Subaru Vortex Reviews

We've seen a trickle of leaked Subaru WRX info -- including renderings claiming to be official images of the car -- ahead of its debut next week at Los Angeles motor show. The latest reveals the specifications of the sports sedan, broken via pages from Car and Driver magazine and a dealer sheet posted by Jalopnik.The spec sheet confirms the WRX's 2.5-litre engine has been replaced by its first turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine since 2005, while the STi continues with a 2.5-litre. The 2.0-litre unit is related to the one used in the Forester XT and Subaru BRZ, on this job developing 200kW of power at 5600rpm and 350Nm of torque at 4800rpm, with a 6700rpm redline. The outputs are not a huge lift on the current model's 195kW and 343Nm -- and peaks arrive 800rpm and 700rpm later respectively.  But the bigger news is how they're delivered to the WRX's all-wheel drive system: with a six-speed manual replacing the current five-speed, and markets with an automatic getting a CVT. However there's an acceleration penalty, with the new manual WRX getting to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds compared to the current 5.3, and the CVT auto in 6.1.The manual car's all-wheel drive will have a centre differential with 50:50 default torque split, while the auto gets Subaru's Variable Torque Distribution with 45:55 default front-to-rear split. The new WRX is reportedly also has 41 per cent better torsional rigidity, firmer suspension and bigger brakes and tyres (235/45 17-inch) plus electric power steering.The 2015 WRX STi is expected to have power pushed up to 227kW or more, with the performance improved by a lighter weight, better aerodynamics and retuned suspension.

While Subaru is taking the wraps of a concept pointing to the next Liberty wagon styling at Tokyo motor show next week, around the other side of the world it will coincide with the silk being whipped off the sedan version in Los Angeles.Subaru has released images showing the sleeker look for the next Legacy sedan -- known as the Liberty here -- ahead of the four-seater concept car's its official debut at LA show next week, and marking the car's 25th anniversary. And while we can expect the styling to be toned down before it his the production line, the show car has sleeker cues that suggest the Liberty may be shedding some of its staid approach.And a new look could reinvigorate sales, which have lagged for the current model launched in 2009, which this year has sold 2,208, down about 40 per cent on the 3,678 that had rolled out the door this time last year.The LA show sedan, which marks 25 years of the Liberty, gets a sexier four-door coupe approach with some hints of aggression in the low-slung body with its short overhangs, hexagonal grille flanked by 'hawk-eye' headlights, muscular wheel arches, plus prominent vertical front intake ducts and rear diffuser -- neither of which is likely to survive to production.There are no details of what's under the bonnet, but we already know the Levorg wagon concept bound for Tokyo is powered by a new turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, so the performance focus of the sedan styling hints we could see the LA concept carrying a higher tune of that powerplant, plus Subaru's signature all-wheel drive.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

You know you're getting old when car comfort is more important than a stoplight sprint. Either that or, like me, you've recently spent too much time with doctors and comfort suddenly becomes the single most important thing in your driving day.I love the Ferrari 458, but right now I would hobble straight past the rip-snorter Italian thoroughbred on the way to a cushy Jaguar XJ limo. It would be the same situation for my first-choice funster, the Porsche Cayman.I've recently driven a race-prepared Fiat 500 Abarth and the pain was almost - almost - worse than the pleasure of romping the pocket rocket around the high-speed swoops and curves of Phillip Island. I was more than happy to slide back into the cushiness of a Chrysler 300 for the drive home, even if the seats in the motown monster don't give as much support as I normally like.The ride back to the airport got me thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of a number of vehicles that have recently passed through the Carsguide garage, focusing on how they make you feel in the body instead of in the head. Every week there are emails to CarsGuide from people of age, asking about upgrading - from a conventional passenger car into something in the SUV style that's easier on the hips and legs at mounting and dismounting time.An SUV can look like a good idea on the comfort front, but lots have bench-flat seats, crappy ergonomics and nowhere near enough suspension compliance. The Subaru Forester has a nice ride, but I prefer the seats in the Toyota RAV4. On the car front, the new Nissan Pulsar has seats that do nothing for me, but the Renault Clio is surprisingly comfy for a little, affordable car.My top favourite seat is a Recaro racing bucket that is almost shrink-wrapped to my shape, like a bathtub full of jelly that provides perfect support. But it's just about the toughest seat to get into or away from. So, right now, the first-choice comfort car is a Range Rover. It's stupidly expensive, but everything works for me, from a body that drops down on its air springs for easy access to beautifully-shaped front buckets finished in lovely leather and even a user-friendly automatic gearbox that means my left leg never has to move out of its comfort zone.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

