Subaru Rally Team USA 2012 Sno*Drift Rally

Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins and Craig Drew dominated at the 2012 Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan. Driving a 2012 Subaru WRX STI, the duo took the lead early on and never looked back winning the event by nearly two minutes. "The completely unpredictable surface conditions and our lack of experience in winter rallying made for a huge challenge," said Higgins after the race, "but I feel, after this, we've proved ourselves in the snow." This decisive win has given SRT USA the initial points lead in the 2012 Rally America National Championship.

The Sno*Drift Rally features nearly 130 miles of snow and ice-covered roads in northern Michigan. Constantly changing weather and road conditions historically make this rally extremely challenging made even more treacherous as Rally America rules prohibit the use of spiked or studded ice tires here placing a premium on road traction.

For more information on Subaru Rally Team USA visit www.subaru.com/rally

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Car Battery Life

Your car's battery is the heart of its electrical system and the chief cause of winter weather start-up woes. In cold weather, the battery loses about half its strength while the demands on the battery increase. Low temperatures reduce the battery's engine-cranking power, and by thickening the engine oil, they also make it more difficult for your engine to turn over. Cold fuel doesn't vaporize well, which adds to the difficulty.

Almost all private and public vehicles that we see on major and provincial roads use battery for their electrical needs. Radio, lights, horn and the ignition system is dependent on the battery which is a component of the vehicle’s electrical system.

Some may be wondering why the vehicle’s battery doesn’t drain off quickly despite continuous and repeated use. This is because vehicles have their own charging system composed mainly of the alternator and voltage regulator. The charging system ensures that the battery is continuously charged every time the engine is running.

The most common type of battery vehicles use is the lead acid-type battery. These types of batteries have lead and lead oxide plates submerged in about 35 percent sulfuric acid and 65 percent water solution, creating a chemical reaction. The product of this chemical reaction is electricity.

Most often than not, drivers put tap water on batteries, unaware of its negative effects. Tap water has minerals that can ruin battery function, which would eventually slow down the electricity generation. It is necessary to use distilled or de-mineralized water only on batteries to prevent break down.

Care for car battery

The battery is one of the most important parts of the vehicle that needs continuous check-up and maintenance. It is important to know the appropriate care to extend its operating life and at the same time, proper handling to prevent accidents.

Here are some important tips to consider in battery maintenance:

