2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2019 Subaru Forester teased again ahead of New York reveal

Subaru continues to dribble out teaser images of its all-new 2019 Forester ahead of its reveal Wednesday at the New York Auto Show. The image, posted to Subaru's Facebook page, once again focuses on Forester's rear end, and specifically, the pincer-shaped right rear taillight that carries over from the Viziv concepts. Only this time, the photo is taken in broad daylight, so we can make out a little more of what's happening on that tailgate area. There are scooped-out recesses above the rear bumper and around the license plate and a wider cargo opening, as noted here previously. There's also some black plastic body cladding. Previous spy shots have suggested the crossover will retain the boxy shape and grille of the current model, but with some subtle sidebody creases like those found on the Impreza and Crosstrek. It's expected to ride on Subaru's global architecture platform, while engine options aren't known. The current Forester's base engine is a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder making 170 horsepower, with an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter that makes 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. We'll know more tomorrow, when Subaru takes the wraps of the redesigned Forester in New York. Related Video: Image Credit: Subaru New York Auto Show Subaru Crossover tailgate subaru viziv

Subaru comes out on the right side of history, stands up against Indiana law

Well, I may as just get it out there straight up and let some percentage of you dear readers take your shots in the comments below: I find Indiana's new "religious freedom" law that opens the door to discrimination against gay people to be reprehensible, along with all the other laws across the country that do the same thing but with different wording. So I was thrilled today when Subaru, which has a plant in Lafayette, IN, came out and said it finds the new law pretty awful too. The statement, issued by Michael McHale, the company's director of corporate communications, says that while the company recognizes that each state gets to decide its own laws, the automaker does "not agree with any legislation that allows for discrimination, or any behavior or act that promotes any form of discrimination. Furthermore, we do not allow discrimination in our own operations, including operations in the state of Indiana." Although McHale told Autoblog Subaru is not considering leaving Indiana, the newly passed legislation has prompted others to say they want to take their business elsewhere. The NCAA said Monday it is taking a look at the law and trying to determine if it will be able to continue holding large sporting events in the state, according to ESPN. In a piece in The Washington Post, Apple's Tim Cook warned that these kinds of laws are being passed in dozens of states across the country and they are bad for business. He spotlighted one proposed law in Texas that would strip pension benefits from clerks who issue marriage licenses to gay people, even if the Supreme Court declares gay marriage legal. "Opposing discrimination takes courage," he wrote. "With the lives and dignity of so many people at stake, it's time for all of us to be courageous."

Subaru supplies running low as automaker struggles to keep up with US demand

Consumers in the US are gobbling up Subaru models, a trend that may result in dealer shortages if the Japanese automaker isn't able to meet the surging demand. A quick look at the numbers reveals a 25.2 percent year-over-year jump in April US sales, and a 17-percent gain for the first quarter of 2013. The sales are so strong that the company's CEO, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, told the Wall Street Journal that Subaru will exceed its 2016 goals (380,000 US units sold) by the end of the company's current business year. The US market has grown to be one of Subaru's best, with the company now logging about half its global sales on our shores.
While strong sales are good problem to have, the automaker has relatively limited production capacity, which may leave dealers with sparse inventory. Certain models, such as the popular Forester crossover (shown above), could hit 10,000 units this month with the plant at full capacity (far above its target of 8,000 units). On average, the US car industry has a 60-day supply of vehicles on hand, but inventory for the new Forester is at just 16 days. "If this situation persists, we'll face a supply shortage," Mr. Yoshinaga told the WSJ.
Despite being one of the smallest Japanese automakers by volume, this is all positive news for Subaru and parent Fuji Heavy Industries, which projects a second straight year of record operating profit thanks to strong US sales and a weaker yen.