Subaru at New Jersey Motorsports Park

Catch the Action!

Subaru Road Racing Team

at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP)

July 16 - 18, 2010

Cheer on the Team!

Subaru of America, Inc. is in its 2nd year as Official Automobile and Pace Car for New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), located in Millville, NJ. As part of our ongoing relationship with NJMP, Subaru is pleased to offer a 30% discount to Subaru owners on advance ticket orders for the upcoming Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car and Continental Tire Series scheduled for July 16-18.

Also, included in each ticket package while supplies last: Complimentary in-field parking and/or one Parade Lap around Thunderbolt Raceway in your Subaru!* (Subaru Parade Lap option is limited to the first 75 callers and only available by ordering tickets dialing 856.327.7217).

The #35 Subaru Road Racing Team STI will be running at Thunderbolt Raceway during the scheduled Continental Tire Challenge sessions beginning Thursday, July 15, with the race slated for Saturday, July 17, from 2:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. EST.

Now for some Q & A!

Where can I park?
For those displaying the Subaru parking hang tag over the rearview mirror, Subaru has arranged specially-designated and complimentary in-field parking at Thunderbolt Raceway.

When is the Subaru Parade Lap around Thunderbolt Raceway scheduled?
The queue will begin forming on Saturday, July 17, from the Subaru parking area at approximately 11:15 a.m. EST, and the Subaru Parade Lap will commence behind the NJMP STI pace car by 11:30 a.m. EST.

How can I order race tickets with the Subaru discount?
Log on to http://www.njmp.com/ and go the the Events Section or Online Store. Complete your ticket(s) order and add the code SUB to receive a 30% discount from MSRP. Discount pricing is applicable for advance ticket purchases only and expires at midnight on July 16. To participate in the Subaru Parade Lap around Thunderbolt Raceway the day of the Continental Tire Challenge Race, please call 856.327.7217 when ordering your ticket package.

Subaru Releases Pricing for 2011 Subaru Impreza Lineup

Subaru has released pricing information for the new 2011 Subaru Impreza lineup. Sales of this very popular range of compact automobiles have helped the Japanese car company maintain impressive profits during a period when the vast majority of automakers have seen their financial performance deteriorate. The good news for shoppers interested in a brand new Subaru Impreza is that compare to the current model year, 2011 prices will for the most part remain identical across the board.

The entry-level Subaru Impreza 2.5i, which comes with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine offering 170-horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque and which is matched with standard all-wheel drive, starts at just $17,495 for the sedan, with an additional $500 charge for the hatchback edition. Included in this price, which is the same as that of the 2010 model, is a five-speed manual transmission and fuel economy that is rated at 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. Moving up to the 2.5i Premium trim level also maintains status quo when it comes to MSRP ($18,495 sedan, $18,995 hatchback), keeping the same extra equipment that can be found on the current Premium edition of the vehicle, but adding in some extra touches to the vehicle’s sound system. These include standard Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, as well as a USB port, iPod integration and a better speaker package. Both of these vehicles can be had in two new blue paint schemes (Marine Blue Pearl and Sky Blue Metallic), which are ostensibly aimed to replace the one shade of blue that is no longer part of the Impreza palette (Newport Blue).

The Subaru Outback Sport trim, which is essentially an off-road ready edition of the Impreza hatchback that features the same drivetrain but more aggressive body cladding, better ground clearance and a number of improved interior features is priced at $19,995 – again, the same as the 2010 model. In terms of equipment changes, it too gains the better stereo system found in the 2.5i Premium, as well as two new colors of its own (Camellia Red Pearl and Sage Green Metallic), which can be selected as part of a single color paint scheme instead of the current edition’s contrasting gray plastic trim over the fender wells and bumper. This should go a long way towards improving the sometimes awkward looks of the Outback Sport.
Subaru has yet to release pricing for its turbocharged models, which for 2010 included the WRX and 2.5GT trim levels. While power for these high performance engines is not expected to change, the fact that the WRX editions will see the same flared widebody design as the high performance WRX STI model (pictured here) installed indicates that a bump in pricing could be in the cards. The base Impreza WRX currently retails for $24,995. Given the enthusiastic market for these rally-inspired models and the lack of competition at their price point, it would seem that Subaru will be able to sell just as many turbocharged Imprezas for 2011 as it did in 2010, even with a higher MSRP.

Jeep Grand Cherokee offers Euro flavor

Jeep's about to unleash the 2011 Grand Cherokee, flagship of the iconic Jeep brand, and really wants it to grab a hefty hunk of non-Jeepers.


