SUBARU Australia has hinted the new-generation BRZ, WRX and WRX STI efficiency halos won’t be alone for lengthy after they start to reach in showrooms later this 12 months and early 2022 with native executives suggesting a sizzling Forester may additionally be on the playing cards, in addition to a reimagined Levorg and a force-fed Outback.
Talking completely to GoAuto on the digital launch of the brand new sixth-generation Outback, Subaru Australia normal supervisor Blair Learn stated there was some product within the pipeline away from the established efficiency halos that may “reinvigorate” followers’ ardour for the model, particularly within the efficiency SUV phase.
“We completely love the eagerness that exists for the model and I feel possibly we’ll circle again in about six to 9 months,” he stated.
“I feel what you’ll see coming will reinvigorate a few of that keenness and can present the Subaru-passionate those who Subaru is unquestionably in that area.
“We don’t assume it’s misplaced, and we expect there’s some actually thrilling stuff coming which can actually enchantment to people who find themselves Subaru loyalists at coronary heart, but additionally to an entire new era of Subaru lovers.”
Die-hard Subaru followers had been left disheartened final 12 months when the model launched the naturally aspirated Forester 2.5i Sport, lamenting the omission of forced-induction.
For reference, the model has not provided a performance-focused Forester since 2018 with the demise of the fourth-generation household hauler.
With a mid-life facelift for the Forester as a consequence of arrive Down Underneath later this 12 months, the stage is about for the rebirth of a devoted efficiency model, particularly given different manufacturers like Hyundai and Ford are capitalising on its absence with the upcoming and up to date releases of their respective Tucson N-Line and Escape ST-Line.
As droves of Forester followers now wait with bated breath, Subaru Australia nationwide company affairs supervisor David Rowley additionally revealed the mid-sized Levorg wagon can be morphing “into one thing barely totally different in our market” in comparison with the Japanese variations.
“What you see in Japan in the mean time cosmetically offers you some clues, what you see in Japan when it comes to specification varies fairly significantly from what we are going to get right here,” he stated.
“As a efficiency fanatic, you gained’t be disenchanted … I might maybe confer with it as a ‘turbocharged efficiency wagon’, not essentially as ‘Levorg’.”
Studying between the strains, we anticipate the subsequent Levorg to reach in Australia basically as a WRX wagon – maybe even carrying the WRX nameplate – reviving the basic twin physique type line-up that has been provided in each earlier era WRX, save for the present fourth-gen which is sedan solely.
Extra gasoline is added to the fireplace in relation to the styling of the 2 fashions with the next-gen WRX anticipated to borrow closely from the JDM Levorg’s catalogue of visible cues, becoming properly with Mr Rowley’s feedback of the Australian automobiles trying “barely totally different”.
The present Levorg launched in Australia in 2016 as a semi-successor to the extinct Liberty wagon whereas additionally offering clients with a much bigger, barely softer and extra sensible various to the centered WRX.
Gross sales Down Underneath haven’t been overly fruitful nevertheless with the Rex-based wagon being outsold thrice over by the Liberty in 2020 with simply 306 items bought nationwide.
Reinventing the brand new mannequin as a devoted WRX wagon nevertheless may show fruitful for Subaru given the hatch physique type made up 36 per cent of all third-gen WRX gross sales and 56 per cent of STI gross sales (third-gen).
The excellent news retains on coming too with the revelation that whereas it’s not provided from launch, Subaru Australia is pursuing the native introduction of the 194kW/376Nm force-fed 2.4-litre Boxer engine for the brand new sixth-generation Outback SUV – the identical mill earmarked for the brand new WRX.
In line with Mr Learn, there was loads of “suggestions from clients” in assist of providing the uprated powertrain with Mr Rowley including the native subsidiary is “definitely ” in securing it right here.
“It’s not at the moment an possibility from the manufacturing unit, however one thing we proceed to pursue and focus on,” Mr Learn stated.
In the meanwhile then the brand new Outback is simply being provided with a closely reworked model of the acquainted 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine good for 138kW/245Nm with the high-output engine accessible in different markets as a substitute for the now defunct 3.6R.
