Karl on Cars
Subaru
November 6, 2007
Last Friday I posted automotive sales results, both for the month of October and for 2007 year-to-date. In those results it was clear that although 2007 was a challenging year some manufacturers were suffering more than others. Specifically, the domestics were all down for the year, along with Subaru and Volvo.
Many of you postulated on why those brands were down on sales, with fleet activity being a primary cause for the domestics' downturn. But what about Subaru? What is hurting their sales? Several comments talked about the againg product, the attempt to move upmarket and the loss of unique branding related to all-wheel drive (basically, everyone offers all-wheel drive today, so that's not really a selling point in 2007).
I'm going to do more of these "Manufacturer Makeovers" but let's start with Subaru because they are down for the year and there are plenty of opinions regarding why. The proposition: You wake up tomorrow head of Subaru (or at least head of Subaru's U.S. product line). What would you do to turn sales around? Here are my thoughts:
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- Karl Brauer November 6, 2007, 7:00 AM
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- Subaru, Talk Back Tuesday
August 28, 2007
Just took a gander at Automotive News' future product plan for Japanese carmakers. Not too surprisingly, the coming years hold hybrids and crossovers from the Land of the Rising Sun (actually, many of them will come from right here in North America). Each automaker has a few interesting items in the pipeline.
Acura: No official confirmation of a V8 in Acura's future, which I continue to view as the division's greatest failing. The next RL is due in 2011, so they better make up their mind. But we do know a V10 engine will power the NSX replacement. I like that they have a full-tilt exotic in the works, but one vehicle does not a division make (as was proven with the last NSX).
Honda: Honda will continue to push hybrids, with a smaller-than-Civic model. No more Accord hybrids, but the Odyssey will be Honda's first V6 diesel-powered vehicle in the U.S. in 2010 (also the year CR-V goes diesel with a 4 cyl.). I'm personally looking forward to the Remix, the spiritual successor to the CRX. And between the Pilot and CR-V? Yup, another crossover is coming.
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- Karl Brauer August 28, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Acura, Future Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid Vehicles, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota
July 30, 2007
I spent the weekend with my second Mazdaspeed 3 in as many weeks, but this one had something extra going on. Actually it had several extra things going on because it's a rolling version of the Mazdaspeed accessory catalog, complete with chrome intake pipes, loud exhaust pipes, alloy wheels and gnarly body panels.
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- Karl Brauer July 30, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mazda, Subaru
July 23, 2007
Do I like the "all-new" Subaru WRX better than Mazda's superb Mazdaspeed 3? I can't tell. And don't mean that in an Airplane movie, "You can tell us, Karl, we're your readers" sort of way. I mean I drove the Mazdaspeed 3 about a week ago, and I just drove the new WRX, and that's simply too much time between drives. Both cars are too good overall, and the only way to confirm which is "better" is to drive them back-to-back and/or do instrumented testing. Fortunately, I have allies who did both...
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- Karl Brauer July 23, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Mazda, Subaru
June 4, 2007
Our latest test of the Subaru Tribeca just went live, and it looks (literally) like they addressed it's biggest failing -- styling. I was quite disappointed in the first Tribeca, though styling was the least of my worries. For me, the crossover was simply an overstressed, under-refined tall station wagon that flew in the face of everything Subaru typically represented. The engine buzzed at speeds over 50 mph, and overall power delivery was about as satisfying as a diet Snickers bar...
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- Karl Brauer June 4, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Subaru
January 12, 2007
We just posted this image of the next Infiniti G35 coupe, which will debut at the New York auto show in April. You always have to take these "manufacturer sketches" with a five-pound bag of salt, but this thing looks su-weet! My first impression was "$30,000 Aston Martin" though on closer inspection I see some Hyundai Tiburon in the hood/headlights (a car that itself had plenty of Ferrari 456). Regardless, it looks good, and considering how aggressive the new Altima Coupe looks I guess Infiniti had no choice but to up their game with the next G coupe's design...
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- Karl Brauer January 12, 2007, 7:10 AM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Infiniti, Subaru
November 23, 2006
I first drove the Subaru B9 Tribeca in July of 2005, and I wasn't particularly impressed by it. The engine felt over worked, the wind noise at highway speeds was excessive, and the interior design was a bit overstyled (at the cost of ergonmic effectiveness). I just drove another one yesterday...and my initial reactions have weathered the past 17 months remarkably well. At first I thought maybe I'd been too harsh on the Tribeca, as the audio system was quite capable of keeping me entertained during the slog out of West L.A...
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- Karl Brauer November 23, 2006, 8:24 AM
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- Subaru
November 9, 2006
It's been too long since I drove a Subaru Legacy, but last night I took home an attractive, Diamond Gray Mettallic version in 2.5 GT spec.B trim. At $35,000 this is not an inexpesive vehicle, but for the most part it holds up against that price well. The bulk of the interior uses nicely textured, soft-touch materials (the center console and center stack are hard plastic, but attractive hard plastic). The gauge cluster is clear and bright, with soothing, electroluminescent lighting at night. The seats are both comfortable and supportive, with the dark blue inserts giving the cabin a sporty demeanor without looking silly. The car's overall design, both inside and out, is also well executed.
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- Karl Brauer November 9, 2006, 8:18 AM
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- Subaru
