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Sno*Drift is a one-off ice and snow event that provides a unique challenge for the team, where just a small mistake can be costly. Holding a slim lead into the night stages on Day 1, David Higgins and Craig Drew find out just how treacherous the Michigan Roads can be.

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Not content with the rallycross status quo, 2013 is the year the Subaru Puma Rallycross Team is bringing the battle to both Ford and Dodge in the GRC. Dave Mirra, Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen will have to fight tooth-and-nail for every race on two continents in their quest for XGames Rallycross Gold.

This will be a breathtaking year in stage rally as well. Former Subaru driver Ken Block is back racing in America, following a building year of WRC competition with his Ford Monster World Rally Team. And, not to be left out, North American Rally Champion Antoine L’Estage has upgraded his hardware to full WRC-Spec: trading in his Mitsubishi Evolution X for a full-on WRC Lancer.

The Rally America series has also attracted some fresh competitive talent this year: 35-year old Rifat Sungkar, the 8 time Indonesian Rally Champion and WRC Group N driver. Sungkar will be driving an Open Class Evolution X, starting at the Oregon Trail Rally.

The trials, tribulations and triumphs of both Subaru teams will be covered throughout 2013 in the all-new series, “Launch Control.” This first episode gives an inside look of David Higgins and SRTUSA’s preparations for the new year. In the next episode, we head to icy Michigan for the Sno*Drift Rally. Then, it’s on to Spain, Germany and then back to the USA, as the Global Rallycross Series becomes a true global phenomenon. Will this new level of competition make or break the Subaru Puma Rallycross Team? Can David Higgins hold on to his Rally America title? Watch to see the story unfold.

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A spokesman for the company said: “Having just launched the current model to widespread critical acclaim, we are tired of fighting off the constant speculation about what’s “next” and so we are just giving in and delivering all the speculation in one vehicle.”

The new model, which is expected to have a starting price, will however NOT come with a much anticipated rear back-up camera. The spokesman confirmed that after shoehorning two convertible switches (up and down) onto the fascia there just wasn’t room for any more instruments. The AWD Turbo Convertible two-seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ will come in a single color, noseeum black and will be hand produced at Subaru’s Brigadoon facility.

Source: Subaru of America

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To accommodate the added weight of the battery system (which reduces cargo space by a little more than 1.5 cubic feet) the chassis was re-engineered. This new model also features additional sound insulation, a start/stop feature, revised HVAC, a new gauge cluster and a keyless start system.

The heart of the new Hybrid is a 13.4-hp electric motor integrated into Subaru’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). A 100v, 13.5kw nickel-metal hydride battery is located under the floor and the engine uses an integrated electric generator for instant start and stop functions. The compact hybrid system weighs 209-lbs, but with all changes in this model put together the XV Crosstrek Hybrid tips the scales at roughly 300-lbs. more than the standard gasoline system.

Under light acceleration the electric motor kicks in for initial power, then the 2.0-liter FB-series boxer engine takes over as the car gets underway. The two powerplants can also work in tandem to increase total power output when necessary. Under certain low-speed situations the XV Crosstrek Hybrid can also function in a full EV mode. An active shutter system on the front of the vehicle engages at high speeds to improve aerodynamics.

Subaru stresses that this new hybrid system is Subaru designed and developed (ergo, not a bolt-on Toyota system.)

You will be able to identify this new hybrid edition of the Crosstrek thanks to “HYBRID” badges, unique wheels, and some minor exterior enhancements. Oh, and the green color. Though it’s also available in other, more traditional Subaru colors, the signature Hybrid color will be Plasa Green Pearl.

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2004 “Peanut Eye” Subaru WRX

In the years that followed, this darling of the enthusiast world had a few nose jobs. It also saw the introduction of a top-spec STI edition in 2004. But in every case, the WRX was mostly bolt-on upgrades to a relatively low-cost volume car: the Impreza. It was a like adding strawberries to a pancake. Better. Add whip-cream and there’s an STI edition… as good as it gets. However, at the end of the day, it’s just piling stuff on top of a flapjack.

