Subaru Vortex Reviews

Just ask BMW: Chris Bangle took the company in an entirely new design direction with his “flame surface”, unveiled on the 7 Series. The Bavarian giant didn't escape unscathed, but was able to ride the criticism to the extent that most new cars from any badge show some signs of Bangle influence. Subaru, successful but certainly not anchored the way BMW was, couldn't afford to fight through the negative early reaction to its aeroplane-inspired front on the original Tribeca. Fifteen months after it was launched, the “look” is gone — dead and buried at the New York Motor Show, with the release of a safer, more conservative Tribeca II. “We wanted a less polarising design because not enough people liked it,” Subaru America executive vice-president Tom Doll said at the unveiling in New York. “We listened, and redesigned the front and rear. We addressed engine performance issues, improved the fuel consumption and implemented third-row seat access from both sides of the vehicle.” So why did the Tribeca's stand-out nose have to go? The reason is simple: Subaru needs to expand its appeal across the middle ground rather than contract it. The same philosophy is behind the “mature” and “mainstream” design of the next-generation Impreza and WRX, also unveiled at the New York show. Paradoxically, Subaru Australia's Dave Rowley says interest in the original Tribeca has spiked since news of the more conservative styling approach began circulating. “It's strange, really. As soon as people realised the current model was going to disappear, there has been a lot more interest in it,” Rowley says. “It's almost as if it has become collectable.” External changes to the Tribeca are considerable. From the A-pillar forward, almost every panel has changed. The grille is now larger, squarer and more upright, the headlights have moved down to the flat face of the car and the bonnet is less sculptured. At the rear, the most obvious change is the flattening of the once-prominent brow that ran through the lights and across the tailgate. Wisely, Subaru hasn't changed the Tribeca's interior, retaining the plush, stylish feel of the twin-cockpit design. The biggest change has been to make access to the third row of seats possible from both sides. The other big change to the Tribeca has answered the second resounding criticism of the original: the dozy performance from its three-litre engine. An all-new 3.6-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine gives the Tribeca a competitive 191kW and 335Nm of torque — an increase of 11kW and 38Nm over the outgoing model. Drive is through a revised five-speed automatic with manual shift option and Subaru's constant all-wheel drive. The new Tribeca is expected to be available in Australia early next year. Future Tribeca editions may also gain Subaru's recently announced diesel engine. Believed to be of about 2.5 litres in size, it features a horizontally opposed boxer cylinder design. Subaru says this layout is especially suited to turbo-diesel applications, because the boxer's compact design allows a low centre of gravity and its inherent rotational balance reduces vibration. The Tribeca diesel is not expected to be available in Australia before 2009.

Only 300 models of the Liberty GT Spec B with STI tuning are available in Australia at an extra $10,000 to the normal Spec B price tag.Starting at $65,990 for the manual and automatic sedans, the STI-enhanced model produces an extra 10kW of power and 11Nm of torque through the upgraded ECU. It will also be available in a wagon variant for an extra $2000.With STI tuning, the limited model has firmer, sportier ride with better handling, better turbo response and a sportier sound, as well as improved grip."This is the second tuned-by-STI Liberty we've had," says Subaru spokeswoman Alicia Cannon. "With the MY07 model we expect it to sell very well, with a good customer response to locally tuned variants."Tweaked features include Bilstein sports-tuned dampers matched to STI lowered springs, the two STI twin-tip sports mufflers, Pillow-ball bush suspension components and Brembo performance brake upgrade. It sits on 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels and changes have been made to both transmissions with the manual featuring a six-speed STI short shift gear lever and the automatic given a sportier response.All models feature front lip spoiler and STI badging and the sedan gets an STI boot spoiler.

