Who is Going to Buy This Before I Do?

Now here is a fairly rare vehicle...

An '08 Subaru Legacy GT Spec B.

Currently for sale in Hampstead, NH for $14,995.  It has 128K on the odometer as well as some tasteful modifications (likely meaning that the former owner had a good idea of the performance of the vehicle and drove it hard on occasion) such as a short throw shifter, high flow exhaust, and light Enkei rims.

The Spec B was like the STi version of the Legacy with upgrades to suspension, an R180 differential and three driving modes.  If you're reading this than you likely know far more about these vehicles than I do, so I'll stop here.  This is the first Subaru I can think of that I actually want since the old late 90's Outback sedans with the giant foglights and their crosshatch grillcovers and spoiler...

Subaru Legacy Spec B...

Tokyo Auto Salon Nissans...

Focus here is currently on the Detroit Auto Show and we'll turn to that soon with Nissan news this week but here are a couple of the Nissans (and a Subaru) from the Tokyo Auto Salon that has been occurring over the past few days and is Japan's version of SEMA (more or less...)

1976 Skyline

2015 WRX STi in full race trim..

GT-R NISMO

1996 Nissan 180SX as Lightning NATSeen...

180SX Custom Drift machine...

Nissan Pulsar SSS Specs and Release...

As we have previously predicted here, the Nissan Pulsar (Versa Note here in the US) in Australia is the first to receive confirmation of the hopped up version of the hot hatch.

The Pulsar will receive the "SSS" badging and is lauded by the initial article as being a decent competitor for the VW Golf GTI Polo (not the same as the US Golf).  While carrying a tad more HP than the Polo at 188 it does sport slightly less torque at 177 ft. lb.  Under the hood of this Nissan with be a turbo 1.6L vs. the NA 1.8L in the regular version of the Pulsar/Versa.  This engine matches EXACTLY the specs on the 1.6L turbo seen in the Juke and it is a safe bet that the SSS will be housing the same MR16DDT mill.  Knowing that the Juke engine has seen its HP pushed to 197 in the NISMO version of that CUV means that there is even more performance to be had out of this SSS particularly given the Pulsar will be about 600 pounds less than the Juke. The SSS will come standard...with a standard.  If you're a moron you can pay an additional $2500 or so for the privilege of having a computer do the shifting with an available CVT. 

These measurements should translate well to the US--if it comes here--which I can't forsee it not.  Likley dubbed the Versa Note NISMO I'm guessing, this will represent Nissan's entry into the performance end of the B-segment along with the Ford Fiesta.  I would anticipate Nissan USA announcing its arrival here in Q3 of this year and at dealerships by the end of '13 to Q1 of '14.

Oh, and the photo above is NOT of the SSS which I'm sure will come with more body cladding and such that always seems to come along with "performance" models...

Nissan Pulsar SSS announced...