Quirk Works Subaru

February 22, 2011, BRAINTREE, MA... This year is shaping up to be a big one for the Subaru Impreza, with January sales up 34% and a redesigned 2012 model arriving at Subaru dealers in August. With 5 straight months of sales increases of 15% or more, the Impreza continues to win over new customers even as online buzz builds around the next-generation 2012 model.

Available as a sedan or four-door hatchback, the 2011 Subaru Impreza stands out in its class by offering Continuous All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and structural features that earned the current model a Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2011 Top Safety Pick. While these elements are typical of larger cars, the Impreza packs its benefits into a practical, compact vehicle with a sticker price well below $20,000.

"Everyone's talking about small cars right now, but how many of those cars would you actually want to take on a long road trip, or drive during a major snowstorm?" asked Bob Cameron, general manager of Quirk Works Subaru, a Greater Boston Subaru dealer. "The Impreza may be a small car, but it doesn't feel like one when you're behind the wheel, and the all-wheel drive is a rare feature in a compact car. It's a car that can go anywhere, even if the weather gets rough."

A preview of the Impreza Design Concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November turned the 2012 Subaru Impreza into a hot topic for journalists and bloggers. While the current-generation Impreza has a body that says "practical transportation," the design cues in the Impreza concept suggested power and handling.

The Impreza Concept showcased a new "four-door coupe" design with bold, clean lines across its entire body. The familiar Subaru hexagonal grille remains, but it's now set inside of narrower, hawk-eye headlight enclosures and dramatic side air scoops. With front wheels set high into the body and a low, arcing roofline, the profile resembles a supercar rather than a suburban commuter.

The next-generation Impreza will feature a new 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine and a Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to improve fuel efficiency. Adding to the vehicle's best-in-class safety features, Subaru's advanced EyeSight system, which uses front-mounted cameras to prevent collisions with objects coming at the sides of the car, is expected to be an available feature.

"We expect the new Impreza's design to surprise and impress our customers when it hits our showroom in August, but it won't take them long to realize that the features Subaru is known for are still there, and even improved," Cameron added. "The Impreza has the potential to redefine what a compact car can be with its combination of all-conditions performance, fuel efficiency, safety and stunning looks."

January 20, 2011, Braintree, MA... The days of glossy, printed new-car brochures may be numbered. With an eye toward reducing its environmental impact, Subaru has taken one of the auto industry's most traditional selling tools digital, giving it a significant upgrade in the process.

A new digital brochure for the 2011 Subaru Outback, linked from the subaru.com home page, offers a level of interactivity that's impossible in print, as well as a smaller environmental impact. By encouraging buyers to choose a digital brochure over a printed one, Subaru plans to reduce its use of paper, ink and energy.

"Most car buyers start their search online, so it makes sense to give them a full brochure online," said Bob Cameron, general manager of Quirk Works Subaru, a Greater Boston Subaru dealer. "The new digital brochure has all the information that buyers need, along with some really fun interactive features that create a customized experience."

Nearly every page of the brochure features interactive content, including videos that explain the technology inside the Outback and 360-degree views of the vehicle's interior and exterior. From the very beginning, Subaru buyers can now take control of their shopping experience, using interactive tools to see how different paint and interior trim colors will look.

The brochure can also be e-mailed to a friend, posted on social networking pages like Facebook or downloaded to a computer with much of its interactive content intact. Watching the videos in the brochure requires an active Internet connection.

The digital brochure is the latest innovation from a company known for building forward-thinking vehicles. All-wheel drive and unique Boxer engines have inspired strong loyalty among Massachusetts Subaru owners, who value their vehicles' reliable handling and capability in variable New England weather conditions.

A strong focus on safety has also paid off for Subaru. At the start of the year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded Top Safety Picks to every 2011 Subaru, making it the only automaker to earn the honor for its entire model lineup. This is the second year in a row that Subaru has enjoyed the distinction of having all of its vehicles named Top Safety Picks.

"We're coming off a record year for Subaru sales, but we're not resting on those achievements," Cameron said. "Subaru is still committed to innovative engineering and an industry-leading buying experience. The new digital brochure is another way for Subaru to show that it's in touch with its customers and their needs."

The 2011 Subaru Outback digital brochure is the first of several planned by the automaker. Digital Forester, Impreza WRX and Impreza STI brochures are in development, and Subaru eventually plans to have digital brochures for all of its models.

December 16, 2010, Braintree, MA... The record number of people -- 237,126 and counting -- that bought a vehicle from a Subaru dealer in 2010 can look forward to higher trade-in values for years to come. Automobile-value publication Kelley Blue Book (KBB) has named Subaru the 2011 Best Retail Brand in their annual Best Resale Value Awards.

