Subaru Vortex Reviews

The Rex is back with a body to match its bite.  Subaru has given fans of the cult budget blaster a huge boost by filling out the WRX with the same bulging body as the even faster STI.The Rex now looks like a mean machine with pumped out front and rear wheel arches and has the added benefit of a larger footprint and extra stability because the wheels sit out further.VALUEEven better is the fact that Subaru has managed to keep the entry price for the all-wheel-drive slingshot pegged at $39,990, the same amount the very first WRX cost when introduced back in 1994.Subaru has also worked some magic on the STI range-topper by bringing back a sedan version and fitting it with a great big wing, a move that should please the young at heart.  It has also introduced an automatic transmission, the first time a self-shifter has ever been offered with an STI.Subaru's boffins have also fiddled with the STI's suspension to sharpen up its handling.  A handy $2000 has been chopped off the entry price of the manual version, which drops to $59,990.TECHNOLOGYNo change has been made to the engines, except for the automatic STI which has been given a different tune.  The standard WRX runs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer with a turbo on top that helps make 195kW and 343Nm of torque. It has variable valve timing, but only for the intake camshafts.It is only available with a five-speed manual, which is linked to a permanent all-wheel drive system with an open front differential and a rear limited slip diff.  The gap between the wheels (the track) is now 35mm wider at the front and 40mm wider at the rear which helps with stability, while each tyre is 10mm wider.Subaru has also fiddled with the rear suspension in a bid to improve agility.  It sits on stylish new 17-alloy wheels which are lighter than those they replace.The STI runs a 2.5-litre boxer four like the WRX but it has a several upgrades including variable valve control for both the intake and exhaust camshafts.  It generates a healthy 221kW and 407Nm when paired with the standard six-speed manual gearbox.The automatic version generates the same power, but 57Nm less peak torque although its peak torque is available for longer.  Automatic buyers also miss out of the cool electronically controlled centre differential, getting a mechanical system instead, and have to make do without the manual's front limited slip diff.The automatic is a regular five-speed gearbox, not an advanced dual-clutch unit, but it can be controlled with paddle shifters and is a no cost option.  Subaru lowered the STI by 5mm, changed spring and damper rates, roll bar thickness and redesigned some components to sharpen up its handling. It also has new, lighter alloy wheels, which measure 18-inches.SAFETYBoth the WRX and STI get a full safety suite of six airbags and electronic stability control and all have been rated with five stars by ANCAP's crash test regime.DRIVINGThe people have spoken and Subaru has given us the WRX we always wanted.  After copping a backlash for serving up the soft-looking and soft-driving WRX of 2007, Subaru has come up with a WRX that is not only a fantastic drive, but also looks like a seriously sporty machine.As a WRX owner (a 1998 two-door STI) I can say this is the first of the recent versions that really makes me want to start saving for one.  It is the best performance car bargain in Australia and provides a heap of bang for your $39,990 bucks.Subaru had largely sorted out the suspension in a 2008 update, but this version is even more sure-footed thanks to the changes underneath.  We tested the Rex on slippery tarmac and loose gravel and it was remarkably well behaved. The AWD system provides lots of traction as you would expect, but the WRX is so stable and predictable that it is even more fun that before.The engine performance is as good as ever. It isn't a high-revver, but it is so strong from low down in the rev range that you don't need to wind it up too far.  You can leave it in a higher gear and still surge out of a turn.The biggest downside is the five-speed manual, which is nice enough but means you do 2600rpm at 100km/h. It needs and extra gear. Then there are the sports seats which are not very supportive at all and the underwhelming interior, but it is easy to forgive these few issues.We tested the STI at Phillip Island, which revealed just how fast and forgiving this cars is.  It maintains awesome corner speeds, dives incredibly late into the turns (thanks to standard Brembos) and has stunning acceleration whether in the wet and dry.The automatic is not as sharp or as fast but will appeal to older customers who can't be bothered changing gears.  Then there is the sedan which looks great with its giant wing like the STIs of old. It is actually the only thing that differentiates the STI sedan from the WRX sedan, while the hatch STI and WRX look almost identical.The fact that the WRX and STI look similar might be an issue for STI customers, but WRX buyers couldn't be happier.Subaru Impreza WRXPrice: $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinderPower: 195kW at 6000rpmTorque: 343Nm at 4000rpmTransmission: Five-speed manual, all-wheel driveEconomy: 10.4L/100km and 247g/km CO2Subaru Impreza WRX STIPrice: $59,990Engine: 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinderPower: 221kW at 6000rpmTorque: 407Nm at 4000rpm (350Nm at 3000-6000rpm Auto)Transmission: Six-speed manual or five-speed automaticEconomy: 10.5L/100km and 243g/km CO2

It's a test mule for the upcoming Subaru version of the shared FT-86 sports car being developed by Toyota. The outrageous body bits are supposed to disguise the car underneath, but instead - particularly because of the rear wing - they point directly to the Subaru connection. It's some of the most bizarre camouflage to hit the road in recent years but there is already a change from earlier test cars - a bonnet with a major bump. This could point to a top-mounted intercooler, something common on turbocharged Subaru engines, but there are also signs of a front-mounted cooler in the test car. So the bump points to this being a Subaru mechanical test car running the engine and transmission from the Impreza STi. Carparazzi sources say the FT-86 project uses a modified Subaru Liberty chassis with some Impreza parts, but with rear-wheel drive only.  It has two-plus-two seating in the cabin and fully-independent suspension. Some sources say the car will be ready by the end of 2011, at least as a Toyota, but there are also rumours it will not be ready for the road unit the back end of 2012. Even so, there is every chance of FT-86 appearances on the international motor show circuit, wearing both Toyota and Subaru badges, next year.

He is - or was - Hirotaka Ono - a visionary who re-invented the Japanese brand and changed everything, from boosting the quality of its cars to creating the can-do attitude among senior managers that's essential for the success of any car company. Ono had a giant advantage because he was married to the daughter of company founder, Osama Suzuki.He was able to use his family connection to ramrod a range of changes which would have been impossible for anyone else, especially a 40-something revolutionary in a country which usually puts age and experience ahead of youth and enthusiasm. Even so, he still had to walk the walk on everything from design and driving enjoyment to bottom-line financial deals.The award winning Suzuki Swift is an Ono car, so too is the current Grand Vitara, as well as the Kizashi. His track record also includes the less-successful second-generation XL7, thankfully only sold in the USA, but everyone makes an occasional mistake. Ono died too early at the end of 2007, but not before he inspired the cars coming through Suzuki today and forecast the global financial crisis - as well as planning the way his company would react to the challenge."Thanks to Mr Ono we have learned what we can do. He inspired us," says Tak Hayasaki, managing director of Suzuki Australia. Hayasaki has his own challenges in trying to lift Suzuki's share of Australia's annual car sales from its current 2.4 per cent to around six per cent, but he knows he has the strongest lineup in the company's history.The Alto is too small for a lot of people, but a $12,990 driveway bottom line makes plenty of sense with six airbags, ABS and ESP, as well as alloy wheels. The Swift is getting very old but is still a good car, the Grand Vitara is a safe choice and the SX4 does a good enough job.Kizashi is the game-changer for Suzuki, the same as the first Mazda6 and Accord Euro were for Mazda and Honda, combining Euro-type driving enjoyment with Japanese quality.This week the company is adding an all-wheel drive car to the Kizashi line, the Sports, and believes it can boost its sales by 100 cars a month. That's 50 per cent of the current volume. It's a big call for a car which already goes head-to-head with Mazda6 and Euro and now faces up to the might of the Subaru Liberty, the car that convinced Australians about all-wheel drive.As he looks forward, with a new Swift before the end of the year - not   that you would pick it as all-new from pictures - Hayasaki knows where the credit goes. "I have to thankyou to Mr Ono for what he has given us. He proved that we can do it."

