The Subaru ST-X Story

During the LA Auto Show in 2000 Subaru unveiled a concept called the ST-X.  Subaru was already confident from their success with the Crossover SUV idea with their Outback and Forester models and thought that their Subaru Truck Xperimental could bring similar success.  This concept was pitched as "the ultimate expression of the Subaru brand essence – fun, freedom, adventure, confidence, and control."  

Built around the Outback/Legacy chassis, the ST-X was in a class by itself with a four-door layout, extendable cargo bed with switchback design, four-wheel independent suspension, and a Supercharged 4-Cylinder Boxer Engine at it's core supplying power to their proven All-Wheel Drive system.  This concept embodied the exciting lifestyle it promoted with a bold aggressive exterior design wrapped in Solar Flare Orange paint.  That color made it's way to the interior as well, acting as upholstery and dash panel accents throughout the ST-X cabin.

The design of the ST-X already seamed feasible, as it was built on an existing Subaru model you could buy at the time.  As it was essentially a modified 2000 Subaru Outback, it was easy to picture this less as a fancy non-functional concept car and more as something that was actually possible.  Subaru even had a patent pending on the Switchback design for the car and looked poised to release this car with all the excitement the concept brought to the table.

Patent number: 6481772

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body including a passenger cab having a rear end, a cargo bed having a substantially horizontal floor extending rearwardly from the rear end of the passenger cab and a pivoted closure on the rear end of the cab. The closure is movable between an erect position to separate the passenger cab and the cargo bed, and a folded position to extend the floor of the cargo bed into the rear end of the passenger cab. In one embodiment, the pivoted closure is defined by a rear seat back in the passenger cab and that is capable of folding in a forward direction of the vehicle. A retractable window is slidable into and out of a top portion of the rear seat back when the rear seat back is in an upright position. In another embodiment, the pivoted closure is provided by a hinged door between the rear end of the passenger cab and the cargo bed.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 13, 2000
Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
Assignee: Subaru of America, Inc.
Inventor: Peter Tenn 

The ST-X Concept made it's way to retailers as a product called the Subaru Baja in late August of 2002 as a 2003 model.  In many ways, the Baja shared the main features that the ST-X concept had displayed 2 years earlier at the LA Auto Show.  Impressively, the bold exterior design remained mostly unchanged from the concept.  The other exciting aspects of the ST-X had been seemingly watered down with the production Baja.  Instead of a Supercharged engine, the Baja made its debut with a Naturally Aspirated 4-Cylinder engine.  The Baja also backpedaled on the Switchback design for the cargo area, only having a small opening below the back window instead of the larger opening of the entire back wall and glass.  The retractable canvas roof had been replaced with a standard power sunroof.  Solar Flare Orange had been diluted to Baja Yellow and the interior orange accents had been replaced with a more standard black with silver accents look.

Despite the watered-down aspects, Subaru still expected to sell 24,000 Bajas per year built out of their plant in Lafayette, IN.  With scarce advertising for this new model and a confused initial reception, the Baja was not off to a stellar start.  While it received awards for design and reliability, reviews of the vehicle were less than encouraging.  After it's first year, Subaru added a turbocharged engine option to give the sporty Baja some well-needed pep, but this didn't breathe much new interest into the already controversial design.  Over the Baja's limited 4-year sales period, a total of around 30,000 were produced.  Low sales reflected the underwhelming production design and, with the all-new 2005 Legacy and Outback being released in 2004, the Baja already seemed outdated among it's fellow Subaru models.

There are several problems one could use to explain why the Baja flopped, but it could attribute most of that to the expectations set by the successful ST-X Concept.  For a quirky Car/Truck design to work, the exciting adventurous spirit that the ST-X Team had put into the concept was a necessary component to it's success in the real world.  Unfortunately, when those elements were dialed back for the actual production of the Subaru Baja, it lost those stand-out features designed to propel it forward.  Ten years after the Baja's initial release, the Subaru XV Crosstrek delivered a bold compact crossover dressed in a familiar orange.  The Crosstrek has since become one of Subaru's top selling lines and continues to define and lead it's category.  It seems Subaru has learned the lesson for delivering an exciting new product to the market.  One can only imagine if the ST-X and the Baja's story may have been different had this formula been followed before.

