USA - Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing on the 2017 Subaru BRZ line

• Improved performance and handling across model line
• New Performance Package
• 500-unit limited edition Series.Yellow model priced at $29,695
• Updated interior styling and features

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing on the 2017 BRZ line. The 2017 BRZ models will arrive into retailers in September 2016.

A comprehensive update to the 2017 BRZ includes improved handling, increased performance, more aggressive styling and new convenience features. 

These enhancements continue the company’s original mission of offering enthusiasts a pure sports car with an unmatched driving experience. Priced from $25,495, the 2017 BRZ Premium trim model increases just $100 from previous model year.

The BRZ, known for its ultra-low center of gravity and precision handling, offers several updates to increase its performance on the track and the open road.  

For improved responsiveness, stability and comfort, BRZ adds updated coil springs and dampers as well as a larger rear stabilizer bar.  Additional reinforcements added to the chassis are behind the strut tower braces, and to the transmission cross-member plate and rear wheel housings to increase rigidity.  

The stability control system thresholds are raised to allow the driver to experience more of the car’s improved handling, and in “Sport” mode the results were dramatic enough for Subaru to change the name of “Sport” mode to “Track”.     

A new aluminum intake manifold and redesigned exhaust manifold increase air flow, upping the engine output in models with the 6-speed manual transmission to 205-hp and 156 lb-ft of torque.  Also, a lower final drive ratio from 4.1 to 4.3:1 paired with the standard Torsen^® limited-slip differential, improves acceleration on models with the manual transmission.   

In addition to LED headlights and rear combination lights and Daytime Running Lights, all trims receive Incline Start Assist that holds the vehicle momentarily in position while the driver accelerates to prevent roll back on an incline. Also new to BRZ are steering wheel control switches for audio, cruise control and Bluetooth^®.

A new aluminum rear spoiler in matching body color and black finish is now standard on all lines. The new pedestal design improves the vehicle’s downforce, which in turn improves stability and control. The Premium and Limited models receive a new 10-spoke, 17-in aluminum alloy wheel with a high-contrast black and machined finish.   

Performance Package

Subaru now offers a Performance Package for drivers who demand even more from a sports car. The Performance Package is available on the Limited trim with the manual transmission. The brake system is upgraded to Brembo^® four-piston calipers and rotors on the front and dual-piston calipers and rotors on the rear. 

SACHS^® Performance shock absorbers are added to all four corners for improved ride and corning stability. Also included in the package are unique 17-in x 7.5-in black aluminum alloy wheels. The BRZ Performance Package is well-priced at just $1,195.

Two Trim Levels: Premium and Limited

Subaru offers the 2017 BRZ in Premium and Limited trims. The Subaru tradition of outstanding value is evident in both trim levels with their long list of standard amenities. Key among these is a comprehensive infotainment configuration anchored by the SUBARU STARLINK^™ 6.2” Multimedia System that includes 6.2-in. high resolution multi-function touch screen display, AM/FM stereo and HD Radio^®, Single-disc in-dash CD player with 8 speakers. 

Standard SUBARU STARLINK offers smartphone integration with Pandora^®, Aha^®, iHeart^® Radio and Stitcher^™, Bluetooth^® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. Also included are SiriusXM^® Satellite Radio (subscription required) and a rear -vision camera.

The $27,645 Subaru BRZ Limited offers additional comfort and amenities including LED fog lights and standard heated front seats and exterior mirrors, Keyless Entry and Push Button Start. 

Inside, the seats are upholstered with Alcantara inserts, leather bolsters and attractive red stitching. New on Limited trims is a 4.2-in LCD multi-function display positioned next to the tachometer. This driver information readout provides access to vehicle performance including lateral Gs, accelerator pedal position, braking force, steering angle, oil and water temperature, and battery voltage as well as an integrated stop watch for recording lap times.

Paddle-shift control switches are standard on BRZ Limited with automatic transmission priced at $28,745.

