- New Subaru models include the Toyobaru sport coupe next spring, followed by a hybrid in 2013.
- Subaru wants to boost its global sales volume from a projected 633,000 cars during the current fiscal year to 900,000 by 2016.
- Much of that growth will come from the U.S. and China, where Subaru will begin local production shortly, possibly in a joint venture with Chery.
TOKYO — Subaru plans to launch four new models over the next five years, including the Toyobaru sport coupe next spring, followed by a hybrid in 2013 that could be based on the 2009 Hybrid Tourer concept.
The new models are a key element of a new five-year business plan, called Motion-V, announced Wednesday by Subaru's corporate parent, Fuji Heavy Industries.
The Motion-V plan also calls for Subaru to boost global sales from a projected 633,000 cars during the current fiscal year to 900,000 by 2016. Much of that growth will come from the U.S. and China, where Subaru will begin local production shortly, possibly in a joint venture with Chinese automaker Chery.
Subaru also said it plans to boost fuel economy across the board by an average 30 percent. In addition, it wants to "become the world's leading brand in safety performance by providing all-around safety that comprises risk-avoidance technologies (active safety), systems in collision safety (passive safety), and pre-crash safety features."
Among those features is the company's EyeSight active driving assist system that uses stereo camera technology.
Inside Line says: Subaru will be one of the last to arrive at the hybrid party.
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touringtest says:
02:51 PM, 07/08/2011
Hope they make a new Justy. The one they tease contestants with on The Price Is Right is looking a little sad.
nj2481 says:
09:36 AM, 07/08/2011
@christopher42
Fail.
@_wraith_
You're too nice to n00bs!
:)
dgmail says:
03:14 AM, 07/08/2011
Well with these two manufacturers, you're going to have two things for sure;
Your car will be ugly and expensive to fix (subaru),
and your car will be a recalled death trap (turd-ota).
wuneyeddog says:
12:27 PM, 07/07/2011
I hope that one of their new products is a replacement for the B9 Tribeca. I'd love to have a Subaru big enough to replace my Odyssey, but there's not a chance that I'll ever buy one of those. My Legacy GT would love a big brother...
ed124c says:
09:52 AM, 07/07/2011
#wraith: I, being a Subaru man, would prefer the more formal form: Subayota. I don't particularly like the Subie nickname.
Actually, Toyota and Subaru could just give the two models sort of the same name: The Subayota for Subaru, and Toyobaru for Toyota.
Well, anyway, they could. I think, though, that Subayota sounds too much like a buffed Yoda, and Toyobaru sounds like a Japanese war ship.
I have now officially had my '05 Outback for seven years. It looks and operates like new. This is the longest I have ever owned a car. I can hold out until this coupe, whatever they are going to call it, appears.
greenpony says:
09:36 AM, 07/07/2011
"buy-buy" eh?
_wraith_ says:
09:33 AM, 07/07/2011
@christopher42 - Not sure if serious, but "Toyobaru" is just the nickname for this car, which is a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru. We haven't gotten an official name for the Subaru version, other than "Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept" which is kind of a mouthful. So most refer to it as the Toyobaru, or Subieyota.
The Toyota version has been known as the FT-86, and more recently as the Scion FR-S.
christopher42 says:
08:37 AM, 07/07/2011
Toyobaru? WTF thats a terrible name are you saying you like TOYOta?
b_thunder says:
08:16 AM, 07/07/2011
Every brand that tried such rapid expansion strategy has hit the "ceiling" while still a very long way before achieving their goals. Toyota is the latest example. To achieve this Suabru will have to become mainstream - which means buy-buy hard-core cars like WRX, STi, Outback, etc.
Somehow I doubt i will replace my 05 WRX with another *new* Subaru - maybe with a used 2011 WRX...
ms3hothatch says:
07:35 AM, 07/07/2011
I expect leaks/teasing by October/November and unveiling in December's Tokyo Auto Show.