The online survey, released by Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing, shows the three Japanese companies "significantly outperformed" Australian companies Ford and General Motors Holden, according to company director Chris Roberts.  "I suspected the Toyota recalls would have had an effect, but they actually ranked well," he says. "Recommendations are impacted by media reports, but when you look at it it's more about what the product really does and how it performs.  Price is not as strong a recommendation as how the product performs. People want quality more than price." The company's first customer research to involve car companies listed Subaru at the top with 35 per cent of its customers likely to recommend the vehicle to friends and colleagues.  Roberts says their research also demonstrates the impact negative customer comments can have on an organisation. "Our research shows that for every one negative comment made about a particular car, it takes around five positive referrals to negate that damage," Roberts says.  He says that of the 12 million registered passenger vehicles in Australia, there may be as many as 17 million negative comments being made by customers about their car company every year. Three companies achieved negative scores.  "It seems certain that some car companies in particular have huge potential to grow simply by focusing on improving their customer experiences and value propositions," he says.  "In the highly competitive car sales industry, achieving a positive customer experience, first time, is more important than ever. "There has never been a more critical time to go back to basics and focus on the customer."  The survey asked 1720 vehicle owners to rate their experience and rank companies according to whether they would recommend them. It showed that recommendations from friends or family - particularly on social media networks such as Facebook - was the biggest influence on purchase decisions for 45 per cent of consumers.  "The continued strong utilisation of social media injects an additional element of urgency because everyone knows word of mouth is the most effective marketing channel available to customers," Roberts says. The survey included other non-automotive companies and only listed car companies mentioned by customers. Some of the comprehensive report's findings are confidential and available only to companies that purchase the information.Loyalty leaders 1 Subaru 35%2 Honda 19%3 Toyota 13%4 Mazda 12%5 Hyundai 3%6 Nissan 1%7 Holden -3%8 Ford -13%9 Mitsubishi -18%(Source: Engaged Marketing)* Percentages of customers who would recommend the brand

ANYONE looking for a compact SUV needs to head to a Subaru showroom.  It's been that way for a couple of years, as the Outback and Forester have done the best job for families in Australia. Other SUVs are bigger, flashier and have the rough-and-tough reputation which some people want, but the Subaru pair are the

"I just never sold anything," the 77-year-old Ipswich real estate proprietor says.  "You buy them to keep them. I have no interest in selling any of them."When I retire - if I ever do - I'd like to get them all restored.  My wife Margaret says I'd have to live to 120 to restore everything I have."His collection runs from a 1900s Orient, one of only four still working in the world, to a Brock VB Commodore and late-model Subaru Liberty GT he uses as a daily driver.Llewellyn also owns a 1968 340 Jaguar, a 1970s Vanguard Spacemaster, 1952 FX and 1953 FJ Holdens which need to be restored, 1970s Suzuki two-stroke 4WD, 1946 Royal Enfield motorcycle, 1976 V8 Triumph Stag, 1950s Vespa three-wheeler scooter and a 1950s Renown.But don't bother asking what they cost, what exact year model they are or when he bought them. "I should know the years and prices of my cars but I just acquire so many of them and you don't remember those things," he says.Llewellyn's wheel obsession started in the post-war years with cycling, winning an eight-mile Queensland premiership in 1949.  "I went from cycling to a BSA single-cylinder motorcycle when I just got my licence, then I got a Velocette in the early 1950s and several other bikes, but I kept them all upright."His first car was "a little Triumph" he got from a local backyard. He and his brother, Ross, restored it.  He "graduated" to a Morris Z utility with a little side-valve engine that the brothers also restored."In the meantime I got introduced to stock car racing at the Brisbane Exhibition grounds," he says.  "I won a few things in my '34 Ford coupe. It had a '42 side-valve engine prepared for a boat. It had six carbies and it really used to go."I remember I was leading the world championship (they had a world championship every few weeks) and I was in lap 19 of a 20-lap race when it got an air lock in it, overheated and cooked the engine.  I knew it was getting hot and I thought it would make it to the last lap, but it didn't."He also had a Triumph TR2 for circuit racing and hillclimbs.  "The worst thing I ever did was sell my TR2," he says.  "It had a Harry Firth cam in it. I co-drove with Harry in an economy run and I still ring him every few months."Llewellyn then moved into rallying and competed in the 1956 and '57 Mobil Round Australia rallies.  In 1956 he entered with a Holden FX 215 Series that got from Sydney to Winton before it hit a hump in the road and bent the front suspension and steering.At one stage in the rally he recalls being in a queue of competitors waiting to cross a creek when he saw a VW Beetle skip across the creek like a bouncing stone.  The next year he returned with a 1957 VW Beetle and completed the race in 40th out of 120 entries.Llewellyn also competed in 10 Mobil Economy Runs up to 1966 and four Variety Club bashes.  He worked as a real estate agent from 1959 to 1964 when he started his own agency, Action Realty, and work started taking over from motor racing.However, his passion for cars never abated and he has collected several over the years, either as outright purchases such as the Brock Commodore he bought from new in 1980 or as part of property deals such as the Orient.The Brock Commodore 308 V8 is number 387 of 500.  "It was stolen some years ago while I was at a Charlie Pride concert at Festival Hall," he says.  "It was used in a robbery of a chemist shop and I believe it outran the police."A man who was out walking his dog found it in bushland and got my $500 reward.  "It wasn't damaged but they took the toolbox and spare wheel and left the car.  It would have be worth about $50,000-$70,000 now but I have no interest in selling it. I just count my blessings I got it back."The Orient is one of only four still working in the world.  Made in the UK it has leaf springs, four bicycle tyres, tiller steering, direct cog drive, single-cylinder engine with a leather strap pull starter and weighs only 200kg."I've no idea what it's worth," says Llewellyn.  "It would have been worth a bit a few years ago, but I'm not interested in selling it.  I've had it on display at motorsport events and want to one day get it running again."He also hopes to one day get his 1946 Royal Enfield motorcycle running.  One of his registered and frequently used vehicles is his 1976 Triumph Stag with a 2997cc V8."Some people say they always see it with the bonnet up, but it's a beaut little engine that revs out so well," he says.  "It drives better with the hard top off. It takes two people to lift it off, it's that heavy, so it runs better without that extra weight."Plus you can hear the engine and I'm a great believer in listening to your engine because it changes.  If you listen to your engine you can hear it sweeten and when it goes off and needs some attention." Llewellyn says the impeccable little car has "never been bent" and never been restored, just well looked after.The first owner wanted a blue one with airconditioning and the only one available was in Melbourne, so they went down and got it and drove it back.  What better way to run a car in than a trip like that?"They have a history of overheating so when I bought it in 1980 that was the first thing I had fixed.  One day I hope to have them all working so I can take them out every couple of weeks."

It's the month when the master blaster of the current lineup, the wide- body STi sedan complete with rally-style giant rear wing, hits Australia.  The STi sedan dominated sales of the go-faster Subaru Impreza models through its previous run in Australia, then went missing when Japan decided on a hatch-only sales policy for the current car.But the USA went its own way, demanding a sedan, and it's now the building block for the upcoming local hero.  "It's set for September. It could even be late August, which would mean some hot August nights," says Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia.He says the STi sedan will have everything from the pumped-out guards of the latest 'wide body' WRX to a competition-style rear wing and bigger alloy wheels and brakes.  "It's more aggressive, it has the big wing," Senior says.  He is expecting a big boost to WRX sales when the STi hits, partly because of the car and partly as customers return to Subaru showrooms after the global financial crisis."We're probably selling 10-15 cars a month and we hope to lift that to around 50 when we launch the STi sedan. That market has been the one that's been most impacted by the GFC. It's more of a discretionary spend than any other model we have."Senior says the regular WRX now also comes with a sedan body, a move is already giving a boost to sales. "We're selling two sedans for every hatch. That's consistent with WRX since we first launched it. For many years it was 90 per cent sedan in Australia."Over time we would expect 70-80 per cent of WRX sales will be sedans.  Globally, hot hatches are the thing in Europe but in Australia it's exactly the other way around. We're rather unique in that."

