Subaru locked and loaded

THREE all-new models in the next three years: that's the catch-cry from a pumped-up Subaru Australia as it gets set to grow the number of models in its range to five this month.

Subaru Oz says the company's first dedicated SUV, and its most expensive model ever, is the missing piece in its local model puzzle, but even with unlimited supply Tribeca sales will comprise less than a third that of Subaru's slowest-selling model, the Outback.

Which is why executives within the "premium" Japanese maker are so excited about the prospects of next year’s redesigned Impreza small car, one of Subaru's most popular models.

Due on sale here during the third quarter of 2007, the all-new Impreza hatch will be followed by a new sedan, both of which will introduce a new European-inspired design language that moves away from the polarising US-oriented styling themes of Tribeca.

"(Tribeca) is obviously designed for the US – that was its primary aim," said Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior. "But a more stylish and more globally acceptable design will flow through to some other new models we'll see from late 2007."Subaru Australia marketing chief Graeme Woodlands concurs. "You won't recognise a single thing from the current Impreza," he said, confirming Subaru's smallest model in Australia will head in yet another design direction when it's renewed next year.

Subaru says a smaller 1.5-litre boxer engine launched this month in the UK's current Impreza will be offered in New Zealand but not Australia - yet.

"How much of a difference between a 2.0-litre and a 1.5 would there be?" questioned Mr Senior. "We haven’t really looked at it seriously. We’d have to be at around $20,000 and by the time we made it happen it would be too close to the next-generation Impreza."However, Mr Senior did not rule out the possibility of a 1.5-litre engine joining the next-generation Impreza range.

"We've had no discussions and have no plans (to introduce an Impreza 1.5) – certainly not from launch," he said.

At the other end of the model range, Impreza will form the basis of an all-new STi performance flagship, which is expected to be further differentiated from lesser variants via more unique styling elements and a more potent 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer, which is rumoured to produce about 225kW.

"Expect big things from the next STi too, which will push the envelope even further," said Mr Woodlands.

The following year (2008) will see Subaru launch the third generation of its top-selling model, the compact Forester SUV, while redesigned versions of the Liberty and Outback ranges will emerge in 2009.

Both models could benefit from input by Toyota, which bought an 8.7 per cent stake in Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries last year, when General Motors sold its 20 per cent share.

The new Outback is expected to introduce Subaru's first diesel engine globally, and the company's four-cylinder horizontally-opposed turbo-diesel is then expected to filter across to Liberty, Impreza and possibly even Forester.

"The diesel engine will be shown at the European motor shows in 2007 and production for Europe is set for 2008, but there's no timeline for Australia," said Mr Senior. "Don't expect to see it here before late 2008 at the absolute earliest. There's no definitive timing for a Tribeca diesel."A six-cylinder diesel boxer is also in the Subaru pipeline, based on the modular design of the Outback's H4 oil-burner, likely to displace 3.0 litres and aimed directly at the European market, which Subaru hopes will eventually generate 100,000 extra sales for the company.

Europe is also where a full-sized seven-seat AWD people-mover, based on the Liberty platform and closely related to the Tribeca, will be directed. Likely to become Subaru's sixth model line here, the born-again project will produce a replacement for Subaru’s current Japanese-market Traviq – essentially a rebadged Opel Zafira.

Though the US market is not expected to bring significant growth for Subaru, a midlife facelift for the US-oriented Tribeca is likely to bring a larger, 3.6-litre version of the 3.0-litre flat-six petrol engine that powers Liberty, Outback and Tribeca. Like the diesel four, it will eventually flow through to other Subaru models.

Further afield, Subaru's association with Toyota, a leader in petrol-electric propulsion systems, will also allow it to offer its first hybrid models. The first is expected to be a hybrid Outback, which should become a reality before 2015.

Subaru showed a hybrid concept at the 2005 Tokyo motor show, which powered its symmetrical all-wheel drive system via a 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer four mated to an electric motor.

Dubbed the B5-TPH, it also previewed styling cues for the upcoming Impreza.

Subaru has also been appointed by stakeholder Toyota to develop a micro-car for both companies to sell in the US and Europe, to which Subaru’s Japanese-market R1 provides an insight.

What's coming from Subaru:
Impreza redesign	October 2007
October	2007
Liberty/Outback redesign	2009