Subaru Car Rockets to Record Mountain Climb

NORTH READING, MASS. (09/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Travis Pastrana's car climbed Mount Washington, and in record time. Behind the wheel of a modified Subaru Impreza rally car, Pastrana reached the peak in 6 minutes and 20.47 seconds, besting the record time set in 1998 by Frank Sprongl by nearly 22 seconds.

Pastrana, an extreme sports competitor and four-time American Rally Champion, averaged a speed of 72 mph up the Mount Washington auto road in his very first attempt to break the record. He will get a chance to beat his record in June, 2011, when the Climb to the Clouds race returns after a 10-year hiatus to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Mount Washington road.

"This latest victory for Travis Pastrana and Subaru proves that the Impreza is still hungry for adventure," said David Vernet, general manger of North Reading Subaru, a Massachusetts Subaru dealer. "We talk about reliability and safety with Subarus so much that some people overlook Subaru's sportier side, including models like the Impreza WRX that love to run."

Pastrana's achievement comes as Subaru takes the wraps off its 2011 Impreza WRX, offering buyers their first chance to see what will be available when the Impreza sedan's wilder, faster brother arrives at showrooms in a few weeks.

Starting under the hood, the WRX and limited-edition WRX STI will offer a considerable upgrade from the 170-horsepower 2.5-liter engine that powers the family-friendly Impreza. Both the basic WRX and the WRX STI come with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The WRX pushes out 265 horsepower, while the advanced turbocharger in the STI wrings a swift 305 horsepower from the engine.

The ramped-up performance of the WRX means that it requires premium unleaded fuel, and that owners can expect fuel efficiency more typical of a supercar than a standard Subaru. The WRX averages 19 mpg/city and 25 mpg/highway, comparable to a full-size sedan, and the WRX STI earns 17 mpg/city and 23 mpg/highway.

Since this is a rally car lurking in street-legal camouflage, an automatic transmission is not an option. The WRX offers a five-speed manual and the WRX STI gets an upgrade to a close-ratio six-speed manual, as well as Brembo performance brakes to tame the car on turns and quick stops. Both transmissions offer incline assist for smooth starts on hills.

Massachusetts Subaru drivers who need their gadgets on the road will find the Impreza WRX and WRX STI accommodating. Bluetooth connectivity, iPod control and a USB port are standard on all models. Satellite radio is an optional extra at all levels, and all models except the base-level WRX can be upgraded with in-dash navigation.

"This is as close as you can get to the car that Pastrana raced up Mount Washington, unless he decides to give you a ride," Vernet said. "The WRX is for those who like speed, but it also has the stability and traction systems that will keep drivers in control when the New England weather turns rough. And, as locals all know, the weather doesn't get any rougher than on top of Mount Washington."

About North Reading Subaru:

North Reading Subaru has the hunger of a new dealer seeking to prove itself, and the automotive experience of the Melkonians, an automotive family with a long history of satisfied customers. Established in December of 2009, North Reading Subaru has already emerged as a destination for Greater Boston Subaru sales and service. To learn more about their wide variety of new and pre-owned Subaru models, you can visit them online at www.northreadingsubaru.com, call them at 978-396-6090, or visit them at 260 Main Street, North Reading, MA.