The honor caps a record-setting year for Subaru, which saw a 22% gain in year-over-year sales during November. The month saw new individual sales records for the Subaru Outback, Legacy sedan and Forester, as well as a 33% increase in sales for the Impreza. Year-to-date sales are up 10% over the total for all of 2009, and the company has grown brand sales by nearly 50% in just over three years.

As these new Subaru vehicles hit the streets, owners can expect them to retain their value for a long time to come, according to KBB. In naming Subaru its Best Retail Brand for resale value, KBB's expert staff of automotive analysts determined that Subaru vehicles are expected to retain the greatest percentage of their original list price after five years of ownership. While KBB attributes a large portion of Subaru's value to its history of quality construction, performance and all-wheel drive (AWD), it was the brand's "styling Renaissance" and ability to attract new customers that earned it top honors.

"Typically the cars that receive best resale value awards are low-priced, so it's noteworthy for Subaru to achieve this recognition," said Bob Cameron, general manager of Greater Boston Subaru dealership Quirk Works Subaru. "The award speaks to the reliability of every vehicle that Subaru makes, as well as the tremendous value that customers get for the sticker price."

In addition to honoring Subaru's line for its resale value, KBB also singled out the Subaru Outback as a Top 10 Best Resale Model. Their staff cited the Outback's versatility as both a comfortable car for daily commutes and a "lifestyle statement" that takes drivers through weekends of rugged fun.

As Subaru's "go anywhere" wagon, the Outback features symmetrical AWD, 8.7 inches of ground clearance to pass on and off-road obstacles and electronic stability control that keeps the driver in command during quick maneuvers. The Outback also earned top ratings in all three of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's crash tests.

"The more rugged areas of the country have been Outback havens for some time, but with its new look and versatility, the Outback has become the perfect car for Massachusetts winters," Cameron added. "It makes messy commutes comfortable, even fun, and ensures that those weekend trips up north are never delayed on account of a nor'easter."

Subaru Sees Best September Ever as New Englanders Look for Affordable AWD

October 19, 2010, Braintree, MA... Even as humid summer temperatures lingered late into September, Massachusetts Subaru buyers clearly had the approaching snow in mind while shopping for new cars. Subaru, an automaker known for producing vehicles that thrive in wet weather and difficult conditions, had its best September ever, selling 21,432 units, a 47% increase from last year. Raising the bar was the Subaru Outback, which sold 8,154 models, increasing sales 91% over the previous year.

"Massachusetts drivers finally got tired of watching Outbacks playing in the snow and decided to join the fun," said Bob Cameron, general manager of Boston Subaru dealer Quirk Works Subaru. "It's one of the most practical vehicles to own, especially here in the Northeast, and the degree of ownership shows that. Subaru's all-wheel drive keeps Boston Subaru drivers glued to the road in any kind of weather, and the Outback doesn't sacrifice fuel efficiency for extra traction."

Uncharacteristic for a vehicle that cruises in continuous all-wheel drive, the Outback earns 29 mpg/highway and 22 mpg/city in its standard 2.5i form. The great fuel economy is a perk owners will love when taking winter treks north to the White and Green Mountains.

The 2011 model is building on the success of its 2010 predecessor, which won Sport Utility of the Year from Motor Trend and a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The 2011 Outback has already won U.S. News and World Report's number-one ranking in their Affordable Full-Size Wagons category.

Despite the accolades the model has received, the new Outback's MSRP increased by only $200 from the year before, maintaining the vehicle's financial appeal in difficult economic times.

"The Outback is one of the most affordable vehicles in its class," said Cameron. "You can't find another vehicle with similar capabilities in the same price range."

The 2011 Outback ships standard with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower. As with all Subaru models, the Outback's continuous all-wheel drive maintains a solid hold on the road, with traction control and vehicle dynamics control (VDC) providing extra grip in corners and stops.

With a maximum cargo volume of 71.3 cubic feet with the rear seat lowered, the 2011 Outback has plenty of space for the next road trip. Sitting 8.7 inches off the ground, the model also rivals the ground clearance of bulkier, more top-heavy SUVs, providing more off-road and heavy-snow capabilities. A rollover sensor is standard equipment to match safety with the vehicle's bold ability.

"Winter is right around the corner, and the Outback's high sales this past month are a reflection of those cold days ahead," Cameron said. "Locals here don't want to be stuck inside by just a few inches of snow. New Englanders have things they need to get done, and the Outback will help them do it in spite of the weather."