Diesel future for Outback

Subaru Australia will look to an all-new turbodiesel powertrain to further differentiate the next generation Outback from its Liberty twin.

That's the opinion of the man who counts, Subaru Australia boss, Nick Senior. Senior revealed the product plans for the high-ride allroad wagon when commenting on the likely on-sale date for Subaru's all-new 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

Retaining Subaru's traditional horizontally-opposed 'Boxer' layout, the four-cylinder turbodiesel was first displayed at March's Geneva Motor Show (more here). Subaru is expected to show the engine in full production trim at Frankfurt show next month.

According to Senior the engine will be offered in the MY08 Liberty in the European market in the first quarter of 2008.

"I've driven a car with the [new turbodiesel] engine and I'm very excited. It ticks all the boxes regards NVH and performance and the back-to-back testing Fuji [Heavy Industries] has done shows it to be right on the money," Senior told The Carsales network.

"Europe is Subaru's opportunity for jump step growth and in the marketplace within which Liberty and Outback sit sales are 67 per cent diesel. This new powerplant delivers Subaru huge growth potential," Senior opined.

Senior said that the local debut for the engine will likely have to wait until late 2009, however, as part of the launch of the all-new Liberty and Outback ranges.

Senior says though plans are not final, the engine will be used to help differentiate the Outback further from its conventional ride-height Liberty wagon twin.

At this stage it is unlikely the engine will be offered in the new generation Impreza, he said.

To comment on this article click here