aerodynamic body kit and interior package, plus 18-inch alloy wheels unique to the model. Bright red show car with striking appearance.Subaru will also display its largest product yet, the B9 Tribeca . It is tentatively slated for local launch in the last quarter of this year and will be available with fiev or seven-seat cabin.There will also be examples of the 2006 range including 2.5 litre Impreza WRX STI and WRX; the recently introduced entry-level Liberty 2.0R and Forester.