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Finally, direct injection! It's a shame they only listed output for the JDM 2.0 n/a (146hp/144ft-lbs). I know that direct injection can offer huge gains in output and fuel economy on turbocharged engines, so I can't wait to see what the WRX and STI with 3rd gen engines will make.

How long until they start making adapters to bolt these new fancy things into EJ-era cars?

That is a little low on power compared to what Ford is listing for the DI 2.0 in the new Focus coming out, but I don't care as long as the 2.0 liter is available here.

Do you want the 2.0 n/a, or just the closed-deck turbo block? Cause it would be silly from a market standpoint to introduce a 146hp Impreza that probably wouldn't be any cheaper (unless they took out standard features that make it competitive to being with). With DI's improved toque I could see the 2.0 turbo coming unless they have a peeve about reducing displacements from what our country has grown used to. But if it improves output and economy with the same or better low-end response it shouldn't matter.

I want N/A. I want it for my project vehicle (10 lbs./hp will take care of itself performance-wise and I want the efficiency of the smaller engine) and, possibly, Duchess. The Focus is going to have a 2.0 DI and likely not much less weight. The problem would be if Subaru can offer a smaller engine with the overweight pigs they make now. I don't want to wait 10 years to get one from Japan. I'd rather use an old OBDII EJ22 than a 2.5 4 cylinder DI in the project as I want less power for reliability purposes and the much cheaper purchase price makes it more cost effective. The efficiency of DI might make up for the increased displacement, but I'd rather have the efficiency of the smaller displacement AND DI and I really don't want much more power than 150. That said, I'd maybe accept a 2.5 for Duchess and I'm in no real hurry for that. But, no, I don't expect to get the 2.0 N/A.

I'm perplexed at how the new Focus is as heavy as an Impreza, but is roughly the same size and only FWD. They must've said "yay, with the new Festiva we can throw responsible engineering out the window for the Focus and make this new car as quiet and plush and 'expensive-feeling' as we want!!!".

You'd think that with CAFE creeping up and emissions creeping down, car makers would want to make cars lighter, not infinitely make them heavier and introduce new small models to fill in the space. Why is that so many times they seem to move models up a size/weight class with every major redesign? Is it some kind of federal regulation that marketing and product planning departments are run with no common sense whatsoever?

I just guessed on the weight—don't quote me, but it seems everything's ridiculously heavy. Back in the good old days when Subaru had drive options, the AWD was a 150 lbs. penalty over the fwd. I assume it'll be more or less the same between the Focus and Impreza. The Fiesta is a couple hundred pounds more than the Mazda 2. Mazda is one of the only mainstream companies taking weight loss seriously (Lotus always has, though the new show cars they showed are giving me pause). Losing weight is the new buzz in the industry, but aside from obscenely obese cars like Bentleys losing a hundred pounds or so, I don't see much action as of yet. Safety regulations do not help, though. The extra weight builds on itself and at some point becomes a safety liability (both active and passive) as well as hurting mileage and emissions. I mean, bang two 2000 lbs. 4-star rated cars together and two 4000 lbs. 4-star rated cars together and which would be the better set to have to be in? Simple Newtonian physics, here, but when every shithead has the 4000+lbs. vehicle, the 2000lbs. one becomes a pillow for it. But when does the escalation end? When do people start commuting in Peterbilts? We're already at the point where a few civilian vehicles excede the weight ratings of some streets, not that the idiot drivers are probably even aware.

The issue with all this bullshit is the consumers as well as regulations. People don't want to drive—they want to play with pointless electronic toys, project an image instead of cultivate a personality, and feel "safe" with all that mass because they're stupid as well as escapist, lazy, shallow, and controlled by fear. Their typically extreme discomfort with change also prevents truly interesting or radical vehicles from being made above and beyond the limiting factors of regulations since nobody would buy them for fear of ridicule. As the quote goes: "Great ideas often meet violent opposition from mediocre minds." However, there may be a slight glimmer of hope. There's a new car guy going to Washington who's in favor of allowing exemptions on safety to low volume manufacturers in the interest of innovation (this isn't unprecedented as Morgan has gotten these for airbags a couple times and there may be others I'm unaware of). But even if he's able to make the process of being granted exemptions relatively easy, it probably won't mean much as far as affordable, practical transportation as that type of niche would almost certainly have to be filled by extreme efficiency machines or sports cars with fairly high price tags. Still, I'll take it. Who knows—maybe more people than just me will want to buy one of my designs and I'll have to get one of these exemptions (likely for airbags as the chassis should be tough as nails, but, then too, I couldn't afford crash testing to really find out).

Another thing I don't understand is why everything pretends to be sporty, which often just means they ride like shit to achieve a handling threshold electronic nannys allow, but their drivers will most likely never reach. With the overweight, boring cars made now (even the sporty ones), I don't get why nobody wants to buy floaty, wallowing cars like the Americans used to make. I mean, if I'm going to be bored, I might as well be comfortable and, hell, I actually find those cars to be more entertaining drives than false sports cars anyway. I guess it's all image—driving a BMW makes people think they're taken more seriously and maybe they are by the other brainless marketing-programmed robots. Of course, these people they're trying to impress don't see them doing 50 in the passing lane, blocking my modest hatchback. I pick on BMW because they're the new Buick or Volvo. Hell, I see Prius drivers speed more than BMWs, but I could apply the criticism to almost anybody.

*Jesus Christ—did I write THAT much?!

That's odd, I double posted, deleted 1 and both disappeared..

I didn't read all of Steve's rant.....but the other side automakers have to contend with is safety......cars are going faster and safety standards are getting tougher, as well as more idiots.....weight will increase.

Ironically, what triggered my gripe and the rant essay, the Focus' increased weight, isn't even an issue. The new car still weighs less than 2500lbs (lighter enough than an Impreza to remain entertaining with the smaller engine). And Subarus are behind the weight curve compared to similar AWD models.

Back on topic, I can't wait to see what the output of the DI turbo will be. Hopefully the new STI will have 340hp plus with better fuel economy, which is entirely doable.