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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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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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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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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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.

The revised 2008 Tribeca is a marked improvement, with the power and refinement issues addressed. Strangely, now that the drivetrain finally works I'm left to really scrutinize the styling. Certainly less polarizing, but now it looks like an RX 350 with a Pacifica front end. Neither of those vehicles are a visual feast, but few people hate them. So just as Subaru has given the Tribeca a very Subaru-like drivetrain, they've bailed on the traditional Subaru take-it-or-leave-it styling that usually gives their cars more personality than the comparable Honda/Toyota products. 

Or maybe I'm just sick of crossovers, and now there's simply no pleasing me...

   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. We'll see how it looks in-the-steel at New York.

Also, quick note regarding Subaru and the New York show -- expect some big news. I was a bit disappointed in the "new paddle shifter" press conference at Detroit, but I think they will make up for that one in The Big Apple. A certain Edmunds community host might have a bit more to throw in on this, if he wants to...

   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. The steering felt responsive and the seats were very comfortable. Then traffic opened up on PCH and I started traveling at speeds over 50 mph. Suddenly I'm hearing engine noise and wind noise (I finally resorted to cranking up the XM satellite radio to drown it out). It's too bad because the basic platform of the car feels well executed, but the 3.0-liter boxer engine is obviously over-burdened. In overdrive it's passable, but kick it down a gear when it's time to accelerate and you better hold your ears (or turn up the audio system). Plenty of people have made fun of the car's styling (some more tactfully than others...), but even if the styling works for you the drivetrain's refinement level may not. It doesn't for me.

   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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