Video: Subaru Gives Legacy STI Treatment

Subaru has just launched the Legacy tS in Japan, a Legacy with some valued STI treatment. The model is available to order in Japan with only 300 units being made. It has sportier bumpers, a sports exhaust system and 18-inch wheels. Lots of leather on the inside, black with red stitching and a dark-grey trim. Power on the Legacy tS comes from a 2.5-liter Boxer engine with 173 hp, with a CVT gearbox.

None for the US yet, but check out the video and in the meantime, take a look at our 2013 Subaru Legacy inventory here!




Info, image and video via Auto Evolution

Drive for Excellence in Full Swing - Limited Entries So Far

The Drive for Excellence program is created to encourage strong school performance in high school students in both Vermont and New York. Now in its sixth year, the program has granted five previous students with either a new Subaru Impreza or a new Hyundai Elantra. Previous winners include Shane Mason of Milton High School in 2008, Sarah Cameron of Colchester High School in 2009, Crystal LaHart of Peru Senior High School in 2010 and Zoe Davis of West Rutland High School for 2011.

Over the course of the school year, students may submit their report cards to Burlington Hyundai Subaru right up until 7 p.m. on April 26, 2013. Students are granted two points for each A on their report card and one for each B. Previous years were given credit for perfect attendance, but this proved to have too many discrepancies so that portion was removed.

“We absolutely value perfect attendance and wish there was a better way to count it. Do we say perfect attendance is perfect attendance period? Or is it fine if they missed for a sports game, college fair, the flu – we didn’t want to take away from students that were missing school for good reason, so we took it out,” said Drive for Excellence Program Administrator Cara Gorman.

Zachary LaForest - 2012 Drive for Excellence Winner!

So far this year Burlington Hyundai Subaru has only received 142 registrations, so if you’re a student and think you don’t have a chance of winning, definitely think again, said Gorman. Burlington Hyundai Subaru chooses 75 finalists at the end of the submission dates to enter the raffle to win the new Impreza or Elantra.

“So far we’ve had opposite choices each year. It’s gone Elantra, Impreza, Elantra, Impreza, Elantra – so we’re thinking whoever wins this year will probably pick the Impreza, but that’s just our superstition,” said Gorman, referring to the staff who always try to guess which car the winner will pick.

To enter to win a new car from Burlington Subaru Hyundai, visit http://www.burlingtoncars.com/drive-for-excellence-register.htm and fill out a registration form, or stop by Burlington Hyundai Subaru to drop off your report card in person.

Subaru Wins Police-Vehicle Design Competition

Each year (for nine years now) the LA Auto Show has put on a Design Challenge, where a theme is chosen and major automotive design studios show their skills. This year, the Design Challenge was to create a concept "Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025", a police vehicle that would be "the ultimate 2025 law enforcement patrol vehicle that supports the needs of dynamic urban environments". Subaru (of course) came out on top with the win, creating the SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept), a motorcycle-type vehicle pictured on the right.

Subaru was up against some tough competition, including the GM Volt Squad, Honda Drone Squad, BMW E-Patrol Human-Drone Pursuit Vehicle and the Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force.

"In the future the SHARC will provide protection and rapid emergency response solutions for Hawaii's highway patrol. Hawaii will present unique challenges because of its strict environmental regulations... Subaru developed the “cutting-edge” SHARC to be environmentally conscious and also affordable. Because of reduced highway patrol budgets worldwide, Subaru developed the SHARC to be green and carbon-neutral and is powered by renewable energy and operates autonomously. This will reduce the need for a large full-time highway patrol staff. While it sounds “far-out,” this is what caught the attention of the judges and won the design challenge for the Subaru design team," according to Torque News.

Awesome job, Subaru!  Maybe someday the streets will be patrolled by Subaru-driving police officers. I'd say it makes sense - most definitely in Vermont. Happy and safe driving fans!


All info and image 1 via Torque News
Image 2 via wordlessTech

Burlington Subaru & HSCC Pet Adoption Day Recap

Hi fans! Here is the press release we just posted that includes the final numbers from our Pet Adoption Day with the HSCC! Check it out:

Burlington Subaru and the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC) jointly hosted a Pet Adoption Day at Burlington Subaru last Saturday Dec. 1, 2012. The event was part of Subaru of America’s “Share the Love” event, an annual program where five different charities are selected; for every new Subaru vehicle that is purchased between Nov. 21, 2012 and Jan. 2, 2013, Subaru will donate $250 to the charity of the consumer’s choice.

