Outback takes diesel over Forester

Subaru has confirmed it will offer a turbodiesel option to the upcoming Outback model, due for local release with the new Liberty in July next year. The diesel-powered Outback is expected to follow the petrol models by a few months. It will be released at the 2009 Sydney motor show.

The common-rail turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder diesel displaces 2.0-litres but its vital statistics are different from its petrol counterpart. The diesel's cylinder bore has been reduced by 6mm and stroke length has increased by 11mm. Bore and stroke are now square at 86mm and the crankshaft is shorter, measuring just over 350mm.

Subaru Australia says it has yet to begin negotiating with the factory on the turbodiesel’s price premium over the petrol-engined Outback. Details will be released closer to launch.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine, rated at 110kW/350Nm, will not be available for buyers sizing up the latest Forester model, however.

Subaru Australia says the turbodiesel Forester is "not slated" for local availability in the near future, despite its likelihood for European markets alongside diesel-powered Legacy (Liberty), Outback and Impreza models.

All of which will make their way to Australia, "in due course".

"Our wish would be that over time we would introduce a diesel throughout key models, including Outback, Forester and Impreza," Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior told the Carsales Network.

"The agenda is [diesel] Outback for the fourth quarter next year, then we would be hopeful for other diesel models in ensuing years," says Senior. "[But] It may be over four years... [considering] we don't at this stage have a diesel suitable for Tribeca."

The Japanese manufacturer intends launching a turbodiesel Forester in Europe "within 12 months" of the diesel-powered Legacy and Outback, according to Subaru Australia.

Subaru's need to offer diesel models in Europe is manifest.

Though well established in petrol-dominated markets like the USA and Australia, Subaru has been hamstrung in Europe without a diesel powertrain. The arrival of the new 2.0-litre turbo boxer four will, Subaru hopes, generate strong volume growth in important markets like Germany, France and the UK.

In contrast, diesel sales in Australia -- already one of the company's best performing markets for Forester -- are likely to be substituted from the model's existing offerings.

Last year Subaru Australia averaged 1000 sales of the Forester per month. The company anticipates a 10 per cent increase for the new model.

The third-generation Forester is offered with updated versions of the petrol 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engines -- either naturally-aspirated or turbocharged -- with better performance and consumption figures than the outgoing model's.

Even without a diesel option, the third-generation Forester maintains the decade-old model's strong selling points with better pricing and packaging (more here) .

The timing for a turbodiesel Forester is later than suggested by Senior late last year (more here).

At that time Senior told the Carsales Network: "The timetable for us [to introduce diesel to Australia] was [the launch] of new Liberty and Outback in 2009. [But] If there's a chance to get the engine in another vehicle before then, then we'd love to see it.

"The rapid [growth in buyer] interest and the large number of [model] introductions means we have accelerated our discussions with the factory to get a diesel into the Australian market [in Forester] before 2009," Senior said.

Senior said the factory was "sympathetic" to the request but then rated his chances of securing the new oiler early for the local market at "worse than 50:50". He also said it was unlikely Forester would offer the engine option at launch.

The new Forester goes on sale this month.

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