Subaru Will Team Up with Brand USA for National Parks Adventure Film

The film, “National Parks Adventure,” will celebrate the centennial of the National Parks Service

Originally posted to http://thenewswheel.com by author John Adams

Subaru will partner with Brand USA to launch a giant screen/IMAX documentary called National Parks Adventure

Subaru has been working with our nation’s park services in preparation for the National Parks Service centennial in 2016. As part of the partnership, Subaru donated several Outbacks for use at various national parks and promoted a “fee-free” day at the parks on National Public Lands Day. The environmentally-aware automaker also shared its zero landfill knowledge with the National Park Service earlier this year.

The latest news on the project comes out of a partnership between Subaru and Brand USA, which is the destination-marketing organization of the United States. Together, the duo will be working on a 3D documentary destined for the big screen called National Parks Adventure.

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Already on the Screen: Watch Subaru’s moving commercial about a dog and his bucket list

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National Parks Adventure will premiere on February 10th and hit theaters around the world on the 12th

National Parks Adventure will hit giant screen and IMAX® theaters in February 2016 to celebrate America’s Great Outdoors, as well as the upcoming centennial of the National Parks Service. The film will be produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films, Academy Award®-nominated filmmakers.

Christopher L. Thompson, president and CEO at Brand USA, remarked, “As we bring this majestic film to giant screens around the world and showcase our national parks–true American treasures–to international audiences, we’re proud to have Subaru as a major partner. Subaru has established itself as a corporate leader in advocating for the environment and the parks. They’re a perfect fit for us.”

Subaru was a “perfect fit” for this documentary, according to Brand USA president and CEO, Christopher L. Thompson

As part of the partnership, Subaru will put together a short opening piece for the film to highlight our nation’s national parks, why we have them, and why it is imperative we conserve them.

The first screening of the film will be held at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC on February 10th of next year. The film will then hit theaters throughout the US and in 15 international markets.

The film will debut at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, on February 10, 2016

Of Subaru’s involvement, Shaun MacGillivray, the film’s producer, said, “[Subaru’s] support will help us carry the film’s message about the importance of the national parks to an even greater audience.”

It is hoped that Subaru’s involvement will “carry the film’s message about the importance of the national parks”

Subaru’s commitment to the environment is apparent. Just last month, the automaker announced it was partnering with Google for a project called Google Expeditions, and in 2003, the automaker was the very first to have an assembly plant in the US designated as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

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Read More: Subaru and Google bring virtual reality field trips to classrooms through Expeditions

Get A Grip Choose the Right Tire for Your Subaru

By Scott Heidbrink
Your tires are quite literally where the rubber meets the road, and yet, as important as they are, they’re one of the most underappreciated parts of your Subaru. For optimal performance, comfort, and safety, it’s vital that you have not only a high-quality tire, but one that is engineered to the exact specifications of your Subaru. Modern tires are developed using state-of-the-art computer-aided design technology, which simulates and evaluates every aspect of how the tire will perform. Once produced, tires undergo rigorous quality control testing, as well as actual on-the-road testing to evaluate traction, handling, and long-term durability.

Did You Know?

The earliest tires were wooden wheels held together with “tyres,” bands of leather wrapped around iron that “tied” the parts of the wheel together.

So Which Tire is best for You?

There is no “Goldilocks” tire that is perfect for every vehicle and every driver under every type of condition. A tire that is designed and constructed to maneuver in snow and ice is less than ideal for off-roading in hot, dry conditions. Similarly, a high-performance tire that enhances cornering and responsiveness also can result in a sportier, and sometimes noisier, ride than a touring tire that is built to emphasize a smoother, softer, quieter driving experience. It’s a science of trade-offs, and your Subaru was fitted with tires that offer a careful balance of exceptional handling, traction, performance, comfort, low noise, and – above all – safety, in a wide variety of driving environments.

Did You Know?

For more than a quarter of a century, automobile tires were white. Carbon black was added to tires to improve durability, turning them black.