None of us wants to crash our shiny new car but, if we do, we want to know we're safe. That's where the Australian New Car Assessment Program's standardised crash-testing analysis is invaluable, providing comparable ratings for vehicles of all types.The ANCAP site notes that a one-star car is twice as likely to kill you as a five-star model. Carsguide examines ANCAP's results to find the best of breed in each segment. It's worth noting the advanced software in some cars that readies the vehicle if a crash is imminent are disabled during the official tests. Cars are scored out of 37 points after the following tests.FRONTAL OFFSET TEST: The subject vehicle is accelerated to 64km/h and rammed into a deformable alloy barrier to simulate a head-on crash. To increase the severity and reproduce real-world conditions only 40 per cent of the car hits the wall - equating to a driver swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle.SIDE IMPACT TEST: The T-bone hit rams a 950kg trolley into the side of the car at 50km/h. The sled has an alloy face to simulate the front of another vehicle, which deforms and absorbs some of the impact.PEDESTRIAN TEST: Simulates the results of hitting a pedestrian at 40km/h. The test assesses adult and child impacts, given their heads and limbs strike different areas of the car.POLE TEST: This is the most demanding test in the ANCAP repertoire. Trees and poles don't deform, so all the crash energy is transferred to the vehicle. The car is put on a sled and propelled towards a fixed steel pole at 29km/h.SAFEST SMALL CARSAUDI A3 36.41 See reviews of this carOfficially the best small car to occupy in an accident. Impressively, the windscreen pillar didn't move after a 64km/h hit with the concrete block.  HONDA INSIGHT 36.39 See reviews of this carIts score reflects a 3mm movement of the pillar in the frontal offset test and "slight risk" of serious leg injury for driver and passenger.   BMW 1 SERIES HATCH 36.33 See reviews of this carThere's a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver in the frontal and side crash test and a slight risk of serious leg injury for the passenger in the frontal crash.   SAFEST MEDIUM CARSMERCEDES B-CLASS 36.78 See reviews of this carTops the charts with the highest score of any car in ANCAP database. Technically there's a 4mm movement of the front pillar and a slight risk of injury to the passenger leg closest the door.  BMW 3 SERIES 36.76 See reviews of this carBarely behind. It showed a 1mm movement of the pillar and there was a slight risk of serious injury to the driver's and passenger's legs.VOLVO V40 36.67 See reviews of this carThe only loss of points occurred during the frontal crash test, with a slight risk of serious injury to the front occupants' legs closest the door and the driver's chest.SAFEST LARGE CARSTOYOTA AURION 36.59 See reviews of this carFirst place in this class makes it the only locally built vehicle in any top-three line-up. There's a slight risk of lower leg injury for driver and passenger.   BMW 5 Series 36.53 See reviews of this carNot a bad place to be in the event of an accident either. It blitzed the side impact tests and only lost fractions of points in the head-on hit.    VOLVO S60 36.34 See reviews of this carSweden maintains its safety credentials. The passenger compartment stayed intact with only a 1mm movement of the front pillar.    SAFEST COMPACT SUVS SUBARU XV 35.53 See reviews of this carLike the slightly lower-riding Impreza, the XV scored highly in all crashes, with a slight risk of injury to the front occupants' chests and legs.    HOLDEN TRAX 35.18 See reviews of this carThe surprise packet. One of the smaller cars in the class has only a slight risk of serious leg injury for those in the front in a head-on crash.   Skoda Yeti 34.67 See reviews of this carDepite being one of the older examples in this segment, the Yeti still rates well for safety, with only a slight risk of serious leg injury for those in the front in a head-on crash.    SAFEST MEDIUM SUVSVOLVO XC60 36.53 See reviews of this carANCAP says the cabin 'held its shape extremely well" in the frontal test, with the pillar shifting just 3mm. There was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injuries to the driver.  FORD KUGA 36.33 See reviews of this carA solid second, posing a slight risk of serious chest injury for both front seat occupants. The front pillar moved 15mm.   HONDA CR-V 35.91 See reviews of this carPlaced well despite being penalised for the foot-operated park brake moving upwards and back. Structurally there was only a 2mm movement of the pillar.  SUBARU FORESTER 35.64 See reviews of this carTested this year, it scored highly in all crashes, with a slight risk of injury to the front occupants' chests and legs.   SUBARU OUTBACK 35.52 See reviews of this carFills the brand's quinella. Crashed in 2008 and at the time topped the charts as the safest vehicle ANCAP had tested. SAFEST LARGE SUVSMERCEDES-BENZ ML 36.34 See reviews of this car Luxury SUV has a slight risk of serious chest injury for driver and passenger in the head-on hit and a slight risk of serious leg injury for the passenger. The pillar moved 2mm. RANGE ROVER 36.19 See reviews of this carBig Brit has a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver and the pillar shifted by 15mm.   NISSAN PATHFINDER 35.73 See reviews of this carSlight risk of serious leg injury for the driver. Unlike the other two, it applies to the upper leg as well as the expected lower-leg hits. Docked points for a marginal pedestrian impact result.

