Subaru’s Grand Tourer: The XV GT Edition
The special edition of the highly popular crossover vehicle is a groundbreaking collaboration with renowned engineering company Giken Co. Ltd and Masahiko “Jack” Kobayashi. Kobayashi is former chief designer (head of Global Advanced Design Studio) at Subaru Corporation and was responsible for the exterior design of more than 12 Subaru production models, including the legendary WRX STI.
This special edition XV is based on the XV 2.0i-S EyeSight and adds a well-made and integrated aero kit elements such as a front bumper lip extension with integrated canards, side skirts, roof spoiler, and rear bumper extension. All in all, it gives the XV an even sleeker and sportier look.
Complementing the new kit is a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, special carpets and even leather seats, inspired by the high-performance grand tourers from Germany and Britain. Furthermore, the Subaru XV GT Edition gets dual side-view monitors, which make parking and maneuvering even easier.
Subaru believes this iteration of the Subaru XV is a game-changer for Subaru as it caters to the Filipinos’ preference for dynamic and sporty vehicles while still maintaining a form that suits a “ready for anything” lifestyle.
The new Subaru XV GT Edition is a prime choice for consumers who wish to elevate the fun in driving, as it combines Motor Image’s indepth understanding of the market, Kobayashi’s expertise, as well as Giken’s experience and Japanstandard production capability in Southeast Asia.
“Motor Image worked with Giken and Kobayashi-san, because they share our enthusiasm for design and creating fun and exciting products. I know this will be the start of an exciting collaboration for Subaru customers. We believe this GT edition will help create excitement in Asia and offer customers who want an even sportier version of the XV a new and unique look. We expect that the Philippines will be one of the key markets for the Subaru XV GT Edition,” said Motor Image CEO Glenn Tan.
Kobayashi originally trained and practiced as a fashion designer in Tokyo before graduating with a degree in Transportation Design. In a 25-year career with Subaru, he was known as the ‘hit maker,’ after designing numerous successful models, including the original Outback, which was the world’s first sports-utility wagon, several generations of the Legacy and Impreza, the current WRX and WRX STI sports saloons, the Levorg sports tourer, and the first-generation XV. He is now an independent designer.
Meanwhile, Giken is an awardwinning engineering company founded in 1964. Holding numerous patents in Japan, South Korea, and the United States, it has established itself as an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of technological and material handling systems. Giken is a global supplier of aero-parts and other passenger car components to Subaru and other major Japanese car brands.
The Subaru XV GT Edition has a suggested retail price of P1,768,000 with a special introductory price of P1,718,000 for the month of April. MOTOR Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, showed off a sportier variant of its Subaru XV crossover— dubbed the Subaru XV GT Edition—at the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).
“WE BELIEVE THIS GT EDITION WILL HELP CREATE EXCITEMENT AND OFFER CUSTOMERS WHO WANT AN EVEN SPORTIER VERSION OF THE XV A NEW AND UNIQUE LOOK. WE EXPECT THAT THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY MARKETS FOR THE SUBARU XV GT EDITION” — MOTOR IMAGE CEO GLENN TAN