2015 Subaru Outback arrives in New York

The new Outback is the fifth generation of the vehicle that has been at the forefront of the “crossover” revolution since 1995, integrating the strengths of a passenger car and SUV.

New Zealand will see the new Outback, which will be manufactured in Japan in early 2015.

“With the continuing shift to crossover and SUV vehicles, Outback is an important model for us,” said Wallis Dumper, the Managing Director of Subaru of New Zealand. “Even some of our loyal Legacy buyers have changed to the Outback in recent years.”

Since its inception, the Outback has found a place in the hearts of drivers around the world as the embodiment of Subaru’s unique crossover concept, combining passenger-car comfort with the long-distance capabilities and load space of an SUV.

The greatest value the new Outback offers to buyers is its capability to continue living up to the trust that drivers place in it as a dependable partner in their active lifestyles. The new Outback has a distinctive silhouette that combines the strengths of a passenger car and an SUV, with ample ground clearance, and tough, rugged styling.

Larger tyres – 17 and 18 inch – and muscular mudguards highlight the All-Wheel drive (AWD) capabilities of Outback. Protective panels cover lower body parts to not only protect the vehicle when driving off-road, but also to enhance Outback’s active and rugged image. Large front fog lights, functional roof rails, and superior ground clearance further enhance the Outback’s characteristic styling. The front bumper-integrated hexagonal grill and hawk-eye headlights maintain the resemblance to other members of the Subaru family, while the three-dimensional shape of the nose links through to the rest of the body for a more dynamic look.

Rear combination lights share the motif of the headlights. LED tail and brake lights enhance the sense of quality while improving fuel economy and night visibility. The instrument pack features a dual-dial gauge cluster with a three-dimensional look and a triple-spoke steering wheel with multifunction switches. In the center of the gauge cluster is a large color LCD panel.

An impressive center panel houses a wide, flat central display* with intuitive touch control. A new generation of interface design makes the screen easy to see and use, enabling convenient connectivity to a variety of media including navigation and audio systems.

The soft-pad dashboard, thick-cushioned armrests and the shape and feel of the door handles, impart a sense of comfort from the moment passengers enter the vehicle.

Seating width and shoulder, elbow, and rear leg room have been increased for greater safety and a more comfortable cabin. The A-pillar has been moved forward to expand the cabin area. In addition, front quarter windows were added with door-mounted side mirrors to reduce the front blind spot created by the side mirrors and increase forward visibility.

To offer more diverse and secure load-carrying options, rope hooks have been added to the crossbar-type roof rails and a step fitted to the side sill to provide a foothold when loading bicycles or other items on the roof.

The chassis, steering, suspension, brakes, and all other components have been revamped to offer class-leading performance. Ample ground clearance is teamed with even higher levels of steering stability, achieving higher-quality ride and comfort.

Body Roll is further suppressed by increased body rigidity and new suspension mounting positions. The body frame shape has been completely redesigned to improve the dynamic rigidity of the rear suspension and its mounting positions on the chassis, thus enhancing ride quality and reducing vibration in the floor and seats. The steering gear ratio has been improved from 16.5:1 to 14.0:1 for a more direct and agile feel.

Active Torque Vectoring achieves superior turning performance and steering response, braking the inside front wheel when necessary to enhance turn-in, into a corner.

Building the electronic parking brake into the rear caliper has made the system quieter and more responsive.

As well as enhancements to the external look of the vehicle, a 10.6% reduction in wind resistance has been achieved, in particular, by improving airflow over the rear of the body. This also makes a major contribution to reduced fuel consumption at higher speeds.

In addition to Subaru’s unique Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system, the new Outback is equipped with X-MODE, capable of enhancing driving performance on poor roads through optimized integrated control of engine, four-wheel drive, braking, and other functions on slippery surfaces.

Mid-range torque has been raised on the 2.5 litre four cylinder Boxer engine, giving more control and a lighter feel in practical driving ranges. Significant changes especially to intake, exhaust, and combustion systems have improved fuel economy.

Subaru’s Lineartronic transmissions are used in all models of the Outback. Power and environmental friendliness have been enhanced for better fuel economy. To complement the smooth shifting that SLTs are known for, new step shift control and six-speed manual-mode paddle shifters achieve nimble performance. Transmission friction has been reduced for improved fuel efficiency.

The high-torque-compatible SLT used with the 3.6 litre motor achieves advanced levels of power and environmental friendliness. Torque converter, oil pump, and forward-reverse mechanism have all been redesigned, while new step shift control and six-speed manual-mode paddle shifting improve driveability.

Building on a strong body structure, both active and passive safety features traditionally found on the Outback have been refined for improved safety performance. Additions include the latest EyeSight system that dramatically improves preventative safety.

Rear and side visibility support features comprising Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Steering Responsive Fog Lights that illuminate to maintain good forward visibility as the vehicle rounds a bend at night are likely additions on at least some models.

New EyeSight incorporates fully revamped stereo cameras that increase viewing angle and range by approximately 40% to further improve preventative safety and driver stress-reduction features such as Pre-Collision Braking Control and Adaptive Cruise Control.