500-unit Limited Edition Series.Yellow

Based on the Limited trim equipped with the new Performance Package, Series.Yellow is immediately recognizable by a striking yellow exterior, black badging and exterior mirrors as well as 17-in x 7.5-in black aluminum alloy wheels. 

The brake system has been upgraded to Brembo^® four-piston calipers and rotors on the front and dual-piston calipers and rotors on the rear. SACHS^® Performance shock absorbers have been added to all four wheels for advanced handling and steering stability. 

The Series.Yellow offers black leather and Alcantara upholstery with yellow stitching throughout the interior including seats, door and dash panels, steering wheel, knee pads and shifter boot.  

The front seatbacks are also embroidered with a yellow BRZ logo.  The final touch for this model is the carpeted floor mats with yellow stitching and a silver embroidered BRZ logo. Series.Yellow models are priced at $29,695.

The 2017 BRZ Premium and Limited models will begin arriving at retailers in September while Performance Package-equipped and Series.Yellow will arrive at retailers early 2017.  

2017 SUBARU BRZ
Model/Trim	Transmission	Applicable Option Code	MSRP	MSRP + destination and delivery ($820)
2.0 Premium	6MT	01	$25,495	$26,315
2.0 Limited	6MT	01, 02	$27,645	$28,465
2.0 Limited	6AT	01	$28,745	$29,565
2.0 Series.Yellow	6MT	03	$29,695	$30,515

2017 SUBARU BRZ OPTION PACKAGES
CODE 01      Standard Model – BRZ Premium, BRZ Limited		N/A
CODE 02      Performance Package		$1,195
CODE 03     Standard Model- BRZ Series.Yellow		N/A

Destination & Delivery is $820 and may vary in the following states: CT, HI, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT. D&D is $970 for dealers in Alaska.  

USA - Subaru launches a Limited Edition 2017 Model Year Series Yellow BRZ Sports Coupe.

• Limited production of 500 units –Available 2017
• Exclusive yellow exterior colour
• Unique yellow interior accents
• Brembo performance brake system
• SACHS performance shocks 

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the 2017 BRZ Series.Yellow, the most exciting BRZ to date with its striking colour and performance upgrades. The special edition, limited to only 500 cars, will debut today at Wicked Big Meet in Stafford Springs, CT.

The Series.Yellow is easily recognisable by its brilliant yellow exterior, unique black alloy wheels, black BRZ and SUBARU badging, and black foldable exterior mirrors.  Based on the 2017 Limited model equipped with the new Performance Package, the Series.Yellow enhances a driver’s experience with superior stopping power and control. 

The brake system has been upgraded to Brembo^® four-piston calipers and rotors on the front and dual-piston calipers and rotors on the rear.  This advanced system gives the yellow sports coupe a significant boost in stopping power, fade resistance, and pedal feel.

  

SACHS^® Performance shock absorbers have been added to all four wheels for advanced handling and steering stability.  Also the special edition comes equipped with 17-in x 7.5-in black aluminium alloy wheels. 

The Series.Yellow offers black leather and Alcantara upholstery with contrasting yellow stitching throughout the interior including seats, door and dash panels, steering wheel, knee pads and shifter boot.  

The front seat backs are also embroidered with a yellow BRZ logo.  The final touch for this model is the carpeted floor mats with yellow stitching and a silver embroidered BRZ logo.

Performance

The BRZ, known for its ultra-low centre of gravity and precision handling, offers several updates for 2017 to increase performance on the track and open roads.  

For improved responsiveness, BRZ receives updated coil springs and a larger rear stabiliser bar and the Series.Yellow gains the additional upgrade of SACHS Performance shock absorbers.  

Reinforcements to the chassis were added to the strut tower braces, transmission cross-member plate and the rear wheel housings to increase rigidity.  The stability control system has been updated to allow the driver to experience more of BRZ’s handling prowess. 

The results are dramatic enough for Subaru to change the name of “Sport” mode to “Track”.   

The BRZ Series.Yellow comes standard with the 2.0-liter SUBARU BOXER engine and 6-speed manual transmission.  Enhanced for 2017, BRZ’s horizontally-opposed engine receives several internal updates for friction reduction as well as a new aluminium intake manifold and redesigned exhaust manifold.  

