Subaru Reports March 2013 Sales as Best Sales Month in Company History

Posted on April 2nd, 2013 by Dealer in News   

March sales of 36,701 represent best-ever sales month for Subaru of America
Cherry Hill, N.J., – Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 36,701 vehicle sales for March 2013, which represents the best-ever sales month for the company and a 13 percent increase over March 2012. Year-to-date sales for Subaru total 92,527 – a 15 percent increase over the same period in 2012 and represent the best first quarter in company history.
These results build on strong sales from 2012 where Subaru achieved five consecutive years of sales increases and exceeded 300,000 annual sales in 2012 – a first in company history. During the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Subaru achieved another company first when it introduced the XV Crosstrek Hybrid, the brand’s first-ever hybrid vehicle.
BRZ sales were notably strong as were sales of the all-new 2014 Forester.
The XV Crosstrek Hybrid is based on the popular XV Crosstrek crossover that achieved 4688 sales in March 2013 and 10,710 year-to-date sales. The 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient all wheel drive crossover in America. It will go on sale in the fall.
“We are pleased to see our sales growth continue and surpass the records we set last year,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Subaru offers customers uncompromising driving performance and green capabilities. It is a winning combination that will continue to drive sales.”

“Subaru achieved record first-quarter sales with a strong product lineup,” said Bill Cyphers, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “Bringing a hybrid vehicle to market will give our retailers an additional offering for shoppers.”
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit media.subaru.com.

Subaru Debut - NY Auto Show - XV Crosstrek Hybrid!

Subaru has confirmed the gas-electric XV Crosstrek Hybrid will make its official debut next week during the New York Auto Show media days - the Japanese automaker's first hybrid. The press release only says the Crosstrek XV Hybrid is powered by a "Subaru engineered Hybrid system" and Subaru's "Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive".

Oceanport Town Wide Scavenger Hunt - Tomorrow!

2014 Subaru Forester performs extreme sports in Norway

Subaru took the the all-new 2014 Forester to the freezing land of Norway in Northern Europe for some extreme testing on a ski slope. See how the new Forester performed.

As the new 2014 Subaru Forester continues its trek around the globe, automotive journalist Akihiko Ouchi and leader Koya Nitta start stage two of the global test. The test will take the new Forester on a 60,000 mile trek across five continents. The first stage saw the Forester take on the Outback in Australia and the car performed extremely well in the most adventurous terrain. This stage two of the Forester test will take the new crossover to Eurasia and starts in the snowy world of Norway. How will the new Forester perform in this extreme land of snow and cold?

The Forester heads to Vardresflya

To test the ability of the Subaru Symmetrical AWD, they head to Vardresflya in Norway. On the way, they stop at a ski resort to test the ability of Forester’s X Mode. On unpaved and slippery roads, torque is not distributed evenly to all four wheels and one or more wheels can begin to slip and the vehicle can lose traction and get stuck in the snow. X Mode is designed to be used easily and can be engaged with a flip of a switch. The X Mode will allow any driver regardless of skill level, to escape any extreme situation they may encounter.

Forester X Mode is put to the extreme test

The team decides to test the X Mode by taking the Forester directly up the snow covered ski slope. The new crossover uses only standard snow tires for the test. Can the Forester really climb a ski slope? Ouchi drives the car onto the slope and begins to make the ascent up the snowy hill. The tires begin to slip as the slope gets steeper, but the Forester is able to keep traction and moves up the mountain. The X Mode controls the car and keeps it moving in a straight line until they reach the top. A pretty amazing feat for the mid-size SUV.

Subaru’s HDC goes downhill
Next they head down the mountain and test out the Hill Descent Control which stabilizes the car on the steep slope going down. Ouchi says, “Ok, it’s working good, Wow!” as they make their way down. A normal SUV would slide and be swept away on the snow and ice, but the HDC controls the tires as it begins to slide to the side. On the navigation screen, the driver can see which tires are controlled by changing color from green to yellow and shows how the Subaru system works on the slippery ski slope. The driver can let the HDC system do the work and sit back and enjoy the ride.
The snow banks were higher than the top of the Forester
Now the team is ready to head to the frozen land of Vardresflya. The road along the way is cold and windy with temperatures at minus 20 degrees C (4 degrees F). The snow and ice covered roads put the Symmetrical AWD to the test. A road grader had gone through ahead of them and left ruts in the road making it more difficult. But the Forester cuts through the snow without losing traction even on the sharp curves. The snow banks were higher than the top of the car as it traveled on the cold mountain pass in Norway.
Symmetrical AWD is unstoppable
The Symmetrical AWD on the Forester uses a torque split improved by the electronic control and it worked flawlessly as the team made their way across the frozen tundra. The power is balanced to all four wheels depending on which wheel needs more traction. And body roll is kept to a minimum in the corners because of Foresters low center of gravity. The Boxer engine sits low in the chassis and keeps the SUV stable where others would have a problem.
The combination of Symmetrical AWD and X Mode keeps the new 2014 Subaru Forester stable and able to handle the most extreme conditions in Northern Europe. Next, Forester will head to Col de Turini where the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo is held. To be continued...

Consumer Reports Top Sports Car - BRZ!



The Subaru BRZ and the Scion FR-S were developed by Subaru in co-operation with Scion's parent company, Toyota. They're very nearly identical twins. (The FR-S is shown here.) Both have "super-sharp handling, excellent braking, and ample acceleration," according to the magazine.
Buyers had better be serious about performance, though, otherwise the "jittery ride, noisy cabins, and small rear seats," might not be worth it.
Read CNNMoney's review
The Ford Mustang, which had won this category last year, lost to the Japanese twins' more nimble performance this time. That contributed to this year's total shut-out of Detroit automakers, the first time that's happened since 2007. (The Chevrolet Avalanche won in the pick-up category last year but no trucks made the cut this year.)