New Subaru WRX STI Makes Euro Debut in Geneva

Subaru has officially unveiled its new WRX STI to the European press and public at the Geneva motor show that opens its doors today to all who want to attend.

No modifications over versions sold anywhere else in the world have been announced, but what is of interest is the price that’s now sensibly lower than before.

In the UK, for example, the number is £4,000 (~€4,900) lower than that stuck onto the windscreen of the previous gen STI – the car now starts from £28,995 (~€35,200), but it officially goes on sale on the Isles as of May 1.

They probably could have charged more for it based on looks alone, had they made it look like that stunner of a concept that previewed it, but not-so-attractive and cheaper do go hand in hand well, I think, so it gets away with it.

Check it out in the gallery below.

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Subaru Announces Prices and Launch Dates for New JDM Levorg, STI Concept Coming to Tokyo

One of the more interesting new models to debut at last month's Tokyo Motor Show was theSubaru Levorg sports estate, which while dubbed a concept, was as production ready as they get, something that the Japanese automaker itself admitted today via the release of pricing information on the car.

Offered only in Japan (at least for now), Subaru will begin accepting orders for the Levorg on January 4, 2014, with the first cars to arrive in the hands of their new owners in May and June, depending on the trim level.

The Levorg comes with a choice of two powertrains, a new 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged gasoline boxer engine pushing out 168hp (170PS) and a similar unit displacing 2.0-liters and a peak output of 296hp (300PS), with prices ranging from 2,667,600 to 3,564,000 Yen, or about US$25,700-US$34,300 at the current exchange rates.

At the upcoming 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon, Subaru will give prospective owners a look into some customization options for the Levorg with the unveiling of five prototypes, one of which will be prepared by Subaru itself, one by STI, and the rest from the company's tuning partners. The automaker has not released any photos of the new concepts.

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2014 Subaru BRZ U.S. Pricing Released, Doesn't Get tS STI Variant

With the exception of a new aerodynamic cover for the platform, the only other notable change Subaru announced for the JDM 2014 BRZ earlier this week was the introduction of the sportierlooking and handling ts by STI models. Since Subaru doesn't offer the 'tS by STI' series in North America, we weren't really expecting anything from the 2014MY BRZ, and the Japanese brand didn't prove us wrong.

All you need to know about the U.S.-specification version of the 2014 BRZ is that Subaru has added the so-called "Aha infotainment smartphone integration" on the Limited trim models' standard navigation system, while also upping the price of all grades by $100 .

The 200hp 2.0-liter boxer engine is retained with the base manual gearbox model now starting from $25,595, excluding a $795 destination and handling fee. Prices for the rest of the range can be found in the list that follows.

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New Subaru Forester Launches from £24,995 in the UK

he Subaru Forester has always been an impressively capable vehicle, which has gathered a large following around the world. The UK is no exception, and the fourth generation is now available for order, starting at £24,995. Having sold 170,000 examples last year (27 percent of the brand’s total sales), 15,000 of which in Europe, Subaru expects the crossover to become their most popular model.

The new Forester gets sharper styling, an improved interior and revised engines, the most popular of which is expected to be the 145 hp (147PS) 2.0-liter boxer diesel, which returns a claimed 49.6 mpg UK on average, and puts out 150 grams of CO2 for every kilometer driven. There are also two petrol engines, both displacing 2.0 liters – a naturally-aspirated unit making 148hp (150PS) and a turbocharged direct injection variant, which is considerably more powerful, being rated at 236hp (240 PS).

The latter only comes with a Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission, which is also available as an option on the non-turbo model – a six-speed manual comes as standard. In addition, cars fitted with the CVT will also benefit from the introduction of X-Mode, a new all-wheel drive control system “includes Hill Descent Control and makes traction even better than the outgoing model’s.”

Inside the new Forester, those familiar with the old model will immediately notice the extra room inside, which was obtained by an increase in the wheelbase, and the general dimensions of the vehicle – it’s bigger in every way. Subaru also says quality is up too, through the use of “higher grade materials”, especially on “the controls and areas touched by the driver, such as the steering wheel and gear shift.”

Safety-wise, it gets all the latest necessities, including the all-important Electronic Stability Control, which they call VDC, as well as Trailer Stability Control and a complete array of airbags. All models come with a 100,000-mile warranty, and buyers can choose from three different trim levels, depending on the budget – X, XC, XC Premium and the top spec XT.

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