Three Subaru vehicles earn Insurance Institute for Highway Safety?s 2007 ?Top Safety Pick? Award
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named its Top Safety Picks for 2007, and of the thirteen vehicles chosen throughout the industry, three were Subaru models. No other manufacturer fielded more than two winners, placing Subaru in the premier position. In the ?Midsize Car? segment the Subaru Legacy was joined by the Audi A4 and Saab 9-3, while in the ?Midsize SUV? category the Subaru B9 Tribeca was one of three winners, including the Acura RDX and Honda Pilot. The 2007 Subaru Forester joined the Honda CR-V for victory in the ?Small SUV? class.
The Top Safety Pick Award requires a vehicle to achieve a ?Good? rating ? the top honor ? in front impact collision safety, side impact safety and whiplash protection due to rear impacts. To be considered, a vehicle must be equipped with electronic stability control, at least optionally, as the IIHS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believe stability control in every vehicle could save 10,000 lives annually in the United States. Last year?s ?Gold? and ?Silver? safety ratings have been replaced by the single and more stringent ?Top? rating.
Source: CNN Money
Image: Subaru [2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT]
Subaru of America earns important environmental certification
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has granted Subaru of America 14001:2004 certification based on the company?s environmental management system. Essentially, Subaru?s business practice is effective in managing its impact on the environment and has met ISO standards worthy of recognition.
The ISO 14001 certification requires companies to establish an environmental policy, determine the impact its products/activities/services have on the environment, plan objectives, create measurable environmental targets, implement programs to meet those goals, correct policy when necessary and periodically review the entire system.
Source and image: Subaru media
Subaru considers expansion of STI high-performance lineup
The rally-inspired Subaru WRX STI has been a popular performance model among automotive enthusiasts. An eager turbocharged engine, responsive suspension and renowned Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive render the car one of the best all-around performance bargains on the market today. Accordingly, the company is considering broadening the STI lineup to include Subaru Legacy and Subaru Forester models.
?We are discussing it internally,? remarked Tomohiro Ishitobi, vice president of Subaru product planning, in an interview with AutoWeek at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. ?We feel the market is ready.? In Japan, the Legacy is already offered in STI trim, although the production is limited and the cost high. That could easily be expanded to full production, however.
Source: AutoWeek
Image: Subaru [2007 Subaru WRX STI]