But it will not be anything new for a motorsport ace who made his Bathurst debut last weekend, finishing second for Subaru behind the BMW of Paul Morris and Craig Baird in the 12-hour production shootout at Mount Panorama.After more than two years with Glenn MacNeal alongside him in the Subaru Impreza WRC in rallies around the world, Atkinson is about to take on a new co-driver.He won't know until today who that co-driver will be, after complicated negotiations to pick a successor to the talented and committed youngster who was also living his dream.MacNeal has backed out of the World Rally Championship for personal reasons and is expected to pursue a business career in New Zealand while guiding the rally career of his partner, Emma Gilmour, from the passenger's seat."It's probably been coming for a little while. It's a bit both ways," Atkinson says."You have to commit 110 per cent to this job and I don't think he felt he could."MacNeal and Atkinson split after their most recent start together in the WRC in Rally Portugal, leaving his driver with a new challenge and a new opportunity."We have a few options. We're just working through them, and the plan is to have the new person at a test this weekend in Europe," Atkinson says."There are a lot of good co-drivers, but you want an outstanding one. I also want someone who is experienced, but not too old."The main thing is they are competent in the car. Not many people have experience at that level and that speed."Atkinson now lives in Monaco and could end up with a French or British co-driver, though former world champion Nicky Grist has been cut from the shortlist.Atkinson hopes to go in on a high with his new partner after recent upgrading and testing of the latest Impreza WRC, despite struggling, then crashing in Portugal."We made some changes for Portugal, but I need confidence in the rear end of the car. If I'm not confident I cannot push," he says."I was worrying too much about the car in the last stage.I misheard a note and screwed up and we went off."It should be better from here. If we can do consistent rallies, like we did in Mexico and Monte Carlo, with good speed and no mistakes, it will ensure the future and some good results. It's a matter of getting the car so I can do that."

As proof, we have the car which Subaru created to fill the previously invisible niche between its very hot and ultra-hot models.They gave it an odd name — by the time you say Subaru Impreza WRX Tuned By STI, it's gone from sight — but otherwise this is a superb package deal, loaded with clever engineering, fine-tuned by experts.Subaru got into this sideline with a Tuned by STI (Subaru Tecnica International) version of the larger Liberty a year ago.So, according to Subaru, the extras — tweaked engine, suspension, bodywork and interior — are worth $12,000 separately, but the Tuned By STI car costs only $7000 more than a normal WRX.The car I drove was No. 1 in the series, and was proof that someone got this $46,990 package spot-on from the start.Its 179kW engine output (regular WRX 169kW, regular WRX STI 206kW) is only part of the story, because it also responds earlier, and more smoothly.The ride is quite comfortable, taut without being harsh, while grip (bigger wheels and tyres) feels never-ending.Think of it as Subaru's reply to recently arrived challengers such as the Mazda 3 MPS (190kW, $39,990), Ford Focus XR5 Turbo (166kW, $35,990) and Holden Special Vehicles VXR (176kW, $42,990).It also is a handy way to keep the faithful interested in the Impreza range until a new-look series is introduced later this year.The Subaru is dearer, sure, but has the benefit of all-wheel-drive. It also, unfortunately, has the usual WRX anti-theft system, so the car's PIN must be entered in a keypad on the dashboard before it will start. Get it wrong, or encounter any other hassle, and an ear-piercing alarm erupts.

Subaru finally released images of the car this week after an internet storm created by a series of leaked photos. The new model has been labelled "more mature and sophisticated" by Subaru, which believes a more conservative look than previous models will appeal to a broader audience. The five-door hatch will be launched in September, followed by the four-door sedan a year later.The all-wheel-drive Imprezas will make their official world debut at the New York International Auto Show this weekend. The models on display will be US specification only. While different to the Australian version, Subaru Australia says they do give some indication of what to expect.The US WRX is lighter than the current model and produces more torque at lower revs.The centre of gravity has been lowered, the engine sits lower in the chassis and all models have new double wishbone rear suspension.Rigidity and ride comfort has also been improved and a longer wheelbase means more space, a more dynamic performance and a reduction in noise and harshness in the cabin."We will have important advances in engine technology, specifications, safety and style," says Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior.The WRX STi model, the leader of the range, won't be unveiled for several months.