We're still a week out from the Los Angeles motor show, and Subaru has teased a photo of the 2015 WRX that will be unveiled there -- which was followed by renderings claiming to be leaked images.Certainly, the latter artwork pretty closely follows the cues of the Subaru one, which is our first official look at the car, and shows some of the nose details previewed on the concept at the New York motor show earlier this year.There's the signature bonnet scoop flanked by prominent creases, and a black mesh lower fascia intake and hexagonal grille with lines flowing to sharp, elongated headlights integrated into the swelling wheel arches.Subaru hasn't yet confirmed details of the all-wheel drive cars, but the WRX is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre boxer four-cylinder -- closely related to the engine in the BRZ but with Subaru’s own direct-injection system (rather than the BRZ's Toyota-sourced one) and a turbocharger to lift the output of the current model’s 198kW and 330Nm.The 2015 WRX STi also being unveiled at the show will carry the same engine but with power squeezed up to 227kW or more, with the performance improved by a lighter weight, better aerodynamics and retuned suspension.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Subaru has gone 'back to the future' with some running changes for its perennial Outback wagon.

Subaru has revealed teaser images of the Levorg concept it will unveil at Tokyo motor show in November -- and likely go on to build as the wagon version of the new Subaru Liberty.

Like us, you probably want to be just like Ken Block when you grow up. Also like us, you probably lack his massive budget and specially-built Subaru Impreza or Ford Fiesta gymkhana weapons.Despair no more, as scooter brand Razor has developed the Crazy Cart, which allows anyone above the age of 9 and below 66kg to hone their Ken Block-style drift skills from the comfort of their own cul de sac.Or warehouse, as Razor’s promo clip proves. This sharply shot footage shows ‘Ken Box’ drifting a cardboard-clad ‘Mister’ livery Crazy Cart through the makeshift arena, deftly manoeuvring through a series of signature Ken Block gymkhana stunts. There’s the forklift, the ultra slo-mo close shaves, and the guy in the gorilla suit. No sign of a Segway though.Powered by rechargeable batteries, the Crazy Cart sends its power through a single wheel at the front with 360 degree steering, with two castor scooter wheels at the rear to permit extreme tail wagging action.  With December 25 approaching, we suspect many stockings will be stretched to Crazy Cart-size this year. Watch the Ken Box gymkhana video here. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn    

The Forester is a long time favourite with Aussie motorists. But it's a very different car than it used to be, more of an SUV than a jacked-up wagon.

Australian Subaru boss Nick Senior says he would support a production-based race series in Australia that would pit his company's WRX against the likes of VW's Golf GTi, the Renault Megane RS265, Benz A250 Sport and the Ford Focus ST.Senior says he would like the race series to encompass sprint events of six or more laps and also endurance events up to 12 hours duration. He says the mix was already there for a solid production series involving a range of sporty hatches and sedans.He said the Subaru WRX's all-wheel drive was not an issue on the racetrack with the sophisticated two wheel drive technology available these days. "We have a slight weight penalty with all-wheel drive and the two wheel drives don’t have as much outright grip which evens things out."Senior went on to say that many car manufacturers were disenfranchised with motor sport due to the dominance of the V8 Supercar series. "Not everyone has a V8," he said.He added that he would like determine what interest there was in his proposed race series with other manufacturers, many of whom are seeking new ways to spark (declining) interest in cars from younger consumers fixated with phones and multi-media technology.