Subaru Australia continues push for more power

WITH the turbocharged Outback XT now a reality for the right-hand-drive Australia and New Zealand markets, Subaru Australia will continue its push for unique variants and drivetrains, including the likely return of a turbocharged Forester and a 2.5-litre engine for the sixth-generation Impreza.

Speaking to GoAuto at the MY23 Outback launch, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read said that the two-year journey to make Outback XT a reality for this market (it was previously a North America-only, left-hand-drive-only model) has made it easier to develop future variants that are unique to Australia and New Zealand, based on their suitability and customer appeal.

“The Outback turbo is here, so big tick,” said Mr Read. “Now we look at how we carry that momentum on and continue to grow variants in the range … That’s the constant drive we’re on at the moment – the right variants to have across the range that appeal to existing Subaru owners. We’re really, really conscious of that.”

Mr Read again acknowledged the off-road-focused, Japanese-sourced Outback and Forester ‘Wilderness’ variants that he previously all but confirmed will expand Subaru Australia’s line-up later this year and was well aware of a desire to see a flagship Forester XT return to these shores.

“We’ve heard XT Forester come up a number of times with that nameplate coming back,” he said. “We’ve got a wish list this long, but what can (we) deliver on that customers are really looking for – particularly for loyal owners?”

Mr Read admitted that the lack of a six-cylinder engine option when the current-generation Outback launched in early 2021 “was a real challenge”.

“We had existing owners going, ‘I’m used to the style of drive and the style of performance, what have you got for me?’,” he said, adding that overcoming this challenge had potentially opened up opportunities for Subaru Australia.

“So we’re really happy that we’ve been able to bring that type of product back for them, and now it’s ‘how do we continue to extend this type of thinking across the range?’,” explained Mr Read.

“We have a really great relationship with the factory and the product development team, and dialogue on ‘what are the right products?’ Obviously, it’s a really interesting time in the auto industry at the moment, making decisions for a couple of years ahead on what type of product, what’s a customer demanding.”

However, Subaru Australia is taking a cautious approach in terms of targeting any variant proliferation at a proven need and desire in the market.

“We are (getting feedback about) having more choice available, so making the right decisions is critical. A lot of our work just focuses on what are our customers looking for … making sure we deliver for them and think about them first in terms of Subaru staying true to what Subaru is,” said Mr Read.

While the emphasis on Subaru Australia’s push for greater choice has been directed towards turbocharged flagships – particularly the Forester XT, which disappeared when the current model launched in mid-2018, despite higher-performance variants accounting for more than 20 percent of the total volume of its main competitor, the Mazda CX-5 – this exercise in expanding drivetrain choice is not solely about turbos.

Enter the 2.5-litre Impreza RS, and its close cousin, the 2.5-litre Crosstrek. Mr Read said that as production becomes more consistent, volumes improve and wait times decrease for customers, the opportunity to introduce new and different things to market becomes increasingly open.

In terms of sourcing these larger-capacity flat-four engines from Japan (they were previously only available from Subaru’s North American manufacturing plant in left-hand drive), Mr Read said this was no longer an obstacle.

“They’re under discussion and review, as to are they the right fit for the market,” he said.

When asked specifically about reviving the Impreza RS, Mr Read implied that it was a natural progression for Subaru Australia to offer an RS model with the sixth-generation Impreza range.

“I think you’ve seen from what we’ve done with XT, WRX has got an RS and a GT, we’re fans of those iconic nameplates, and I think customers are too,” he said, though without confirming anything about an Impreza RS’s potential powertrain.

For the North American market, Subaru’s 2.5-litre direct-injection flat four produces 136kW and 239Nm in the Crosstrek and new-gen Impreza, compared to 115kW/196Nm from the smaller 2.0-litre that has already been confirmed for both models in Australia.

As for the impending and much-needed improvements to Subaru’s existing, modestly capable hybrid drivetrain, Mr Read confirmed that “we’re starting to get closer”.

“There’s been significant investment from Subaru, which they’ve announced, in terms of hybrid production, EV production, and what that means for the rest of the decade. So we’re getting much closer to that now starting to come through into availability and production volumes for market. Stay tuned, but it’s getting closer,” he said.

Given the importance of the forthcoming sixth-generation Forester to Subaru’s global fortunes, expect this next-generation hybrid system to debut in the 2024 Forester, and then transition into the Crosstrek Hybrid and Impreza Hybrid shortly thereafter.

Another model likely to go hybrid is the Ascent, a three-row large SUV that is a successor to the Tribeca in the North American market and one Subaru Australia has its eye on as a potential competitor to the Toyota Kluger and Kia Sorento.

Mr Read indicated that the Ascent is another model on his wish list but could not confirm anything at this time.

“Discussions continue. We would love to see it happen,” he said.