Reborn Subaru Brumby busts out
Subaru pick-up truck imagined, but will this dual-cab ute ever see the light of day?If Subaru was to leverage its relationship with Toyota to develop a hay-hauling dual-cab ute, there’s every chance it could end up looking like this render.
While this intriguing creation from KDesign AG, dubbed the Subaru Brat (the US market name for the Brumby ute), blends a Toyota HiLux body with a Subaru Forester front-end, it’s about as likely to happen as a cure for COVID-19.
Such a venture wouldn’t be unprecedented, however, given that Toyota owns 16.5 per cent of Subaru's parent company and the two Japanese car-makers have previously joined forces for a number of vehicle collaborations, including the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 sports cars, and are continuing to pool resources in future.
For example, the Japanese duo are currently co-developing an all-new EV platform architecture that will bear fruit this year in form of a new electric Toyota SUV and a Subaru’s first EV as well.
However, there are so far no official details on any potential ute project resulting from the Toyota-Subaru technical tie-up.
But while we’re visiting fantasy land, a vehicle such as the resurrected Subaru Brumby would have profit potential in many markets such as Australia, where dual-cab utes are second only in popularity to SUVs and prices for old Subaru Brumbys are at record highs.
With Hyundai and Kia set to embark on a dual-cab ute adventure in the next few years, it wouldn’t be impossible to imagine Subaru’s product planners spit-balling the idea of a ute.
That said, if a design concept or business plan for a reborn (but much larger) Subaru Brumby or Brat pick-up found its way onto the desk of Subaru CEO Tomomi Nakamura, one wonders how seriously he would take it?
If the hypothetical Toyota-Subaru ute tie-up went ahead, it would almost certainly use the Toyota HiLux chassis and powertrain, which would mean a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine (150kW/500Nm) capable of towing up to 3500kg.
What do you think: would a Subaru ute be of interest in the 2020s? Have your say in the comments below.
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