cars-trend: Subaru Concepts

Subaru's 2009 SEMA show presence will start with a little performance, some unexpected luxury, a 1969 25-hp micro van, and Ken Block's treaded WRX STI TRAX. Other vehicles include a WRX STI upgraded by Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT), versatile Legacy GTk, and the luxury-oriented Legacy 2.5GT VIP.
Subaru WRX STI TRAX
In the spirit of the winter season and based on a concept idea by DC Shoes co-founder and rally driver Ken Block, the STI TRAX eschews its snow tires for a Mattracks 105M1-A1 rubber track system to ensure that Block is still able to get to the halfpipe with his snowboard no matter how much snow falls this year.
A host of standard rally car modifications add to the package, making this Snow Cat on steroids a serious winter toy. Starting life as a stock '09 STI, the interior was stripped and the body was seam-welded for additional strength and rigidity. A roll cage then went in, as did carbon/Kevlar Recaro SPA ProRacer competition seats, a HANS head and neck restraint system, carbon fiber door panels, and an onboard fire suppression system. Suffice it to say, the STI TRAX means business.

A Yakima FatCat 4 snowboard rack sits on the TRAX's roof and is filled with DC Shoes XFB-C snowboards. And if that isn't enough, a matching sleigh has been built to go along with the car. Now that's a sleigh ride we can get behind, especially with Block behind the wheel.
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Front Three Quarter
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Front
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Rear Three Quarter
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Rear With Trailer
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Suspension
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Rear Wing
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Rear
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Track
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Dash
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Front Seats
Ken Block Subaru WRX STI TRAX Rear Seats
Subaru Legacy Gtk
Subaru Legacy GTk
Nestled in the cargo area of the Legacy GTk is a Coyote Motorsports XP go-kart that's primed and ready for SCCA Solo autocross.
Oh, and it makes 300 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Specialized Vehicles (SVI), which constructed the car to Subaru's specifications, borrowed the drivetrain from a 2010 Legacy 2.5GT -- six-speed manual gearbox included. To the turbocharged 2.5L, SVI installed just a modified exhaust and a reprogrammed ECU.
Brembo supplies the requisite big brake upgrade, offering six-piston monobloc calipers up front with two-piece cross-drilled rotors. The rear setup is the same, but with four-piston calipers. The brakes hide between HRE 19-in. wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich rubber, while Bilstein struts, STI springs, and a Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) strut tower brace manage handling duties.
SVI sourced the HID headlights and rear spoiler from a JDM Legacy. The rest -- including the lower fascia, fog lights, hood vents, smoked taillights, and diffuser -- SVI supplied. Inside is a host of upgrades, including carbon fiber patterned trim, STI aluminum pedals, a SPT shifter with a STI shift knob, Ultrasuede and leather, Recaro front seats and matching rear seats, a harman/kardon sound system, and boost, temperature and oil pressure gauges. The "kart friendly" cargo area features features rubber decking, tie-down points, and LED lighting.
2010 Subaru WRX STI by SPT
Subaru stresses that this SEMA entry is all about useful and somewhat affordable upgrades, "so, you won't find half a dozen 10-inch LCDs scattered around the interior," the automaker says. Fair enough. This WRX STI, pictured above, keeps its 2.5L turbo boxer four-cylinder but adds an SPT exhaust system, bumping horsepower to 315 from the stock 305. A turbo heat shield, billet oil cap v2.0, and billet battery hold down v2.0 are included in the package, as are exhaust finishers and a front lip spoiler. Those wheels are 19-in. Prodrive GT2s finished in what Subaru calls Glitter Gold. The suspension isn't neglected on this show car, either: there's STI performance springs, an SPT strut tower brace, and an SPT lower chassis brace. A boost gauge, HomeLink transmitter and other changes improve the interior. Everything on this car (except maybe the paint job) is available from the SPT catalog.
2010 Subaru Legacy 25GT VIP Interior View
2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT VIP
The diamond stitch seats pictured here are great, but we look forward to seeing the exterior of the Subaru Legacy 2.5GT VIP which, we imagine, has the potential to work really well or fall short -- just like the out-of-place Toyota Camry Lowrider from SEMA 2007. VIP rides, by the way, are usually rear-wheel drive luxury cars low to the ground, with large wheels. Also at SEMA 2007, Toyota had better results converting a Camry into a VIP special, complete with rear-sliding doors. The Subaru Legacy VIP may not get rear-sliding doors, but it will have an air suspension and 20-in. wheels. The 265-hp Legacy gets JDM parts to distinguish it from ordinary Legacies: hood bumper faces, a sport grille, front and rear under spoilers, HID headlights and fog lights, and power folding mirrors with turn signal indicators.
Lastly, the aforementioned 950-lb 1969 micro van. Sure, the 2-cylinder engine gets 66 mpg, but Subaru cautions you'd need extreme patience to drive the small van for 66 miles.