"Baja" will be the name. Someone mentioned that before. My gut feeling is that they are right. It makes a good counterpoint (and partner) to "Outback."
Bob, Don't forget the the roof rack loads set in the united states are not dictated by engineers anymore. They are dictated by the lawyers and the sue happy public. I personally don't like the X-terra, but it is probably not a physical limitation. Every roof rack on a US sold car is 100-300lbs less than it's overseas counterpart. Because idiots here would load up the roof rack with 500lbs of luggage, then proceed to do 85mph on the interstate and take an exit ramp at 65mph causing a rollover. Then sue the manufacturer of the vehicle.
I agree. My point is, because it looks like it can handle 500 pounds, there will be some folks who will try and do that. Nissan is teasing, if not downright inviting folks to do so, because of the way it's styled.
Land Rover offers some truly HD roof racks that are much more to my liking.
I'm gonna be putting an ECB rack on mine eventually. Over there they also sell camper kits that fit on the racks so you can camp on top of your SUV! The ECB ones have 7mm mesh netting and can generally hold around 500lbs
so much information so soon. For example the new Ford Thunderbird has been talked about so much, that when it actually shows up it seems to me like "old news". I think Subaru has a better marketing strategy with a much shorter time between the previews and the actual product.
I like the idea of letting Thule or Yakima design the roof rack. I'm sure lots of people would rather have round cross bars instead of what comes standard.
paisan: you ought to post links to that for each model in the appropriate thread (CR-V, Forester, etc). Just mention they are available.
I've always thought the concept of a roof-mounted tent was cool. The Disco has the option, though it carries a ridiculous price tag.
Power seats? I sort of doubt it. Impreza didn't get them, for example.
I'm sure the existing Unimogs were brought over either via the "gray market," or by private owners. They were never "officially" imported here until now.
I can't help but laugh at the name. The website says 'Terracan' "is a fusion of 'terra', Latin for land, earth or terrain and 'khan', Turkish or central Asian for ruler or king as in Genghis Khan..." I know Hyundai's reputation has gotten better but I read 'Terracan' as Latin for "container that will rust away into the earth."
I like the looks - dare I say it looks a lot like a Toyota FJ80 or a pumped up '02 Forester with a sport grille? Much better looking than the lumpy Santa Fe.
That's hilarious, as I read it I was thinking "low budget Trooper" the whole time. I believe those prices translate into about $19-23k, extremely competitive.
It doesn't really have anything ground breaking, though. The V6 isn't overly powerful, and 0-60 is only so-so.
4 wheel disc brakes are a plus, and the warranty. But it's not really what US buyers are demanding from an SUV nowadays.
That is exactly what I like. Boxy, ABS, AWD, Low-range, med sized power, solid rear axle, off-roading. Also my dad's hyundai sonata is pretty decent, no major repairs yet.
I don't want ground breaking in my truck, the worst thing is to have some ground breaking technology break 100 miles from civilization!
The salesman definitely said the 03 Forester, for turbo. Maybe they are pushing it up to counter the CRV changes? The salesperson seemed concerned about the upcoming Toyota Matrix, too. I can see the GT version here in Texas being compition for the Forester but not up North were AWD is a winter essential and not just a handling perk.
Took this from the Subaru website, please explain the item 3, what does it mean I can't use Cruise Control ?
How do I properly break-in the engine in my new Subaru? Your Owner's Manual indicates specific suggestions for the first 1000 miles, which will aid in the performance and long life of your vehicle. Obviously, how you handle and care for your vehicle will play a major role in its longevity. Among the suggestions are: (1) do not race the engine. (2) Never exceed 4,000-rpm engine speed except for brief acceleration in an emergency. (3) Do not drive at one constant engine or vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or slow. (4) Avoid starting suddenly and rapid acceleration, except in an emergency. (5) Avoid hard braking, except in an emergency.
The whole idea behind breaking an engine in is to let it (the engine) experience a wide variety of driving styles, except of course, high rpm usage or racing. That means: "a little of this, and a little of that," and mix it up quite a bit. It also means not to let an engine stay in any particular rpm range for extended periods, hence the warning against using cruise control during this period. If you do use cruise control, I would use it for very short periods only. It's probably not worth the effort IMO.
When is the Outback based SUV due? My dealer thought it is due with the 2002 models, but I understood that it wasn't until 2003 at least. What are the current rumors? Thanks.
In Portuguese, TerraCan sounds like "Land of Sugar Cane". Lots of that in NE Brazil.
Subaru ought to do a concept like that, but tone down the styling about 2-3 levels, please. It looks like a Z3 with 240SX headlights glued on and fender flares done by a high school shop class.
2003 Forester Turbo would be an answer to my prayers. The timing would really be perfect for me, but I won't hold my breath.
What does your dad do in Brazil? My father-in-law works for Halliburton and he's in Rio for 4 years working on a project called The Carratanga Oil Platform construction. Just wondering.
