Frankfurt Preview: Subaru XV Crossover Concept

From the moment we saw the XV Concept at the Shanghai Motor Show last April, we knew that it was a thinly disguised study of Subaru’s new Impreza-based crossover. And we were right: the Japanese company announced today that the production version of the XV will make its world premiere at the opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.
Subaru also released a cropped sketch of the XV showing the car's front end. As expected, it doesn’t differ much from the concept, and we expect the same to be true of the interior.
The Concept was powered by a 2.0-liter flat-four engine coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which will most likely make it on the XV. Power will be directed, as is customary for Subaru’s models, to all four wheels.
Production of the new Subaru XV will begin in late 2011 and the first deliveries are expected in early 2012.

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Subaru-Based Crossover Prototype Comes out of the Closet

Back in the corporate heydays of GM, before the Detroit automaker went bust, the General would re-badge just about anything it could get its hands on if it were to make a fast buck without breaking a sweat.
This lazy corporate mentality was not only limited to GM’s American products but it spread throughout the entire company. Saab and even Subaru were subjected to this crude process, which was mostly limited to swapping badges and grilles.
When GM controlled the fate of Saab and held a 20 percent share of Subaru, the Detroit company's executive gurus came up with the bright idea of re-badging Subaru models as higher-end Saabs and selling them for a premium.
The first product of the Saabaru project was the Saab 9-2x, which was nothing more than a Subaru Impreza hatchback with a different nose job and a re-trimmed interior. It was also the last production model of the sort as the following year, GM sold its Subaru’s shares back to the Japanese carmaker’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries.
But not before it finished a prototype named the Saab 9-6 that was built on the Subaru B9 Tribeca crossover. And even though most of us had heard about the 9-6, no one outside of Saab and GM had ever actually seen the crossover model, up until now, that is.
The Swedes decided that it was time for the prototype model to come out of the darkness and into the light of Saab’s museum in Trollhättan, Sweden.
Discovered and photographed by Steven Wade, the man we came to know as the founder of the Saabsunited website and who is now part of the Swedish firm’s social media team, the 9-6 is a typical product of GM’s re-badging process.
And by that we mean a Saab nose plus some minor changes to the exterior and interior trim.
Wade also mentioned on the company’s website that GM also developed a three-door prototype of the Saab 9-6, but its whereabouts remain unknown.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Subaru Signs MoU to Manufacture Compact SUV

Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Tan Chong Group for the local production of an unnamed compact SUV in Malaysia.

The only compact SUV in Subaru’s current range is the Forester, though the vehicle in question may be the upcoming Impreza-based crossover that was previewed by the XV Concept (pictured above) at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in China this past April.

The Japanese automaker said an initial assembly of 5,000 vehicles per year will begin in October 2012 at an existing production facility of Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd (TCMA). The vehicles will be sold in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia through the Tan Chong Group’s Subaru network.

FHI established a partnership with Tan Chong Group in 1987 when the latter was appointed the Subaru distributor in Singapore. The Tan Chong Group has since expanded the sales and distribution network of Subaru vehicles across ASEAN countries that now include Cambodia, Southern China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

PHOTO GALLERY

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VIDEO: Subaru in the Midst of Saudi Women Driving

Last month, a 32-year old woman named Manal al-Sharif was arrested in Saudi Arabia for committing the crimes of… driving and posting a video on Youtube urging other women to drive too.
This is strictly forbidden by the Wahhabi sect of Suni Islam which is Saudi Arabia’s religion, as women are not allowed to apply for a driver’s license or mix with men (e.g. in service or gas stations) or even leave the home without male company.
Even though al-Sharif was released 10 days later, her arrest resulted in a group of women named "Saudi women for Driving" to campaign in favor of lifting the ban on women’s driving in the Kingdom.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has publicly supported the group who defied the royal family’s regime by driving in Saudi Arabian streets on June 17.
Now the group is putting pressure on Subaru and its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, to leave the country until the prohibition is lifted. The Japanese company was selected because it is considered progressive and has marketed its products to women. It is also quite possible that the group’s next targets will be Cadillac and Hyundai, the two brands of cars driven by al-Sharif.
Fuji Industries and Subaru spokesman, Kenta Matsumoto, commented that the company’s Saudi Arabia dealer’s “haven’t received information of any campaigns. We only have dealers, not factories, in the country and our annual sales are limited to 300-400 units”.

VIDEO

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VIDEO: Subaru Impreza WRX STI’s Record Run at the Isle of Man TT

After seeing the growing the attention and interest on Mark Higgins' record lap time -and not to mention, a very close call with a wall during the practice runs- in a U.S. specification 2011 Impreza WRX STI 305HP at the historic Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, Subaru’s American arm issued a new video of the event.
The former British Rally Champion achieved speeds of up to 162 MPH (260 km/h) and a lap time of 19 minutes 37 seconds over the 37-mile track, which runs through several small towns with trees, stone walls, and buildings and includes more than 200 corners.
The video highlights Higgin’s lap that averaged 115.356 MPH, while the British driver also talks us through a chilling moment at Brey Hill when he momentarily lost and then regained control of the WRX STI at more than 150 MPH (241km/h).
Aside from the necessary safety modifications such as a Lifeline fire suppression system, Hockley Motorsports roll cage, and motordrive competition seats, the WRX STI was also fitted with Mintex brake pads (but with stock calipers and rotors), a louder open exhaust to warn spectators of its arrival, and retuned springs and dampers to accommodate the numerous high-speed jumps on the circuit. In addition, Subaru’s engineers turned off the car’s speed limiter.
Commenting on the event that marked the test runs, Higgins said:

"We were only able to get two practice runs and on our second practice I had the biggest 'moment' of my career. We had a passenger on the run and so coming into Bray Hill at more than 150 MPH, the extra weight compressed the suspension more than on previous runs and shifted the Subaru to the left and then right as I corrected--it was a real tank slapper. The whole thing went by so quickly that we never slowed below 110 MPH, and then we were back on the power. It was amazing and the helicopter shots really show just how hairy it really was."

VIDEO

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