If you're going to produce a four-cylinder diesel-engined car with only a manual transmission you have to expect to have a narrow spread of customers. Such a situation faces Subaru which has just unveiled the new Forester 2.0D all-wheel-drive following the earlier release of the diesel Outback.On the negative side the noisy chatter of some diesel engines is a turn-off to many motorists. And the manual gearbox's days of dominance are well and truly gone with most people today driving automatics. Not only do they simplify driving they also have performance levels today virtually as good as a manual.On the plus side, diesels are more economic. They dominate the European landscape where, unlike in Australia, fuel pricing strategies actually encourage people to buy them. Here, diesel economy is still a winner even though diesel prices are usually higher than petrol.In Subaru's favour though is that the Forester is the stand-out smaller AWD on sale in this country. With its high-stance on 16-inch wheels, solid off-road capabilities, roomy interior, practical boxy shape and noted reliability and performance the Forester is as good a place as anywhere for Subaru to stake its claim in diesel sales. And it says the Outback diesel is doing well.PRICING AND EQUIPMENTPriced from $35,990, there are two specification levels for the diesel Forester. For an extra $4000 you can get the top-of-the-range Premium, which scores tinted glass, pockets behind the front seats, a better CD player, 17-inch alloys and a full size alloy spare, an electronically adjustable driver's seat, leather rather than cloth trim and Xenon headlights with their own pop-up washers. You also gain a sunroof which I generally find is the least-used feature in most cars, although other drivers swear by them.Like the petrol version, the diesel Forester has DataDot security to discourage theft and has an extended first term of life as the first service is not needed until 12,500km or six months are reached. Adding to the mix is a suite of five-star safety features including dual front, side and curtain airbags and stability control as standard. It has a three-star pedestrian safety rating.ENGINE AND GEARBOXThe Forester's two-litre flat boxer turbodiesel engine has 108kW of power and 350Nm of torque, driving all four wheels with a six-speed manual. Subaru is claiming just 5.7L/100km fuel economy on the open road and an average of 6.4L including around town.Our week with the car, largely around town, has produced slightly higher fuel use, but with a good-sized (64 litre) tank the range between fill-ups is long, If you can maintain the average you should get 1000km per tank full.It comes down to whether fuel economy (the petrol version is about 3L/100km thirstier) and the enjoyment of manual shifting (particularly out of the city limits) are important enough to you to opt for the oiler.DRIVINGThat torque level starts way down, producing some solid pulling power in the low gears. Around town it is a comfortable drive, that torque gets it away from the traffic lights impressively. With six gears on hand you will find yourself with a couple to spare at city speed limits such is the mid-range power. The shifting is quite light, particularly from 2nd to 3rd and the car has a hill-start assist feature to reduce any chance of rolling back when starting on an incline. It's actually a pity more people don't like manuals as this is a neat little box.The sound of the diesel engine is loudest at low revs and fades away when you're cruising. It's not as bad as some diesels we have driven but you do notice it. We didn't hit the dirt or tow anything but reports from its recent launch event suggest it is a winner there.Poor rear vision is a problem in many cars, particularly big off-roaders today, neccessitating rear vision cameras. The high stance of the Subaru and a wide rear window gives better rear visibility than many other vehicles.Inside there's an overall black feel. The seats are black, the dash is black and the dials aren't particularly bright. But, there's plenty of leg and head room in both passenger rows. The sound system though is good for the price and there are steering wheel controls to change the volume etc.At the rear the hatch is opened manually while the level of the boot is at a good height for average sized motorists. There's plenty of storage space in the back even with the second row of seats in place. We loaded a full-size folding bicycle into the rear with ease, although there wasn't much room left for anything else.The