Autoblog

Subaru announces 2013 XV Crosstrek prices to start at $21,995*

George Kennedy — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST

Subaru has announced pricing for its new 2013 XV Crosstrek. The quasi-crossover starts at $21,995 for the Premium trim, while a Limited model carries an MSRP of $24,495 (*not including a destination charge of $795).

The XV Crosstrek is essentially a high-water Impreza five-door with a little extra cladding and ground clearance. Listed at 8.7 inches to be exact, the ground clearance is a healthy three inches greater than the standard Impreza.

The compact model will feature the same 2.0-liter Boxer engine as its pavement-bound brethren, generating 148 horsepower and 145 pound feet of torque. The XV effectively replaces the Subaru Impreza Outback, a model that was quietly discontinued when the fourth-generation Impreza showed up for 2012.

Subaru announces 2013 XV Crosstrek prices to start at $21,995* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek finally arrives Stateside

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Subaru

If the orange Subaru XV you see here looks familiar, it's because we've seen it before. Not only that, we've driven it. So why, then, would Subaru choose to unveil its high-riding Impreza yet again here at the 2012 New York Auto Show? It's coming to America, that's why. And the car displayed here in the Big Apple is the official U.S. model.

The XV Crosstrek is, essentially, a lifted Impreza that speaks to the Outback Sport models that came before it. It boasts a surprising 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru states that its engineers have made quite a few tweaks to the body and chassis to make the XV substantially more rugged than its Impreza kin.

Power comes from the same 2.0-liter boxer four that's found in the standard Impreza, putting out 148 horsepower and mated to either a five-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission. Naturally, all-wheel drive is standard, and because the XV is capable of achieving up to 33 miles per gallon on the highway, Subaru touts that it's the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive CUV on the market.

The XV Crosstrek goes on sale this fall and official pricing will be announced closer to that time, but we're guessing it'll start off somewhere in the neighborhood of the 2011 Outback Sport's $20,720 price of entry. Scroll down for Subaru's press release.

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek finally arrives Stateside originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru confirms debut of U.S. XV Crosstrek for NY

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Subaru

Subaru has announced it will debut the 2013 XV Crosstrek at next month's New York Auto Show. While based on the company's Impreza platform, engineers worked in several tweaks to the body and chassis to imbue it with a bit more crossover utility. Additional ride height delivers 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a smattering of black plastic cladding helps the vehicle further stand out from its donor platform.

A 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine provides power and should deliver up to 33 miles per gallon on the highway. That's not a stellar number for a vehicle this size, but as Subaru points out, it's good enough to help the XV Crosstrek nab the honor of being the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive crossover on the market. Buyers may bolt the engine to either a five-speed manual transmission or CVT.

Inside, the rear seats can be folded completely flat for around 52.4 cubic feet of cargo area. With the seats up, rear passengers can look forward to around 35.4 inches of leg room. Look for the XV Crosstrek to hit dealers this fall. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the full press release and keep an eye out for our New York Auto Show coverage starting April 4.

Continue reading Subaru confirms debut of U.S. XV Crosstrek for NY

Subaru confirms debut of U.S. XV Crosstrek for NY originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

David Kiley — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Subaru, First Drives

A Utility Knife For The Sensible Shoes Crowd

There are stories in every culture about a young man or woman who is supposed to marry someone sensible, attractive, a good cook and good provider. But when the protagonist of the story meets the would-be fiancee's more interesting, vivacious, funny and unconventional sibling or best friend, sparks fly and the original relationship doesn't stand a chance.

And so it was when we drove the 2013 Subaru XV through the roads and highways of Tuscany. On Day One, we drove the version the U.S. will get in the third quarter of next year. The first thing to hit us: déjà vu. This is the 2012 Impreza hatchback, albeit with cladding above the wheel wells and a a seriously jacked up stance. It will have the same, brand-new 2.0-liter flat-four as the Impreza hatch we tested a few months ago that is just hitting dealer lots. So what's the verdict? The XV can cook an acceptable pot of tomato sauce and cleans up nicely for Sunday mass. She's a nice girl and good company.

We should have left it there. We should have called it a test after Day One. We should have simply driven off with the girl we came to meet. Why? Because on day two of our drive, we met the cousin with the better personality, the longer legs, the Sophia Loren cheekbones and the killer personality: the 2.0 liter turbo-diesel with the manual transmission. We drove her through the winding back roads north of Florence amidst the Chianti vineyards, villages and Fiat fix-it shops, but she refuses to come to the States. You see, she will only date Europeans.

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru to call Impreza crossover XV Crosstrek

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Subaru

While we already knew that the 2012 Subaru Impreza would spawn the XV crossover overseas, now we may know what it's official name will be when it hits North America: XV Crosstrek.

Motor Authority is reporting that the compact crossover will be called XV elsewhere, but for the NA market, Subaru will be appending the Crosstrek badge. Apparently Subaru thinks this will help to further differentiate the new variant from the Impreza. Nominally an all-new model, the XV follows the same basic recipe as the long-running Impreza Outback Sport, a lifted-suspension version of the Impreza hatchback. According to the report, the Japanese automaker will also be dropping the Impreza name from the new WRX, when it arrives in 2013.

So why the new naming scheme? Here are two speculative reasons. The first is that Subaru has already seen good sales results from similar moves in the past, like splitting the Outback and Legacy into two separate lines. The second is that Impreza is well-known as an inexpensive compact car. By divorcing its variants from their humble roots, it will likely allow Subaru to charge more for them.

As to the name itself, Crosstrek? Well, it may be a bit generic, but at least it's no B9 Tribeca.

