Yahoo Autos New Cars for 2017: Subaru
BRZ: Subaru’s rear-drive sports coupe (and Toyota 86 doppelgänger) gets a nip and tuck for 2017. Changes include LED headlights and taillights, fresh 10-spoke wheels, and a new aluminum rear wing. But it’s not just window dressing; Subaru has treated the BRZ’s 2.0-liter flat-four to new heads, valves, and cams, along with redesigned intake and exhaust manifolds. All this work, however, results in a meager output boost from last year. The engine squeezes out 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. Well, it does when it’s bolted to the six-speed manual transmission. Opt for the six-speed auto and you get the same output as in years past: 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Manual cars also get a slightly shorter final-drive ratio (from 4.10:1 to 4.30:1) for peppier acceleration. Subaru has also stiffened the coupe’s structure, and added revised springs, dampers, and a fatter rear anti-roll bar. Further, the company has added a new Performance package (for Limited models with manual transmissions) that includes Brembo brake calipers, Sachs dampers, and larger front and rear brake rotors. What it all means: If you get a manual BRZ, Subaru likes you more than if you get one with an automatic. See first drive review ››
Forester: All versions of Subaru’s tall boy add more underfloor insulation, thicker side glass, and improved door seals to reduce unwanted noise. A new grille and headlight design headline the minor exterior updates, and a quicker steering ratio should make this quasi-SUV a bit more responsive than before. And Foresters with the base 2.5-liter flat-four see a 2-mpg improvement in city fuel economy. The company’s driver-assist technology suite, called EyeSight, includes lane-keeping assist and, in some versions, reverse automatic braking to help drivers not run over/into things.
Impreza(shown above): All-new for 2017, the slightly longer and lower Impreza is the first Subaru to ride on the company’s new Global Platform. Still available in either four-door-sedan or four-door-hatchback body styles, the new Impreza will, of course, come standard with all-wheel drive. The new car’s suspension system is the same configuration as the outgoing car’s: struts up front and dual control arms out back. But Subaru claims an improvement in roll resistance, stability, and ride quality. Subaru has dropped the five-speed manual that once was available on Imprezas; now the only transmission is a CVT automatic with seven set ratios for when you would like to use the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters to pretend you are driving a conventional geared transmission. The familiar 2.0-liter flat-four gets direct injection and a slight power boost (152 horsepower versus last year’s 148). For those who don’t want to wait for the eventual WRX version, Subaru offers a 2.0i Sport model with a firmer suspension and 18-inch wheels. And while it might crib a few lines from the vehicles produced by its Japanese competitors, the new Impreza is actually quite a handsome car. And that’s definitely new. See official photos and info ››
Minor trim changes: Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, WRX, WRX STI
