Okay, what gives Subaru!?

"Svend" (svend) 10/18/2019 at 02:27 • Filed to: None

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We originally got the Subaru levorg (not North America) as a 1.6i , auto only Subaru estate, good for 168bhp.

They’ve refreshed it and gave it a 2.0i engine, still auto only, but now only 148bhp.

Very little visible change.

Apparently the Levorg will be leaving BTCC in 2020.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Subaru will leave the British Touring Car Championship after the title-winning BMR Racing squad’s four-year deal to field the Levorg came to an end.

BMR and Subaru racer Ash Sutton took the Levorg to the BTCC drivers’ title in 2017 and the factory team has taken 21 race victories over the last four campaigns, with Subaru drivers appearing on the podium on 55 occasions.

Team bosses say that changes to the technical regulations of the series mean that it is only possible to run the flat-four-style boxer powerplant in the Subaru Levorg.

BMR adds that changes in the aerodynamics rules of the BTCC mean that the estate-shaped car does not have the same advantages as some of the smaller models.

Team principal Warren Scott paid tribute to the collaboration with Subaru which helped the pair to be regular race winners over the last four seasons.

“We have been on an incredible and highly successful journey with Subaru in the BTCC,” said Scott.

“It was a unique car when we built it, and we have taken the team and the Levorg to the very pinnacle of UK motorsport.

“The landscape of the BTCC has shifted over the course of the past four seasons, and that means that we have both evaluated where we are at right now.

“It has been a pleasure to represent Subaru, and to share the spotlight of success with the brand has been a fantastic achievement for us both.”

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Svend 10/18/2019 at 03:34

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Are they doing a non turbo 2.0? The only specs I can see for Australia are the 2.0 turbo at 197kw

InFierority Complex > Svend 10/18/2019 at 06:17

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I’d guess the 1.6 is a turbo while the 2 is NA?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Svend 10/18/2019 at 07:03

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The specs on that 2.0 matches the NA engine we get here in the states. Wasn’t the 1.6 a turbo?

Boxer_4 > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/18/2019 at 07:14

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It appears that the UK market is now getting the FB20B (2.0, non-turbo ) as its only engine. The FB16 turbo engine ( I don’t have the code on me ) held that position before. I’m not sure why they switched. The UK market never got the FA20F (2.0, turbo) that has been seen in Japan and Australia.

These look weird without the hood scoop.

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Svend 10/18/2019 at 07:35

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Just be lucky that you get the levorg. I would kill a man to have one these things be road legal in the U.S

Boxer_4 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/18/2019 at 08:14

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The 1.6 is a turbo in these, yes. 

Svend > AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop 10/18/2019 at 08:19

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It’s a good looking car but auto only.

Svend > Boxer_4 10/18/2019 at 08:20

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Cheers mate. It was a long night and shortly after posting, I fell asleep. 

Svend > Boxer_4 10/18/2019 at 08:38

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With the only noticeable difference I can see being the outward area of the front foglights and the molding between the grille and the front foglights, I shouldn’t think it’d be a problem swapping the bonnets over.

The only changes I’ve noticed so far.

With the biggest move being the front indicator location.

Apparently there is a big redesign coming soon. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Svend 10/18/2019 at 08:46

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I’ll never underswhy Subaru didn’t bring this car to the US, aside from the horrible name 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Svend 10/18/2019 at 08:54

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Sounds like my Oppo habits.

Shift24 > Svend 10/18/2019 at 09:10

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Because Subaru can’t make power unless its turbo’d?

148hp out of a 2.0l is pathetic. A base accord in 1 992 had 140hp out of a 2.2l. Your telling me you couldn’t make any more power out of it? And its probably mated up to their horrible cvt as well

Even though it's a wagon, it gonna be a no from me dawg

functionoverfashion > Svend 10/18/2019 at 09:12

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Hoo boy I love that car, but it must be slow as dirt with 148hp through an autobox turning all 4 wheels. I remember driving an automatic version of my mother’s 2000 Outback, having driven her manual quite a bit - it was brutal what a difference the auto made. 

Svend > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/18/2019 at 09:26

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Unfortunately it was work..

My bosses are idiots, so it gets very taxing trying to keep your wits about you. 

Svend > Shift24 10/18/2019 at 09:28

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It is a CVT but apparently it’s much better than it used to be.

I wouldn’t know for sure though, never driven one. 

Svend > functionoverfashion 10/18/2019 at 09:31

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My last two cars have had 148bhp (one a 1.4TSi ACT and the current a 1.5TSi ACT). They aren’t slouches by any means.

I once in a moment of stupidity did a racing start in the current car, Sandy, and she went for it. Quite impressive, but still stupid on my part.

Svend > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/18/2019 at 09:32

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I don’t mind Levorg. Better than Velosterwhich is not only an odd name but reminds me of the awful asymmetry of the car.   

