In this months issue of Subaru Drive, I just read a interview with Takao Saito, Chairman, President, and CEO of Subaru of america and a few very intersting things came out. Here are some selected peices

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Q: Can you share with us your plans for Subaru over the next few years?

A: (part of it) "In 2004, we will introduce the next generation Legacy and Outback, and in 2005, Subaru will bring an all-new, seven-passenger car-based AWD vehicle with many of the attibutes of an SUV."

Q: Subaru has been known for vehicles like Legacy and Outback. Now Subaru also offers perfomance-oriented vehicles like the Impreza WRX. Why are you introducing these kinds of vehicles?

A: (part of it again) "Two years ago, we introduced the WRX, and it opened another market to us. SO out corporate strategy rests on two pillars: Crossover, which will continue to accoujnt for the majority of sales, and Driving Performance, which will offer special models to the driving enthusiast".

Q: Will Subaru continue this performance development?

A: (full responce) "Yes. The STi version of the WRX came next, and, with 300 horsepower, it is a very specail car. For the 2004 model year, we will offer Turbo versions of the Forrester and Baja. Turbo will be offered on the Legacy and Outback in the near future, so the full line will have a driving performance option. Subaru customers can choose the approach that suits them best."

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I knew parts of this allready... that the new legacy will be coming out next spring and that Turbo will be offered. I also knew that the Forrester and Baja Turbo were already offered. The largest thing that suprised me about this was the seven passenger SUV from Subaru? Has anyone else heard about this?

These are my conclusions about this:
1. Subaru is trying to set up more sales in non-weather prone areas by creating a seven-passenger car-based SUV to target the large SUV crowd.
2. The STi will DEFINATELY be a limited production car, most likely ending production at the end of 04 or at the latest, 05.
3. We will see more STi or high-performance models, that run in limited productions. Hopefully a Legacy STi and possibly a Forrester STi.
4. The New legacy will come with three engine choices at first at least. EJ25 N/A, the H63.0 N/A, and the EJ25T.
5. There will be at somepoint a STi Legacy to compete with the high performance 40-45k range sedans like BMW, Audi, Saab, Mercedes and the like.
These are only my predictions so dont flame me for it.
Cheers
-Jeff

 

One can only hope...
I think a concept drawing of the 7-passenger SUV was floating around some time ago though. But I don't really give a poo about that, I'm interested in the expansion of SOA's performance divisions. I hope the get rid of SPT and have STi only haha.

 

I'd like to see subie offer a mini van for the soccer moms... that thing would haul some serious ***. I think an AWD van with 200-250 hp would sell very well. Hell, my brother was surprised that the forrester pulled 180hp in the NA H4.

Subie engines definitely don't lack in power, I think a 7 pass vehicle would be a good move, but in that price range, you're fighting with those boats of giant SUVs. Then again, I haven't exactly looked at MSRPs of minivans lately, and I'm trying to do on the fly CDN-USD conversions... hey I'm an artist, not a mathemitician :P

 

Doesn't Renault already have a mini-van like that? I can't for the love-of-me remember what it was called though...

 

something like the Fspace or something... had the F1 engine in it, tho I don't think it was a mass market vehicle :P

 

Yeah that's the one! But I'd be happy with a Clio Sport anyway

 

Wow... I never thought of it that way...

DAMN GM!
Cheers
-Jeff