Subaru on a tech offensive
UPCOMING: LINE-UP OF VARIOUS EXCITING MODELS SET TO PACK THRILLING FEATURES
Passive and active safety and entertainment gadgets form part of the latest offerings.
Subaru Southern Africa will present local motorists with the introduction of several new products and technologies this year.
The latest generation Subaru Impreza will make its way here by the middle of the year.
It is an important car for Subaru, as it is the first vehicle to use the new Subaru Global Platform architecture, which will underpin all new models for the next decade.
While the Impreza’s core DNA of four-cylinder boxer powertrains and symmetrical all-wheel drive remains, the car is now propelled by a new 115kW two-litre direct injection engine.
The body and chassis benefit from increased strength and rigidity, with 50% less body roll, better road holding and manoeuverability, plus increased levels of comfort.
The car also features Active Torque Vectoring for enhanced cornering capability.
The Impreza will arrive in South Africa brimming with a host of new technologies designed to enhance driver appeal and improve safety.
One highlight is a redesigned cabin and dash layout, in the middle of which sits an eight-inch Touchscreen Starlink Infotainment system – featuring Apple CarPlayT, Android AutoT, voice-controlled navigation, and a other connected apps.
With top ratings in all crash tests, plus strong performance scores for its headlights and crash-avoidance technology, the redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza has just been awarded with a Top Safety Pick Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Other highlights of the new Impreza include Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic alert, technologies only offered on the Subaru Legacy and Outback models.
An all-new Subaru XV Crossover, to be officially launched on Tuesday at the Geneva International Motor Show, will be available on these shores from September.
Taking styling cues from the new Impreza, the Subaru XV will be the first SUV Crossover to be built on the new Subaru Global Platform.
While details of the Subaru XV will only be revealed after the launch, it will come to South Africa equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist, an advanced new X-Mode system with hill descent control and an all new interior design to mirror that of the Impreza.
The Subaru Levorg, a performance wagon based on the Subaru WRX sedan, will launch here before the end of the year.
The car features a 197kW, 350Nm direct injection Turbo Boxer engine with Symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Subaru call the Levorg “a seamless crossbreed of performance vehicle and family wagon, all packaged in a stylish yet undeniably sporty design”.
Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, the 2018 WRX and WRX STI models have been updated.
Highlights include a redesigned front fascia with new grille and larger air intakes, comple- mented by new 19-inch wheels on the STi and 18-inchers on the WRX.
On both models, the suspension and the steering feel has been enhanced.
The Driver Control Center Differential on the STi model has been switched to an electronic limited-slip differential, while the brakes have also been improved.
A fresh application of new materials has enhanced the cabins of both cars.
Final specifications will be announced closer to the launch date in October.
The Subaru EyeSight system can best be described as an extra set of eyes on the road ahead, or an extra foot on the brake when necessary. EyeSight technology forms part of Subaru’s Pre-Collision Safety Pillar. The system offers seven types of driver assistance systems, designed to reduce or circumvent collisions.
At the core of the technology is the pair of stereo colour reading cameras, mounted behind the rearview mirror. They scan the road for unanticipated dangers.
If necessary, automatic braking can be applied to reduce damage or prevent the crash.
Pre-collision Throttle Management can reduce accidental forward movement caused by the shift lever being in the wrong position or the accelerator pedal being accidently depressed.
Lane Departure Warning can alert the driver when the vehicle is about to depart the traffic lane unintentionally.
Adaptive Cruise Control can track the speed of the vehicle in front and controls speed accordingly to maintain a safe following distance.
Lead Vehicle Start Alert can warn the driver when the lead vehicle has pulled away from a stop while the EyeSight vehicle remains stationary.
While initial launch versions of the Impreza locally will not feature the EyeSight system, EyeSight-equipped models will follow in the third quarter of 2017.