diesel Forester won't appeal to everyone. The petrol version of the Forester is a fine car already. It’s the fuel economy that will be the decider for some.RATING: 80/100THE BOTTOM LINE: Solid, practical and versatile car that with a diesel powerplant and manual-only transmission is restricted in its appeal. And there's nothing wrong with the petrol version.SUBARU FORESTER 2.0 DIESELPrice: from $35,990Engine: 2L/4-cylinder 108kW/350Nm turbodieselTransmission: 6-speed manualEconomy: 6.4L/100km (official)RIVALSVW Tiguan 2.0 TDI from $36,690Hyundai ix35 2.0 diesel from $34,990Nissan x-Trail 2.0 diesel from $37,740Land Rover Freelander 2.3 TD4e from $45,590Subaru Outback 2.0D from $40,490

Toyota is hugely committed to the upcoming FT-86 sports car as a Gen-Y drawcard down under and, after initially resisting the car because it does not have the brand's signature all-wheel drive, Nick Senior now admits growing interest. "Where we are currently is that the car is still two years away. We haven't decided our direction with it because we still haven't seen or understand the car or concept," he says. Subaru is providing the mechanical package for the FT-86, including a boxer engine, while Toyota is concentrating on the body design and the rest of the deal. Senior says the shared program means Subaru Australia is further away than normal from the car, and he wants to wait before making a final decision. "It's not yay or nay. It's an open mind. But it would have to be a good case for us to take it. I need to sit down and take a good look at the car. We have to see the business case."

After leading the world on so many fronts - from quality to comfort and reliability - they have been hit badly by the global financial crisis.  Toyota and Honda and many of the others wound back dramatically at the onset of the GFC, not just on their production lines but also in their motorsport programs - F1 was the first casualty - and new-product development.We are now seeing the results in Australian showrooms, where the Corolla and Civic are now mid-pack in the small-car class and former pacesetters including the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and even the locally-made Camry are struggling against newer and better rivals.  They are fine for everyday transport, but not as impressive as they were just five years ago.Subaru has also cut costs and its latest styling work - particularly on the Liberty and Outback - reflects a desperate desire to win sales in the USA.  Contrast all of them against the Suzuki Kizashi, which comes from one of the few Japanese brands that held its nerve through the GFT. Suzuki has cut its production targets, and admits that extra Kizashi models are on the back-burner, but is going to do brilliantly well with the car.Toyota and Honda, in contrast, are relying on value-added deals to keep customers coming in Australia. They are recovering from the economic downturn but nowhere near as rapidly as some of their rivals  - particularly Hyundai.In Australia, many of our Japanese cars are now also actually built in Thailand. It's not a major drama, because the quality is much the same, but it shows how the battle to cut costs is influencing the Japanese makers. The Thai drive also shows that Japan Incorporated is now happy to produce bland transport modules instead of appealing cars, going for numbers first - in showrooms and on the balance sheet. It's a reasonable response to the GFC but is going to cause problems in coming years.Why? Because Australia is seeing so many classy European cars at more affordable prices - look at the Volkswagen Polo - and because Korean is coming up fast.  Hyundai is now doing a better job than Toyota at building Toyota-style cars, with adventurous styling, classy quality and great prices. It's latest, the i45 replacement for the dowdy Sonata, is really good on every front except its awful steering and lacklustre front suspension.The i45 is a Camry done better and, like the Kizashi, one of the stars of 2010. And it's not the end for Hyundai, which has all sorts of new models coming from the baby i20 to an overdue sporty car sometime in 2012.And that's whan the Japanese really could be in trouble. It's not because Hyundai has something new but because the Japanese wound their development programs back during the GFT and the results of that conservative risk management will not really be known until we see - or don't see - the work which should have been done over the past two years.Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!