So we all know texting and driving don’t mix, but it turns out texting and parking may be a bad idea too if you’re a Subaru Outback owner. If it’s possible for hackers to hack twitter accounts, cell phones and and even confidential political cables, then you can bet that it was only a matter of time before hackers were able to break into cars through the touch of a button.

It turns out there is an organization called The Black Hat, which focuses on technical security and hosts meetings all over the world. They’re aim is to show industry execs the latest ways hackers are able to infultrate pretty much anything. At a recent event in the States, some people from iSec Partners showed just how easy it is to unlock and start a Subaru Outback if you are technically advantaged enough. And it can all be done through an Android smartphone. Apparently all a hacker needs to do is set up their own GSM network, grab the passwords via text message and voila – they pretty much have complete control of the vehicle without hotwiring, smashing windows or security alarms going off. They could likely do this in a busy mall parking lot and no one would be the wiser.

It should be noted that this is not a flaw on Subaru’s part, apparently iSec is able to hack multiple devices that use similar networks. So, what can you do about it if you’re a Subaru Outback owner? Well, not much of anything. As mentioned The Black Hat holds these seminars so companies can increase their security networks. So until those networks get upgraded, unfortunately all you can rely on is crossed fingers at the moment.

[TG Daily]

After seeing spy shots of the front end of the next generation Impreza, there are no surprises on that front, but there sure are with the rest of the car.

The rest of the design elements can only be described as bold. In typical Subaru fashion, I’m willing to bet this new design will be just as polarizing as Imprezas before it. What should be pleasing to everyone, however, are the Legacy-esque headlights. Every headlight design of the Impreza since the ”bug-eyed” look from 2002 has generated sharp criticism. But with sharp creases and bulges everywhere, it’s clear that Subaru wants this Impreza to stand out. In fact, there seems to be lots of bulging a la WRX and STi going on here, which begs the question, just how radical are those designs going to be?

This new Impreza is 110 pounds lighter than its predecessor. This helps translate into better fuel efficiency, also helped out by the new, more efficient 4-cylinder boxer engine mated to a 5-speed manual or a CVT. If you want a six speed, you’ll have to go for the STi. It’s the only Impreza to ever get a 6-speed. The 2.0 litre engine produces 148 horsepower and 145 pound feet of torque. Believe it or not, that’s actually less powerful than the engine in the current generation. 22 horses and 25 pound feet of torque less to be precise. But there is no penalty in acceleration as this new Impreza gets from 0-100 in 9.8 seconds which is actually 0.3 seconds faster than the current Impreza. The obvious gain in doing this is for fuel efficiency. The new Impreza gets 8.7 l/100 kms and 6.5 highway.

Of course, all-wheel drive is standard.

Hit the jump to see more pics and pics of the sedan.

What do you think of the new Impreza? Is it a love it or hate it design?

[Subaru]

The next generation Subaru Impreza was caught with virtually no camouflage this past week.

Baring a similarity to its big brother, the Legacy, Subaru is clearly trying to keep a design theme throughout the lineup. They hope to make Subaru a more recognizable brand. That’s all fine and good, but I’ve got to say, the production version of the Impreza is a huge disappointment from the Impreza concept car they showed off last November. That concept was hot!

The model pictured above is likely the base model which will get a revised 4 cylinder boxer engine. The new engine is supposed to help the Impreza gain some extra fuel mileage all while boosting power. Both the sedan and the hatchback will carry over along with all-wheel drive standard, of course.

Luckily, since this is the base version, the WRX and STI will likely have more aggressive styling elements added on to give it a bit more character. Oh, and obviously there will be a much more desirable engine under the hood. No word yet on WRX or STI numbers, but stay tooned for that.

For more pics of the Impreza click here.

[Autoblog]

Whoa! Check out this video of a Subaru Impreza WRX STI pulling out a massive truck that somehow got stuck in Holland.

Makes quite the argument for AWD and huge amounts of power for winter. Oh and proper winter tires or course.

[Youtube]

Whoa, much better!

The Subaru Impreza has always been a very capable vehicle, especially in WRX and STi guises, but it was always lacking in the styling department. No matter which generation, the Impreza’s styling has always evoked controversy. The current model is no exception.

