Subaru Debuts New EyeSight™ System

- Stereo Camera Based Driver Assist System

- Pre-Collision Braking

- System Capable of Pedestrian Detection

- Lane Departure and Sway Warning

- Adaptive Cruise Control

- Optional in 2013 Legacy and Outback

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. has announced the debut of its EyeSight™ driver assistance system. The suite of safety and driver assist technologies will debut at the New York International Auto Show on 2013 Legacy and Outback models. EyeSight will subsequently appear on other products in the Subaru line-up. EyeSight integrates adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and vehicle lane departure warning. The new technology, which can also detect obstacles in front of a parked car and limit potential damage in an impact, will become available later this year.

Combining safety and convenience features, the Subaru EyeSight system will be one of the most affordable of such technologies available in the United States market. EyeSight uses two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras developed by Subaru. EyeSight is mounted inside the car on the upper edge of the windshield, thus reducing the potential for damage that could occur in bumper-mounted systems, such as radar. The EyeSight system processes stereo images to identify the vehicles traveling in front, as well as obstacles, traffic lanes and other items. The video information is relayed to the EyeSight computer, which is also networked with the car's braking system and electronic throttle control. Below speeds of approximately 19mph, EyeSight is capable of detecting pedestrians in the vehicle's path and can activate in order to mitigate or even avoid the collision. Under certain circumstances, Eyesight is able to bring the car to a complete stop, thus avoiding a collision.


Pre-Collision Braking Control and Collision Mitigation

At relative speeds under approximately 19 mph, EyeSight's Pre-Collision Braking System can detect obstacles in the car's path and, if the driver has not applied the brakes in time, the system can do so to slow the vehicle or bring it to a full stop to help avoid the potential collision. Pre-Collision Braking is always on in the background to act like a second set of eyes for the driver. It can also be turned off temporarily for off-road or rough road travel.

At relative speeds above approximately 19 mph, EyeSight can apply the brakes when an object is detected, and will attempt to brake if the driver takes no evasive action, or does not brake appropriately. In this way it will mitigate potential damage from a collision. The system, which can recognize programmed objects such as vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, can help mitigate collision damage.

Read More: http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=43&item=304

Top Pick video: 2012 Subaru Impreza

For several years, our Top Pick small car has been the Hyundai Elantra. Its latest generation combines impressive fuel economy with a practical interior and a pleasant driving experience—all at a value price. But the redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza presented a true challenge for this honored distinction. (Read about the 2012 Top Picks.)

On paper, the Impreza has its work cut out for it. Following tradition, the revamped Impreza comes with standard all-wheel-drive, which cuts into acceleration and fuel economy. Unlike typical redesigns that add curb weight and horsepower, this new Impreza weighs less and has a smaller, less powerful engine. But as a package, it works well.

At 27 mpg, the Impreza can’t match the 29 mpg overall of the Elantra, but it does have impressive fuel economy for all-wheel-drive. Acceleration times remain decent and are on par with the previous Impreza. What’s more, this Impreza has a ride that rivals some luxury sedans, with generous compliance and isolation. The interior is very roomy, with a spacious back seat, and controls are about as simple as they get. Finally, visibility is refreshingly good for a modern sedan; here the Impreza’s upright styling gives an advantage over the more swoopy Elantra’s smaller greenhouse.

But the Impreza isn’t perfect. Road noise can get annoying—a complaint we also have with the Elantra. The Subaru’s continuously variable transmission promotes engine noise and has excessive, unwanted engine braking when descending hills.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/02/top-pick-video-2012-subaru-impreza.html

2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Hatchback CVT

Trading performance for EPA-rated efficiency.

In the sea of economy cars, the 2012 Subaru Impreza swims among some fairly appetizing competition. The new Impreza’s styling alone helps it better stand out among big fish—such as the Ford Focus, the Volkswagen Golf, and the Honda Civic—than did its predecessor. But the previous car’s biggest handicap against its competition wasn’t its looks, but fuel economy; to that end, Subie has swapped the old four-speed automatic transmission for a more-efficient continuously variable gearbox.

Exterior Attitude, Interior Blahs

But first, back to the styling. The new Impreza fits right in at Subaru showrooms with its scaled-down Legacy looks. The sheetmetal even has a little bit of an attitude, although the same cannot be said for the interior, even if it is ergo-friendly. Inside, the materials are average and the overall design is stark and lacks any sort of personality. That’s a shame, really, because we love sitting in the comfy bucket seats, while back-seat passengers will appreciate the generous amounts of leg- and headroom. They won’t enjoy the copious wind and road noise. Compared to the previous car, overall passenger volume for the five-door increases by nearly three cubic feet; cargo volume (rear seats folded) gains an impressive eight cubes for a total of 52.4. Have we mentioned lately how much we love the versatility of wagons and hatchbacks?