In 2008 Subaru launched an all-new Impreza. At the same time, in Japan, performance cars were falling out of favor. Because of this Subaru’s parent company decided that what Americans wanted was a faster grocery-getter, not a real performance car, and they pushed out the weakest WRX ever built. The 2008 WRX was hardly discernible from the standard Impreza. It had a little more power, a stick-shift and a spoiler. In Internet parlance, it was an epic fail for performance enthusiasts.

2007 “Hawkeye” WRX STI

According to our sources, the low sales of the 2008 WRX turned out to actually be a good thing. It gave Subaru of America the ammunition to say to Japan, “we tried it your way, now we want to do it our way.” That led to a much-improved 2009 performance model, which was still just tweaks to the existing Impreza, but it was the start of something bigger.

In 2012 Subaru introduced a WRX that, for the first time, didn’t share all its body panels with a base Impreza. The WRX was finally becoming its own product, free from the performance baggage of its previous grocery-getter underpinning. Or, to continue the breakfast metaphor, someone replaced a flapjack with a Belgian waffle. But the chefs at Subaru weren’t quite done yet. As it turns out, the 2012 WRX was merely an entrée.

2012 “Widebody” WRX

What you’re looking at here is a Concept version of what could be the next WRX. Not an Impreza WRX, because the car you see here, and going forward, has even less in common with the Impreza than the 2012 model did – though, yes, if you dig down to the basic unibody it is still built on the same core chassis.

If you wanted proof of just how serious Subaru is about performance with this next WRX just look at the roof: It’s carbon fiber to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. Overall the car is lower, sleeker and wider than even the outgoing widebody model. Like all previous WRX’s this new model will feature a turbo-charged boxer engine with a top-mount intercooler. Performance specs aren’t yet known, but our guess will be 280-320hp for the WRX (not the STI). But keep in mind, that’s only a guess based on rumors.

The colors should seem familiar. A base coat of “World Rally Blue Pearl III” along with trendy fluorescent yellow trim, as a nod to the WRX’s World Rally Championship heritage.

The concept also features BBS “RD-D” one-piece forged wheels wrapped in 245/40R20 Dunlop tires with an “exclusive tread pattern” and more of that fluorescent yellow. (You’d almost think Ken Block was still onboard with the Subaru Rally Team given his penchant for neon.)

Size comparison to BMW’s M3

Looking at what numbers we do have, it is clear this WRX is intent on blazing a new performance trail. The new car loses two-inches of its length (178-inches), is almost four inches wider (74.4-inches), and – get this – the new car drops four inches of stature to 54.7 when compared to the 2012/2013 model. Finally, the wheelbase extends a massive five inches to 108.7. (The 2012 WRX 4-door sedan measured 180.3-inches in length, 70.70-inches in width, 58.1-inches in height with a 103.3-inch wheelbase.

You know what else has a 108.7-inch wheelbase and a carbon fiber roof? The current BMW M3. Subaru claims it’s a coincidence, but I’ll just leave that there, along with this: outside of the futuristic headlights, the streamlined side-mirrors and the funky taillights, what you’re looking at is what we believe is the an only lightly-camouflaged, production-ready 2015 Subaru WRX. Excited yet?

Finally, there have been some questions about future STI versions of the WRX. Michael McHale, from Subaru of America put our concerns to rest by flatly saying that, “An STI will happen.” We can’t wait.

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Original Subaru BRZ “Concept”

Though it’s not officially making its debut until later this week, at the New York International Auto Show, we can finally share with you what the next generation WRX will look like. This is no wilting flower. Granted, this is a concept, but it’s probably closer to final metal than you may believe.

True, it’s unlikely that “show car” details like the streamlined side mirrors, funky headlights and color-tipped exhausts will see their way to production. But there’s nothing too outlandish about the overall proportions here. Remember the BRZ “concept” Subaru showed at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2011? If anything, the final production BRZ that appeared a year later was more aggressive.

Update: Click here to read the full reveal article. 

Complete image gallery, click for lightbox viewing:

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Subiesport is made possible thanks to Subaru of America, Mach V Motorsports, Grimmspeed, Kartboy, Flatirons Tuning and Rally Armor. Please check them out before you buy anywhere else.

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