Well it appears as though the styling direction for the Impreza is about to very much change for the better. Subaru debuted this Impreza concept at the L.A Auto Show today and while it is still a concept, it definitely showcases Subaru’s intent to be finished with the questionable styling of the Impreza.

More in line with its big brother, the Legacy, the Impreza concept has similar large wheel arches, a trapezoidal grille and large front intakes. See those slits in the intakes? They’re not just styling strips, they’re actually functional fog lights. Pretty cool! Although I doubt they would make it to the production model.

Under the hood is a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder with CVT and that’s all Subaru is saying about it right now. Ditch that CVT, add a couple of turbos and you’ll be all set, Subaru! Build this NOW.

[Subaru]

As the year draws to a close, another Car of the Year (COTY) accolade is up for grabs. This one is courtesy of Auto Express, however it’s not your typical COTY award. Most COTY awards include any new model and usually the winner is based on how it handles day to day elements. Well Auto Express is tossing that formula out the window as their focusing solely on performance.

They took 20 cars that have performance as their top priority and ranked them from best to worst. Everything from cheap hot hatches to exotic supercars were considered. All were measured based on their performance abilities and value… which is odd considering they have an Aston Martin up against a Seat. Perhaps they meant best balance of performance for value.

Subaru fans will likely be up in arms at the results as the Cosworth WRX was ranked the lowest at number 20, especially since it was bested by several hot hatches including a hybrid, the Honda CR-Z.

Another surprise on the list was the Audi RS5 which ranked a bit low at number 11. Especially considering its arch rival, the BMW M3, not only cracked the top 10, but cracked the top 5 coming in at number 5.

I won’t spill the beans on who won the coveted top spot, however I will say that I definitely agree with their decision. Check it out in the video above. Notice no domestic cars were nominated? Just sayin’.

Do you agree with the performance COTY?

[Auto Express]

What do you get when a Toyota Prius mates with a Subaru Baja? A Toyota Prija of course.

Steve Woodruff is probably the only person in the world that thought combining the two ideas would be a good idea, but he went and did it anyway. The result is a rather ugly looking pick up that is probably the most efficient pick up in the world.

Woodruff claims his Toyobaru gets about 40 mpg (or 5.8 L/100 kms in Canadian speak) which is awesome. The added weight of the pick up bed hasn’t affected fuel mileage that much as it’s not far off from a regular 2006 Prius.

Even though the Toyobaru does amazing fuel wise, it still isn’t likely to have any towing capabilities. But hey, it still hauls a lot of stuff just like a pick up is supposed to. Woodruff didn’t mention how much the crazy experiment cost, but it was likely a lot. Which means any fuel savings would likely be a bit of a moot point. But in terms of the environment, it’s definitely a win.

Too bad it looks hideous.

[AutoBeYours]

By Kevin Harrison

People love to throw words around all the time when they don’t really make much sense. For instance, the word ‘epic’ is grossly overused. Have you noticed that? Somehow everything is ‘epic’ these days.

“What an epic goal!”

“Epic fail!”

“That pizza I just ate was epic”

And so fourth. But really, the only thing that’s “epic” these days is the tolerance I have for people who overuse the word.

Likewise, people (car manufacturers specifically) are all about the word ‘crossover’. But what exactly is a crossover? Some people say it’s a vehicle that looks like an SUV, but has a car-like ride. Oh really? Then why not just buy a car? Why do you need to ‘crossover’ into another vehicle segment?

In my mind, a true crossover is a vehicle that can handle all the elements. That is, it can handle all sorts of terrain, can swallow all sorts of cargo, can hold its own performance wise, is safe, looks good, is decent on gas, can hold a lot of people comfortably and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you’re going to ‘crossover’ different vehicle segments, might as well cross them all to be a true crossover.

A lot of people say Subaru was the first to do this with its Outback. Now completely redesigned for 2010, does the crossover that started the whole craze still have the goods?

The 2010 Subaru Outback was selected by AJAC as Canadian Utility of the Year beating out the Lexus 450h and the Volkswagen Touareg TDI. Before they even announced that the Outback won, I had chosen it as my pick for the award. My exact words were:

“It was quite the toss up between the Outback and the VW, but we like how Subaru proves again and again that a nice wagon can do anything that an SUV can do, and sometimes even do it better. It’s unique styling, AWD, versatility and reasonable price makes it a great all year round vehicle perfectly suited for Canadians.”