Subaru to call Impreza crossover XV Crosstrek originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru Impreza XV headed to U.S. for 2013

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Subaru

Subaru has confirmed that its new XV crossover will be heading to the United States in 2013, according to a report from Motor Authority. The XV, which made its production debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month, is a high-riding version of the new-for-2012 Impreza which goes on sale in the U.S. in just a few weeks.

In previous generations, Subaru offered an Outback Sport trim on the Impreza in the States, though it was little more than a two-tone paint job, some roof rails and a lifted suspension. The Japanese automaker will continue to offer something similar for 2012 - the Impreza Sport model - which includes an all-weather package and 17-inch alloy wheels.

As of this writing, it's unclear whether or not Subaru will keep the XV name intact when this vehicle arrives on U.S. soil. Outback Sport is a name that would resonate well with Subaru enthusiasts, but keeping the XV nomenclature would better represent that this is an all-new vehicle for the automaker's lineup.

Subaru Impreza XV headed to U.S. for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Subaru XV raises the Impreza bar

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Crossover, Subaru

Don't call it an Outback Sport. This is Subaru's new XV crossover, and though it totally fits the bill as a successor to the Impreza-based Outback Sports of yore, the Japanese automaker says that this little orange all-roader takes the company "into the compact crossover segment for the first time." (Nevermind that the XV isn't actually a new model, or that it is, minus a few very minor tweaks, exactly what the Impreza Outback Sport used to be).

Looking over the specifications, as before, the XV is pretty close to its Impreza sister, though ground clearance has been upped to a trail-friendly 8.6 inches. Under the hood, two gasoline engines are available, measuring 1.6 and 2.0 liters, and a heavily tweaked version of the diesel Boxer four-cylinder is on tap, as well. Subaru's new start/stop system is also on hand, and when mated to the CVT, Subaru says that the XV is quite efficient (thought we'll wait for official fuel economy numbers before we make any judgments).

It's still unclear if the XV will make its way Stateside. Last we heard, it was only being considered for North America, and it probably wouldn't retain the Outback Sport moniker if it did come over. Hit the jump for Subaru's official press blast and see the little orange CUV for yourself in our attached high-res image gallery.

Continue reading 2012 Subaru XV raises the Impreza bar

2012 Subaru XV raises the Impreza bar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru teases XV crossover ahead of Frankfurt debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Subaru

For a relatively small automaker, Subaru sure does have some big plans for this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Not only is it showing a "technology concept" to preview the BRZ rear-drive coupe it's developing with Toyota, but the Japanese automaker is also set to unveil the XV crossover there, as well.

Previewed by the XV concept unveiled in Shanghai a few months ago and the rudimentary sketch from earlier in August, the new crossover is essentially a high-riding Impreza that's a further extension of the Outback Sport. Considering how imprezive that vehicle can be - particularly in WRX or STi trim - that could prove a good thing. We'll reserve judgement until the vehicle's unveiling, but in the meantime Fuji Heavy has hit us with the teaser image above to keep our interests piqued.

Follow the jump for the press release, containing dimensions and powertrain for both new debuts.

Continue reading Subaru teases XV crossover ahead of Frankfurt debut

Subaru teases XV crossover ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru XV (read: Impreza Outback Sport) leaked via patent renderings

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru unveiled its steroid-enhanced Impreza - the XV concept - at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year, previewing what a high-riding version of the automaker's new C-segment hatchback could look like. Here in the United States, the XV is better known as the Impreza Outback Sport - a vehicle which we've gotten quite accustomed to, especially for its signature two-tone look.

Interestingly, when we spoke with Subaru officials earlier this year, we were told that the XV isn't in the cards for the U.S., but that it's being considered. However, other markets are slated to get a production version of the crossover as early as next year, and the final design looks to be revealed with these Chinese patent office filings. It looks like exactly what you'd expect from a modern-day Outback Sport, which is to say higher-riding and modestly toughened up visually.

If the XV does arrive in the States someday, Subaru tells us that it likely won't be called Outback Sport. Still, with these patent filings showing a left-hand-drive setup, and with China Car Times reporting that a 2.0-liter inline-four (the new boxer engine) will be underhood, we don't think it'll be too hard for Subaru to adjust this thing for American use.

Subaru XV (read: Impreza Outback Sport) leaked via patent renderings originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shanghai Preview: Subaru XV

Chris Shunk — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Crossover, Subaru, Shanghai Motor Show

Subaru XV Concept - Click above to enlarge

The Shanghai Motor Show is beginning to look like a pretty big deal, with more than enough high-impact reveals to pique our interest. The latest vehicle to be teased in advance of the show is the XV concept, which Subaru says is "a design concept car that defines a new generation of crossover vehicle, blending exceptional SUV practicality with a fashionable form."

The Japanese automaker says the theme of the crossover concept is "Enjoyment and Peace of mind," which, loosely translated, means that the XV will be practical to own yet fun to drive. Subaru hasn't provided many facts other than what we could have already guessed; that the automaker's symmetrical all-wheel drive system is part of the package. We're guessing a boxer engine isn't far behind.

As you can see from the teaser photo above, the XV will feature four doors, stylized headlamps, big concept car wheels and the shape of a crossover, albeit one with a backlight that's got more rake than a typical utility-first Subaru. Given the short distance from the rear doors to the tailgate, we might also guess that the XV will be on the smaller side; perhaps the size and shape of a puffed-up Impreza, but the company already has the Forester in that role - could there be room for two such models? Either way, we're going to have to wait for the vehicle's official unveiling on April 19 to know for sure. Hit the jump to read over the Fuji Heavy Industries press release.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Shanghai Preview: Subaru XV

Shanghai Preview: Subaru XV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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