Tag Archives: Subaru

NEW CARS

2026 Subaru Outback Gets Its Buttons Back—and a Bigger Price Tag

Subaru’s long-running wagon-SUV mashup enters 2026 with a redesign that’s less about sheetmetal and more about course correction. Yes, the new-age Outback looks sharper on the outside, but the real story is inside, where Subaru has quietly admitted that maybe—just maybe—touchscreen absolutism wasn’t the hill to die on.

Infotainment: Horizontal, Faster, Actually Pleasant

The centerpiece of the updated cabin is a 12-inch infotainment display that now stretches horizontally across the dash instead of standing upright like an oversized smartphone. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Automotive processor with an Adreno GPU, a serious hardware upgrade meant to smooth out graphics, banish lag, and generally make the system feel like it belongs in the second half of the 2020s.

Memory has been doubled as well, so everything from startup to navigation load times should be noticeably quicker. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now come standard, as does Google Assistant voice control—finally allowing you to change playlists or reroute without diving through submenus like you’re hacking a late-2000s GPS unit.

But the new screen isn’t even the headline.

Buttons: They’re Back, and They’re Beautiful

Subaru heard the complaints loud and clear: the last-gen Outback’s climate controls—trapped behind multiple menu layers—weren’t just inconvenient, they bordered on infuriating. So for 2026, the brand has reversed course in spectacularly rational fashion.

Front and center below the air vents sits a compact HVAC display flanked by two rotary temperature knobs. Physical, satisfyingly clicky knobs. Below them are standalone buttons for fan speed, A/C, and seat heating and cooling.

It shouldn’t feel revolutionary, but in the era of screen-everything design, it does. More importantly, it’s safer and easier to use while driving, which is the whole point in the first place.

The Powertrain: Familiar to a Fault

For all the interior modernization, Subaru left the Outback’s mechanicals untouched. The base engine is still the longstanding 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a CVT that prioritizes smoothness over enthusiasm. It’s a dependable setup—reliable, competent, and adequate—but no one’s calling it exciting.

Those hoping for more punch will need to step up to the turbocharged XT models (Subaru hasn’t detailed changes for those yet), because the entry-level Outback is unchanged where it counts under the hood.

The Price: Ouch

The biggest shock isn’t the tech overhaul. It’s the window sticker. Subaru confirmed that the 2026 Outback will start at $34,995, plus a $1,450 destination fee. That’s a $5,000 jump over the outgoing model—a substantial increase for a vehicle that doesn’t deliver any horsepower gains to justify it.

Yes, inflation and added tech play their roles, but shoppers cross-shopping Toyota and Honda will definitely notice the spike.

Subaru’s 2026 Outback redesign is a smart, thoughtful pivot—giving drivers better tech, quicker interfaces, and the triumphant return of physical climate controls. But with no added performance and a noticeably higher entry price, the new model may face tougher scrutiny from budget-conscious buyers.

We’ll need to get behind the wheel to know whether the improved usability and upgraded cabin are worth the premium, but one thing is clear: Subaru is listening to its fans again. And they want their buttons back.

Source: Carscoops

News

Brataroo: Travis Pastrana’s 670bhp Subaru Brat Goes Full Aussie Mad Max

You know how some people restore old Subarus with a new paint job and a nice set of alloys? Yeah, Travis Pastrana doesn’t do that. Instead, he and the lunatics at Hoonigan, together with the wizards at Vermont Sportscar, have turned a humble Subaru Brat — the quirky ‘70s pick-up with jump seats in the bed — into a full-blown, fire-breathing stunt weapon.

They call it the Brataroo, and if that name doesn’t already sound like it belongs in a cartoon explosion, wait until you hear what it can do.

Gone is the Brat’s plucky 1.6-litre engine that once produced as much power as a leaf blower. In its place sits a turbocharged 2.0-litre flat-four tuned to within an inch of its life. The result? 670 horsepower, 680lb ft of torque, and a redline that screams all the way past 9500rpm. That’s almost ten times the power the original ever dreamed of — and it’s still got a bed in the back.

Built by Vermont Sportscar, the same team responsible for Pastrana’s Subaru WRX rally monsters, the Brataroo is less a restoration and more a complete reimagining of what a Subaru Brat could be — if it were designed by someone with a Red Bull IV drip and a personal grudge against tyres.

The body is pure carbonfibre, bristling with active aerodynamic devices. Think of it as a stunt driver’s version of a fighter jet: movable flaps and fins that tweak the car’s attitude mid-flight. Literally. When Pastrana sends it skyward during one of his trademark jumps, the Brataroo’s aero system automatically adjusts to keep it flat, balanced, and camera-ready. Because of course it does.

