Subaru has doubled its number of Outback Diesel models with the introduction of a higher specification Premium model to complement the existing car.
The Outback Diesel Premium comes with leather upholstery, sunroof and eight way power adjustable driver’s seat.
The existing model is now priced at $54,990 and the Premium at $59,990.
“With the Premium we have a better opportunity to get more sales in the increasingly important medium crossover segment,” says Wallis Dumper, MD of Subaru of New Zealand.
“The introduction of the Subaru Lineartronic transmission option earlier this year has opened up the market to us and overall our Outback Diesels are now a better value for money proposition.”
Dumper continues, “To be frank right from the introduction of the Lineartronic Diesel customers kept asking for the higher specification leather Premium model. But we knew price positioning would be a challenge. To now simply get the Premium at this price and move the non-leather version to a more competitive position is everything we could have wished for.”
The Subaru Lineartronic Transmission (SLT) has Adaptive Transmission Control, delivering responsive driving, in tune with engine speed changes. There is also a seven-speed manual mode with steering column mounted paddle shifters, achieving faster, smoother gear changes compared to conventional automatic transmissions.
The Outback 2.0 Diesels include factory-fitted satellite navigation on both models.
They are powered by a turbo=charged 2.0-litre four-cylinder horizontally-opposed Boxer diesel engine, producing 110 kW at 3600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque between 1800-2400 rpm.
In the combined cycle, fuel consumption is an impressive 6.5L/100 km and carbon dioxide emissions 172 g/km.
Like the Outback Diesel Premium the six cylinder Outback 3.6R is now priced at $59,990. It gets new 17 inch alloys and the same black grille and headlight surrounds as the 2.5 models. Unique to the 3.6 and Diesel models are new roof rails and rugged side sills.
The range topping Outback 3.6 Premium is now priced at $64,990 with the same feature changes as the 3.6R.
“Once again, Subaru in Japan has recognsed the special place our market holds in their worldwide efforts and despite the reality of competitive scale to markets such as the USA and Australia they have helped us get lower RRP on these range topping models,” adds Dumper.
The 3.6-litre quad cam Boxer motor produces 191 kWs at 5600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. A five-speed automatic transmission delivers the power to all four wheels.
Eyesight safety technology is now standard on all models, together with a host of other additional equipment.
Outback 2.0 Diesel auto $54,990
Outback 2.0 Diesel Premium auto $59,990
Outback 3.6R automatic $59,990
Outback 3.6 Premium auto $64,990