If I’m honest, I made those comments without actually driving any of the cars in the segment. They were purely made based on specifications, and conclusions of other reviews. Don’t act like you’ve never done it before. However, after actually driving the Outback, the 450h and the Touareg TDI I can now say that I was in the right.

The first thing you’ll notice right away is that the Outback looks significantly bigger than the outgoing model. It has a larger platform, and a larger cargo area. While I think the new Outback is agreeable to the eye, I think the previous generation gets my vote as the better overall design. The previous generation looked like a jacked up wagon, which is exactly what the Outback is. However this newer version looks almost SUV like (even though it’s still a jacked up wagon). This was almost certainly done on purpose to appeal to the taste of foolish North Americans. Standard 17 inch six spoke alloys complete the look. There are no optional wheel sizes.

Inside is pleasant, if a bit contrived. There is brushed aluminum everywhere which is better than fake wood, but there really is too much of it. This gives the interior a bit of a stainless steel fridge look and feel to it. It’s trendy, but a bit much. The quality of materials is excellent though. There is lots of cubby holes throughout the interior which is great for versatility. Speaking of, the Outback can swallow 972 litres of cargo. That’s 23 more litres of room than the outgoing 2009 model. With the seats down, it can pretty much carry a whale. There will be no complaints about lack of space, that is for sure.

My tester came with the base 2.5 litre 4-cylinder classic Subaru boxer engine. It produces 170 horsepower and 170 pound foot of torque. While the engine itself is a decent engine, the Outback really needs something more powerful. It is very slow as a result and the standard CVT means a less than attractive exhaust note on top of it all. There is a 3.6 flat six engine available in a higher trim level which remedies this problem with a much healthier 258 horsepower. It’s also worth noting that you can get the Outback as a  Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV). The technology reduces emissions by 90%, making the Outback among the cleanest on the road when equipped with this technology. There is no penalty for power or performance either. Kudos to Subaru for that!

Even thought my tester was equipped with the CVT, I’m happy to report that Subaru still offers a throw-the-gears-yourself transmission. So many crossovers in the segment don’t have this as an option. Gear shifts in manual mode are good, as are the paddle shifters model on the steering wheel, not the steering column – exactly where they should be. For a vehicle so underpowered however, using the manumatic transmission is a bit pointless.

Being a jacked up wagon, handling isn’t the Outback’s forte, but I will say with absolute certainty that is feels way more planted than the majority of SUV’s and crossovers out there. The Outback gets 23 millimetres more grand clearance than the Legacy. Body roll is minimal and if you happen to catch the Outback off-guard, the superb all-wheel drive system is there to ensure no unfortunate results. I would wager Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is only rivaled by Audi’s Quattro system. It is quite impressive.

Around town the Outback is quite comfortable. It will swallow up potholes and bumps with ease. Seriously, you don’t ever really feel anything when you go over a pothole. And believe me, I challenged the Outback to some monstrous potholes.

And that’s the thing with this car. It isn’t a wannabe off-roader like most in the segment are, it’s still credible. So, here we have a vehicle that gives height to those who want it (and thus why those people opt for SUV’s), safety with a tremendous AWD system and crash test scores, excellent cargo room and versatility, comfortable ride, decent handling, manual transmission and more powerful engine options, decent fuel economy scores, good quality interior materials and technology that actually cleans the air of emissions when you drive.

Now do you understand why AJAC and I chose it for Canadian Utility of the Year?

There’s no doubt that the Subaru Outback is quite an epic crossover.

Uh, I mean… impressive wagon.

Base Price: $28,995

Pros:

• PZEV technology
• Better handling than most SUV’s
• Lots of cargo room
• Comfortable ride
• AWD system
• Manual transmission option

Cons:

• Weak engine set up
• Noisy CVT
• Interior trying too hard to be trendy

Overall: 9/10

The 2011 Subie WRX will get a sizeable shot of testosterone for the sedan.

The sedan version of the WRX will get much larger fenders, a newly restyled front lip, as well as larger blacked out grille and air intakes, helping to give it a much more agressive, robust look -something the WRX, and the Impreza in general, have been criticised for before.

The changes aren’t just cosmetic however, as new WRX will get a wider track (1.5 inches wider to be exact) along with firmer rear subfram bushings and wider 17 inch wheels. This should help the WRX stay more planted, along with that standard AWD.