Not all is lost.  The Subaru ST-X lives on in the Baja, which has recovered in popularity in it's age.  They enjoy strong resale value in the used market as the hard-to-find nature of this truck/car thing and enthusiast following have kept them alive and in-demand over the years.  The ST-X Concept was built around fun, freedom, adventure, confidence, and control.  Those ideas still ring true with the handful of Bajas being enjoyed today.

Higgins & Pastrana RC Cars

Several years ago Subaru teamed up with HPI for a limited release of Rallycross RC cars.  Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen got 1/18th scale Micro RS4 all-wheel drive RC cars that were (and still are) a blast to play with.  So when I got an e-mail from Subaru about a similar set featuring Higgins Blue and Pastrana Red, I knew I had to place an order!

They're listed as having All-Wheel Drive, Four-Wheel Independent Suspension, Shock Absorbers, 100m control distance, and all metal gears.  The box art also has a "Waterproof" logo depicted, which would be fitting for rally cars!

The photos of these are clearly not of the actual product.  A quota of 2000 orders needs to go through before they start rolling these out, but the specs given and the computer-generated images seem promising.  1/18th Scale (identical to the previous run with Isachsen and Lasek's cars), these Subarus are depicted with their SRT USA Liveries from 2017.  The car specifications sound incredibly similar to a Micro RS4 car to begin with, including the identical battery size, transmitter frequency, and dimensions, but that could simply be due to the fact that they're the same scale.  The CGI Box image supplied doesn't give any clues as to who actually produced either of these products either, so it's anyone's guess as to what RC Car company is building these.

Each RC car retails for $101.30 Per Car and a Pre-Order window is only available until February 12th.  They're listed to be shipped on August 5th of 2018, so there's a hefty wait time for these to be produced and released.  Still, for the diehard Rally fan, these are something worth waiting for!

Currently these are only available to order as an employee of Subaru (you'd have an e-mail from Subaru about these with a link).  However, the previous run of HPI RC Cars for Bucky and Sverre were open to the public a few months after the initial pre-order period.  Keep an eye out for these becoming available to order in Spring of 2018!

Goodbye Subaru 6-Cylinder

I've heard it dozens of times at car shows.  "There's no replacement for displacement."  The bigger the better, right?  It turns out the Environmental Protection Agency disagrees and, as evidenced by so many auto manufacturers recently, the bigger engines are starting to disappear.  While Subaru has never really had anything like a V8 or a "big block" engine, there is a horizontally-opposed masterpiece that will soon fall victim to this recent industry trend.  The 3.6 Liter 6-Cylinder Boxer Engine is on it's way out.

Oddly enough, the signs that Subaru's H6 would leave us were brought about by the debut of their largest vehicle to date: the 2019 Subaru Ascent.  One would imagine that whatever powers the new leviathan of the 3rd-Row SUV segment would have to be just as big, but this is not the case.  Powered by an all-new Direct-Injected Turbocharged 2.4 liter Boxer 4-Cylinder, the Ascent will still be capable of besting the 3.6 Boxer 6 in the power department.  At 256 Horsepower, Subaru's H6 will fall short of the 260 estimated Horsepower of the new Turbo 2.4.  Subaru, and many other manufacturers, have been managing to make more power with fewer cylinders for awhile now.  But this isn't the only telltale sign of the H6's departure.

The next is an old favorite of mine.  The "Subaru Prominence 2020" plan has been in full swing for several years and it has outlined their progress as each year passes.  Every new design, advancement, and goal of the company in terms of growth and development have been checking boxes for the Prominence 2020 Plan.  With the clock ticking down on these plans, 2020 will mark a point for the company when the Subaru Global Platform will be at the core of every vehicle built.  This is the same platform that the 2017 Impreza, 2018 Crosstrek, and 2019 Ascent will share.  Further on down the line, the 2019 Forester, 2020 Legacy/Outback, and 2020 WRX/STI will all eventually share the same modular platform design.  The plan also outlines that every Subaru will have Direct Injection in their Boxer Engines.  With the 3.6 Boxer 6 using Port Injection and no signs of any advancement with the H6 platform (we would've seen it already in the upcoming 2019 Ascent), this where the H6 will leave us.  Turbocharged Legacies and Outbacks will act as the higher-output options, replacing the Legacy 3.6R and Outback 3.6R options.