• First, wear eye, hand protection and the proper clothes are worn if you are going to personally check your battery. Remember, battery contains acid and protective gears can shield you from the corrosive chemicals inside the battery. When battery is mishandled, it may cause burns or more serious injuries. Once you are fully-geared, place the battery properly and make sure that it’s stable, not shaking or rocking when mounted, to avoid any short circuit.
• Check the terminals where the battery cables connect to be sure they are tight and free of corrosion. If corrosion is present, get a qualified technician to clean the terminals.
• The plates must always be submerged in water (distilled or de-mineralized) inside the battery but never over-fill your battery. The water level must not go below the recommended level to prevent rapid deterioration of battery plates. Fill to 1/4" below bottom of split ring (1 1/2" below top). Water should be added after charging. Filling before charging can cause the battery electrolyte to bubble over during charging. If plates are exposed, however, add enough water to cover the plates by 1/8" before charging.
• Don’t use sulfuric acid in refilling the battery, it is recommended to use water only for refilling. The sulfuric acid inside more or less remains the same throughout the battery life. (Some batteries do not require water refilling because they are sealed. These are commonly known as maintenance-free batteries.)
• Change the battery in case you happen to see any cracks, vents or swelled battery casing. Most likely, your battery is gradually failing and replacement is inevitable.
• Also, always make sure that the battery is always clean. Even a small amount of dirt can cause “power leak” causing uncontrolled discharge and electricity loss.
• Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery that shifts around can become damaged, and possibly cause short circuits. All exposed metal parts of the terminals and cables should be greased to prevent future corrosion.
• Aside from the battery, you must also check the electrical wirings and cables to ensure that there are no stray strands or damaged insulation (leading to exposed wires) that may cause electrical leaks and short circuits.
• Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size for your car. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better.
• The terminal clamp of the cable must be kept clean. Use a simple solution of baking soda and water in cleaning the terminal clamp especially when you notice the accumulation of white powdery substance around the electrodes. There are times the engine would not start if the battery terminal is corroded.
• In removing or cleaning the battery, remove first (-) ground cable followed by the (+) cable. If you are going to reinstall the battery, the (+) cable must be put first before the (-) ground cable. In this way, we can avoid short circuit if the wrench accidentally touches the grounded part of the vehicle.
• Use warm water and a mild detergent to remove grease and dirt from the plastic surface of the battery. This is important because a layer of dirt can actually act as a conductive agent, causing the battery to constantly discharge slightly.
• Do your part in protecting the environment by simply returning used batteries to battery shops for recycling. Recycling is one good way to reduce pollution.
• Your mechanic can load-test your battery to see if it is capable of sufficient charge on below-freezing days.  Replace it if it does not pass the test.
• “The battery is literally the life spark of your car,” says Dave McMullen, director of marketing at EnerSys, makers of Odyssey Dry cell Batteries. “Your automotive winterizing routine should include a full check up and cold-weather prep for your car battery.” If you live in climate that is excessively cold, think about obtaining a battery or engine heater. The heater will help the battery start the car by reducing the power necessary.
• Read your owner's manual before disconnecting your battery to ensure that computer or radio memories are not lost. You may need to enter a password to get these components functioning again. These passwords are normally included with the owner's manual packet that came with your vehicle.
• Always disconnect the battery before doing anything else. Remove the cable from ground first, which is usually the negative terminal. This disconnects the battery from the car’s entire electrical system and minimizes the risk of causing sparks. Then remove the positive terminal connection. Never use a screwdriver to pry off stuck-on battery cable terminals because you could damage connections inside the battery post. Instead, use a battery puller tool to remove cable terminals.
  

  Recharging guidelines for maximum life

  • Recharge immediately after each use
  • Use battery charger matched to the battery's size
  • Do not overcharge; an automatic charger that turns off or on with a timer is your best bet
  • Always slow charge a deep cycle battery; never fast charge or boost charge it
  • A 10-12 hour charge with the appropriate charger at the correct amp rate will usually bring your battery to a full state of charge from a deep discharge

    
    Courtesy of SmartMotorist.com

How Ronald Reagan Became A Secret Subaru Test Driver

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]In Ronald Reagan's day, it wasn't smart for an American politician to be seen in a Japanese vehicle, but the soon-to-be-President quietly kept a quirky Subaru BRAT at his ranch in California under an agreement that the automaker would get progress reports from Reagan on the little truck's performance. Read about how this strange arrangement came to be in this report from Benjamin Preston exclusively for Jalopnik —Ed.

Subaru BRATs are cool, if somewhat quirky cars. Adapting the popular Subaru station wagon in 1978, Japanese engineers managed to smear a dollop of pickup truck utility onto a small car platform powered by a 67-hp flat four.

The odd little proto-SUV caught the eye of one of President Ronald Reagan's advisers that same year, not long before Reagan made his second presidential run. Richard V. Allen, a Japan expert who served as Reagan's National Security Advisor for a short time after the Gipper took over the White House in 1981, arranged through one of his contacts at Fuji Heavy Industries (the company of which Subaru is a subsidiary) for the car to be given to the then former California governor and failed 1976 presidential candidate. 

The BRAT's circuitous entry into the U.S. market began a bit earlier, as Subaru devised a way around the "Chicken War" tariff — the residue of a Johnson-era trade dispute with West Germany that, to this day, levies a 25 percent tax on imported light trucks (for example, you may have noticed that the Turkish-assembled Ford Transit Connect undergoes a strange, and some would say wasteful, transformation when it lands on American shores). Subaru's solution was simple. The company installed a pair of plastic jump seats in the bed of each truck, instantly morphing it — in a regulatory sense, anyway — into a passenger vehicle.

