Subaru News: Subaru Mulls About Adding Models To Their Lineup

[William Maley]

By William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

February 20, 2013

Subaru was one of the automakers who actually saw increase in sales during the recent recession. But with auto sales coming back to pre-recession levels, Subaru is pondering whether to add models to help fill in product gaps in the lineup. Wards Auto recently talked with Ken Lin, director-product management for the brand.

Currently, the biggest void in Subaru’s lineup is the lack of a competitive three-row crossover, something the Tribeca isn’t. Lin admits this, but doesn’t say that Subaru will end production of the model. Instead, Subaru is looking at creating a larger, three-row crossover.

Lin also talked about that Subaru is looking at more upscale versions of the current lineup.

“Luxury is certainly one of the opportunities with profit potential. We could do touring-editions of products but would not be competing with BMW or Mercedes. There is no move to create another brand.”

Finally, Lin says Subaru will be introducing a hybrid model sometime later this year. This confirms a report back in January. Lin says the model will utilize a nickel-metal-hydride battery, not lithium-ion.

Source: Wards Auto

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[David]

Great another Hybrid that produces tons of Green house gases. The Nickel-metal-hydride is even worse of a polluter than the lithium-ion. Course there is also the settlment ponds full of toxic liquid besides the 10 yrs worth of Green house gas produced when the battery is produced.

Then most green tree huggers and mother earth lovers do not think about this damage, only the tail pipe emissions.