Subaru celebrates March success

Distributor reckons it could have hit an even sales count had more stock been available.

Forester X (above) and new Outback were major contributors to Subaru’s March count.

PERFECT storm conditions – that’s what Subaru New Zealand attests led last month delivering a best-yet sales count for the brand.

A count of 461 new vehicle sales represents a 20 percent gain over the previous top sales month, January of 2019.

Subaru New Zealand managing director Wallis Dumper says the March result would not have been possible without the dealer network’s hard work. Many Subaru Centres were owner-operator businesses, some with the brand for more than 25 years.

“It’s been a challenging 12 months … and to see a result like this, only 12 months after the grim picture economists painted for our future, is extremely rewarding,” Dumper says.

The distributor attributes several factors contributing to the record March sales, including the recent release of a new Forester derivative, the X Sport.  This variant has immediately accounted for a third of Forester’s sales and also helped to produce a record sales month for Forester.

On top of this, last month’s count also included the brand-new Outback, which officially launched at the start of the month and recorded more 200 registrations. Dumper says the performance was a tribute to the car’s quality, and the impact of the marketing campaign.

Also impacting on the count was the arrival of several delayed shipments of allocated stock.

Everything, he said,  “added up to the much-needed perfect storm.”

Nonetheless, Subaru continues to feel the effect of supply constraints and he imagines that will continue to be the case, despite the his operation having been given huge support by Subaru Japan.

 We have customers waiting as some of our Subaru dealers are out of stock and we already have factory back orders through to the third quarter.

“We have been in the unfortunate situation of not being able to supply some of our new 2021 models, including the Subaru XV, which would have also set a sales record if we had been able to secure allocation.

“Unprecedented demand beyond what we are able to supply is a good problem to have, but we like to think that our customers understand the situation and are willing to be patient.”

“The reality is that we are probably missing sales and as a company, we are doing our best to mitigate this.”

Dumper acknowledges that other automotive manufacturers have also had record-breaking months.

“After the year we have had, this is a phenomenal boost for the automotive industry.  While we are yet to receive the final results for the monthly industry performance, March is expected to be an exceptional month across the board. Congratulations to all the automotive brands that have had an outstanding month and long may it last,” he says.

A limited-edition STI model will arrive at New Zealand dealerships in the coming months. Hot on the heels of this final STI edition, will be the arrival of the completely revamped 2022 WRX in the new year.

Supply chain challenges will have the biggest potential impact on specific dates for these model launches and they will be confirmed later in the year says Subaru New Zealand.

Grunty turbo four assigned to NZ Outback

 Promoted as a good replacement for the now defunct 3.6-litre six cylinder in the old model, the new engine is expected to arrive late next year.

 A PERFORMANCE four-cylinder engine with six-pot-equalling kapow and a more rugged off-road specification will deliver to the new Subaru Outback, launching in New Zealand tomorrow.

At an event for the new car in Queenstown, Subaru New Zealand managing Wallis Dumper said a highly-celebrated 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that presently only avails to the model in North America is NZ-bound, potentially before the end of next year.

It seems possible this engine will place into several derivatives, one with a Wilderness specification that is also set to hit the US soon and is designed to give the car even greater off-road robustness. Wilderness is intended to be a sub-brand - so, ultimately, there will likely be a Forester Wilderness as well, also fitting out with a lifted suspension, knobby tires, black six-spoke wheels, and a rougher appearance, including a reprofile front bumper and beefier side protection.

As things stand, the sixth generation Outback is here in three specification levels – Outback, Outback X and Touring – that respectively price at $49,990, $54,990 and $57,990.

 All run an updated version of the previous car’s mainstay 2.5-litre.

This normally aspirated, direct injection flat four unit generates 135kW and 245Nm – so, 6kW and 10Nm more than the outgoing engine. Optimal fuel economy is slightly improved, with 7.3 litres per 100km claimed.

That the new range does not continue with the 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine that ran in a $59,990 flagship appears to be of concern to  Subaru NZ.

