Report: Subaru considering expanding lineup w/ larger crossover, more luxurious models, BRZ Turbo still very possible
WardsAuto reports that Subaru is currently considering a slew of new models as sales outlooks appear to be positive for the Japanese brand.
“Hopefully we’re underestimating (our target),” Subaru’s director of product management, Ken Lin, told WardsAuto. “If the market is strong and Forester launches strong, we could (surpass it).”
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Currently, Subaru predicts sales to jump thanks to the introduction of the new updated 2014 Forester, which debuted at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
More importantly, Subaru is also keeping a tight watch on its recent and very popular BRZ two-door sports car, which has already received a lot of praise around the world.
“That segment has to have something fresh to keep the interest level high,” he elaborated. “It will be important for us to manage the lifecycle of that product.”
Lin declined to comment on a turbocharged BRZ and said that current turbocharged engines won’t properly fit in the BRZ’s engine bay. However, he added that solutions are “not out of the question.”
As for other future models, Lin said that a larger three-row CUV crossover may be in Subaru’s future as the current three-row crossover, the Tribeca, suffers from slow sales and assembly line capacity restraints.
“Luxury is certainly one of the opportunities with profit potential,” Lin commented. “We could do touring-editions of products but would not be competing with BMW or Mercedes. There is no move to create another brand.”
– By: Chris Chin
Source: WardsAuto
