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Subaru previews Viziv Performance Concept and 2 tuned STIs for Tokyo

Subaru will be rolling deep at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show next month. The Japanese automaker has announced a number of different models that it will bring to the show, including three concepts, and limited editions of two different STI models. At the top of the list, teased above, is the Subaru Viziv Performance Concept. This car sounds like it could be a sneak preview of a next-generation WRX, as Subaru describes it as a sport sedan that combines "enjoyment and peace of mind." The very nature of the model encourages active engagement, but Viziv Performance uses Subaru's EyeSight tech to provide advanced driver assistance. The teaser images don't give us much else to go on, but we'll keep our ear to the ground in case Subaru drops any more information ahead of the show on Oct. 25. View 2 Photos Also coming to Tokyo will be to Japan-only limited edition versions of two STI models. The first is the Subaru S208, based on the WRX STI. A successor to the S207, the S208 is limited to just 450 units. It's quicker and more powerful than the S207, and features a carbon fiber roof to help lower the center of gravity. Engine output isn't given, but the S207 made 323 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. The S208 also has an upgraded suspension and exclusive interior and exterior styling upgrades. View 5 Photos The other special edition is the Subaru BRZ STI Sport. It doesn't get more power, but Subaru did work to improve ride and handling. The BRZ STI Sport has a stiffer body and a specially tuned suspension to improve dynamic performance. It also gets its own interior and exterior touches, and a special Cool Grey Khaki paint color. Like the S208, it will be available only through lottery, but will be even more exclusive, at just 100 units. View 4 Photos Subaru is bringing two yellow concepts to the show, the XV Fun Adventure Concept and the Impreza Future Sport Concept. The XV Fun Adventure gets off-road tires and updated body cladding. The Impreza Future Sport gets revised front and rear bumpers, a low center of gravity, and a central exhaust. Last, and probably least, Subaru will display the Outback Limited Smart Edition, with a few design touches like an exclusive grille and wheels, microfiber seats, plus navigation and a Harman/Kardon sound system. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Subaru recalls more cars, slashes guidance as cheating issue widens

By Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO — Subaru Corp said it would recall more vehicles sold in the Japan domestic market on new cases of inspection cheating, and cautioned that rising recall costs would lop off about a quarter from its annual profit forecast. Shares in Subaru, already reeling from a series of recalls for issues ranging from faulty components to inspection do-overs, fell 5 percent to a four-year low on Monday after news of the fresh recalls and the bleak outlook. The company, the smallest among Japan's major automakers, said it would recall around 100,000 vehicles, including its popular Impreza sedan, after discovering that final tests for components including brakes were not conducted properly. Vehicles sold overseas will not be affected. "It's unforgivable that these inspection-related issues are continuing," CEO Tomomi Nakamura said at a briefing, while repeatedly adding that the latest recall would be the last related to testing misconduct. The automaker expects to incur 6.5 billion yen ($57 million) in costs related to the latest recall. This, along with other quality-linked issues, is expected to push down Subaru's operating profit to 220 billion yen in the year to March 2019. It had previously forecast a 300 billion yen profit. Subaru posted a surprise operating loss of 25 billion yen for the three months ended September, its first time in the red for a quarter since 2009 and missing a mean forecast for a 68.46 billion yen profit from 10 analysts polled by Refinitiv. Recall-related costs were the main driver of the loss, while global sales fell 6 percent over the quarter due to weak demand in the United States — its biggest market, where overall demand has cooled since record-high sales in 2016. (Click here for an interactive version of this chart) Engine recall Last month, Subaru nearly halved its first-half operating profit view, citing higher quality-related costs. It later announced a global recall of around 400,000 vehicles, including its Forester SUV and Impreza sedan, to fix a design flaw in the engines' valve springs. That came on the heels of another series of recalls stemming from revelations last year that uncertified workers had been submitting final inspection reports for vehicles sold in Japan. That had also led to a recall of about 400,000 cars. Recalls are common in the auto industry, and automakers regularly put funds aside to pay for them.

Should Subaru stay niche or go mainstream? [w/poll]

Out of all the automakers doing business in the US, Subaru is the one that has carved out the most interesting niche for itself in the minds and lifestyles of buyers. Outdoorsy types, dog lovers and active families alike flock to Subaru's rugged nature and all-wheel-drive utility - and they're fiercely loyal, which is probably why Subaru has become a success story.
But Subaru is still a relatively small player in the US market, and with recent profits surging, parent company Fuji Heavy Industries is facing a dilemma: continue on with the successful niche market Subaru has carved out for itself, or attempt to go mainstream and give big players like Nissan and Toyota a run for their money. According to Carscoop, Japan Times and Bloomberg News are reporting that Fuji Heavy is beginning discussions this month to determine which direction Subaru will take.