Out with the 2.5-liter, In with the 2.0

The engine compartment of the 2012 Impreza houses a new flat-four of smaller displacement than the outgoing car’s. Down by 0.5 liter to 2.0, it’s weaker than the old engine by 22 hp and 25 lb-ft of torque, for totals of 148 hp and 145 lb-ft. Subaru claims that the new car’s slight weight reduction offsets any performance penalty from the lower-output motor. But as we discovered with a manual-equipped Impreza sedan we tested, that’s not quite the case—it was a second slower to 60 mph than the previous stick-shifted Impreza. While we don’t have test figures for the previous Impreza 2.5 with its four-speed automatic, our 2.0-liter hatchback CVT test car took a leisurely nine seconds flat to hit 60 mph and 17 seconds to cover the quarter-mile at 83 mph. The new 2.0-liter with the CVT is now rated at a much-improved 27 mpg city and 36 highway, up from the 20/26 assigned to the 2.5-liter car with the four-speed auto. Impressive on paper, but we saw just 22 mpg overall during our 600-mile test.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-subaru-impreza-20-cvt-hatchback-test-reviews

Subaru Impreza Wins 2012 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best Compact Car

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. was awarded the 2012 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best Compact Car at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

The award comes on the heels of strong sales results from Subaru.  The brand set a sales record in 2011 and has started 2012 with sales up 21% over the previous year.

"It is an honor to receive the award for best compact car from MotorWeek," Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "We are very excited about the all-new Impreza and we feel it is a game-changer for Subaru in the compact segment. In fact, Impreza sales in January were up 175-percent. We are pleased to bring our customers a car that packages safety, fun and function."

All new for 2012, the Subaru Impreza is equipped as standard with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Powered by a 148-hp 2.0-liter Boxer engine, the 2012 Impreza comes with a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or the enhanced, second-generation Lineartronic® CVT (continuously variable transmission). The 2012 Impreza offers the highest fuel economy of any all-wheel drive car in America, with EPA ratings of 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway for models with the CVT.

"With its 2012 re-design, we think the Subaru Impreza is primed for prime time," said John Davis, MotorWeek host.  "No other compact comes close to the Impreza's mix of standard all-wheel-drive, upscale interior, and near bargain pricing. Add in a fun-to-drive steering feel, plus a big jump in fuel economy, and you've got a four-season winner."

Read More: http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=43&item=296

The Beach

2012 Detroit auto show video: 2013 Subaru BRZ

Subaru has a long and rich history of enthusiast cars through their rally racing heritage. But the Subaru BRZ sports coupe goes in a different direction.

Instead of being a hopped-up version of one of Subaru’s grocery-getting all-wheel-drive sedans or hatches, the BRZ is a purpose-built sports car. This low-slung, rear-wheel-drive coupe is light weight, with a low center of gravity from the flat-four engine being set down low in the chassis. Placing that engine back towards the cabin helps weight distribution, but that mount position eliminates the possibility of all-wheel drive. With no turbo version available (at least for now), the BRZ isn’t about raw power numbers, but rather pure handling and agility.

But how does this all work on the road? We don’t know yet. We don’t know how well the electric steering transmits road feel, if the gear ratios are right for that engine, or if the ride is stiff or typical-Subaru-compliant. Nor do we know if the Scion doppelganger, the FR-S, is tuned better. (Subaru did most of the development on the car, but Toyota tuned their version differently.)

We can’t wait to find out. Soon. The BRZ is a logical next step for the Miata owner who needs something with some more room inside, but doesn’t want to spend a mint. And that’s a good thing for an enthusiast, especially now that the lively Mazda RX-8 is gone.



Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/01/2012-detroit-auto-show-video-2013-subaru-brz.html

All-new 2012 Subaru Impreza Awarded IIHS 2012 TOP SAFETY PICK

-Subaru remains only manufacturer with IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK Winners for All Models-

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that for the third consecutive year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized it as the only manufacturer with a 2012 TOP SAFETY PICK winner for all models.  The all-new 36 mpg 2012 Impreza, the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive vehicle in America, was awarded in the "Small Car" category.

"Our customers take their safety very seriously and so we are very pleased that IIHS has recognized us again with a TOP SAFETY PICK winner for all our qualifying models," said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "To be able to include the redesigned 2012 Impreza to the list is an outstanding success and a tribute to the engineering that goes into our products. The IIHS reinforces to our customers that Subaru maintains the highest standards to produce vehicles that are fun-to- drive, durable, reliable as well as safe."

The TOP SAFETY PICK recognizes vehicles that, in IIHS testing, do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on 'good' ratings in each category. The IIHS ranks in terms of Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor, with 'good' as the top rank possible in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control.

"Subaru once again has a TOP SAFETY PICK winner for all models," said IIHS president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."

About IIHS

The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2-instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a small (5th percentile) woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

Read More: http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=43&item=282

Chicago Subaru Impreza