TOKYO — Subaru’s next-generation Crosstrek will profit not solely from rugged styling, higher driving dynamics and a bunch of recent creature comforts, however a tail wind from rising manufacturing.
The third-generation subcompact crossover, the model’s second-bestselling nameplate worldwide, was unveiled Thursday in Japan throughout a web based briefing by Subaru CEO Tomomi Nakamura.
The Japanese firm is banking on the redesigned Crosstrek to experience the momentum of quickly recovering output after months of stymied manufacturing and provide chain interruptions.
However it should nonetheless be awhile earlier than the favored nameplate lands stateside. Subaru mentioned the most recent Crosstrek will go on sale first in Japan in “2023 or later” earlier than being launched in different markets.
The Crosstrek is manufactured solely at Subaru Corp.’s Gunma manufacturing advanced in Japan. Subaru’s output within the nation rose 26 p.c in July, for a fourth-straight month of will increase — at the same time as its abroad manufacturing slumped 14 p.c through the month. For the 12 months by way of July, nonetheless, home manufacturing was up solely 3.5 p.c after manufacturing slowed early within the 12 months.
The newest makeover offers the Crosstrek a better hood and protruding fenders for a “sense of robustness and energy.” The sharp entrance grille bars and LED headlights are designed to look each nimble and difficult, Subaru says. Beneficiant cladding is supposed to imbue a little bit of off-road aura.
The Japan-spec model will get two new blue shade choices: Offshore Blue Metallic and Oasis Blue.
Below the hood, the Japan market entry will pair a 2.0-liter engine with the corporate’s e-boxer hybrid system, which mates an influence increase electrical motor to a constantly variable transmission. Japan is predicted to get solely the hybrid variant, dumping the present gasoline possibility.
Subaru did not element powertrain choices for different markets. Within the U.S., the outgoing Crosstrek choices are a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline boxer engine, a 2.5-liter gasoline engine or a 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid setup.
U.S. gross sales of the Crosstrek have climbed 11 p.c this 12 months by way of August to 99,252, even because the model’s total gross sales fell 16 p.c to 355,457 amid tight inventories and crimped provide.
International gross sales of the Crosstrek declined 4.6 p.c by way of June to 96,916 automobiles. By comparability, U.S. gross sales over that six-month interval rose 9.1 p.c to 70,050 automobiles.
As output recovers, Subaru goals to stoke demand by making the subsequent Crosstrek extra of a driver’s car. Experience consolation, physique rigidity, braking, steering and noise discount all are improved.
It begins with new seats that higher cradle the pelvis and get a brand new rail mounting. The developments not solely cut back the experience roll and sway however increase consolation by damping vibration.
Physique rigidity has been elevated, and weight shed, by way of varied tweaks, together with using a brand new interior body physique design, onto which the outer physique panels are welded.
Dealing with is additional enhanced by the deployment of dual-pinion electrical energy steering that permits extra direct and instantaneous steering management. The usage of an electrical brake booster improves responsiveness, particularly throughout pre-collision emergency stops.
Among the many Crosstrek’s upmarket refinements is a multiview monitor that delivers a 360-degree top-down view across the car and the deployment of a wide-angle mono digital camera along with the normal stereo digital camera setup. The mono digital camera has already been deployed within the U.S. within the Ascent giant crossover and in a high grade of the Outback midsize crossover. As such, the subsequent Crosstrek could have the most recent model of Subaru’s trademark EyeSight driver-assist system.
Whereas the U.S. model of the car is named the Crosstrek, the Japanese counterpart has been known as the XV. Beginning with the subsequent technology, nonetheless, Subaru will relabel it the Crosstrek in Japan and all different world markets.