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SUBARU TO DEBUT FORESTER AND IMPREZA STI CONCEPTS IN TOKYO

SUBARU TO DEBUT FORESTER AND IMPREZA STI CONCEPTS IN TOKYO Subaru  is headed to the Tokyo Auto Salon once again with new concepts. If you ever wondered what a hotted-up  Forester  would look like, the mystery will end in January. The automaker is also debuting the Impreza STI Concept. Not to be confused with the biennial Tokyo Motor Show,  Tokyo Auto Salon  revolves mostly around modified cars and aftermarket parts kind of like SEMA here in the U.S. While we don't expect a full-blown Forester STI to arrive anytime soon, we appreciate the idea of a slightly higher-performance Forester as a concept. It gets 19-inch wheels, highlighter yellow accents, Brembo six-piston calipers up front, and aerodynamic bits all around. Under the sheetmetal, it features the "e-Boxer" setup available on the Advance trim of the Forester in Japan, pairing a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor. Although we haven't seen the interior,  Subaru  promises special seats. The Impreza S

2019 KIA FORTE EX FIRST TEST: 0-60 ISN'T EVERYTHING

2019 KIA FORTE EX FIRST TEST: 0-60 ISN'T EVERYTHING The  2019 Kia Forte  exceeded my expectations when I drove it at a launch event in Pittsburgh. Many of these events limit your driving opportunities to pristine roads that make the car feel smoother than it really is, but  Kia 's route subjected the Forte to harsh pavement where it kept its composure. Now we're driving the Forte on the often-rougher streets of L.A., and we haven't lost any love for the small sedan Here's a quick rundown of the changes Kia made to the third-generation model. Along with an updated design, it features a more rigid platform. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine still makes 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, but it receives Atkinson cycle technology and a cooled EGR system to enhance efficiency. A six-speed manual is available once again, but the big news is that Kia replaced the six-speed automatic with its very first CVT. Kia has taken strides to make the Forte a more mature entry

NEXT YEAR IS HERE - REFERENCE MARK

NEXT YEAR IS HERE - REFERENCE MARK It happens every year: The day after the final out is recorded in the World Series, the collective media looks ahead. The Champagne isn't even flat yet, but the pundits are trotting out their best predictions for how things will shape up next season. To turn this sporting metaphor toward the automotive, this past year featured some rollicking competition. So while we salute the excellent winners in our tests— Lamborghini Huracan Performante,  Jeep Wrangler ,  Ram 1500 , and  Genesis G70 —this coming year will feature a cast of new vehicles so strong that winning our Best Driver's Car and Of The Year competitions will require next-level stuff.  Let's take a look at the highlights of what we have coming: Best Driver's Car : For 2018, we tested too early in the season to have access to a  Ferrari 812 Superfast ,  Aston Martin  Superleggera,  Bentley Continental GT , or  Lamborghini Urus . Here's hoping the  Chevrolet  launch

12 OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED DEBUTS COMING IN 2019

12 OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED DEBUTS COMING IN 2019 This year proved rich in vehicle debuts, from the  Toyota RAV4  to the  Ford Ranger ,  Chevrolet Silverado, and  Ram 1500 . But don't expect the cadence of reveals to slow down, because 2019 is shaping up to be another whopper. Read on to learn the debuts we're most looking forward to in the new year. For an Of-The-Year perspective on what's ahead, check out Mark Rechtin's story,  Next Year is Here . We've been waiting five years for  Toyota  to bring back the Supra. Ever since it revealed the Supra-styled FT-1 concept in 2014, we've been dreaming of how Toyota could revive the sports car. Finally, we learned the model will feature a  BMW -sourced turbocharged I-6 engine and boast a 0-60 time of less than five seconds. The two-seater shares a platform with the new  BMW Z4 , which debuted this past August. Toyota has confirmed the Supra will debut in January at the Detroit auto show, with production to beg

SUBARU CONFIRMS WRX STI S209 WILL DEBUT IN DETROIT

SUBARU CONFIRMS WRX STI S209 WILL DEBUT IN DETROIT Last week,  Subaru  teased a mystery  WRX STI  that was  rumored to be the S209 . Now, Subaru has confirmed the S209 will debut at the Detroit auto show in January. In a new teaser image,  Subaru  shows off the car's black grille. Not only does it have special badging, but a red accent line hints at its sporty intentions. The grille looks a lot like the one on the WRX STI S208, which debuted at last year's Tokyo Motor Show. Although Subaru hasn't announced details, it's likely the S209 is a limited-edition model like its predecessors. Subaru limited the S208 to 450 units, and back in 2015, it made 400 units of the prior iteration dubbed S207. Before that in 2011, Subaru allotted 300 copies of the S206. These "S" models were only available in Japan, but it looks like Subaru will finally bring the series stateside. Subaru's teaser last week read, "Something special from Subaru Tecnica Inte

LAMBORGHINI MIURA SV, PORSCHE 904 GTS TO HEADLINE BONHAMS' SCOTTSDALE AUCTION

LAMBORGHINI MIURA SV, PORSCHE 904 GTS TO HEADLINE BONHAMS' SCOTTSDALE AUCTION As the clock ticks down to the various Scottsdale, Arizona, collector-car auctions that will start the 2019 slate of events, the star cars are beginning to be announced. Bonhams impressive lineup, for example, will include a rare 1971  Lamborghini Miura SV  and an even rarer 1964  Porsche 904 GTS once owned by actor Robert Redford. The  Lamborghini  Miura SV, chassis no. 4976, is one of approximately 150 cars built and carries the desirable split-sump specification. This Miura was one of just 21 U.S.-spec cars to be produced and the engine was replaced with that from another SV soon after being delivered to America. The original owner sold it to the current consignor after just one year, and they had the Miura's color changed from the original Silver Metallic to Blue Notte in 1979. Today, the car shows just 18,200 miles. Claimed to be in "time capsule" condition by Bonhams, the car&

LAMBORGHINI MIURA SV, PORSCHE 904 GTS TO HEADLINE BONHAMS' SCOTTSDALE AUCTION

LAMBORGHINI MIURA SV, PORSCHE 904 GTS TO HEADLINE BONHAMS' SCOTTSDALE AUCTION As the clock ticks down to the various Scottsdale, Arizona, collector-car auctions that will start the 2019 slate of events, the star cars are beginning to be announced. Bonhams impressive lineup, for example, will include a rare 1971  Lamborghini Miura SV  and an even rarer 1964  Porsche 904 GTS once owned by actor Robert Redford. The  Lamborghini  Miura SV, chassis no. 4976, is one of approximately 150 cars built and carries the desirable split-sump specification. This Miura was one of just 21 U.S.-spec cars to be produced and the engine was replaced with that from another SV soon after being delivered to America. The original owner sold it to the current consignor after just one year, and they had the Miura's color changed from the original Silver Metallic to Blue Notte in 1979. Today, the car shows just 18,200 miles. Claimed to be in "time capsule" condition by Bonhams, the car&