Does anybody know why the US could not get the JDM like bumpers? Probaby differnt US standards? Mazda6, BMW 3, G35, TL have almost the smae small integrated front bumper look.
I like the front lights better too... no amber in the corners.
A quick look through the JDM website and basically, it appears to be a Spec B model with some extra trim (no performance changes):
- 18" Gold Rims - HIDs - Rear fogs (Wagon gets LED version), heated mirrors and wipers - SWRT Logo shift knob - Red LED gauges - Blue Alcantara seating surfaces and interior trim - Special UV reducing glass
<i.The quasy discussion over there centers on is this a "vehicle" name, or perhaps some sort of "system" name (like VDC, etc.), and perhaps SOA should enlist Elmer Fudd as the spokesperson?
Actually that sounds like a name better suited to Marvin the Martian as spokesperson - not unlike the entire Infiniti product line.
Could be, but that doesn't mean that the WR-Limited bumper skin couldn't work on USDM models. Both the Legacy and Outback have different bumper skins, yet they are both 5mph-friendly.
The issue is in fact the 5mph bumpers (the beam underneath that is metal) the covers are just covers and are unrelated to the bumpers themselves.
USDM gets the undercarriage bracing and the small projector headlights on the 04+ Imprezas v. no undercarriage bracing and larger fog lights found on EDM and JDM cars.
To be released for '08 (MY or CY?). 2.0 and will be aluminium, similar to that that used on the VW Touareg diesel. Also to be sold in China. No word about North America.
2008 seems a long ways off. I thought it would be sooner than that. I also thought it would be larger than 2.0L.
The Honda diesel is 2.2L, and certainly the European brands offer diesels in varying displacements.
In any event, 2008 is a long way off. By that time Subaru will have larger cars on the market. I don't think a 2.0 diesel would work on a larger Subie. Maybe they have larger diesels in the works too, but haven't announced them yet? I was actually hoping for a 2.5 – 3.0 diesel, to be honest.
They mention the diesel could be built on the same assembly line as their gas engines. Maybe they're using a variation of the 2.5 gas engine, but keeping it to 2.0 in size so that that they can keep the cylinder walls thicker for added strength that would be required for diesel applications?
Down the road they could add two more cylinders to make it a 3.0L H-6 diesel. As we know, that's one of the beauties of boxer engines, in that they're relatively easy to add cylinders to without re-inventing the engineering wheel again. "The Beauty of Modular Engine Building."
I see, you're thinking ahead in terms of what might work in the US market. I'm kinda looking at what might sell in Europe now. In the Impreza or even the R1e.
Subaru would be wise to take a wait and see approach to low sulphur fuel and emissions regulations before making a substantial investment building diesels for the U.S. market. There is a good chance that none might be here by 2008.
Now imagine adding two more cylinders to the 2.0 diesel that Subaru is planning. Also, I think it goes without saying that the Subie diesel will be a turbo-diesel, since virtually all modern diesels are turbos.
How would you certify the car with diesel engine which runs on bio-diesel or veggie oil; LEV, ULEV, PZEV or equivalent to hybrid? Is there any pollutant coming out running with veggie oil?
All you have to do is own a Mc Donald resturant and a diesel engine car, and you don't have to worry about gas price. That is not quite true. You still have to start the car with diesel or bio-diesel and once the veggie oil warm up, flip the switch to veggie oil, and from then on you are all set.
Mori says the next generation Impreza -- and the flagship turbo WRX -- will be "an aggressive" car.
Drive's correspondent in Japan, Peter Lyon, reports there are some design staff at Subaru's headquarters who feel the four-door boxy shape is the path Subaru should be going down but they have been overruled by those who believe the next Impreza should be smaller, lighter and more stylish, along the lines of the World Rally Championship contenders such as the Citroen Xsara and Peugeot 307 CC.
There are also suggestions in Japan that there will be a smaller, lighter, more compact three-door hatch-like Impreza in the range when it surfaces and the new model will boast performance equal to, if not better, than the current model.
Joining the Impreza line-up further into its model life, in five to six years, is expected to be a hybrid-powered version which will link the conventional horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with an electric motor.
With Saab's input, won't the XUV go back to being more quirky? ;-)
Square or stylish? Hmm, tough call. The Impreza won't really be big even if it is square. A square Impreza wagon already exists - it's called the Forester.