 The H6 was popular with a sector who enjoyed its extra oomph for towing. At peak popularity, it achieved 25 percent of volume, though that desire cooled to an 18 percent take-up toward the end. 

Dumper is certain the 2.4-litre, which outputs, in US market format, 193kW and 360Nm would placate Outback fans who had supported the 3.6-litre, which delivered 191kW/350Nm.

All the new Outbacks cost more than their predecessors. In the outgoing line, the entry 2.5-litre car cost $47,490, the medium spec was $49,990 and the 2.5-litre Premium cost $52,490.

Even though the new car looks a lot like the one it replaces, it is by and large a fresh start. Dumper says it is a step up for sophistication; the biggest, safest, most technologically advanced and luxurious Outback ever.

 Subaru NZ is also driving interest with an intriguing customer support offer; the warranty cover will double to six years for any owner who also selects a servicing plan that costs $999.

There is no mystery about the MY21’s look and details as it has been on sale in North America for more than 12 months, with the world getting its first look when it was revealed at the 2019 Detroit motor show.

The NZ market look achieves a different grille to the US models and the wheel arch surround design is altered as well.

Outback has been available in NZ for 25 years and the recipe remains highly familiar: A high-riding wagon with a constantly variable transmission always full-time all-wheel-drive. 

The body is slightly larger and roomier and bases on the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) that debuted with the latest Impreza some years ago.

The MY21 car has an uprated towing capacity of 2000kg – an increase of 25 percent over the current model.

Subaru New Zealand has tailored an advertising campaign that centres on it being a GOOAT – a play on ‘greatest of all time’ altered to stand for ‘greatest Outback of all time.’

The outgoing Outback contributed about 35 percent of SNZ’s volume but Dumper reckons this one can bring it back to when the model delivered 50 percent of the brand’s volume here. 

However, he concedes Subaru will be constrained, because of Covid-19 and also a worldwide shortage of computer microchips, in how many cars it can built.

Dumper says he has been allocated 3500 cars for this year, of which around half will be new Outbacks, yet he is concerned if the model takes off demand could outstrip ability to supply immediately. So, he will work to achieve extra cars if he can.

The new car delivers a 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and the latest generation of the company's 'EyeSight' driver assist system, including a driver awareness monitoring system using facial recognition software that arrived with the Forester.

Lane centring, autonomous emergency steering, emergency lane keep assist, speed sign recognition with intelligent speed limiter, lane departure warning with steering wheel vibration and lane departure prevention are fitted, but the full-strength kit is restricted to the Touring.

Other available technologies include forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

The model adopts as standard the updated X-Mode selectable terrain response system that has been an ingredient of the current Outback X and also first showed in the current Forester.

This combines driver-selectable drive modes for terrain and weather management with differential locks and hill descent control to simplify and improve capability on non-optimal driving surfaces.

Subaru NZ limbers up for next Outback

New platform, new equipment – probably not the new turbo engine.

CHRISTMAS is coming in late February for Subaru, this being when it will launch the next generation of a sales stalwart, the Outback.

An announcement today about the car’s release timing doesn’t spoil any element of surprise in respect to the kind of car we’re getting.

Subaru’s habit of releasing this model in North America well ahead of other markets continued with the sixth-generation line.  

The latest high-riding station wagon has been on sale Stateside for more than 12 months, with the world getting its first look when it was revealed at the 2019 Detroit motor show.

The recipe is highly familiar: A high-riding wagon powered by a flat-four petrol engine, married to a constantly variable transmission and always driving all four wheels, with styling that is very derivative of the outgoing car’s look, though the body is slightly larger and roomier and the car bases on a new underpinning, the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) that debuted with the latest Impreza.

Subaru NZ’s managing director Wallis Dumper says the car has benefitted from continuous innovation, “which has resulted in the biggest, safest, most luxurious and technologically advanced Outback ever.”