It's a shame to see things like this becoming more commonplace for auto manufacturers to do.  Fewer Cylinders with similar fuel economy and improved emissions continue to drive the industry forward.  The last offerings of the current generation Legacy and Outback will be available for another model year before the redesigned models take on the Subaru Global Platform and the new direct-injected boxer engine.  So if the Turbocharged route isn't for you, find a 6-cylinder Subaru before it's a thing of the past!

Meet your Rally Heroes

I've only been following the world of rallying since 2011 when I first started looking for information on Subarus.  Since then, it's been a roller coaster ride getting into this extreme automotive sport that I have grown to love and enjoy.  I'm still mostly new to all of this, but perhaps one of the most rewarding thing I've done as a fan of rally has been to actually attend events.  Wherever you live, regardless of how long of a drive or far of a flight it might be, experiencing this sport in person is where it's at.  Whenever I get asked "what was your favorite part of the rally?" I think of the memories from each event.  I think of the people that I have met that have made for the best stories.

My first big rally memory happened the night before a rally when I bumped into my rally hero at a gas station.  At that point, I had been following David Higgins pretty much since he had started racing with Subaru Rally Team USA.  My '16 WRX STI adorned his logo on the rear wing and I had been calling it the "Higgins Blue STI".  I knew he had seen the car before online, but to meet him and have him recognize my car at that Mobil Gas Station had me grinning ear to ear.  What I didn't expect was how down-to-earth and normal he seemed to me.  As a fan, I had built up this "superhero" idea of him.  It's easy to do when you've been following them from afar.  Still, David was a normal guy at a gas station talking about cars and rallying like anyone else.  It was at that point that I realized there was so much more to enjoy about this sport than watching videos and following championship standings.

Since then, I've met lots of rally drivers, co-drivers, team members, technicians, managers, and fans of rally.  It's all part of this great family that I only get to see when I go to events, but it always feels like you just pick up where you left off when you see them again.  It isn't just rooting for your favorite car.  You're rooting for the people that put that car on the road!

The sideways stone-slinging gravel machineguns called Rally Cars do make for one heckofuh spectacle to take in.  Whether you're taking action photos of each car as they slide past or just there to cheer the competitors on as they pass in a cloud of exhaust-note-filled dust, it's an unforgettable experience seeing, hearing, and feeling the presence of these competition cars fly by.  Yet it's the enjoyment knowing the people driving and co-driving those cars, knowing the technicians who worked their tails off to get it out there, knowing the teams and fans rooting for their favorites that puts a personal touch on it that you can really enjoy.  At the end of it all, when the champagne is spraying and the smiles are everywhere, you know there's more to celebrate than the results.  The memories of the great people you meet in this sport shine through all the grime and grit that comes with this demanding sport.

Heritage Blue for SOA's 50th Anniversary

Subaru of America is celebrating their 50th Anniversary so, to commemorate this, they're rolling out all kinds of special edition options for their lineup of vehicles.  We've already seen a handful of limited production models announced or rolled out for Subaru in 2017.  The Black Edition Foresters take an aggressive look on the humble crossover SUV.  The BRZ tS and WRX STI Type RA look to dazzle enthusiasts with more power and performance.  But there's one special release that will cover all of Subaru's models to celebrate 50 Years in the United States, and they'll don a new color: Heritage Blue.

2018 Subaru Impreza Hatchback in Heritage Blue

Available across all Subaru models, Heritage Blue will act as the 50th Anniversary Special Edition color.  This silver/blue color will be available in 2018 on the highest trim levels for Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy, Outback, BRZ, WRX, and WRX STI in 2018.  The new Ascent does not look to be getting a 50th Anniversary color option, as they won't be available for sale until late May of 2018.  In addition to the special color, these will also have a commemorative "Subaru 50th Anniversary" silver badge on the fender with a Gold star (signifying 50 years) and special wheel finishes.  Inside, each model will have black leather upholstery, silver stitching, silver seatbelts, and special embroidered logos.

Production numbers are limited and vary from model to model.  With the exception of the Forester (which is based off a Touring trim level), all of the 50th Anniversary Models will be released in the Limited (leather) trim level.  Interestingly enough the production numbers all end in some kind of "50" for each car with the exception of the WRX, WRX STI, and BRZ, which are grouped together to equal 1,050 total built.