So I say make it stylish, bay-bee. Bring back a coupe also. Make it LIGHTER, all other Subies have lost weight but the Impreza got sorta heavy.
Go for stylish... Look at the Mini Cooper, not my cup of tea, but people are paying 1k to 2k over MSRP for them in So Cal. If you pay MSRP you get to wait 3-6 months!
People buy cars with their eyes, so if it looks good, it must be expensive and the owner must be rich...
Designers hear those contridictions all the time... I mean to say a sleak design with usable space. Heck, a sleak - swooping design with moderate to good utility like all or most of the premium market.
Heck, a sleak - swooping design with moderate to good utility like all or most of the premium market.
No thanks! Most premium brand SUVs are way to rounded for my tastes... they look like big bettles. Besides it's a given that the boxier the body the better the utility. Subaru can make-over the Forester if they want but I'd rather they didn't mess with the basic shape.
Subaru can make-over the Forester if they want but I'd rather they didn't mess with the basic shape.
<designer speaking here...>
Agreed Frank. A skillful and talented designer can do wonders with boxy shapes. The Forester just needs to be cleaned up and simplified in terms of styling. It's just too "fussy" as it now stands. There's no need to "round it" a great deal.
While I do like the soft, round Nissan Murano's styling, I don't want to see the Forester become its clone.
Bob, I didn't know you were a designer. My wife is a graphic designer and has to interpert alot of contradicting messages. Like: "It needs to be more whimsy." Do you know what that means?
Anyhow, I'm not a designer but take in alot to what she says and talks about. I agree the Forester should be cleaned up, its design is "fuzzy" but its not bad. It looks like a small version of our 2000 Toyota 4Runner w/Sport pkg we had. I don't like the Nissan Murno much though to round.
Anyhow, I'd like to see the sedans and wagons be more sleek. I really love the 05 Legacy GT sedan and feel that Saab did a great job with the 9-2x.
About the new Sub X over, I think is gonna look X5/F45 ish, I have a feeling anyhow...
My wife is a graphic designer and has to interpret alot of contradicting messages. Like: "It needs to be more whimsy." Do you know what that means?
Yeah, being able to read between the lines is a survival skill one must learn in this business. A better skill however is being able to ask the right questions. There's nothing worse than having client who is vague, or has no idea what they want.
Volvo's design philosophy is nice and evolving. The Honda Element is a great SUV. The next gen BMW's are getting to "out-there" for me, I liked the last 5 series and current 3 series. The "flaming" philosophy is growing on me though. X5 is great but I wish it had the same room as the old 540 wagon.
Subaru's new look is evolving from the B11s to the B9, they have something there, it just needs to be refined a bit more. Can't wait to see the next concepts.
Comments
I do like the JDM front bumper better than the USDM front bumper, however.
Bob
I like the front lights better too... no amber in the corners.
--Sal
Bob
I'm in the minority but I like the US bumpers. Get into a fender bender and you will, too.
-juice
Bob
-juice
- 18" Gold Rims
- HIDs
- Rear fogs (Wagon gets LED version), heated mirrors and wipers
- SWRT Logo shift knob
- Red LED gauges
- Blue Alcantara seating surfaces and interior trim
- Special UV reducing glass
Here's a link showing some of the above features:
http://www.subaru.co.jp/legacy/wrlimited/utility/index.html
Ken
-juice
Actually that sounds like a name better suited to Marvin the Martian as spokesperson - not unlike the entire Infiniti product line.
Ed
-juice
-Frank
-Frank
Bob
-Dennis
USDM gets the undercarriage bracing and the small projector headlights on the 04+ Imprezas v. no undercarriage bracing and larger fog lights found on EDM and JDM cars.
-mike
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID- =5618522
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2004/08/c1501.html
http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2004/04_07_08e.htm
Not exactly *new* news, but news nonetheless.
Bob
I want an alternative to the Pilot, not the MDX!
How could the Saab cost more than $40 grand? Think about it. It would have to fly!
-juice
To be released for '08 (MY or CY?). 2.0 and will be aluminium, similar to that that used on the VW Touareg diesel. Also to be sold in China. No word about North America.
2008 seems a long ways off. I thought it would be sooner than that. I also thought it would be larger than 2.0L.