Stand by the Standard

There are a ton of choices out there when it comes to tire options, but the good news is that Subaru engineers have already done all the legwork for you. Subaru engineers spend countless hours choosing the ideal tire to complement the characteristics of your Subaru and give you the best combination of running performance, ride comfort, and service life. 

Check the Pressure

Once you’ve chosen the proper tires, it’s important to maintain them so they can function optimally. Maintaining the proper tire pressure enhances your vehicle’s traction and performance, which improves your ability to control the vehicle, as well as help to prevent unnecessary damage to the differential. Another plus: proper inflation also can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.1  

Did You Know?

The first practical pneumatic tire was made in 1888 – for a tricycle.

Time for a Change?

Periodically examining your tires can not only tell you about their relative health and current life expectancy, but also provide clues as to improper maintenance, and possibly reveal underlying issues with other aspects of your vehicle. Tread depth is a good basic indicator of whether you need to replace your tires. To test your tread depth, one tried-and-true method is to use the penny test. Insert a penny into the groove of the tread with the head of Lincoln pointed down. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, then it’s time for new tires. If you’re in doubt (or fresh out of pennies), you can always visit Maita Subaru Tire Store for a tire evaluation. Go to MaitaSubaru.com for a tire evaluation.

Trust the Experts

The main thing you need to remember is that your tires are a vital part of your Subaru that affects gas mileage, performance, ride comfort, and safety. Your Subaru retailer is there to help, and carries all of the recommended tires for your vehicle to help ensure that you get the right tires for you, when you need them.

REMEMBER

• Use a tire gauge to check tire pressure at least once a month.  
• Check pressures when the tires are cold (not right after driving) to ensure an accurate reading.
• On Subaru AWD models, the tire pressures vary front to rear.
• The number on the sidewall of your tire indicates the maximum pressure for your tire, so be sure to keep tire inflation at the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle, which you can find located on the placard mounted on the driver-side B-pillar, as well as in your Owner’s Manual.
• When seasonal temperatures rise and fall, so does the pressure in your tires, so always check inflation and adjust the pressure as needed when the weather changes.
• To help ensure even tread wear, rotate your tires according to the maintenance schedule listed in your Owner’s Manual. (Depending on your own driving habits, you may need to do this more frequently.)

No Time to Waste: Partnering to Help Protect the Parks

When it comes to birthdays, some people are just plain hard to shop for.

Take our great National Park Service (NPS). In 2016, it will celebrate 100 years of proud stewardship of our natural treasures, which include 58 national parks and a whopping 407 areas in all. So what do you give for a birthday present when the guest of honor darn near literally has, well – everything? Luckily, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) had a gift to give that we knew the NPS would be delighted to receive; a deep understanding of sustainable practices that can help ensure that the parks are around to celebrate another hundred birthdays. And we were only too eager to share it with them. Teddy Roosevelt once called the national parks:

“… assets which we must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value”

We couldn’t agree more, so for NPS’ 100th birthday, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is coming to the party with a present that the original Rough Rider would have loved: SOA (a premier-level sponsor of the National Park Service Centennial Celebration) is creating a historic initiative with the national parks that will help improve and sustain the parks, not merely for the next generation, but for the next 100 years. We’re excited. In fact, we’ve already started. Because there’s no time to waste.

WASTING AWAY

Currently the NPS is working to manage and reduce a mountain of waste. Most of it is brought in by well-meaning visitors, but a majority of what those visitors leave behind goes straight to landfills that are often more than 100 miles away. Subaru approached the NPS and proposed a centennial celebration of stewardship to help the national parks reduce their reliance on landfills – and potentially eliminate it altogether.

SHARING SOLUTIONS

The NPS enthusiastically agreed, so SOA reached out to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) to help them identify three pilot parks to use as test cases for the implementation of SIA zero-landfill methodologies. Management from the SIA plant, which has been operating as a zero-landfill facility since 2004, will be working shoulder to shoulder with representatives from three national parks over the next year to help them devise new strategies to do more to protect this precious natural inheritance for the continued enjoyment of all.

Yosemite National Park. Photo: Andrew Peacock / Tandem Stills + Motion

BEHIND THE SCENES

In February, NPCA and NPS representatives from the partnership's three pilot parks – Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali – toured the SIA plant and discussed strategies with Subaru management to help the pilot parks in beginning their journey to achieve zero-landfill status. (Read more about the SIA plant in “Sharing Zero.”)

WHO WE ARE

During the tour, Tim Tagye, promotions and sponsorship manager of SOA, discussed the goals of the Subaru partnership with the NPCA. “Who we are is what we leave behind,” he says, explaining how the Subaru Love Promise initiative guides that idea. “It's a pledge centered on doing the right thing and giving back to your local community.”

Denise Coogan, the safety and environmental compliance manager at the SIA plant, shared the strategies that allow Subaru to achieve zero-landfill status, and discussed how they could be applied to the national parks. She stressed that while the parks may face different challenges than an automotive manufacturer, the same basic principles apply. “You might have some unique issues,” she says, “but the underlying principles are all the same.”

MAKING THE CONNECTION

Following the presentations, park representatives broke up into small groups to brainstorm ideas for reducing landfill use in their respective parks. In one group, participants discussed a strategy they’d seen on the plant tour that would allow them to get a better idea of where the landfill waste in Yosemite National Park was being generated. The Yosemite representatives were interested in adopting the same strategy; here was a good tool that they could start using right away to help improve and maintain their beloved park. The new partnership was well under way.

It's a great feeling when you give a gift that really makes a difference.

Modes of Operation: SUBARU STARLINK: Safety and Security

SUBARU STARLINK¹, the versatile and powerful in-vehicle technology that provides a new level of connectivity and multimedia variety, putting music, news, weather, dining, podcasts, audiobooks, and other content right at your fingertips. This cutting-edge technology is continuing to evolve, however, and we’re proud to introduce new safety features that are coming to SUBARU STARLINK for select 2016 models.

CONNECTED TO YOUR LIFE

Safety has always been a hallmark for Subaru, and STARLINK will soon have additional features to provide you even more peace of mind. The added features include personal safety and security services, such as Automatic Collision Notification, SOS Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Remote Services, Maintenance Notification, Diagnostic Alerts, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Vehicle Security Alarm Notification, and Monthly Vehicle Health Reports.

SOS Emergency Assistance: Press the red SOS button on the overhead console to be promptly connected to a SUBARU STARLINK advisor from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

Automatic Collision Notification: Automatic Collision Notification alerts a SUBARU STARLINK advisor 24/7/365 when an airbag² is deployed in your vehicle, so they can send the appropriate first responder to the scene.

Enhanced Roadside Assistance: In the past, if you required roadside assistance, you had to use your mobile phone to call for help. With STARLINK, however, simply press the blue “i” button on the overhead console to be connected to a STARLINK advisor, who can quickly dispatch roadside assistance to come to your aid, with STARLINK providing your exact GPS coordinates to responders.

Monthly Vehicle Health Report and Diagnostics: STARLINK also provides you with a Monthly Vehicle Health Report and Diagnostic Alerts. The monthly vehicle health report gives you the status of key systems, oil life, and more. In addition, SUBARU STARLINK automatically runs a diagnosis of critical vehicle systems. If a warning light pops up, you’ll receive an email explaining how to resolve the issue.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery: Worst-case scenario, someone steals your Subaru. Get extra peace of mind knowing that a SUBARU STARLINK advisor will work with police to help recover your vehicle if it is ever stolen. Check with your insurance company for available policy discounts for this service.

Remote Services: Forget where you parked? Lose your key or fob? SUBARU STARLINK subscribers can activate a number of features remotely from their mobile device or desktop, including Remote Lock/Unlock, Remote Horn & Lights, and Remote Vehicle Locator.

THE SUBARU STARLINK APP

For hands-free music, calendar, and news selection, you can download the SUBARU STARLINK app from the Apple^® App store or via Google Play™. This system is compatible with both iOS and Android™ devices via either the standard Bluetooth or USB interface.

Once your smartphone is connected to the vehicle’s audio system, content is automatically pushed to your car, and you can access apps like iHeartRadio and Stitcher Radio safely and effortlessly while keeping your hands on the wheel and your attention on the road. And more apps – with more choices, and even greater variety – are on the way.

THE MYSUBARU APP AND MYSUBARU.COM

MySubaru is your portal for information and remote services. Accessible via a desktop computer, or via the MySubaru app that is downloadable for iOS and Android-compatible phones, MySubaru allows you to easily access remote services, adjust user preferences, get diagnostic alerts, and stay in touch with Subaru at the same time.

STARLINK: INTELLIGENTLY DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S DRIVERS

With STARLINK features offering safety, security, and peace of mind, and a steadily growing number of entertainment options such as Stitcher, Pandora, Aha,™³ iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM, STARLINK now provides Subaru owners greater access to music and information than ever before. Go to subaru.com to learn more and for updates on STARLINK safety and security technology featured in select 2016 Subaru models. SUBARU STARLINK is just one more example of the Confidence in Motion you feel when you drive a Subaru.

1 Compatible smartphone and application required. For applications to operate, latest version of each application and optional integrated audio and navigation system unit required. Data provided by smartphone is displayed on navigation screen. Some state laws prohibit the operation of handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle. Smartphone apps should only be launched when vehicle is safely parked. Your wireless carrier rates may apply.
2 Always wear seatbelts. Children should be properly restrained in the back seat.
3 Compatible smartphone and free Aha app required. For Aha to operate, latest version of Aha application and optional integrated audio and navigation system unit required. Data provided by smartphone is displayed on navigation screen. Some state laws prohibit the operation of handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle. Smartphone apps should only be launched when vehicle is safely parked. Aha is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. Your wireless carrier's rates may app

In the Community: Teach Your Children Well – Friends of Children and Families, Inc. is a Friend Indeed

A 14-year-old Central Florida child's missteps could have easily ended in tragedy, but thanks to the mentoring program at Friends of Children and Families, she was pulled back from the edge, and her young life is now happily back on track.

With her father in jail and her mother working and attending school, the restless and alienated child, unable to find the love and direction she needed at home, naively looked for it in all the wrong places – and with the worst sort of people. She eventually landed in juvenile court, which then steered her to a private agency called Friends of Children and Families, who enrolled her in their mentoring program.

Friends Residence Foster Home Girls participating in a Therapeutic Art Project painting and decorating their initials. They loved using their creativity and creating a new item to decorate their room.

Friends Who Mentor

Paired with a mature, professional woman, the troubled child got the attention and guidance she needed. That counseling quickly sparked a new self-respect and determination in the child. "After about five or six visits, this little girl said, ‘I'm not going to court anymore,'" says Gloria Esteban, director of the mentoring program.

Such stories help drive Friends of Children and Families. The Orlando, Florida, nonprofit's mission is to provide troubled children and their families, whether in foster care or at home, "the opportunity to have the resources and tools every other child would have to reach their full potential," says clinical director Donna Berry. Friends of Children and Families also provides in-home counseling, operates foster care group homes, and conducts psychological assessments of children in the child welfare system. The mentoring program, begun in 2011, currently provides mentors 85 children.

For the last three years, a Subaru of America Foundation grant has helped support the program, touching the lives of 700 children over that time, says Friends of Children and Families executive director Desmond Taylor. Mentors help teen foster children learn skills they'll need at 18 when they leave the system: how to find a job, education and a place to live, and how to navigate future life choices.

Mentors are diverse – many speak Spanish or Haitian Creole or other languages in addition to English – and commit to at least a year of spending time with the children in their charge. "We don't want a situation where someone says they want to be a mentor for three months and then they're out of that child's life," Berry notes. They don't undermine parents, but instead work as a team.

Friends Who Tutor

The grant also helps support a Friends of Children and Families tutoring program. Because they often are moved from one home to another, "many of the children in foster care have fallen behind academically," Berry explains. "They have sometimes had to change schools several times in the school year. As a result, their math and reading levels are often below grade level."

Education is a core commitment for the organization – "the key that unlocks the door to opportunity," she says. "We want to ensure that children in foster care, despite disadvantages that they may have encountered earlier in life, are given a fair chance." Tutoring, she adds, helps teach them "the value of education and builds their self-confidence."

Begun in 2012, the tutoring program aided more than 40 foster kids in grades K-12 last year. The organization reports that 77 percent of the children who have taken part in the last couple of years have improved school attendance, 86 percent have improved in at least one school subject, and 93 percent have developed a more positive attitude about school.

"Some of our successes have included having children make the honor roll for the first time and for many of them to realize that attending college is a possibility," Berry says.

Seminole County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) which FRIENDS has an active club that participates in activities that educate teens on the dangers of smoking.

Friends Who Care

And they forge strong bonds. A 16-year-old child, no longer in the program, still kept in touch with her mentor 75 miles away. About to run away from her foster home, she first called her mentor, who listened and helped redirect the child to a better outcome.

As for the 14-year-old child from Central Florida, Esteban reports that her mentor's patience and commitment continue to pay off. The mentor recently took her on a college tour and got her to think of her future. "She's not in trouble now," says Esteban, "and she's starting to do better in school."

Learn more about the good work of Friends of Children and Families, Inc. and how you, too, can make a difference.

New Subaru Rallycross Fighter

 Dubbed VT15x, this is the third evolution of an STI-based Rallycross car for Subaru in four years built by technical partner Vermont SportsCar. “We made huge strides in durability and competitiveness last season,” stated Vermont SportsCar Team Principal Lance Smith. “The VT15x is almost entirely-new technology. This car is a revolution, not just an evolution.” 

Debuting in Bucky Lasek’s new livery, the VT15x features a 580 Horsepower 2.0L Subaru Boxer engine, a 6-speed SADEV® sequential gearbox and all-wheel drive. Other features include a rallycross-spec widebody, and METHOD® Race Wheels. The VT15x is capable of 0-60 in just two seconds. The new car will meet GRC and FIA Rallycross homologation standards.

Updates and revisions to the VT15x are widespread compared to the VT14x version ran by Subaru Rally Team USA last year. Optimizing weight balance, center-of-gravity, suspension geometry, and aerodynamics were key focuses to improve handling; while increased engine power and response led to gains in overall speed and launching capability at the start. “The foundation of every great race car is the chassis you start with. Using the 2015 WRX STI, we have seen gains in handling and cornering in both our stage rally and rallycross cars; which is a testament to advancements in design from the factory” stated Smith.

Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the performance company for the brand, has stepped up their technical support of rallycross development with Vermont SportsCar; bringing their WRC and circuit racing expertise to the Subaru rallycross program. “STI is increasing their support of our U.S. based efforts in rallycross. Their expertise and development resources will take our program to an even more competitive level,” stated Rob Weir, Subaru Motorsports Marketing Manager.

Subaru Rally Team USA showed a steady rise in performance last season, claiming five Red Bull GRC podiums including a Silver Medal at X Games, and victory for Sverre Isachsen at the GRC Seattle round. Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen will again lead the factory race effort with Travis Pastrana joining them at X Games, and select rounds to be announced soon. “Confidence is high within the Subaru camp that we have a winning package of driver talent driving faster cars for this season,” said Weir. “Our goal in 2014 was getting to the front row of every final and being on the podium. This year, our only goal is winning.”

 

Subaru Rally Team USA will begin their 2015 rallycross season at the first Red Bull Global Rallycross round May 31 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Immediately followed by X Games June 5 in Austin, TX. For more details visit subaru.com/rally.
Full coverage of Subaru Rally Team USA is available on the Subaru Motorsports App. To download from the iTunes App store, click here, for Android App on Google Play store, click here. Follow the team on Instagram @srtusa and Twitter @srtusa.

About Subaru Rally Team USA
Subaru Rally Team USA is managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Method Race Wheels, Royal Purple, DMACK Tires, RECARO, PIAA and Race Proven. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/rally

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit media.subaru.com.