The refreshed WRX will make its public debut at this year’s New York Auto Show.

If you want to get the most back from your car when selling it after four years, Canadian Black book has made it a bit easier for you to decide what to buy in the first place.

They have compiled a list of cars that best retain their value from MSRP four years later into 17 categories.

Find out who got the honours after the jump.

Subcompact – Toyota Yaris

Compact – Mazda5

Midsize car – Honda Accord, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Passat (tie)

Full-size car – Toyota Avalon

Entry luxury car – Lexus IS series

Luxury car – BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (tie)

Sports car – Mini Cooper, Volkswagen GTI (tie)

Premium sports car – Porsche 911

Compact SUV – Toyota RAV4

Midsize SUV – Honda Pilot

Full-size SUV – Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia (tie)

Luxury SUV – Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Minivan – Honda Odyssey

Large van – Dodge Sprinter

Small pickup – Toyota Tacoma

Large pickup – Toyota Tundra

Those lucky ducks that have coveted AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) memberships all recently got together to rate the best new car of the year from the Canadian perspective for 2010. They tested them, rated them, and broke down the finalists into five categories.

Since Car Driven is literally only hours old as we write this, it seems a bit premature to have our own COTY awards. So instead, we’ll just use AJAC’s finalists and make our own picks.

Find out the finalists and our picks after the jump!

Ford walked away with both North American Car of the Year Awards with their Ford Transit courier van and the new Fusion, but the non-government funded American brand only finds themselves with two nominations.

And the finalists are:

2010 Canadian Car of the Year:

• BMW 335d
• Volkswagen Golf GTI
• Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI

Our Pick: BMW 335d – The only thing wrong with this car is it comes with an automatic transmission only. That’s seriously its only fault. If you’ve never tried this diesel before, or have second thoughts about owning a diesel, do yourself a favour and go drive one. It features 265 hp and 425 (!) lb-foot torque with a combined rating of 9.4 L /100 kms. Combine that with BMW’s obsession for perfect handling, stunning looks and excellent luxury and you’ve got yourself one ultimate driving machine for sure.

2010 Canadian Utility of the Year:

• Lexus 450h
• Subaru Outback
• Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel

Our Pick: Subaru Outback- It was quite the toss up between the Outback and the VW, but we like how Subaru proves again and again that a nice wagon can do anything that an SUV can do, and sometimes even do it better. It’s unique styling, AWD, versatility and reasonable price makes it a great all year round vehicle perfectly suited for Canadians.

NOTE: Our pick could very well change for this category since we will be testing a VW Touareg TDI this coming week. Watch for the review very soon!

Best New Design:

• Audi A5 Cabriolet
• BMW 335d
• Ford Taurus (including SHO)

Our Pick: Audi A5 Cabriolet - Mostly any convertible looks decent at the very least with the top down, but the A5 really makes a case for being a work of art. It’s stunning. We think the coupe version looks even better. Audi manages to make an eye-catcher without being too flashy (okay, minus those LED headlights). They made a simple graceful design, muscular lines, and a classic side profile. This is the convertible to be seen in.

Brand New Technology

• Audi Canada Drive Select
• Ford Motor Company of Canada MyKey
• Volvo City Safety

Our Pick: Volvo City Safety - After personally experiencing the XC60 stop itself, without any aid from the brakes or the driver, from colliding with an object we came away seriously impressed. Leave it to Volvo to come up with technology such as this. This technology can save thousands of dollars in repair costs, but more importantly can save serious injuries and the headaches that go long with fender benders.

Best New Green Technology:

• Ford Next Generation Hybrid System and Smartguage
• Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid with Lithium-ion batteries
• Toyota/Lexus Plant-Based Ecological Plastics
• Toyota/Lexus Beltless Atkinson Cycle Engine with Cooled Exhaust

Our Pick: Ford Next Generation Hybrid System and Smartgauge - The Nissan Altima Hybrid is rated at 5.6L/100 kms city. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated at 5.7L/100 kms city. The Ford Focus Hybrid is rated at 4.6L/100 kms city. That’s seriously impressive. It’s even better mileage than a Smart Fortwo! The Smartgauge even helps you to beat that rating as it trains you how to drive more efficiently and get the best out of your tank.