“It’s safe to say this new generation Outback has undergone a serious transformation. Our rugged All-Wheel Drive adventurer is already our most popular Subaru and we are excited to unlock further potential in this completely new Outback.”

The big question is respect to the technology will be in respect to what’s under the bonnet.

What’s still to be clarified is whether there’s potential for our line-up to include the turbo petrol engine offered in North America as an alternate to the 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol four-cylinder that carries over for another term, but with refinements.

Chances are … no. The car’s other significant right-hand-drive market, Australia, has confirmed today that all its variants will be powered by the naturally-aspirated unit.

Outputs likely to mirror those of the North American-market, 2.5-litre Outback, which develops 135kW of power and 238Nm of torque, so 6kW and 3Nm more than the current engine provisions. The turbo, meantime, is a 193kW/360Nm offer.

The car has an uprated towing capacity of 2000kg – an increase of 25 percent over the current model – and also delivers a 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, alongside nappa leather-accented seat trim. 

Safety and technology is almost expected to be a feature of the new model, including the latest generation of the company's 'EyeSight' driver assist system, and the driver monitoring system as per the Forester. 

Other available technologies are expected to include forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and a 360-degree camera.

The model adopts as standard the updated X-Mode selectable terrain response system that has featured in the current Outback X. This combines driver-selectable drive modes for terrain and weather management with differential locks and hill descent control to simplify and improve capability on non-optimal driving surfaces.

Subaru confirms electric vehicle, NZ distributor keen

Auckland office has sought more info about car, a co-development with Toyota.

Subaru shared this image today

EUROPE will be served first, but if Subaru’s new battery-electric SUV ever becomes available for New Zealand use, the distributor will be an eager adopter.

That’s the word today from Subaru New Zealand managing director Wallis Dumper in reaction to head office in Japan acknowledging its first electric vehicle is under development.

“We would definitely be interested in anything electric, particularly anything electric that comes in four-wheel-drive,” he said in reaction to the unfolding news about the car.

“We will seriously consider anything with an ‘e’ association to it.”

A sports utility, similar in size to the Forester, the new model will be built on a new bespoke electric vehicle platform shared with Toyota.

Intention is to launch it in the first half of this decade, although it's tipped it to be revealed next year.

Because it will be built on an electric-only architecture, it's expected to get a new name; Japanese media are reporting that it will be called Evoltis, which surprises Dumper.

He points out that name is already used for a Latin America-market version of Ascent, the large seven-seater SUV that Subaru only makes in left-hand-drive and aims primarily at North America. 

Toyota announced its involvement in the EV co-operation last week, including that the platform will be known as e-TNGA and that it will develop a RAV4-sized battery-reliant car.

The architecture is designed to be highly adaptable to allow for vehicles of different lengths and can be used for front-, rear- and four-wheel-drive layouts, thanks to the ability to fit motors to both axles. It can also accept multiple battery sizes.

While not confirmed by either firm, the new Subaru EV is likely to be 'twinned' with that Toyota machine, according to the website for British motoring weekly, Autocar.

Beyond the use of the shared platform, Subaru has released no further technical details of the new EV, saying that it will divulge more details in 2021.

Dumper says he can be of no assistance either – the announcement to media today has been the only official word. He’d like to know more and that view has been shared with Japan. 

Earlier this year, Subaru displayed an electric concept car (above) at a technology briefing in January, and it's expected that the eventual production EV will take styling cues from it.

Subaru’s first EV is a major step in its electrification plans. The firm has recently introduced mild-hybrid e-Boxer versions of its XV and Forester and is aiming for at least 40 percent of its global sales to be either electric or hybrid by 2030. 

Dumper says those cars are selling satisfactorily and have also raised consumer interest in Subaru product in general. “If people come in to look at the hybrid but don’t buy it they often buy a non-hybrid version instead.”

Autocar says Subaru had previously planned for its first electric car to be based on an existing model on its own Global Platform, but it changed that concept due to its new partnership with Toyota.