Subaru Will Launch Four New Vehicles by 2015

Subaru’s plan for the next four years, like most automakers, is to quickly launch new vehicles that are more fuel efficient, according to Ward’s Automotive.

The company plans to release four completely new vehicles over the next four years, said Toshio Masuda, the automaker’s senior general manager of product planning. Those models exclude the 2012 Subaru Impreza, which goes on sale in the coming months. A high-powered WRX and STI are also coming to the Impreza, Masuda said. The goal is for the top-of-the-line Impreza to get a boxer engine rated at 300 horsepower.

Overall, Subaru wants to raise fuel economy by 30% for each of its subsequent models. The Impreza will be the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive car when it hits dealerships, achieving 27/36 mpg city/highway. Subaru will reach the new fuel economy targets with two new engines — a 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder — that have already  shown up on the 2012 Impreza and 2012 Forester, respectively, and by using a new continuously variable automatic transmission. That’s debuting on the 2012 Impreza, too.

Another model likely to be included in the overall model count is the Subaru XV, a crossover variant of the Impreza that’s headed to dealerships in 2012.

Uncharacteristic of Subaru, a rear-wheel-drive-only sports coupe, called the Subaru BRZ, will come here, too. The model is currently being co-developed with Toyota. The BRZ is expected to arrive in 2012.

Further down the road, Subaru plans to launch its first hybrid in 2013 as a 2014 model, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley. The fourth model is likely a redesign of the Forester, which has been on the market for three years now.

 Subaru Plans for Hybrid, Turbos, 4 New Vehicles (Ward’s Auto)