Allen got word that BRATs were being tested to destruction at a proving ground in the desert somewhere out west. He said his Fuji contact told him they were having trouble destroying the jump-seated warriors. 

"I said, 'I have a friend with a ranch. You could give him one of the destructed ones and see how much longer he could use it,'" Allen recalls.  

That's how a Subaru BRAT ended up at Reagan's ranch in the mountains west of Santa Barbara, Calif. (after being sprayed with a fresh coat of fire engine red paint). The only condition Subaru had was that the car's new owner file a report on its performance every six months, making Reagan a test driver of sorts for the company.

Rancho del Cielo was (and still is) an apt home for the BRAT, and for a time, Reagan was a big fan of the diminutive sport ute. 

"It was a tough little dude on the ranch and Reagan loved it," Allen says. 

But in 1980, a time when Japanese automakers were mopping Detroit's detritus from the factory floor, it was, among Reagan's crowd of campaign advisers, considered a political faux pas for the presidential hopeful to be seen in a Japanese car. That's why you'll never see pictures of a smiling Ronnie loading brush and fence posts into the BRAT's little bed (pictures of him smiling and doing ranch activities in other settings are plentiful). 

"At the time, members of Congress were putting Japanese cars on the steps of the Capitol and smashing them with sledgehammers," says Allen, who had owned a Japanese car himself since 1971, but realized that for his boss, leaking such a fact to the press could be the presidential candidate's undoing. 

Even after his presidency, Reagan spent a great deal of his time away from the Western White House — often at his home in Bel Aire, Calif. But the ranch caretaker, Lee Clearwater, and a pair of retired California Highway Patrol officers (one of whom, Barney Barnett, held the BRAT's title and filed its semiannual performance reports after the 1980 presidential race) used the presidentially jilted BRAT for ranch work and supply runs down the mountain into Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. (The ranch, a collection of modest buildings and wooded hills, sits on a stunning 688-acre chunk of property straddling the mountains separating Santa Barbara County's south coast from its wine country.) 

When the Young America's Foundation, a conservative student organization, bought the ranch to preserve the altar of Reaganism in 1998, the presidential Subaru was gone, having been transferred to someone else's ownership a year earlier. In 2003, the BRAT resurfaced on eBay, only to be snatched up by a gentleman in Georgia. YAF bought it from him a year later for an undisclosed amount. It was in rough shape after years of use as a ranch vehicle, but Allen stepped in again to arrange, through Subaru of America, a complete restoration. 

As the years go by, BRATs are less and less common a sight, so good luck finding one that hasn't been thrashed to within an inch of being sent to the junk pile. The one sitting quietly in the tack shed at Rancho del Cielo might as well be brand new. Its interior vinyl has a refreshed new car smell, its engine and undercarriage are spotless and its white powder coated steel wagon wheels gleam beneath the California sun. 

YAF leads tours of the ranch, so it's possible to see the BRAT, along with a host of other Ronnie memorabilia. Tours begin at the organization's headquarters in downtown Santa Barbara. There you will watch a video depicting Democratic presidents alongside images of economic woe and wounded American pride, and corresponding footage of Ronald Reagan bringing morning to America. You will also learn how the free world conquered communism, and look upon dozens of smiling portraits of the Gipper before being whisked off to the ranch in a Chevy Suburban. 

YAF staffers say that Reagan spent a lot of time in Rancho del Cieolo's tack shed preparing for horseback rides and fence building expeditions. These days, the shed is silent, save when caretaker George Thompson comes in, making sure its contents are immaculate. Whether or not you're a fan of the departed 40th president, a trip up to his ranch is a worthwhile experience. Where else can you see a perfect BRAT on an even more perfect slice of coastal California mountaintop?

 

Courtesy of Jalopnik.com

Subaru: Dog tested. Dog approved.