Even though the 2011 -- a complete redesign that shares little but the name with its predecessor -- still resembles the SUV it's replacing, Jeep brass say it should strike the eye as more European. Great care was taken at the media introduction in San Francisco that we attended last week to point out how the rear, especially, is tapered and tailored instead of slab-sided.
Audi-esque, Jeep says. But still honestly Jeep -- just note the seven-bar grille -- and so not a turn-off to traditionalists, the marketeers insist.

Price:
Base model -- the not-very-Euro Laredo two-wheel drive version -- starts at $30,995. That's $495 less than the 2010 and the 2011 gives you a better engine, much more room inside and additional features, Jeep emphasizes. The much-more-Euro-ish Overland 4x4 starts at $42,995.

2011 Subaru Impreza Pricing Announced

Subaru enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that sticker prices for naturally aspirated models of the 2011 Impreza climb only $30 over 2010 levels. The cars are powered by a 2.5-liter flat-four engine rated at 170 hp. There are two new color choices for 2011: Marine blue pearl and sky blue metallic. All models but the base 2.5i trim receive a new six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The ’11 Imprezas reach Subaru dealerships in July.

The Impreza 2.5i starts at $18,220 in sedan and $18,720 in five-door hatchback configuration. Upgrading to the 2.5i Premium costs $19,220 for a sedan or $19,720 for a hatchback, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. The new Special Edition package, $500, includes heated front seats, fog lights, and a sunroof.



Finally, the hatchback-only Impreza Outback Sport stickers at $20,720. It builds on the 2.5i Premium trim with 17-inch wheels, raised suspension, fog lights, heated seats, and a cargo tray. For 2011, the Sport adds single-color red and green paint schemes to supplement the car’s usual two-tone appearance.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

With three owners in the past three years, it's been a tumultuous time for Chrysler. The lineup has aged and it's been uncomfortably quiet in terms of new product announcements. The 2011 Grand Cherokee breaks the silence and leads a handful of fresh vehicles into showrooms. While Italian automaker Fiat now controls Chrysler, development of this Grand Cherokee began in 2006, when Chrysler was still tied up with Daimler-Benz (the parent company of Mercedes-Benz). For that reason, the newest Jeep has a lot in common with the Mercedes-Benz ML.


Jeep's "other icon"
The styling is purely Jeep, though, as designers played it safe when sculpting the sheetmetal. "It's our other icon," says Mark Allen, head of Jeep design, paying deference to the brand's hardy off-road legend, the Wrangler. The familiar Grand Cherokee look is retained via the same proportions, basic shapes, and seven-slot grille as the outgoing model. But with more athletic sculpting and softer edges, the new Grand Cherokee is better dressed to mingle with the soft-roader crossovers in the suburbs. The design may suit the marketplace, but it does little to advertise the Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities.

Allen also notes that focus groups often tell designers and engineers that they don't want the vehicle to grow any larger. Despite that request, the Grand Cherokee is 1.8 inches longer and 2.6 inches wider than the 2010 model. Stretching the wheelbase by 5.3 inches has the positive result of adding four inches of knee- and legroom for rear-seat passengers, along the visual benefit of reducing the SUV's overhangs.

Jeep has made an effort to create a unified look across the trim levels, so that lower trims don't stand out as the "cheap" models with missing fog lights or tacky black plastic in place of body-color bits. Fog lights and stainless steel window trim are standard on all trims (called Laredo E, Laredo X, Limited, and Overland). There are still some extras as you climb the trim ladder - body-color fascias, larger wheels, and chrome mirrors and handles - but Jeep has accomplished its goal of making the lowest priced trim just as attractive as the top-end trim.

An interior reboot
Inside, the Grand Cherokee surprised us with exceptional quietness. Laminated glass on the windshield and front doors reduces wind noise, while insulating wheel-well liners hush road and tire noise. Under the hood, there's a panel between the engine and dashboard made from aluminum and composite material that keeps the engine hum contained. It's a great way to highlight how much the interior has grown up.

Building on the precedent set by the 2009 Dodge Ram, the well-executed cabin should be a key factor in reestablishing Jeep's claim that this is a premium SUV. The top-trim Overland receives a stitched leather dash and real wood accents that could pass muster in a Lincoln or Infiniti. Lower trim levels might not boast the same high-end finishes, but they benefit just as much from nicer materials and upgraded switchgear. The comfort features are premium as well. Standard equipment includes a passive entry, keyless ignition, a power driver's seat, and satellite radio. Options include a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, navigation, a power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof.