By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Bob
http://subaru.com.au/news/?newsid=11831
Cheers!
Bob
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?http
Remember our discussions here a few months back, regarding Subaru changing their current model names to an alpha-numeric system, like that favored by the Europeans? It may begin with the new crossover. Remember Subaru copyrighted the name "B9" recently? According to this link, that could be the crossover.
Bob
;-)
Ross
In a recent interview, Hisashi Miyazaki, general manager of Subaru's product and portfolio planing division, also said that the whole strategy behind the Impreza was being re-considered, hinting that the next-generation Impreza could be quite a different car
Elsewhere at Subaru, bosses are non-committal when asked if the company will continue it's cooperation with Saab. A replacement for the next year's 9-2 could be needed by 2006.
Frankly, I'm not surprised. I think the B11S is just the first of several new concept vehicles that are designed to prepare the public for some radical changes from Subaru.
Bob
This supports Bob's conspiracy theory about the WRX perhaps getting more power. The Forester is bigger, yet its lower in that numerical lineup. The STi is too rare to put the entire lineup above the Forester. 2.5T, then?
250hp H6 in the 7 passenger sounds good, and we'll see it as early as January 2003? Sweet. It won't arrive until 2004.
They also mention a 3.6l version of the engine. They must stroke it, but then it'll only fit in wider platforms, like the 9 and 11.
-juice
Ed
7 passenger sketch? Where?
-juice
Bob
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/ae_news_story.php?id=38174 above:
"Auto Express magazine has an exclusive first sketch of the new car, based on information from sources inside Subaru. The as-yet-unnamed SUV..."
It's a British publication that we get at some of the better newstands/bookstores here in Toronto but it's usually a few weeks to a month old and somewhat sporadic (ie we don't seem to get every issue). Hope the sketch will turn up on the net sometime soon.
-juice
Interesting. I would have thought the numbering is based on size rather than output. The Forester and Impreza should be flipped, IMO.
Even if it was based on power output, the WRX is not the entire Impreza line.
Ken
The Forester XT is bigger, quicker, and more expensive than the WRX. Doesn't sound like a lower-end model, does it?
-juice
Aeroplane Jelly is Jell-o to you. It is an Australian icon like Vegemite, not leat because the makers had a great jingle "I like Aeroplane Jelly, Aeroplane Jelly for me..." Perhaps that does not come through too well without the music, but very popular down under.
XT is out here in a fortnight and latest tip is that Liberty (Legacy) will be released in September.
Cheers
Graham
do ya think?
-juice
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/
Go to: News > News Archieve > July 10, 2003
Subaru Muddies The Waters
Watch out Land Rover, Subaru is heading off-road. Having been crowned king of the tarmac with its high-performance Impreza range, the firm's new SUV aims to take on all-comers in the rough stuff.
Auto Express magazine has an exclusive first sketch of the new car, based on information from sources inside Subaru. The as-yet-unnamed SUV will be developed on a revised version of the current Legacy platform, and feature a rugged-looking body with three rows of seats.
Expected to debut at January's Detroit Motor Show, the car will go on sale in 2005. Crucially, the SUV will be the first model to include significant design input from new chief stylist Andreas Zapatinas, and as such will be a test of the company's future design direction.
The first cars are to be powered by a still-secret 250bhp 3.0-litre flat-six engine. However, to make a mark in this competitive segment, Subaru realises it must have more power, and is working on a larger 3.6-litre version. Sources confirm that it will be naturally aspirat-ed and generate in excess of 300bhp.
The off-roader is further evidence of Subaru's ambitious plans to revolutionise its entire model line-up. This started when it unveiled the 400bhp B11S concept, which hinted at a possible future flagship, at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Inside Subaru, this four-door coupé is referred to as 11 - hence B11S - while other models have been given similar codenames. Forester is 3, Impreza is 5, Legacy is 7 and the new SUV is 9. There's speculation that these will ultimately form a new badging system for all Subarus, with the company swapping names for numbers. Peter Lyon
Sounds like a cross between the Pilot and Touareg. Maybe(?) a tad smaller if it's based off the new Legacy/Outback, as is mentioned here.
If this is true, it would bode well for the next-generation Baja, assuming of course, that it too would be based off this crossover platform.
Bob
My only fear is price, if it's a mid $30s vehicle it'll be a bit out of reach for a lot of us.
Give it 8" of clearance with the self-leveling rear shocks, a low range, and a 247hp H6 standard (more power optional). Make the wheelbase pretty long so the overhangs aren't like the Outback, limiting angles of approach/departure.
But equip it like the standard H6 Outback for starters, cloth and no moonroof. Then make leather and the roof stand-alone options.
I don't want to be forced to get a $4000 Macintosh stereo just to get a few desirable options.
-juice
2) Power: 250hp will be enough if its priced in the in the low $30s as people will live with the lack of power.
3) Getting attention: If we are talking about more than $35k it better show up with no less than 300hp. Just another crossover/SUV will not make it a sell. A nice 300+hp number will at least get it attention. The Volvo V70 R wagon did just that. 300hp, AWD, 6spd, + some options for about $40k. Thats pretty cool.
4) Options: Exactly what Juice said. Get the important stuff standard. Dont pack options.
Bob
-mike
http://www.auto-report.net/index.html?tm200301.html
Bob
Out of curiosity I wanted to check the V6 Touareg's curb weight, and it's heavy, at 5086 pounds. Also noted a 1400 pound payload and 7716 towing.
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/volkswagen/touareg/100303029/spec- - s.html?tid=edmunds.n.prices.leftsidenav..8.Volkswagen*
I'd be very surprised if the Subaru crossover is anywhere near that heavy.
Bob
Based on the weights of the Trooper, Touareg, Pilot and H-6 VDC, I bet the new Subie crossover weighs in at ~ 4300 pounds.
Bob
I agree with nematode, it needs to be a serious 7 passenger vehicle and a serious off-road vehicle to be some individuality in the SUV space. I returned from a Shenandoah Valley camping trip in the GT and I'll add a self-leveling rear suspension (a la JDM and AU) to my wish list. The chicanes on Rt 211 up and over the mountains were a hoot!
..Mike
..Mike
Will they but a Subaru? Only if has 300+ HP and every fancy option known to man. Yeah...I'm guessing it will be priced beyond the current Subaru owner's budget.
Mark
Bob
There's also a 35th Anniversary Edition H-6 Outback this year. It's most likely the cloth-seat H-6, judging by the way it's priced. The '04 Legacy L-SE is also now called just the '35th Anniversary Edition.'
An easy way to spot the '04 Outback is to look for chrome vehicle badging instead of the previous gold badging.
Bob
Tischer in Silver Spring, MD has the MY04 WRX (old news?). The new front end looks nice (though I had no problem with the last one).
..Mike
..Mike
Bob
oh and I believe you'll enjoy whetting your whistle more than wetting it.
-mike
Oops, maybe C&D meant a Fuji Heavy Industries turbo. What, FHI makes turbos? Is this true? I couldn't see the manufacturing plate on the turbo when I showed the XT's motor to my kids at Tischer. Actually, I showed them the "hot - don't touch" icons on the turbo's heat shield.
>welcome to last month!
Yes, I admit to being a Rumpel Stilskin.
Bob: I meant the *real* 2.5 turbo, the 250hp. <g>
..Mike
..Mike
..Mike
And all the other Mikes (and Daves)? Good luck! :-)
Mike: go drive the XT, it *has* 250hp, I swear. I don't believe Subaru's claim for a second.
Other examples of understating HP: Neon SRT-5, BMW M3, NSX, JDM WRX STi, etc.
-juice