Subaru to join the diesel crowd?
Edmund's Inside Line has got the scoop on some
interesting developments over at Subaru. The Fuji Heavy Industries concern is reportedly working on a diesel
version of its "boxer" four-cylinder engine for the European market. The first 2007 models to receive the oil
burner, possibly a 2.2L turbocharged engine, will presumably be the Legacy and the Forester, with other models
possibly to follow. The move is necessary for Subaru to be even a small player in the European market.
Having said that, we can think of more than a few Americans who'd consider unhinging their checkbooks in celebration as
well.
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bhtooefr 8:21AM (3/14/2006)
Put that thing in a Baja (yes, I know, the Baja is being discontinued...), and I'd be all over that.
Subaru could single-handedly kill Volkswagen in Canada, and severely hurt them here in the US.
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James 8:23AM (3/14/2006)
GM put them onto this during the Saab tieup. Looks like Subaru are keeping the project alive for their own purposes.
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VW-Guy 8:48AM (3/14/2006)
"Subaru could single-handedly kill Volkswagen in Canada, and severely hurt them here in the US."
HAHA! There are NOT that many elbow patch plaid blazer wearing types in either country.
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John Walker 9:11AM (3/14/2006)
The interesting thing 'bout this one is that Subie showed a B5-TPH (Turbo Parallel Hybrid) concept at the Detroit show this year. Combine all the pieces, and you end up with a hybrid turbo-diesel boxer ... wow!
BTW, I have no idea where VW-Guy lives, but it's hardly "elbow patch plaid blazer wearing types" who drive Subies -- it's us damned treehuggers, left-wing progressives, and lotsa gay men & lesbians. Subaru owners vote Democratic more than any other brand out there (see study last year). Plus TONS of older folks who want a sturdy, practical, AWD vehicle without bells & whistles.
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bhtooefr 9:38AM (3/14/2006)
You do realize that 50% of VW's sales in Canada are TDIs, right?
And that 30% in the US are TDIs.
But, I'd imagine that there's a huge demand for a car that gets 40-50 MPGs, and has all wheel drive. Right now, you have to pay $4-6,000 to get a floorpan from a 4Motion car transplanted into a TDI if you want a 4Motion Jetta, Golf, or New Beetle (or convert a GTI R32, but who's gonna let you do that to their R32?)
If you want a Passat, you're talking $6-7,000 to convert an existing V6 gasoline-powered model with 4Motion to a diesel.
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Guenther 10:04AM (3/14/2006)
There are a few of us straight, conservative enthusiast types too. I've been itching for a diesel, AWD rally wagon for some time. Ideally with the overseas 2 spd t-case, although marketing would nix that as being too complicated.
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nick 10:31AM (3/14/2006)
"it's us damned treehuggers, left-wing progressives, and lotsa gay men & lesbians. Subaru owners vote Democratic more than any other brand out there (see study last year). Plus TONS of older folks who want a sturdy, practical, AWD vehicle without bells & whistles."
wow, i'm really in the minority of subaru owners. then again, i have a yellow wrx wagon, so i'm not your average subaru owner to begin with.
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AnotherVWFan 11:36AM (3/14/2006)
I really don't care which manufacturer provides the oppurtunity to purchase a diesel engine in their vehicle because I believe more should be doing it. Especially since they are thriving over seas. It drives me nuts that we (USA) don't learn from other countries. I would love to see a mid-size truck with a diesel engine...would make sense to me.
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JZeke 11:56AM (3/14/2006)
A diesel Outback would make a lot of sense, especially with a 7 speed DSG tranny.
I'd buy it in quartz gray, with a brown interior.
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Jeffrey 1:36PM (3/14/2006)
Fashions change so quickly now. Didn't realize the tuner crowd was wearing plaid jackets with the elbow patches. Well, I've got to finish eating my homemade yogurt and head out to my Sierra Club meeting before putting the finishing touches on the lecture for my class tonight.
Not that there's anything wrong with being that kind of person, but please. We're a diverse group. Maybe you were thinking of Saab in 1980? And all VW owners wear clunky shoes, black turtlenecks, and talk on their miniature cell phones while listening to Kraftwerk, right? Don't forget the Ford and Chevy guys, who singlehandedly keep the bandana and gunrack companies in business.
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Sam P. 3:03PM (3/14/2006)
Subaru owners (even of the Outback) are a diverse lot. I've seen several Outbacks running around here in my blue state with Bush '04 bumper stickers. Of course, Outbacks with Kerry-Edwards stickers still outnumber them about 2.5 to 1.
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Mr. Fletcher 4:00PM (3/14/2006)
To paraphrase the movie, "If you build it, I will buy it!"
Place the engine in either a Impreza/WRX wagon, Forester, Legacy wagon, or Outback please oh pretty please!!! Oh and don't forget the manual transmission please. I love Subies, but their biggest downside is their mediocre to bad mileage due to the AWD. I love the traction, but you pay for it.
Oh I'm neither a treehugger, left-wing progressive, or gay. I just love cars and would kill for a fun to drive, practical wagon, with all-wheel drive for the snow and rain we get around here. I can't wait for low sulfur diesel fuel here in the U.S.
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x23 9:25AM (3/15/2006)
i've been waiting for this for some time now. i really want a fun AWD diesel *car* with a manual transmission.
i was pretty excited when i heard the initial annoucement/rumor way back when with GM having Isuzu work on a diesel with Subaru. glad it is still happening and may actually come to market.
though of course... if precedent serves... the US will never get it. we never get any of the good diesels.
by the time this comes out though subaru will have managed to slap that ugly mug on the whole lineup. blech.
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