Right on, Ken. My wife's b-day is in March, imagine pulling up with a ribbon on top. Anniversary is the day before Halloween. C'mon, SoA, get those models over here quick! :-)
My dad is an agronomer/banker. He started in Agronomy and then got an MBA from Harvard and went into Finance. He worked in Suriname for a few years, then in Belize, basically as the IDB Representative, disbursing loans for agricultural projects. He's actually back here in the US now, retired, but he'll be in Brazil next year.
The cool thing is the Field Offices in Suriname and Belize had fleets of cars and trucks, and most were for true off roading, because he had to survey farms and undeveloped areas. We got to take a Land Cruiser up trails and discovered some unspoiled water falls in Belize, it was fantastic. Of course we stopped to see the Mayan Ruins, and did a couple of water crossings (by boat, mostly, not driving). It was funny 'cause they'd pull a rope by hand to get the boats across. Talk about simplicity.
They hope it can compete with Subaru B4. But they'd have to fix Honda's trademark front wheel spin, or else most of those 220 horses will just burn rubber off the tires. AWD would be the way to go!
Well, the US won't see that 220hp engine because it's a low-torque 2.0l. The 2.4l they mention is far more likely, and if so that might be the engine from the current CR-V (160hp, 162lb-ft).
The Euro Accord is different than the American one, anyway. I do like the idea of the square back wagon.
Acura AWD? Well, it's funny because Honda never worried much about torque steer, because their engines never made much torque. For example, the Impreza TS makes more torque than the Honda S2000.
Now that they are beginning to discover torque, they realize FWD isn't the most effective way to put it down, especially with a 6 speed manual. Makes sense to me.
All these people coming out of 2/3 year SUV leases want the traction (AWD) and the space (wagon/hatch) that has spoiled them. So what was once Subaru's niche, all to itself, is now just about the most desirable new piece of the pie.
So Subaru has to fight even harder to distinguish itself. The bull's eye is right on them. A 5 speed auto and a 6 speed manual are just the beginning - competitors will already offer those.
BTW, the new Altima also does not have a passenger side key hole. There was a discussion in that topic about it, and apparently that is becoming common.
As a designer, I've never cared for them. They tend to look like a "zit" on a beautiful face.
However, unlike zits, I just assumed they were a necessary evil, and we would have to live with them for ever. I now think with more and more cars coming with remote entry, the disappearing key holes will continue. I think(?) the first-generation Acura CL didn't have a rear deck key hole. Now the new RSX also doesn't have a rear hatch key hole, as well as the passenger door.
While at the DC Auto Show, and was talking to a Toyota rep. He confirmed that there's a new 4Runner coming next fall, and it will have the 4.7L V8 as an option. He also said it will be roomier than the current 4Runner.
So it sounds to me that this new Lexus GX 470, the Land Cruiser Prado/Colorado, and the new 4Runner will all come from this new platform. BTW, I asked the Lexus rep if they thought it would be a version of the Sequoia, and they said no.
Someone also mentioned it was a cost-cutting measure. If the car is also sold in Japan (RHD), then not so much, but perhaps a little.
I do use the key hole, though, for my wife's car. I don't want to carry two bulky remote key fobs, so I use the key all the time. This would be a real nuisance for me, since I load our child from the passenger side. I guess I'd just bite the bullet and have a huge set of keys.
The Highlander kind of crashed the 4Runner's party. For a long time, the 4Runner sold without any incentives. But when the HL arrived, they had to start rebates.
I carry two FOBs, one for the Forester, and one for the Explorer. Frankly, I can't remember the last time I used the key to open either of those vehicles.
Comments
Bob
Don't forget the the roof rack loads set in the united states are not dictated by engineers anymore. They are dictated by the lawyers and the sue happy public. I personally don't like the X-terra, but it is probably not a physical limitation. Every roof rack on a US sold car is 100-300lbs less than it's overseas counterpart. Because idiots here would load up the roof rack with 500lbs of luggage, then proceed to do 85mph on the interstate and take an exit ramp at 65mph causing a rollover. Then sue the manufacturer of the vehicle.
-mike
When this was announced last winter, all the "greenies" freaked because they thought it was going be DC's answer to the Ford Excursion!
Yeah, right, an SUV with a 26,000 GVW (the same as a Ford F-650). The Unimog has often been referred to as a 4WD tool—not a truck, but a tool.
Bob
Land Rover offers some truly HD roof racks that are much more to my liking.
Bob
-mike
I agree that they are definitely not something you'd use as a daily driver, unless you were in heavy industry or the military.
Ed
Frank
-Dennis
paisan: you ought to post links to that for each model in the appropriate thread (CR-V, Forester, etc). Just mention they are available.
I've always thought the concept of a roof-mounted tent was cool. The Disco has the option, though it carries a ridiculous price tag.
Power seats? I sort of doubt it. Impreza didn't get them, for example.
-juice
Bob
-juice
Bob
http://www.autoweb.com.au/id_HYU/doc_hyu0111211/article.html?src=newreleases
4wd Lo
AWD system
Frame
3 rows of seats
Same size as my trooper
and most importantly! IT"S BOXY!!!!!