Bob
-juice
Bob
But I'd be willing to bet there are far more 1.3l pint-sizers.
-juice
In any event, 2008 is a long way off. By that time Subaru will have larger cars on the market. I don't think a 2.0 diesel would work on a larger Subie. Maybe they have larger diesels in the works too, but haven't announced them yet? I was actually hoping for a 2.5 – 3.0 diesel, to be honest.
Bob
Down the road they could add two more cylinders to make it a 3.0L H-6 diesel. As we know, that's one of the beauties of boxer engines, in that they're relatively easy to add cylinders to without re-inventing the engineering wheel again. "The Beauty of Modular Engine Building."
Bob
-juice
Bob
-juice
Bob
http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/driving-impressions-2004/- - B/bmw/535d.html
Now imagine adding two more cylinders to the 2.0 diesel that Subaru is planning. Also, I think it goes without saying that the Subie diesel will be a turbo-diesel, since virtually all modern diesels are turbos.
Diesels have come a long way baby!
Bob
All you have to do is own a Mc Donald resturant and a diesel engine car, and you don't have to worry about gas price. That is not quite true. You still have to start the car with diesel or bio-diesel and once the veggie oil warm up, flip the switch to veggie oil, and from then on you are all set.
Alland
Drive's correspondent in Japan, Peter Lyon, reports there are some design staff at Subaru's headquarters who feel the four-door boxy shape is the path Subaru should be going down but they have been overruled by those who believe the next Impreza should be smaller, lighter and more stylish, along the lines of the World Rally Championship contenders such as the Citroen Xsara and Peugeot 307 CC.
There are also suggestions in Japan that there will be a smaller, lighter, more compact three-door hatch-like Impreza in the range when it surfaces and the new model will boast performance equal to, if not better, than the current model.
Joining the Impreza line-up further into its model life, in five to six years, is expected to be a hybrid-powered version which will link the conventional horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with an electric motor.
http://www.drive.com.au/news/article.asp?article=http
Bob
Square or stylish? Hmm, tough call. The Impreza won't really be big even if it is square. A square Impreza wagon already exists - it's called the Forester.
So I say make it stylish, bay-bee. Bring back a coupe also. Make it LIGHTER, all other Subies have lost weight but the Impreza got sorta heavy.
-juice
People buy cars with their eyes, so if it looks good, it must be expensive and the owner must be rich...
--Sal
-juice
If they get the new Subie face-lift down and perfect, I feel they can acomplish all this.
-Sal
-Frank
--S
No thanks! Most premium brand SUVs are way to rounded for my tastes... they look like big bettles. Besides it's a given that the boxier the body the better the utility. Subaru can make-over the Forester if they want but I'd rather they didn't mess with the basic shape.
-Frank
<designer speaking here...>
Agreed Frank. A skillful and talented designer can do wonders with boxy shapes. The Forester just needs to be cleaned up and simplified in terms of styling. It's just too "fussy" as it now stands. There's no need to "round it" a great deal.
While I do like the soft, round Nissan Murano's styling, I don't want to see the Forester become its clone.
</designer speaking here...>
Bob
Anyhow, I'm not a designer but take in alot to what she says and talks about. I agree the Forester should be cleaned up, its design is "fuzzy" but its not bad. It looks like a small version of our 2000 Toyota 4Runner w/Sport pkg we had. I don't like the Nissan Murno much though to round.
Anyhow, I'd like to see the sedans and wagons be more sleek. I really love the 05 Legacy GT sedan and feel that Saab did a great job with the 9-2x.
About the new Sub X over, I think is gonna look X5/F45 ish, I have a feeling anyhow...
--Sal
Yeah, being able to read between the lines is a survival skill one must learn in this business. A better skill however is being able to ask the right questions. There's nothing worse than having client who is vague, or has no idea what they want.
Bob
Volvo XC90 crossover
Honda CRV
Honda Pilot
Honda Element (YES, THE ELEMENT IS WELL DESIGNED!)
Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter
BMW X5
Also, while Scion is a box personified, I don't find it at all appealing. Must have something to do with me pushing 60...
Bob
Subaru's new look is evolving from the B11s to the B9, they have something there, it just needs to be refined a bit more. Can't wait to see the next concepts.