The new Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid at its NY Auto Show debut last week.
Subaru is on track for its sixth consecutive year of increased demand – and another annual record, according to its new U.S. president.
The little maker defied the industry trends by posting a string of sales increases even during the worst automotive downturn since the Great Depression. It has gained even more momentum since the U.S. automotive market began to rebound three years ago. For 2012, Subaru sold 336,441 units: a 26% increase compared with the previous year.
Tom Doll, promoted last month from COO to President of Subaru of America, said during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show that sales have gotten off to another strong start in 2013, lifting expectations for another year of record sales. Since 2007, Subaru is the only carmaker to post a continuous string of sales increases over the last five years.
Clearly, a major factor has been the launch of updated an all-new products, including the latest generation of the popular Forester crossover now on the way into showrooms and the new Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid unveiled during the company’s press conference at the annual New York Auto Show.
Doll said the new hybrid, which is due out later this year, may be the company’s first battery-based offering but it won’t be the last. In a conversation with TheDetroitBureau.com, the executive noted that it is working on a plug-in hybrid that will be loosely modeled after the DIZIV concept shown at last month’s Geneval Motor Show.
“Subaru is well along the path of electrification in its product planning,” Doll said. “The Crosstrek hybrid is just as versatile and just as capable as the regular CrossTrek,” he insisted.
Doll cautioned, however, that it likely won’t have another battery-based model to add to the line-up for at least three more years.
(For a closer look at the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, Click Here.)
Subari also pulled the covers off a WRX concept vehicle, which is expected to serve as the prototype for the next version of the maker’s popular sports compact. The design of the show car reflects the turbocharged power and all-wheel-drive grip of a Subaru in a more agile and athletic form, Doll said.
(For a closer look at the Subaru WRX Concept, Click Here.)
Subaru has been looking at a variety of ways to keep its momentum going, especially at a time when the industry is faced with the need to come up with new high-mileage powertrain technologies. It partnered with Japanese giant Toyota on the new Subaru BRZ sports car – which Toyota sells in various markets as the FT-86 and Scion FR-S. Future partnerships appear likely, Doll and other Subaru officials hint.