These combined improvements boost the engine output to 205-hp and 156 lb-ft of torque.  Also, a lower final drive ratio from 4.1 to 4.3:1, paired with the standard Torsen^® limited-slip differential, improves acceleration. 

Exterior Updates

For 2017, the BRZ front bumper cover has been redesigned for a widened appearance and positioned lower for improved aerodynamics, control, and stability.  

The sport coupe’s headlights are upgraded to “kono-ji” style LED with Daytime Running Lights (DRL).  

The turn signal and position light have been integrated into the new headlight for a clean design that completes the refined front fascia.  New LED fog lights allow greater nighttime visibility and are standard on the Series.Yellow.  The updated fender garnish matches the body colour but with a black insert that accentuates it in profile.  

All 2017 BRZ models receive a pedestal-style aluminium rear spoiler in matching body colour and black finish.  The new design improves the vehicle’s down force, which in turn improves stability and control.  As with the headlights, the rear combination lights have been updated to full-LED for better visibility and energy efficiency. 

Interior Updates

Standard for the special edition is a 4.2-in LCD multifunction display positioned to the right of the prominent tachometer.  

This driver information readout provides access to vehicle performance including lateral Gs, accelerator pedal position, braking force, steering angle, oil and water temperature, and battery voltage as well as an integrated stop watch for recording lap times.  

The redesigned leather-wrapped steering wheel has a firmer, sportier feel along with new audio controls and multifunction display switches for greater control and convenience while driving. 

All 2017 BRZ models come standard with the SUBARU STARLINK^™ 6.2” Multimedia System that includes a comprehensive list of features:

• 6.2-in. high resolution multi-function touch screen display
• AM/FM stereo and HD Radio^®
• Single-disc in-dash CD player with 8 speakers
• Subaru STARLINK smartphone integration with Pandora^® and Aha^®  
• Subaru STARLINK apps including iHeart^® Radio and Stitcher^™
• Bluetooth^® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming
• SiriusXM^® Satellite Radio
• Rear vision camera

Also standard on this model is a dual-zone automatic climate control, Keyless Access with Push-Button Start, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, and front door courtesy lights.  

The BRZ Series.Yellow makes its first public appearance at one of the country’s largest Subaru enthusiast festivals, Wicked Big Meet, which is held at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT on June 12^th.  The Series.Yellow will arrive at retailers in 2017.

USA - The Million Mile Toyota Tundra, no issues, no breakdowns and still going strong.

• Learning from a Toyota Truck after Eight Safe Years on the Road

Toyota customer Victor Sheppard was so satisfied with his Toyota Tundra, even after he had safely driven 1 million miles, he continued driving it. When Toyota saw the well-kept truck, they asked: What is a Toyota Tundra with more than a million miles worth?

For Toyota’s production engineers and team members, the truck’s longevity offers invaluable insight for future products. For Sheppard, it was worth a new truck.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. swapped trucks today with Sheppard at Greg Leblanc Toyota in Mr. Sheppard’s hometown, Houma, La., in a brief ceremony.

The million-mile Tundra, a 2007 model year, was one of the first of its kind assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, in San Antonio. Since purchasing the truck, Sheppard has been the sole owner and has put an average of 125,000 miles a year on the odometer, regularly driving long-haul trips from his home to North Dakota, Wyoming, and Virginia for his job. The truck still has its original engine, transmission and paint job.

“Most people can’t believe how much on his truck is original,” said Ron Weimer, general manager of Greg Leblanc Toyota. “Victor has been loyal to his maintenance and kept it up.”

Sheppard’s truck has drawn attention in the past, leading to it being showcased in Toyota’s outdoor truck display in September 2012 at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. The truck has also been regularly featured on the Facebook page for LeBlanc Toyota. 

The dealership even posted his odometer reading when it hit 999,999 miles. In maintaining his truck to the extraordinary million-mile mark, Sheppard has logged 117 dealership service visits over nine years, ranging from timing belt replacements, oil changes, and the manufacturer’s regularly scheduled check-ups.

