Back in the days when crossovers were just something ghosts did, there was the Subaru Outback, a vehicle that looked like a wagon, but was superb off-road. Established in 1995, the Outback became the synonym for durability, ease of use, and excellent all around ability.
The styling on the other hand, was always a bit low end. That really didn’t seem to matter at the time to buyers, but in today’s world, styling goes hand in hand with all weather ability so Subaru had to make a change. Luckily, they did and for 2011, the new Outback is better than ever.
Subaru has been one of the lesser-known Japanese companies for some time now. In fact, some people think they came from Australia, but that’s beside the point. While they might not have much influence on the American industry, they are resilient and during the economic recession, the company only declined by 0.8%.
With the new Outback, Subaru looks to continue their success, but this time things are a tad different. Before, it seemed that styling was about as important as the location of the light in the glove box, but now, exterior styling has taken a front row seat. The new 2011 Outback look pretty good, words that would never have been uttered about previous generation Outbacks.
Hit the jump to get all of the details on the new 201 Subaru Outback 3.6.
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Road trips in an Outback have just gotten that much better. Subaru announced today that the 2011 Outback model will be offered with Wi-Fi connectivity that will give internet access to 10 or more users for up to 150 feet around the vehicle.
This Wi-Fi connectivity operates in a 3G network and works with all Wi-Fi enabled devices. The connection is encrypted making it a completely safe way to enjoy the world of he Internet right from your car at speeds averaging 400kbps-1.2mbps. And no, the driver isn’t supposed to be the one utilizing this capability. Hands on 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock guys. This connection is to be enjoyed by passengers only.
So take out those laptops, netbooks, smart phones, game controllers, or even the iPad and iPod Touch models and go nuts surfing the web, listening to Internet radio, or simply checking your email. The world will be at your fingertips while your butt is firmly planted in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle. Ahhh, technology.
Press release after the jump.
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The problems accompanying the 2010 Subaru Legacy and Outback aren’t over, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.
A few months after being recalled for a flawed CVT cooler hose that could potentially crack or split, Subaru has issued another recall for their two models, with this latest issue being a wiring problem in the steering column behind the vehicle’s steering wheel that could develop stress cracks and, in turn, lead to an eventual break. This break could end up shutting down a number of the vehicle’s electrical components, including the cruise and radio controls, paddle shifters, and car horn, in the process.
All in all, over 74,000 models of both the 2010 Outback SUV and the Legacy sedan built between February 16, 2009 and April 12, 2010 are being subjected to the recall.
Owners of the said models are now being requested to get in contact with any of their local Subaru dealerships so in the event their vehicles are covered in the recall, the dealerships can take action and replace any of the defective parts at no cost.
It’s not the kind of news Subaru – or any other automaker – is looking to be attached to, but now that it is, it’s good to know that they’re making the effort in fixing the problem before the situation gets any worse.
Japanese automaker Subaru has been tasked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to have two of their new models - the 2010 Legacy sedan and the Outback crossover - recalled over a flawed CVT cooler hose. It turns out that these CVT cooler hoses are susceptible to cracking or splitting, which could then lead to a fluid leak.
When that happens while the vehicles are being driven, it could potentially turn into a dangerous situation when the vehicle stops and could result in a crash. All in all, the recall is said to affect a total number of 29,443 models in the US with Subaru already informing all model owners to drop by their local Subaru dealerships to have the CVT cooler hoses replaced at no cost.
So, any owners who have either the 2010 Legacy sedan or the Outback crossover that fall under this recall, please can contact Subaru at 1-856-488-8500 to inquire about how to get this situation fixed.
Subaru was having a little bit of trouble moving Legacy wagons in the mid-90s, so it raised the ride hight and added a little body cladding. The Outback was born, and since then it’s gone to replace the entire Legacy wagon line in the U.S. Since Subaru used the New York Auto Show to premiere the production version of the new Legacy sedan, then it’s no surprise the Outback was right there too.
The engine lineup is straight out of the new Legacy. There is a choice of the 170 hp 2.5-liter boxer four or the 256 hp 3.6-liter boxer six (the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in the Legacy is skipped.) The new outback is wider, longer and taller than its predecessor, and offers the same distinctive “cat eye” look of the Legacy sedan.
Full breakdown in the press release after the jump.
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