Textured Soy Protein > Shift24 10/18/2019 at 09:43

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Subaru’s NA motors generally are tuned for mileage rather than performance. An Impreza with that 2.0 liter motor gets better MPGs, even with awd, than fwd 90s Hondas that weigh hundreds of pounds less .

The motor in the BRZ/86 is pretty much identical in displacement and output to the motor in the RSX Type-S.

functionoverfashion > Svend 10/18/2019 at 09:44

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My ‘96 Accord had about that, and it was good . I’m just thinking of the Subaru because of the awd, and how slow the older ones felt with that auto - probably a 4 speed, to be fair. Maybe “these days” with CVTs and more speeds in conventional autos, it wouldn’t be bad.

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Svend 10/18/2019 at 09:46

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I like autos more than manuals. Call me new fashioned 

Svend > AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop 10/18/2019 at 09:51

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I’ve never driven an auto.

Though I’d still prefer a manual now that some cars like mine don’t even have a handbrake lever, but two buttons, a manual handbrake button and an auto handbrake button.

I don’t like things taken away, hell I still use and loves BlackBerrys because they have buttons. 

Svend > functionoverfashion 10/18/2019 at 09:57

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Even the, now discontinued back in 2017, Ford Mondeo 1.0 Ecosboost manual made 123bhp.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Textured Soy Protein 10/18/2019 at 10:00

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Seems everyone I talk to says 24 mpg max from their NA Subies. An NA Honda will blow that away.

Textured Soy Protein > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 10/18/2019 at 10:27

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My wife had a 2016 Impreza for 3 years and whenever I looked at the trip computer, she was usually around 26-28 mpg in nearly all-city driving. Highway trips were always 30+ mpg. On average, its mileage was worse than the 2013 Civic that she had before the Impreza, but a ’ 92 Accord or whatever isn’t going to average high-20s in all city driving.

Shift24 > Textured Soy Protein 10/18/2019 at 10:35

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Little hard to believe that they are hitting 38mpg in an Impreza but hey that’s almost the same as a bigger and heavier last gen Accord with a 2.4l.

Even so with that AWD system that thing has to be a dog. And 0-60 times prove my point. 9 seconds for the Impreza sport ... manual... lol wut. I dont want to know what it is in a wagon.

Also the brz is matching a car from 15 years ago ? Nice

https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/subaru-0-60-mph-times/

Shift24 > Svend 10/18/2019 at 10:38

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It probably is but I haven’t had a good experience with one yet to even consider one.

MarquetteLa > Svend 10/18/2019 at 10:49

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Subaru?? More like...

Textured Soy Protein > Shift24 10/18/2019 at 11:12

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ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/18/2019 at 11:23

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I love that name. It makes it sound like some sort of crazy Japanese Gundam robot. 

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Svend 10/18/2019 at 11:28

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Well, manuals are a lot more popular in EU/UK than in the U.S, so thats understandable

As for the thing about BB, ill have to disagree. I’ve loved iphones since they first came out. I still use a 3G with whited00r as a second phone

dogisbadob > Svend 10/18/2019 at 12:06

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You’re just bragging how you guys got the Levorg and we didn’t :p

Svend > dogisbadob 10/18/2019 at 12:53

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No it’s that they put a larger engine in, normally aspirated rather than turbo, so larger engine, less power.

They did a facelift, but more a face wash rather than a full lift.

Scoop has gone, front indicators have moved, outer edge of front foglights and a section of front bumper molding has changed. Still no manual and despite the successes in BTCC, they are retiring it in 2020.

Most r emember the Volvo 850 racing estate cars of 1994-5, despite no wins and generally not doing well, but this car had wins and many podium places.

Chariotoflove > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/18/2019 at 15:29

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Agreed.  It sounds like what we would have called Geordi had he been assimilated instead of Picard.

Boxer_4 > Svend 10/18/2019 at 19:55

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True, but what’s the point of swapping the bonnets over unless you have a top mount intercooler to go with it ;) unless you’re wanting to immitate the ‘90s USDM Outback and Outback Sport which had a hood scoop for no real reason.

I believe the redesign is being shown next week.  I imagine it will follow the trends of the other models which have moved to the global platform.    

Svend > Boxer_4 10/18/2019 at 20:45

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I think it suits the bonnet scoop more.

but that’s the thing these days with the Ford ST-Line, Hyundai N-Line, Audi S- Line, etc... a regular car made to look a little sportier without upsetting insurance, road tax, emissions, etc...

Fiesta base

ST-Line.

ST.

Rev. Watson > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/18/2019 at 22:49

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Because it's a GD Subaru... 

wafflesnfalafel > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/18/2019 at 23:12

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I’m thinking the margins on Cross treks are just higher, nothing against the Vorgster, just not as big a money maker - Subie just needs to hatchify the next gen WRX and everybody will be reasonably happy.

Boxer_4 > Svend 10/19/2019 at 21:32

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I can see the appeal for these trim line appearance packages to the masses , but I’ve never been a big fan of them. For me, if it looks sporty, it should really have the powertrain to match.