Subaru near decision on first plant in China, report says

TOKYO -- Subaru, the only major Japanese brand not manufacturing in China, is in talks with partners in that country about a joint venture and will decide by year end whether to build cars there, a newspaper report said.

Ikuo Mori, president of the Subaru brand's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., told Japan's Nikkei business daily that locally produced cars have slimmer profit margins than those imported from Japan. But setting up local production in China is essential to future growth in the world's biggest auto market, he said.

“We are now in talks with several local makers as possible candidates for a joint venture partner,” Mori said. “We are going to decide how to advance there by the end of the year.”

Mori said he doesn't expect the China venture to be profitable in the first two years.

Subaru would be a late-comer to China. Most Japanese automakers have been manufacturing there for years. Subaru began selling full-sized vehicles there in 2004. The brand sold 35,000 vehicles in China last year and is targeting 50,000 this year.

Mori said Subaru's longer-term sales goal is 100,000 annually, but he gave no time frame.

Subaru spokesman Masashi Uemura declined to name the companies that Fuji Heavy Industries was talking with. But a Chinese business Web site reported last month that one negotiating partner was Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100824/GLOBAL03/100829936/1131#ixzz0yC9Agr5W

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Subaru Debuts 2011 WRX STI-based Rally Cars for X Games

The Subaru Rally Team is back with three new cars based on the revised 2011 Impreza WRX STI. The cars have been prepared by Vermont SportsCar and will compete in X Games 16 rally events in Los Angeles this weekend. The transformation begins with a 2011 WRX STI just like the ones you can buy in your local Subaru dealership; SRT chose to stick with the five-door hatch rather than using the newly resurrected sedan model.
The gap between a showroom STI and the rally car quickly widens. SRT stripped the car’s interior, welded some of the body seams for extra stiffness, and bolted in a full roll cage and Kevlar fuel cell. Standard components are replaced by Recaro racing seats, a custom dashboard, carbon-fiber door panels, a rallying trip computer, and an automatic fire extinguisher. On the outside, they added a 0.25-inch aluminum skid plate, mud flaps, a carbon-fiber roof scoop, and the requisite rally-car (read: loud) graphics treatment.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/subaru-debuts-2011-wrx-sti-based-rally-cars-for-x-games/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+caranddriver%2Fblog+%28Car+and+Driver+Blog%29&utm_content=Bloglines

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International Autos Group

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Subaru Continues Breaking Sales Records, Announces Its Best July in History

-- Subaru Outback Has Best Month Ever Selling 9,030 Units --

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. posted its best July sales in history with 23,983 vehicles sold in July 2010 – a 10-percent increase over July 2009 sales of 21,839 units. Year-to-date sales totaled 149,943 units compared with 115,145 units sold through the same period last year – marking a 30-percent increase.

The Subaru Outback continues to be the stellar performer for the company selling 9,030 units in July 2010 – resulting in an astounding 82-percent increase over July 2009. The Subaru Legacy also continues to increase sales with a 37-percent improvement over July 2009 with 3,208 units sold in July 2010.

"It was great to exceed and build on last year's record results considering that last year's Cash for Clunkers program was very successful for Subaru," said Tim Colbeck, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. "Our products continue to attract both loyal Subaru owners and a larger than ever group of conquest customers."

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Subaru Announces Pricing for 2011 Impreza WRX and STI Models

- WRX Now Comes in Wide-Body Design and WRX STI Introduces a 4-Door Model -

- WRX STI 4-door starts at $1,000 less than the starting price of the 2010 5-door Model -

CHERRY HILL, N.J., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI models. Arriving in dealerships in September, the aggressively redesigned 2011 WRX starts at $25,495 for both the 4-door and 5-door models. The 2011 WRX STI 4-door is $1,000 less than the starting price of the 2010 5-door (non-Special Edition) STI at $33,995.

Subaru Impreza WRX

Beginning at $25,495 – a modest $500 increase for the 4-door and the same starting price for the 5-door – the aggressive body style changes for WRX include new front & rear bumpers, wide front fenders and quarter panels, and a WRX logo side fender badge. The sedan adds a rear chrome satin finish and quad tailpipe outlets. The WRX receives new gunmetal gray alloy wheels paired with wider summer-performance tires. Additionally, all WRX models now have six upgraded speakers and come with steering wheel control switches for audio and Bluetooth functions.

The Subaru Impreza WRX Premium starts at $27,995 (both 4- and 5-door) and adds the All-Weather Package, power moonroof, and fog lights. The sedan also includes a standard rear trunk spoiler. The Subaru Impreza WRX Limited is available from $28,995 (both 4- and 5-door) and features HID headlights and leather-trimmed upholstery. A GPS touch-screen Navigation system is available on Premium and Limited trim levels and includes a 7" touch-screen and standard Sirius satellite radio.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

The Subaru performance leader, the WRX STI, returns as a 4-door sedan – along with the 5-door for the 2011MY. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4-door starts at $1,000 less than the 2010 WRX STI 5-Door (non-Special Edition) at $33,995. In addition to its wide-body style, the WRX STI sedan also brings back its signature impressive rear trunk spoiler. All WRX STI models include the All Weather Package.

The WRX STI is powered by a 2.5 liter, turbocharged and intercooled Subaru Boxer® engine pumping out 305 horsepower. To further improve its performance, the 2011MY WRX STI has a retuned suspension that includes improved suspension bushings, larger front/rear stabilizer bars, and stiffer front/rear coil springs that provide tighter handling, less body roll and improved steering feel. All WRX STI models are available with optional GPS Touch-Screen Navigation with a 7" LCD touch-screen for $1,800. Additionally, all WRX and WRX STI models also receive a new mesh-type grill along with an upgraded audio system that includes standard Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, iPod control capability, an auxiliary input jack, USB port, and XM/Sirius capability with a roof mounted antenna.

A new trim level, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Limited 4-door, is added with a starting price of $37,345 and includes leather-trimmed upholstery, 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, power moonroof and fog lights.

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5-door starts at $35,995, and includes 18-inch BBS alloy wheels.

The Destination and Delivery charge for these and all 2011 Subaru models is $725 (Alaska D&D is $875). Complete WRX and WRX STI model information and prices can be found at www.media.subaru.com.

Subaru of America continues to enjoy record sales after its best-ever sales year in 2009, with June sales up 35-percent year-to-date.

Chicago Subaru Dealers

Connected adventure: 2011 Subaru Outback offers WiFi

Subaru is adding wireless connectivity to the 2011 Outback as an option, providing mobile Internet via a 3G network. The system by Autonet Mobile will cost $499, plus a $35 activation fee and a one-year agreement at $29 a month. The first three months are free. The WiFi service will enable download speeds from 400 kps to 1.2 mbps, even with the car in motion.

The WiFi service will enable passengers to operate up to 10 connected devices at the same time. A possible use would be to stream Internet music, without using a smartphone. In addition, it has a 150-foot reach, adding appeal for beach parties, camping, and sports arena tailgating.

Of course, the increasingly ubiquitous smartphone may be the best argument against this system. Given the cost, most consumers could upgrade a regular cell phone and service plan for about the same price, then use the smartphone for travel-related functions like GPS navigation, traffic, and weather. Plus, the smartphone could be used away from the car, as well. The reception for both would be limited by cell-tower availability, meaning neither would provide connectivity in a deep "outback" adventure.

There are likely clever applications for this service, but for the average customer, it would be worth thinking through the cost and limitations.

The 2011 Subaru Outback will start at $22,995--the same price as the 2010 model.

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