Where do I put my deposit?
-mike
Jim
Bob
http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=4470&sid=176&n=156
I like the looks - dare I say it looks a lot like a Toyota FJ80 or a pumped up '02 Forester with a sport grille? Much better looking than the lumpy Santa Fe.
Ed
It doesn't really have anything ground breaking, though. The V6 isn't overly powerful, and 0-60 is only so-so.
4 wheel disc brakes are a plus, and the warranty. But it's not really what US buyers are demanding from an SUV nowadays.
-juice
-juice
I don't want ground breaking in my truck, the worst thing is to have some ground breaking technology break 100 miles from civilization!
-mike
Cheers Pat.
So who's the lucky winner if it really is Baja? Who guessed that?
Cheers!
Paul
-Colin
Bob
Well, it certainly looks strange enough to be a Subaru...
Bob
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127800
Bob
http://www.fast-autos.net/delfinoferoce.html
WRX STi drivetrain (and front fascia) in a roadster.
-Colin
How do I properly break-in the engine in my new Subaru?
Your Owner's Manual indicates specific suggestions for the first 1000 miles, which will aid in the performance and long life of your vehicle. Obviously, how you handle and care for your vehicle will play a major role in its longevity. Among the suggestions are: (1) do not race the engine. (2) Never exceed 4,000-rpm engine speed except for brief acceleration in an emergency. (3) Do not drive at one constant engine or vehicle speed for a long time, either fast or slow. (4) Avoid starting suddenly and rapid acceleration, except in an emergency. (5) Avoid hard braking, except in an emergency.
Bob
Jack G.
-mike
Bob
Subaru ought to do a concept like that, but tone down the styling about 2-3 levels, please. It looks like a Z3 with 240SX headlights glued on and fender flares done by a high school shop class.
2003 Forester Turbo would be an answer to my prayers. The timing would really be perfect for me, but I won't hold my breath.
-juice
A 2003 Turbo Forester certainly would be good timing. Hey, maybe we'll be pioneer owners once again with the next generation of Foresters!
Ken
Jim
My dad is an agronomer/banker. He started in Agronomy and then got an MBA from Harvard and went into Finance. He worked in Suriname for a few years, then in Belize, basically as the IDB Representative, disbursing loans for agricultural projects. He's actually back here in the US now, retired, but he'll be in Brazil next year.
The cool thing is the Field Offices in Suriname and Belize had fleets of cars and trucks, and most were for true off roading, because he had to survey farms and undeveloped areas. We got to take a Land Cruiser up trails and discovered some unspoiled water falls in Belize, it was fantastic. Of course we stopped to see the Mayan Ruins, and did a couple of water crossings (by boat, mostly, not driving). It was funny 'cause they'd pull a rope by hand to get the boats across. Talk about simplicity.
-juice
http://www.mag-x.com/scoop/accord0112/index.html
--Bart
The Euro Accord is different than the American one, anyway. I do like the idea of the square back wagon.
-juice
-Brian
Brian, I think we may see a prototype at the Detroit Auto Show regarding the GM/Subie deal. What name tag it will wear, who knows.
Bob
That Blitzen can't come soon enough!
-Brian
The LA Show is next week, Detroit the week after, so it's going to be a fun couple of weeks!
-juice
Now that they are beginning to discover torque, they realize FWD isn't the most effective way to put it down, especially with a 6 speed manual. Makes sense to me.
All these people coming out of 2/3 year SUV leases want the traction (AWD) and the space (wagon/hatch) that has spoiled them. So what was once Subaru's niche, all to itself, is now just about the most desirable new piece of the pie.
So Subaru has to fight even harder to distinguish itself. The bull's eye is right on them. A 5 speed auto and a 6 speed manual are just the beginning - competitors will already offer those.
BTW, the new Altima also does not have a passenger side key hole. There was a discussion in that topic about it, and apparently that is becoming common.
-juice
However, unlike zits, I just assumed they were a necessary evil, and we would have to live with them for ever. I now think with more and more cars coming with remote entry, the disappearing key holes will continue. I think(?) the first-generation Acura CL didn't have a rear deck key hole. Now the new RSX also doesn't have a rear hatch key hole, as well as the passenger door.
Bob
So it sounds to me that this new Lexus GX 470, the Land Cruiser Prado/Colorado, and the new 4Runner will all come from this new platform. BTW, I asked the Lexus rep if they thought it would be a version of the Sequoia, and they said no.
Bob
I do use the key hole, though, for my wife's car. I don't want to carry two bulky remote key fobs, so I use the key all the time. This would be a real nuisance for me, since I load our child from the passenger side. I guess I'd just bite the bullet and have a huge set of keys.
The Highlander kind of crashed the 4Runner's party. For a long time, the 4Runner sold without any incentives. But when the HL arrived, they had to start rebates.
-juice
Bob
Bob
Anyone else notice how the price of non-luxury make mid-size SUVs has suddenly crept into the mid $30k price range?
-juice