And it’s not all tech and terror. There’s a surprisingly artistic side to this lunacy. Inside, the Brat’s old wooden trim has been reinterpreted with flax-composite panels, giving a nod to the original’s rustic charm while still looking like it belongs in a spaceship. The air-conditioning controls? They now adjust the active aero system. Because cooling off is less important than perfecting your trajectory through the air at 90mph.

This outrageous contraption will make its debut in the next Gymkhana film, shot in Australia, where Pastrana will presumably spend several days trying to turn the outback into a cloud of shredded Michelin rubber.

In a world where most “restomods” aim for tasteful nostalgia and Sunday cruising, the Brataroo is a middle finger to subtlety — a 670bhp rally-bred pick-up designed for the sole purpose of defying physics and looking heroic while doing it.

And that’s exactly why we love it.

Source: Autocar

CONCEPT CARS

Subaru Turns Up the Voltage: Two STI Concepts Steal the Spotlight at Japan Mobility Show 2025

Subaru’s booth at this year’s Japan Mobility Show is split cleanly down the middle — half electric future, half turbocharged nostalgia — but all heart. Under the banner “Driving the Subaru Difference,” the brand rolled out a lineup that captures both sides of its personality: the responsible EV innovator and the gravel-slinging, rally-bred thrill-seeker.

Performance-E: The Electric Flagship We’ve Been Waiting For

Leading Subaru’s performance charge is the STI Performance-E Concept, a sleek, all-electric sports wagon that signals where the brand is headed next. Subaru calls it the “flagship of a new generation,” and if looks are anything to go by, the future of the STI badge could be shockingly good.

The design language is sharp and cohesive — a blend of muscular tension and aerodynamic precision. Bold LED lighting cuts across the front fascia, flanking a wide, sculpted intake treatment. The proportions lean towards a long-roof sports wagon, with a low stance and a sloping roofline that tapers into a ducktail spoiler wearing twin vertical fins. Below, a chunky diffuser borrows cues straight from Formula 1, complete with a central rain light.

Gold aero wheel covers, black rims, and red calipers nod to Subaru’s performance heritage, but the clean surfacing and minimalist detailing speak to a new design philosophy — one that’s as much about efficiency as excitement.

Underneath, Subaru’s cutaway renders reveal a floor-mounted battery pack, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and a low-slung suspension geometry that hints at the brand’s engineering priorities. While no specs have been released, Subaru promises “intuitive, exciting driving experiences” and a “driver-friendly layout.” If this car indeed previews a future electric Levorg successor, it could mark the start of an entirely new chapter for STI.

Performance-B: A Boxer Revival with Old-School Fire

Then there’s the Performance-B Concept, Subaru’s nod to the faithful who still want to hear a turbo whistle rather than an inverter whine. This five-door hatch channels the STI spirit of the 2000s, looking every bit like a reincarnated third-gen WRX STI — only angrier and more sculpted.

Wide fenders with integrated vents, a functional hood scoop, a red-accented grille, and a race-ready rear wing all scream purpose. The aggressive bodykit and meaty alloy wheels with high-profile rubber make it clear this isn’t just a design exercise. Subaru confirms there’s a boxer engine under the hood, paired with its trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, though it’s keeping output numbers under wraps — for now.

No exhaust tips peek through the complex rear diffuser, suggesting this concept is more about aero experimentation than final production form. Still, it’s not hard to imagine this car becoming a direct rival to the Toyota GR Corolla — a modern-day hot hatch war that enthusiasts would gladly sign up for.

Adventure Awaits: The Electric Trailseeker and the Wilderness Lineup

Beyond the performance spotlight, Subaru also leaned into its outdoorsy DNA with a trio of Adventure-themed debuts. The Trailseeker, an all-electric crossover that could preview an E-Outback, joined refreshed versions of the Forester Wilderness and Outback Wilderness. Each was shown with bespoke roof gear — from canoes to bike racks — highlighting Subaru’s outdoors-first ethos.

And just for fun, Subaru brought back a crowd favorite: the Family Huckster, a restomod 1983 Subaru GL Wagon turned viral sensation. With its wild aero bits and performance upgrades, it’s a nostalgic wink to the brand’s quirky, rally-tuned past — the perfect counterpoint to all the futuristic sheetmetal around it.

The Takeaway

Subaru’s 2025 Mobility Show lineup feels like a brand in balance. The Performance-E shows it can think in kilowatts without losing character, while the Performance-B proves the boxer spirit still burns bright. In between, the Wilderness models remind everyone that adventure — not just acceleration — remains core to Subaru’s DNA.

If this is a preview of what’s next for the company, the Subaru Difference might soon mean something broader — and bolder — than ever before.

Source: Subaru