Production Numbers

US-built cars will be hitting dealers before their Japanese-built counterparts.  Expect to see the Impreza, Legacy, and Outback in Heritage Blue in December and January with the Crosstrek, Forester, BRZ, WRX, and WRX STI hitting retailer lots in February and March.

Photos Below are courtesy of MotorTrend

2019 Forester - News on the Next Generation

From it's inception in the late 90s, the Forester has been a standout staple of the Subaru lineup over the years.  It's been a class leader in reviews with each generation and is still the only vehicle to have landed MotorTrend's "SUV of the Year" award twice.  As such, the Forester is coming up on completing it's design cycle for this bodystyle and will be switching over to it's new 5th Generation design in October of 2018.  Here's a rundown of what we know now, as well as handling some speculation surrounding the latest incarnation of the beloved Forester.

The 2019 Subaru Forester will be built around the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), which already carries the Impreza and Crosstrek platforms currently.  Reductions in noise, vibrations, and ride harshness are noticeable improvements in the current models, so the Forester should easily follow suit with these kinds of changes.  New for the 2019 Forester will be a Direct-Injected Naturally Aspirated 2.5l Boxer Engine with a slight bump in power.  A Continuously Variable Transmission will send power through it's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.  The new Forester exterior design shows that the window lines retain their boxy shape, much like previous generations, to continue it's excellent reputation for having stellar interior visibility.  More aggressive lines around the lower portion of the doors and around the fenders continue Subaru's latest designs.

Early Viziv Concept

The rumor mill has been spinning about the possibility of the 6-Speed Manual Transmission option going away.  If that's true, the Forester would be the third vehicle in Subaru's lineup to lose this feature, following the Outback and Legacy which did away with it in 2015.  With the market focusing more on pre-collision technology, it's likely that Subaru would follow suit and include EyeSight as standard equipment in the next-gen Forester.  EyeSight currently only works on vehicles equipped with a CVT, so the Manual would be phased out in favor of an All-EyeSight offering for the '19 Forester.

However, this has not been the case with the Subaru Crosstrek, which just picked up a new 6-speed option for it's latest version released earlier this year.  The Crosstrek was also marketed in other markets to have "all vehicles with EyeSight", but the US Market did not, so there's a chance that whatever rumor is spinning for the Forester losing it's manual transmission could be based on other markets.  The Forester is still currently sold with a 6-Speed option for the 2.5i (base) and 2.5i Premium models.  While demand is low in general for manual transmission vehicles these days, this is still a defining trait of the Forester when customers are looking for an All-Wheel Drive small SUV, so it would be surprising to see Subaru drop this option for the sake of saying that "all Foresters come with EyeSight".

METHOD for our Madness

When METHOD Race Wheels teamed up with Subaru Rally Team USA to create a tough-as-nails wheel for competition, they couldn't have asked for a better result right from the start.  David Higgins and Craig Drew secured a National Championship riding on the METHOD 501 Rally Wheels and the rest is history.

Coming up on 5 years later and fans of these durable rally wheels get to welcome another design to the family.  The 501 started things off in Rallying, the 502 got tougher, and
now the New METHOD 503 Rally got LIGHTER.

These 503s will be available in 17x8 +42 which will weigh in at 16.5 lbs per wheel.  There's also an 18x8 +42 size that will weigh 17.8 lbs. "Flow Form construction" cuts down on weight while maintaining rigidity and overall strength.  But unlike the 501 and 502, these lightweight wheels are intended for use in autocross events or track days.  They come in matte black or gold finishes and will include a carbon fiber snap-in center cap for each wheel.

These wheels are ideal for the Mitsubishi EVO, Ford Focus RS, and Subaru WRX STI, all of which are ideal to use on both loose surfaces and on grippy tarmac, so it's nice to have a METHOD option that rounds out that option.  Run 501s for daily use, some 502s for rallycross fun in the dirt, and 503s for that weekend at the track.  Come to think of it, I'm already 2/3rds the way there with that plan!

METHOD 503 Rally wheels are slated for release in February of 2018.  Just in time to show your love for your all-purpose machine on Valentines Day!