At Subaru, we love dogs as much as you do. Through ASPCA partnerships, fundraising efforts, and adoption drives, we’re helping our canine friends get the much needed attention they deserve. We're even giving them a little time behind the wheel. With their paws positioned at 10 and 2, of course.

Subaru Game Day Dog Walk Event

The players are taking the field and our four-legged friends are hitting the streets. On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, pledge to walk your dog during half-time and join the the most anticipated dog walk of the year.

Dogbook Facebook App: Powered by Subaru

Subaru is proud to sponsor Dogbook - the Facebook hub for dogs and dog lovers. Create a profile for your dog (or upgrade to the new Dogbook) and sign up to receive a free Subaru dog bandana, while supplies last.

MapMyDOGWALK App

MapMyDOGWALK provides dog owners with access to an innovative geo-mapping application that permits them to track and store their daily walking routes in an online database. They also have access to a searchable database of routes across the globe, fitness calculators, dog event listings, and a dynamic social network of healthy and active individuals and their four-legged friends.

 

Courtesy of Subaru

Subaru Prepares for GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa., Jan. 23, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT) announced today that drivers Andrew Aquilante and Bret Spaude return as factory team drivers for Subaru's entry in the Grand Sport (GS) class of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.  The first round of the series is at the historic Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, on January 27, 2012.

Fielding a race-prepped 2012 4-door Subaru WRX STI developed specifically to compete in a class replete with rival team cars developing over 400 horsepower, SRRT has been working on a technical progression program for the #35 STI during the off-season.  Traditionally serving as round one of the championship, Daytona International Speedway incorporates a portion of its high-banked oval plus infield complex to create a 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course, which places a high emphasis on maximum power output and aero efficiency.

Co-drivers for the #35 Subaru WRX STI will be Andrew Aquilante of Chester Springs, Pa., and Bret Spaude of Bushnell, Fla., who comprise one pairing in a class of over 30 teams set to contest the Grand Sport class.

SRRT Principal Joe Aquilante noted, "We've enjoyed a very productive off-season, and our team is looking forward to getting back to the business of racing our Subaru WRX STI.  Our drivers have been focusing on honing their physical fitness while our technical staff has been diligently progressing our car development plan.  To say that we're excited for Daytona is an understatement."

Added James Han, motorsports marketing manager for Subaru of America, Inc., "I feel confident that we have the elements in place to mount a successful bid for the championship.  To begin, the Subaru WRX STI lends itself as a credible performance platform from its symmetrical all-wheel drive system to its Subaru BOXER engine.  The team is looking to build upon our experience from last year's campaign and convert our solid qualifying efforts to podium results."

Sponsors for SRRT include Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), Hawk Brakes, Ron Davis Racing Radiators, Automotive Racing products, VAC Motorsports, Rockland Standard Gear, Ecutek, Lista, Rotary Lifts, Cusco, Carbonetic, Hella, and Perrin.

Courtesy of Subaru via Sacramento Bee

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/23/4208645/subaru-prepares-for-grand-am-contine...

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Winter Driving

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather.

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you're fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for long-distance winter trips:

• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected by a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
• Pack a cellular telephone with your local AAA's telephone number, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don't try to walk in a severe storm. It's easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don't over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn't clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.
• If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning - nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don't have to go out, don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don't tempt fate: If you don't have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

  
  Courtesy of AAA Exchange

Take charge of "pretty white sparkles" with a Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Subaru!

2013 Subaru BRZ Finally Lands in America: 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Although the concept version of Subaru‘s rear-drive BRZ, displayed at the 2011 LA Auto Show back in November, looked close to production ready, we’ve now seen the real thing, which made it’s North American Debut this week at the Detroit Auto Show.

