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Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races

What Brings The Heat To The Race?

The Subaru WRX STI wagon is tuned by Racedynamix. It features a 2.0-liter, EJ207 STI engine that makes 500 horses. The mods on this build include an SC46 turbo, a five-speed Pfitzner Performance gearbox that powers all four wheels, and a Syvecs S6 ECU with anti-lag, launch control, flat-foot shifting, and rolling launch. It rides on semi-slick tires on all four corners.

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027157

The Volkswagen Golf R Estate is powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The mods on it include a Venom 500 turbo, an Autotech high-pressure fuel pump, a Revo low-pressure fuel pump, and a Wagner intercooler. It is riding on Michelin PS4S tires.

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027161

The Subaru weighs 1,150 kilos (2,535 pounds), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 434 BHP/ton. The Volkswagen has a stripped interior, but still weighs 1,500 kilos (3,307 pounds) – significantly more than the Scooby. This gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 333 BHP/ton.

0-60 mph

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027150 — **0-60 mph: Winner – Volkswagen**

The Subaru took just 3.168 seconds to touch the mark, but the VW was even quicker. It sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 2.974 seconds

The first round was the 0-60 mph individual test. Here, the Subaru took just 3.168 seconds to touch the mark. The Volkswagen, on the other hand, was quicker. It took just 2.974 seconds to touch 60 mph from a standstill. Well, thank the dual-clutch auto gearbox and the all-wheel-drive system.

Winner: Volkswagen Golf R Estate

Quarter-Mile Run

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027153 — **Quarter-Mile Run: Winner – Subaru**

The Scooby ran the distance in 11.382 seconds at 125.66 mph. The German was almost as quick, taking 11.507 seconds at 122.49 mph to complete the distance

The Scooby went first and ran the quarter-mile in 11.382 seconds with a trap speed of 125.66 mph. The Volkswagen Golf R Estate was a tad bit slow, but still fairly impressive. It took 11.507 seconds at 122.49 mph to complete the quarter-mile distance.

Winner: Subaru WRX STI

Quarter-Mile Races

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027151

Seeing how closely matched both the wagons were in their respective quarter-mile runs, the race was going to be exciting. The Subaru was quicker off the line in the first race and managed to keep the lead till the very end. It looked like it would be a mighty close race, perhaps one of the cars beating the other by the nose, but it wasn’t. The WRX STI wagon beat it by at least three car lengths.

Winner: Subaru WRX STI

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027147

The driver of the Golf R Estate, Yuri, wanted to give it another shot. So, they raced again to see if the German wagon would get a better and smoother start off the line. As it turns out, it did! The Golf R Estate sped off the line, leaving the WRX STI in the dust. The latter was able to get quite close by the end, but not enough to win. With the way the Subaru was going, the result could’ve been different had this been a half-mile race. But, the Japanese hit a snag and that could’ve been the reason for the result.

Winner: Volkswagen Golf R Estate

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027146 — The next two races belonged to the VW. In one of these, the Subaru hit a hurdle, but the next one was as close as it could get, which the German eventually won again

After fixing it up, they raced for the third time, and this was the closest race of them all. The wagons were neck-and-neck halfway, but then the Volkswagen edged slightly forward. In the end, it won by barely a car length.

Winner: Volkswagen Golf R Estate

Roll Race

Watch Two Tuned Performance Wagons Go For The Kill In Epic Series Of Races
- image 1027149

The rolling race was up next. The Subaru had a better kickdown here and got the lead as soon as they touched the starting line. The Volkswagen couldn’t catch it and eventually lost the race. There was just one roll race, and it belonged to the WRX STI wagon.

Winner: Subaru WRX STI

Watch this epic race below and share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Automakers Suspend Operations, Change Equipment Due to Chip Shortage

Ford is temporarily suspending production at its Kansas City assembly plant to deal with the shortage.

Automakers continue to search for ways to deal with the semiconductor chip shortage impacting the industry on a global scale.

Most companies cut back production and shift available chip inventory to high-profit vehicles like pickup trucks. Seemingly no automaker is immune to the problem, including pricey luxury and sports car makers. Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and others all recently announced moves to deal with the shortage.

This week is not different with Daimler, Stellantis and Subaru reporting today they are taking new measures to account for current run of chip shortages, both in the U.S. and in other facilities around the world.

New announcements

Ford plans to extend the shutdowns at plants that build its F-150, Ford Transit, Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, Ford Edge/Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Mustang. The Kansas City Assembly Plant that builds its top-selling F-150 and Transit commercial van suspend operations for the weeks of May 3 and 10. It’s currently closed down.

GM is slowing production of its van at its Wentzville plant to deal with the chip shortage.

The Flat Rock, Michigan plant, which builds the Mustang, and Chicago plant that builds the Explorer and Aviator will also be down the first two weeks of next month. They’ve been down since the week of April 12, according to Automotive News.

The company plans to continue the reduced production of its Super Duty and medium-duty trucks at the Ohio Assembly Plant near Cleveland.