For the fifth year in a row, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was selected, and has matched different Subaru dealers with local animal welfare agencies to host a variety of events, according to the ASPCA website.

This year, the HSCC and Burlington Subaru joined together to host an adoption event, where the HSCC brought in 18 cats and six dogs from their shelter that were in need of a home to be showcased at the dealership for the day.

Out of the animals available at the event, 14 cats and two dogs were adopted, and those numbers are growing still.

“Thanks to this event, we found new homes for three times as many animals as we normally would on an average Saturday. Plus, we had the opportunity to meet lots of new folks who came out specifically for the event. It was a wonderful experience to join forces with Burlington Subaru in fostering new friendships between people and companion animals,” said Megan Stearns, HSCC director of development & outreach.

Burlington Subaru General Manager Steve Kelson was pleased by the outcome as well.

“It’s always great to see people come show their support for a good cause. Subaru owners and Subaru fans have a real love for animals and that showed. We’re happy to have been able to be a part of the Adoption Day and look forward to working with HSCC again in the future,” he said.

Burlington Hyundai Subaru Offering Humane Society Calendar with Purchase of New Vehicle

In conjunction with a Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC) fundraiser, Burlington Hyundai Subaru is now offering a free “Pin-ups, Pups & Pussycats” calendar with purchase of new Subaru or Hyundai vehicle.

Burlington Hyundai Subaru recently aided the HSCC with a pet adoption day, now they are continuing their partnership by providing the HSCC’s calendar to customers. The HSCC created a calendar that features 11 of their female employees and their shelter photographer alongside 12 local men and their pets in an old-fashioned pin-up calendar for 2013. This is created to raise money for the shelter.

“This calendar challenged the staff to leave their comfort zones and comfort clothes and accept being front and center – rather than behind the scenes of animal care – to promote animal welfare… But in the end, I think one and all would say we had a lot of fun,” wrote HSCC Director of Development & Outreach, Megan Stearns on the HSCC website page dedicated to the calendar.

The calendars are available to purchase at $19.95 each or $16 each when you spend a minimum of $25 on their online Holiday Store, which offers free shipping. The calendar is also available for sale at HSCC and can be ordered by phone or email.

Contributors to the production of the calendar include photographer Kelly Schultze of Mountain Dog Photography, hair and makeup stylist Jessica A. Pelkey of Salon Elixer, wardrobe donations from the Clothing Line and Bella Boutique, design by Suzanne Fey of oh!suzannah and printing by Queen City Printers.

“We are also immensely grateful for the outpouring of support we received from the community at large for this project – especially the dozen men and their pets who posed – and hope that this calendar brings joy to many animal lovers,” wrote Stearns. Steve Kelson, general manager of Burlington Hyundai Subaru participated as one of the 12 men in the calendar shoot alongside his dog Rylee, and is excited to be a part of the program to aid the shelter.

“We’re always eager to help support people in our local community, and with this calendar we can help raise money for animals, which we love. It was definitely an entertaining experience posing for the photos, but we had a lot of fun,” said Kelson, whose picture is featured for February.

If you purchase a new Hyundai or Subaru vehicle from Burlington Hyundai Subaru, request a calendar at the time of purchase to receive the 2013 “Pin-ups, Pups & Pussycats” calendar.

For more information, please contact Steve Kelson at (802) 660-8099 ex. 156 or Megan Stearns at (802) 862-0135 ex. 15 or visit the HSCC calendar website page here.

2014 Subaru Forester Debut

The 2014 Subaru Forester has finally made its debut at the LA Auto Show, which has been going on since late last week. You may have already read our other blog featuring the new Forester, but here's a little excerpt from it accompanied by a video of the Japanese world premier video.

Additions to expect from the 2014 Forester: it has options of either a six-speed manual (as opposed to five-speed on the 2013) or continuously variable transmission; both with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that makes 250 horsepower (up from the previous model's 224 hp). The CVT offers six and eight-speed manual models and Hill Descent Control.

Subaru says that the 2014 Forester has a "bolder profile" that is influenced by its Impreza sibling. AWD will of course be standard, and additional leg room and cargo area space has been installed. Optional features include a navigation system, rearview camera and a Harmon Kardon premium audio system.

If you can't wait for it, turbocharged doesn't interest you or you're just a fan of the original - view our 2013 Subaru Forester inventory, 2012 Forester inventory or our used Subaru Forester selection here.



Image via Autoblog, previous blog's info via Edmunds.