Subaru mulls motorsports return, nixes small CUV plans | Jim Doran Chevrolet Subaru

The Subaru WRX STI breaking the automotive lap record at the Isle of Man might be just the beginning of the headlines trumpeting a Subaru racecar. According to the latest rumors, the Japanese brand is looking at taking motorsports more seriously in the future. That could possibly even mean endurance racing at Le Mans.

According to Auto Express, the brand is mulling a greater participation in motorsport, but the big question is where. The World Rally Championship isn’t a certainty because it now favors smaller cars like the Volkswagen Polo. Subaru still competes in series like Rally America and Global Rallycross, but there are bigger stages to play on.

What’s interesting, is that this commitment to motorsports comes right as the automaker is denying plans to build a small CUV for its passenger car lineup. According to Auto Express, the company has no intention of developing a crossover smaller than the current XV Crosstrek. Even if the sales are there, it would just cost too much to develop. In the US, at least, the XV is doing great with sales up 42 percent in July.

Autoblog reached out to the company for more hints about its future racing endeavors and we’re awaiting their reply. Let us know in Comments where you’d like to see Subaru competing.

Subaru mulls motorsports return, nixes small CUV plans originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:01:00 EST.

Which WRX Is Best For You?

2015 Subaru WRX vs 2015 Subaru WRX STI McMinnville OR

Whether it’s souped up or in its most basic form, the Subaru WRX is a thrill to drive, but if you’ve been seriously considering a 2015 Subaru WRX vs 2015 Subaru WRX STI in McMinnville, OR, and could use a push in one direction or the other, take a look at how the two compare.

Both are high-performance vehicle with all-wheel drive and controlled handling, but the STI is going to high-performance, even higher while taking the price with it. The 2015 Subaru WRX has a 2.0-liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine and a starting price at $26,295 while the STI jumps up to a 2.5-liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine and an MSRP of $34,495. (The difference between these two engines is the the boost in horsepower from 268 hp to 305 hp.)

Many of the additional features included on the STI are also found on a few of the other trims like the WRX Premium and WRX Limited. Drivers who prefer a more premium level interior and exterior will find the STI comes standard with more of what they are looking for, such as: LED headlights, power-tilt/sliding-glass moonroof, and leather-trimmed upholstery.

The STI is going to offer an even more fine-tuned driving experience, but we would suggest you test drive a WRX first because the tight suspension, firm handling, and surge of power during acceleration and gear changes might just surprise you. You will also note a difference in the gearboxes, while the WRX uses cable-shift linkage, the STI has a heavy-duty gearbox to fit its parallel-rod shift linkage.

Because the STI is packing more power, the brakes and springs are going to be stiffer, increasing response time. Depending on your driving style, both vehicles will offer an aggressive feel, but one of the most noticeable differences between the two cars is the large wing on the back of the STI which is meant to even out the vehicle and provide downforce at high speeds.

Remember these are sedans we are talking about, so depending on the type of driving you plan on doing, whether performance and race-based, we would recommend the STI, but if you’re looking for a vehicle that still is affordable, practical, but makes any daily commute more exciting, keeping you more in tune with your vehicle, we would recommend the 2015 Subaru WRX.

Be Sociable, Share!