General Motors plans to move its Wentzville (Missouri) Assembly plant from three shifts to just two on a temporary basis starting the week of April 26. It’s cutting van production at the site. Production of its midsize pickups, the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, are unaffected. The company just restarted operations at the facility last week after a two-week shutdown.

Other moves

In what may be the most novel approach to dealing with the issue thus far, Stellantis is using analog speedometers in some its Peugeot models instead of the digital ones they would normally come equipped with.

Daimler is cutting hours for 18,500 workers at two plants in Germany as it waits for more chips.

The move affects only the Peugeot 308, Reuters reported, which are built in France. The brand sold about 98,000 of the 308 model last year. The 308 is being phased out this fall in favor of a new vehicle. The company may reduce the price as a result of the less advanced speedo.

Daimler plans to reduce hours for 18,500 employees and idle production at its Bremen and Rastatt plants in Germany. Bremen builds the C-Class as well as the GLC, GLC Coupe and the all-electric EQC. The Rastatt plant produces the A-Class hybrid as well as the A-Class sedan, B-Class and GLA compact SUV.

Japanese automaker Subaru Corp. revealed plans to temporarily suspend production at its plant in Lafayette, Indiana. The closure will be in place until the end of April, according to officials. It will affect about 15,000 vehicles for North America, officials noted. The company builds the Ascent, Outback, Legacy and Impreza at the site.

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Honda Looking to Get a Little More Rugged with Trailsport Moniker?

The new Honda Ridgeline gets a more rugged exterior update for the 2021 model year. Could a Trailsport edition be coming soon?

Is Honda trying to make its trucks and SUVs appear to be tougher? Maybe.

The Japanese automaker’s secured a new name: Trailsport. When compared to RAV4, Passport and Pilot, Trailsport seems almost vicious by comparison. The automaker registered the name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and website Carbuzz tracked it down.

The application reads as follows: “The mark consists of a miscellaneous design set above the term TRAILSPORT with the letters ‘R’ and ‘S’ connected together all in a stylized font. This trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of land vehicles, namely, sport utility vehicles, automobiles, trucks, and structural parts for the foregoing.”

Getting a little tougher

There’s no clear indication if Honda intends to use it for new vehicle or, more likely, a special edition or trim package, such as the Honda Ridgeline Trailsport.

Subaru is offering up a beefed up version of the Outback called the Wilderness edition.

Regardless, the company’s been looking to add more capability to its trucks and utes, toughening up the look of aforementioned Ridgeline for the 2021 model year after the previous iteration was roundly criticized for its “soft” or non-traditional appearance.

In addition to the new look, it also got additional tweaks to keep the functionality the Ridgeline has touted both in terms of utility and performance, including the top standard payload capacity for a V6 all-wheel-drive truck.

The biggest change for 2021 is the truck’s overall exterior shape, which is altered by getting an entirely new front-end design. The new look is a bit more aggressive with a “power bulge” on the hood accented with a more squared-off front end and bigger, more upright grille. Most of its competitors have been upsizing the grilles on their trucks and looking for “tougher” monikers for their vehicles too.

Following a trend

Subaru just launched a new family of more rugged off-roaders with its new Wilderness edition offerings, starting

The new Pathfinder’s sporting a more rugged look for the 2022 model year.

with the new 2022 Outback Wilderness. The automaker described the ’22 Subaru Outback Wilderness as “the most rugged and capable” version of the crossover in its history.

Once little more than a gussied-up station wagon, the new Wilderness model adds features designed to give it serious off-road credibility, starting with an increase in its ride height, upgrades to the suspension, revisions to its all-wheel-drive system and a standard front skid plate. The automaker will expand the line-up to include Forester and Crosstrek in the near future.

With competition like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Gladiator Mojave and the Ford Bronco harkening back to a rougher, tougher time and the increasing desire of owners to take these vehicles that look like SUVs out to do SUV-like things, it’s no surprise that other automakers are hustling to bolster their crossovers and urban-friendly utes.

Don’t forget Nissan

For the 2022 model year, Nissan’s finally given the Frontier midsize pickup a major makeover.

Nissan did the same with its 2022 Pathfinder and Frontier entries with one executive proclaiming the Pathfinder has “returned to its rugged roots,” for the new model year. While the Pathfinder got a more muscular look and a few small upgrades to improve its off-cement capability, it was the Frontier that got a big boost.

The new Frontier adopts a more solid and upright appearance with a bolder, less derivative front end. All versions of the truck get enhanced ground clearance and enhanced approach and departure angles, with a prominent front skid plate.

For those who are serious about off-roading, there’s a new Pro-4X version featuring an electronic locking differential, Bilstein off-road shock absorbers and underbody skid plates. That could enhance Frontier’s appeal to those who might otherwise consider the Toyota Tacoma, for many the off-road benchmark of the segment. The Pro-4X is all-wheel drive but for those who want a 2WD model, the new Pro-X adds LED head, DRL and fog lights for a more rugged appearance.