Powered by new generation FA-Series 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder, generating 200 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, the production BRZ boasts one of the lowest centers of gravity of any car in the world and is also among the lightest two-door coupes on the market, weighing in at a relatively bantam 2,762 lbs. That makes it some 300 lbs less than the Lotus Evora and a whopping 500 lbs less than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

With a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions (the latter with sport and manual paddle shifts), plus pedals optimized for heel and toe downshifting, along with an optimized front strut suspension and independent rear, the BRZ promises to be one of the most fun to drive cars available in American when it goes on sale as a 2013 model.

Courtesy of Auto Guide

Happy MLK Day to all of our fans!

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, David! We appreciate your kind words.

"Graham was an excellent Salesman. He answered ALL my questions and addressed ALL my concern; the few that there was. Michael in sales was also more than helpful and curtious during the sales process as well. Please take notice of thier professionalism and strongly consider doing business with The Car Store in Norwich, Vt. I travelled all the way from Maine and it was well worth the trip." - David

Subaru Commercial - Hockey Mom

We follow quick shots of a hockey mom and her triplet boys as they live the life of being on a youth league traveling hockey team.

Subaru Named the Official Vehicle of SnowSports Industries America (SIA)

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This week, SnowSports Industries America (SIA) announced a new sponsorship agreement with Subaru of America, Inc.  Through the sponsorship, Subaru will be the Official Vehicle of SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the 2012 SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest. Subaru was also the sponsor for the Winter Trails events held across the country last weekend, January 7, 2012. A reliable vehicle is essential for navigating snow covered and icy roads that get skiers/riders to the slopes, so a sponsorship agreement between SnowSports Industries America (SIA) and Subaru of America, Inc. seems like the perfect fit.

“It’s great to be working with Subaru of America, Inc. industry - they understand the needs of our industry and their lifestyle better than any other car company on the market,” commented David Ingemie, President of SIA.

Through their sponsorship, Subaru of America, Inc. will have several vehicles from the 2012 line on display on the Snow Show floor and at various Winter Trails Day events across the country.

“Subaru is excited to be part of this year’s SIA Snow Show.  Our owners are passionate about winter sports and our vehicles are recognized for excellent control in any type of weather, so Subaru is a natural fit for the snow sport industry’s largest trade show,” said Todd Lawrence, Promotional/Sponsorship Manager, Subaru of America, Inc.

For 24/7 updates on all things 2012 Snow Show, be sure to visit the SIA Social Dashboard to stay connected with us through the SIA Facebook page, SIA’s Latestand on Twitter -- we’ll be sending highlights before and during the Show to keep you in the know.  When tweeting about the Show, please add #SIA12 to join in on our Twitter feed. 

 

Courtesy of Subaru

SUBARU SELECTS AHA TO DELIVER WEB CONTENT SAFELY TO DRIVERS THROUGH THE RADIO

- Future Subaru vehicles will have optional web-enabled infotainment systems integrated with Aha -

Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas, NV – January 10, 2012 – Subaru of America, Inc. and Aha by HARMAN, the first interactive platform that makes web content safe for drivers, have announced a partnership that will use the Aha platform to seamlessly bring Web-based content into Subaru vehicles, letting drivers interact with Web-based content right through their radios. Subaru is one of the first automotive manufacturers to integrate Aha's service into its vehicles.

Aha is powering the Web-connected "fourth band" of radio, alongside AM, FM, and satellite radio. Offered on future models, Subaru owners will have instant access to tens of thousands of stations of Web-based content such as: on-demand music from MOG® and Rhapsody®; Internet radio from SHOUTcast Radio, CBS RADIO™, and Slacker®; live news; the latest information, news and entertainment podcasts from NPR® and others; free audio books; personalized traffic reports; Facebook® and Twitter® newsfeeds; personalized restaurant recommendations from Yelp®; and much more. Aha will be easily accessed through the Subaru's optional in-car radio/infotainment system. Aha's app for iPhone® integrates with the vehicle, allowing Subaru owners to enjoy Aha while driving. In early 2012, Aha will launch an Android app, which will also integrate with future Subaru vehicles. Users will be able to customize their Aha stations from their iPhone, Android device, or the Web.

