New Global Architecture for Subaru

9 years, 2 months ago - 25 August 2015, Automotive News

Subaru has kept its product lineup simple and focused -- mainly all-wheel-drive vehicles outfitted and designed for the United States, its major market, and powered by a handful of engines.

As new products roll out, Subaru will switch to a new global architecture that debuts on next year's 2017 Impreza hatchback and sedan. The architecture will underpin all future redesigns and a new full-size crossover.

BRZ: Subaru has skipped a freshening but upgraded entertainment features for the 2016 model that goes on sale later this year.

It also is offering a special edition 500-unit run of the Series.HyperBlue with a blue exterior and interior trim accented in blue. The Series.HyperBlue goes on sale later this year.

Subaru executives have said a second generation of the rear-wheel-drive car launched in 2012 is in the works. The new car could come in 2018.

Impreza: The redesigned four- and five-door compact will go on sale in late 2016. It will be produced at Subaru's factory in Indiana, where expansion for an additional 100,000 vehicles is underway. Expect the Impreza to be slightly larger and offer more upscale and high-tech options.

XV Crosstrek: Subaru will drop the XV part of the crossover's name later this year when the car gets a minor freshening, according to reports. The Impreza-based crossover will be redesigned in 2018.

WRX/WRX STI: The Series.HyperBlue special edition of 700 WRX STIs goes on sale later this year. The car will have minor performance improvements, a blue exterior and an upgraded interior.

The WRX/WRX STI sedans were redesigned last year, so no major changes are expected for a few years. According to reports, a hatchback is possible in 2018.

Legacy: A freshening is likely in 2018.

Forester: The crossover will be freshened in 2017.

Outback: A freshening is likely in 2018.

Plug-in hybrid: A plug-in hybrid powertrain will be offered in 2018. Subaru has said it will power a vehicle in its current range rather than an all-new model.

Seven-seat crossover:Subaru is deciding whether to make the new crossover due in 2017 a "big brother" with Outback's rugged and off-road-worthy styling, company executives said. Or it could get distinctive styling similar to the strategy with the Forester, a compact crossover smaller than the Outback.

Subaru's last larger crossover, the Tribeca, went out of production in January 2014 because of slow sales. The new awd crossover will be roomier than the Tribeca.