The return of the 12-hour endurance contest is important to Australian motorsport, particularly for companies that have been excluded from the Ford-v-Holden battleground of V8 Supercar racing.Subaru is leading the charge in the WPS 12-hour this weekend, fielding a pair of Impreza WRXs with an all-star driving crew led by rally champions Chris Atkinson and Cody Crocker.GM Holden is splitting its attack, running an Astra Turbo crewed by V8 Supercar aces and also entering a girls-only Astra turbo.But a privately-entered BMW 335i coupe, with a driver roster including Craig Baird and Paul Morris, is shaping as the early favourite in an event that will put a priority on strong, consistent laps and time outside the pit lane between stops for fuel and repairs.Baird and Morris have won at Bathurst before, when they shared a 2-litre BMW Super Tourer, though they were subsequently dropped to second for a minor technical infringement."This weekend will be a bit of a reunion I guess, with Morris and I back behind the wheel of another BMW," Baird says."Winning the Bathurst event in 1997 was fantastic, but unfortunately we were disqualified soon after because I drove longer thanI was supposed to."Even with the history, I am looking forward to getting out there -- the track is one of those you always love the opportunity to compete on and enduros are great events."The final field for the 12-hour runs to 35 cars, well below the track capacity but a good start for an event being rebuilt.The last time the 12-hour was run, in the 1990s, it was a battlefield for high-priced exotics including the Porsche 911 and Mazda's RX7 turbo.But the organisers of this year's event have gone for a more showroom-focused contest, with a tight price cap and classes that encourage everything from homegrown Ford and Holden muscle cars to Japanese four-wheel-drive turbos and new-age diesels.It looks to be a wacky race, with all sorts of cars and all sorts of drivers lining up for the start at 5.45am on Sunday.Holden hopes to sneak home with the VXR Astra on the strength of its reliability, fuel efficiency and a driver line-up of V8 Supercar regulars Jason Richards, Jack Perkins, Shane Price and enduro specialist Nathan Pretty."I'm looking forward to making two Bathurst trips in one year," Perkins says.The WPS 12-Hour is the big event in a motorsport meal at Bathurst this weekend.The track is allowed two feature weekends each year and had success in the past with motorcycle racing, before the original 12-hour in the 1990s and the return of racing last year.This weekend's program includes another 11 races for everything from an entry of 55 historic touring cars to the action-packed Aussie Racing Cars.Sideshows will include the opening round of the Freestyle Motocross Nationals and an eight-car drift battle.

Fuji had wanted to give the blue Impreza WRX hatch a high-profile launch in New York but with the leak years of planning have come undone.The Impreza is clearly a big departure from the current car. It is said to be slightly bigger, more powerful and safer, with improved quality levels. Interior photos show a dashboard similar in style to the Tribeca all-wheel-drive, with a central satellite navigation system and a three-spoke steering wheel with audio and cruise controls.Subaru has placed the trip computer at the top of the dashboard, just below the windscreen. The photos have sparked widespread talk on Australian and overseas motoring forums on the internet, with a lot of critical comment about the new car.

