Subaru NZ keen on new Levorg
Subaru says it’s only a prototype, but the local arm is all go for a new Levorg, writes
The unveiling of a concept car that previews the nextgeneration Levorg has given Subaru New Zealand the opportunity to signal it is keen to take the eventual production equivalent. And in that respect, what you see here is highly likely to be what we will get.
The factory has all but outright admitted the ‘‘Prototype Levorg’’ it revealed at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show is, despite the concept status, effectively the next-generation model that will go on sale in Japan during the second half of next year.
That view is further supported by comment from Subaru NZ managing director Wallis Dumper, who was at the show for the vehicle’s unveiling, and marketing manager Daile Stephens, who have also implied that New Zealand is in line to see the next Levorg, despite the current generation having proven a slow seller.
Dumper says regardless of its niche appeal, Levorg – which we presently see in $57,990 GT-S format – remains his favourite drive car. So he is pleased it ‘‘has a strong future for many years to come’’.
‘‘The existing Levorg is close to five years in its production cycle, and Subaru has a history of showing cars within a short period of concept turning into reality,’’ Stephens adds.
‘‘So an educated guess would have this motor show concept becoming reality around 2021 or 2022.’’
And though the current Levorg is doing it tough, Stephens also remains positive it is the right car for local conditions.
‘‘What we do know is that it has yet to reach its potential in the New Zealand market, especially given the concept revealed at the show,’’ Stephens says.
Touted as being a symbol of the ‘‘new generation of Subaru’’ the concept delivers a new 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine to replace the current car’s 2.0-litre and upgraded EyeSight
The company has yet to spill the beans on the new engine’s outputs or abilities, but has left the impression it will introduce superior dynamic quality with its strong torque.
It will also be a greener effort than the current engine, which in addition to delivering 197kW/350Nm is beset by an overall factory-claimed average of 8.7 litres per 100km.
The new one introduces lean-burn technology that will balance ‘‘acceleration and environmental performance at a high level’’.
The updated EyeSight driver assistance and active safety suite has updated stereo cameras which scan with a wider viewing angle, as well as four radars located in the front and rear bumpers for 360-degree sensing ability.
The concept is also detailed with front cross-traffic autonomous emergency braking and a smarter adaptive cruise control system, using GPS and satellite data to recognise the shape of the road ahead then alter the vehicle’s speed before entering a bend. It also facilitates semi-autonomous driving in traffic jams.
Advanced Automatic Collision Notification is a system that, if used here, will require a third-party involver as it sets out alert emergency services when the vehicle has been involved in a significant hit. Other brands that use such systems have found the need to involve independent call centres to relay such calls.