Subaru Australia has acknowledged that it may launch a brand new ute ought to sufficient native clients demand such a mannequin. This might give native buyers a smaller choice to pickups just like the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Nivara, and Mitsubishi Triton.
Whereas the Japanese automobile producer is finest recognized for producing fashions just like the Outback and Impreza, it bought a ute in Australia often called the Brumby (aka the BRAT within the U.S.) from 1978 to 1994. Demand for smaller pickups has jumped on the again of demand for automobiles just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz within the U.S. and Subaru’s mannequin may function a substitute for these.
Whereas just lately talking with Vehicles Information throughout the launch of the brand new Outback, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Learn acknowledged that he was conscious of demand for a new-age Brumby.
Learn: We Envision A Small Pickup From Subaru To Rival The Ford Maverick And Hyundai Santa Cruz
“It will be nice,” he mentioned. “We heard the suggestions on Outback. We heard the demand from the general public and the Subaru patrons saying they needed a turbo Outback. Tick! It’s right here. So we’re listening, we’re watching, we learn the feedback, we go to the boards, we see what clients are in search of and… it will be nice.”
Provided that each the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick use the underpinnings of pre-existing SUVs, Subaru may do the identical factor with a brand new Brumby, basing it across the Subaru World Platform utilized by fashions together with the Impreza, Forester, and Outback. And, on condition that neither the Maverick nor Santa Cruz are bought Down Underneath, Subaru may have the market to itself.
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“We’re at all times listening,” Learn added. “We at all times hearken to the shopper. It’s not: what do we expect? It’s: what’s the buyer saying – what are they in search of? We hear the [Brumby] query on a regular basis and it has been some time – we get requested on a regular basis. We go round Australia and we get requested – and we’re listening.”