"Smartphone activity is at an all-time high and the consumer is looking for a safe interface to interact with the content in their vehicle. Subaru has been evaluating connected car solutions for some time, and Aha is the first product that meets our criteria for safety, great design, and broad content options that can be personalized for each driver," said David Sullivan, Car Line Manager, Subaru of America, Inc. "Without having to touch their smartphone, Subaru drivers will safely be able to access content like traffic, nearby restaurant information, music, and a growing wealth of web-based information now available through their Subaru optional infotainment system integrated with Aha."

"Buyers of new Subaru cars will be able to enjoy their favorite Internet content on-demand just as safely as selecting a radio station thanks to Aha," said Robert Acker, HARMAN VP and General Manager of Aha. "We have built a cloud-based platform that will be continuously updated in the future, so as the Web changes and new services emerge, Subaru drivers will always have access to the most up-to-date content through Aha. With an Aha-enabled radio at their fingertips, Subaru drivers will be among the most well-connected drivers on the road."

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, booth # CP32 located in the CES central plaza, Aha and Subaru will demonstrate a concept implementation of the integration in a production 2013 Subaru BRZ. Media who would like to schedule a live demo can email press@aharadio.com to book an appointment.

Aha is currently available in aftermarket head units and as a free app for iPhone. Aha will soon update its iPhone app to include even more stations and content, and will also launch its app for Android™ smartphones. Aha is currently working with additional automotive and consumer electronics manufacturers on multiple integrations that will launch throughout the year.

Aha is a part of HARMAN International (NYSE: HAR) the premium global audio and infotainment group.

 

Courtesy of Subaru

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Oil Changes

An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

In general, yes. Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work -- how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving -- it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

• You drive like a knucklehead: jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
• You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
• You often drive on dirt roads
• Your engine is old and burns oil
• You frequently carry heavy loads (several mothers-in-law or other cargo)

Why do I have to do this?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don't do this?

Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Courtesy of CarTalk

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPORTS 2011 ALL-TIME SALES RECORD

-- Strong Demand Leads to Third Successive Sales Record for Subaru Brand--

-- Subaru Only Maker to Post Sales Increases for Four Consecutive Years--

--December 2011 Marks Best-Ever Sales Month for Brand--

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan 4, 2012 – Subaru of America, Inc. today reported record vehicle sales
for 2011 of 266,989. Subaru has now posted sales records in each of the past three years and
Subaru is the only manufacturer in the US to have posted four successive years of sales
growth.

The December sales total also marks Subaru’s best-ever sales month, eclipsing the previous
best month of August 2009 – the “Cash for Clunkers” month.

The 2011 achievement for Subaru is all the more remarkable considering the company had to
contend with significant production delays caused by the tsunami and earthquake in Japan in
March 2011. To respond to strong consumer demand for its latest products, and to make up
for lost production, Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries increased vehicle
manufacture in the second half of 2011 and the company is now producing more cars per month
than at any time in its history.

Demand for the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester models continued to be strong in 2011
with Legacy and Outback setting individual records. The all-new 36 mpg Impreza began retail

sales in November, boosting sales still further. With consumer demand so high, the company
predicts a fourth record year in 2012 with sales likely to reach the milestone 300,000 mark.

Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc said; "We are
thrilled to close 2011 with a third consecutive sales record for Subaru. We need to thank our
retailers, distributors, our employees and of course the dedication and commitment of Fuji
Heavy Industries staff for making these results possible. 2011 was the best year in our history,
but with our production levels now running at their highest ever, and our best ever line-up in
place, we are committed to another record-setting year in 2012."

”We are very pleased to welcome the 266,989 customers to the Subaru family” said Bill
Cyphers, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. "With production now catching
up to demand, our December sales show the potential for the Subaru brand for 2012. We
delivered 34,000 cars in to dealers in December, beating our previous highest total by 5,000.
Given how quickly our products are moving, we expect to reach another significant sales
milestone in 2012".

 

Courtesy of Subaru