“My truck looks great, and, except for a few little dents, it’s almost like new,” said Sheppard. “Even the seats look just as they were when I bought it. They’re not as clean, of course, but they’re not busted or worn out.”

While high-mileage vehicles help validate the quality of the manufacturing processes the company employs, Toyota engineers are interested in how the engine and transmission as well as other components and parts, such as the seats, have held up. And as one of the first Tundra trucks from the San Antonio plant, Toyota’s chief truck engineer from Toyota Technical Center, Mike Sweers, and his team want a chance to get a better look under the hood and everywhere else to learn how the vehicle holds up after so many miles and rigorous use.

“Having a million-mile truck in as pristine condition as this one with original parts is a truly rare find,” said Sweers. “Our team plans to tear down the entire truck, bumper-to-bumper, top-to-bottom to evaluate how the quality and safety we designed, engineered and built into the Tundra has held up to over one-million miles of real-world driving and help us continue providing ever-better vehicles for our customers.”

The disassembly process is expected to take months as engineers examine each part of the engine, chassis, body, and other components. With the knowledge gained, the engineers will apply their findings to future trucks.

As for Sheppard, his million-mile truck has been replaced by a new 2016 Tundra. Ironically, the 2016 Tundra is also his 16^th Tundra.

“Mr. Sheppard says he is a believer in Toyota quality and safety,” said Weimer. “He believes in the brand.”

“I believed [reaching a million miles] wouldn’t be a problem,” said Sheppard. “These trucks are safe and dependable. I think, if you see a Toyota on the side of the road, it might be a scam because they just don’t break down very often.”

The Volkswagen Gold R takes one of the seven places for Automobile Magazine All-Star List of cars.

Lauded for its performance and value, the Golf R joins Automobile’s list of the seven outstanding model year 2016 vehicles

Volkswagen of America, Inc., is pleased to announce that the 2016 Volkswagen Golf R, commended for its “practicality and punch,” was named today to Automobile’s “2016 All-Star” list. Automobile,a leading automotive lifestyle print and online brand, selects exceptional vehicles each year to its prestigious list based on style, class, importance, and desirability. This is the first time that the Golf R has been named anAutomobile “All-Star”.

“The Golf R has won the hearts of enthusiasts and everyday drivers since its introduction last spring, and we are honored that it has earned a coveted spot on Automobile’s ‘2015 All-Star’ list,” said Vinay Shahani, Vice President, Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “This award is a testament to the Golf R’s stellar combination of performance and value.” 

“Volkswagen Golf R wowed us with its potent performance on both road and track,” said Mike Floyd, Editor-in-Chief, Automobile. “But more than that, it’s also an incredibly practical package that can haul the mail as well.”

Automobile chooses its “All-Star” contender list from the entirety of all-new, heavily revised, or newly significant variants on sale or otherwise available in the U.S. in the 12 months preceding the publication’s fall test. 

Editorial staff and contributors cast private ballots for their favorite vehicles, including passenger cars, sports cars, sport-utilities, minivans and trucks. Winners are determined solely by staff preferences.

The latest Golf R, introduced for 2015, is the most powerful version of the Golf ever to be sold in the U.S. market. It redefines the hatchback category with enough space for five adults and more trunk space than most mid-size sedans. 

It features an even more advanced version of Volkswagen’s EA888 four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® 2.0-liter engine that’s fitted to the Golf GTI, which was named anAutomobile “2015 All-Star.” 

Boasting 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, the R model is also fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating of 31 mpg with the six-speed manual transmission. 

The 2016 Golf R features a suite of new connectivity features that includes USB and VW Car-Net® App-Connect technology, as well as a number of newly available driver assistance systems. 

The Golf R comes standard with Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the DCC and Navigation model is available with the Driver Assistance Package, which adds Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist), Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, and Park Distance Control (Park Pilot). 

The 2016 Golf R (along with the Golf, Golf GTI and Golf SportWagen models), earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Pricing for the 2016 Golf R starts at $35,650.