Ford, which has owned the company since 1993 will keep a 10 per cent holding.The company at the heart of the takeover, Prodrive, is a specialist motor racing business based in England which spread its tentacles to Australia where it has owned a V8 Supercar team since 2003.Ford Performance Racing evolved from Prodrive's buy of racer Glenn Seton's Ford team.Prodrive has become a leading player in the world of motor racing and is scheduled to run a team in Formula One after being allocated the 12th team franchise in 2008.Richards, right, led the takeover of the Gaydon-based (Warwickshire) sports car icon yesterday for $1.1billion, reputedly far less than what owner Ford wanted.Ford will reportedly continue to supply engines and components to Aston Martin which was established in 1913 by two Britons and which has had a chequered ownership and financial history having gone bankrupt and been rescued a number of times.Richards, who has regularly attended V8 Supercar races over the last few years, won the World Rally Championship co-driving for the great Ari Vatanen in 1981.Prodrive also runs the Subaru World Rally Team which has Gold Coast ace Chris Atkinson driving.He is being touted as a future world champion.It has won six WRC titles with Subaru (three driver's and three manufacturer's gongs).Rallying success also extended to involvement with Porsche, BMW and MG over the years.Other headline successes for Prodrive include five British Touring Car Championships and it was a class winner with the Ferrari 550 GTS Maranello at Le Mans in 2003.Prodrive also runs the Aston Martin Works sports car team which races cars in the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24-hour where up to six cars will be entered for the June marathon.Under Prodrive Aston Martin Racing returned to competition in 2005 when it won its first two races with the awesome DBR9.Prodrive is one of the world's biggest motorsport and motor vehicle technology firms.It has more than 900 staff in Europe, North America, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.From 2002 to 2004 Prodrive managed the BAR Honda F1 team before control reverted to Honda.Prodrive owns 51 per cent of Ford Australia's performance road car arm, Ford Performance Vehicles.

This is the last drive report until the arrival of the new model in the second half of the year.The next-generation Impreza will be revealed next month at the New York Auto Show and Subaru is already planning its WRX attack on the World Rally championship from the start of next year.We are not sure of the final timing for the new Impreza in Australia, particularly the WRX, which has to face off with the great-looking new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, but it can't come soon enough.We have lived with and loved the original for almost longer than we can remember, and still love the turbo rush and the cornering grip, but the car is showing its age.The dowdy body needs a change, quality needs an upgrade, and time has dulled performance.It is all obvious in the newest and last of the current family, called the WRX tuned by STi.Subaru Australia has dipped into the STi parts bin in Japan, added some local development work and created a last blast for the WRX.It does have some good stuff, particularly a super-slick gearshift and more go from the engine room, but . . .This is the latest in a series of limited-edition WRX models.They have worked well to polish the halo over both the Impreza and WRX, as well as keeping young guys — the obvious target market — tickled at the prospect of putting a super-Suby in their garage.The package spreads the love in a more general way than in the past.There is a tweak in the turbo motor's electronic brain backed by a low-pressure muffler to liberate an extra 10kW and 20Nm.Official figures are 179kW and 340Nm, a significant improvement over the basic WRX but not as edgy as the full-on STi model.The car picks up lowered springs, tuned struts, a larger front stabiliser bar and changes to the rear stabiliser and suspension arms.Inside, there is the short-shift gear change and a sunroof, and cosmetically there is an STi lip extension to the front spoiler and 18-inch STi alloy wheels.The bottom line is up by $7000 to $46,990, but Subaru Australia says it is a $12,000 package."This locally tuned variant has put a priority on low-down engine performance," Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says."We've used specialised STi engine tuners from FHI (Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan) to tailor this car to suit Australian conditions."But the WRX by STi still has to face the latest Evo IX from Mitsubishi, and there are other trendy hot-hatch contenders including the Renault Megane Sport, the Ford Focus XR5 and the raunchy Mazda3 MPS.ON THE ROADTHE latest WRX is still a fun drive. For a while. But the longer we drove the WRX by STi, the more we found ourselves complaining and comparing and wondering about the changes for the new car next month.Yes, the car is a little punchier than a standard WRX but we have been spoiled for a lot of years.The STi was a flat-out rocketship and the best of the local developments was the WRP10, which had a great balance of suspension upgrading and go-faster improvements.This time, and after driving a lot of hot-hatch hopefuls over the past year, the WRX feels a bit flat.It still has good go, and there is a little more from the bottom, but it does not give us the same buzz as in the past.The gearshift is excellent, the car sits flatter in corners and has great grip, but we were distracted by other things.The remote boot release did not work and that's a reflection of the age of the basic design, and a lightweight boot struggles against the latching with the extra weight of the WRX's wing. The rest of the car is light too, which is becoming more of an issue as things such as tinny doors and thin carpet grate against a near-$50,000 price.The STi lip spoiler and big alloys look nice, but the reality is they are window dressing on an old car with a shape that never was particularly sexy."It looks like a nanna's car. It has a big butt," Miss Ali says after her first drive.She complains about the touch-pad alarm system, which also shows the car's age. Added when the WRX was the most-stolen car in Australia, it has been overtaken by newer systems that use hi-tech keys. It is just plain annoying, even if it gives a visual deterrent.Still, the sunroof is nice, the STi alloy knob on the gearlever feels good, and we still like the sports seats in the WRX and the feel of its leather-wrapped steering wheel.But — and here we go again — the dash is far too basic and there is too much cabin noise.The tuned-by-STi car also comes with a Kenwood sound system raunchier than in the past, but the buttons are tiny — difficult to use.Nice for twentysomething drivers, but not worth the trouble for most of our testers.So what is to like? A lot, of course. The WRX has always been one of the rare cars that is enjoyable to drive quickly, even without rattling a 100km/h speed limit.It still slingshots out of corners, responds when you turn the wheel, and feels safe and secure despite the extra power.It also looks good value, because the Evo comes in at almost $10,000 more. Even a topline Megane Sport is $44,490 and a 3MPS is knocking on $40,000. The WRX is feeling more like a $20,000 economy car with $20,000 of go-fast gear. We're over it. We can't wait to drive the new one. THE BOTTOM LINE73/100AN OLD friend in urgent need of a makeover.

The challenging look comes from a former Alfa Romeo designer who obviously liked the centre shield front look with squinty tail lights and transposed it to Subaru.Dig a little deeper into the Tribeca and you'll find an impressive vehicle, beautifully built and blessed with a super slick looking, functional interior. It has tidy road manners and feels solid and safe.The value for money proposition is also hard to resist with the $53,990 base model having dual air conditioning, cruise, Sooby's version of ESP, six air bags, satnav, 18in alloys, multi speaker audio and a rear view camera.And though we didn't venture off road, the 50/50 all wheel drive and good ground clearance would allow Tribeca to go most places short of heavy duty mudlarking or rock hopping. But don't get a flat because the spare's a space saver.It's a medium/large SUV competing directly with the almost equally visually challenging Nissan Murano and the stylish, locally-made Ford Territory Ghia.Two models are offered: 3.0R and Premium in either five or seven seat configuration.The engine is a petrol 3.0-litre flat six from Liberty and Outback and drives through a five speed auto offering sequential gear selection.Maximum output is 180kW/297Nm with the DOHC engine benefitting from variable valve timing and variable valve lift. Tribeca under- went local engineering refinement and it shows as the vehicle is super quiet on the road and offers a comfortable, controlled ride with a distinct sporty flavour.It tips the scales at around 1900kg and the beef hits fuel consumption. We averaged about 14-litres/100km with mixed driving but it goes up around town or when you push it on the highway with a load and the aircon' blasting.The auto works a treat and is a happier system than the Si drive autos in Outback and Liberty with the same engine.Performance is good for a vehicle this weight and size and the auto seamlessly flicks between ratios to keep everything on the boil.In a departure from Sooby-law, Tribeca has sash doors but access into the vehicle is easy. The third row of seats is for kids.Interior design is clever offering plenty of room and a sliding second row of seats. There are about a dozen cup holders in the cabin and numerous storage compartments.It's good to drive, responsive, sounds great and has plenty underfoot. The seats are comfy with even the base model having electrically adjustable fronts.Sitting in Tribeca you could be in a luxury car - it has that air about it.It's a super safe vehicle too passing the Australian NCAP crash test with a five star rating.Tribeca is the fifth product line for Subaru and like all the others, the vehicle is all quality and well engineered. It's just the skin you have to get used to.