Subaru Introduces All-New 2010 Outback at New York International Auto Show
? Roomiest Outback Ever with New Levels of Comfort and Refinement ? Bold New Design Language Redefines Sport Utility Wagon ? New 6-speed Manual and CVT Transmissions for Outback 2.5i Models ? New 256-hp 3.6-liter 6-Cylinder Engine in 3.6R Models
NEW
YORK, APRIL 8, 2009 - Subaru of America, Inc. introduced the all-new
2010 Subaru Outback® at the New York International Auto Show today. The
fourth-generation of the World's First Sport Utility Wagon® is a
roomier and more capable interpretation of the vehicle that launched
the crossover trend 15 years ago. Distinguished by bolder and crisper
styling, the all-new 2010 Subaru Outback delivers enhanced performance,
comfort and economy with the introduction of an all-new chassis and the
new Subaru Lineartronic? CVT (continuously variable transmission).
Capability is enhanced with a segment-first swing-out roof rail and
crossbar design and an improved 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
The
all-new 2010 Subaru Outback is smart-sized compared to other crossover
vehicles, featuring mid-size interior volume in an easy-to-maneuver and
off-road capable wagon body. Subaru engineers have increased interior
volume by almost 8 percent in a package that is actually shorter than
the outgoing model. The wheelbase has been increased by 2.8 inches and
improves rear seat legroom by almost 4 inches. A new rear double
wishbone suspension improves chassis dynamics and rear cargo space. The
2010 Outback is 2 inches wider to improve passenger comfort, has more
headroom and is more fuel efficient than the outgoing model.
Building
on the tremendous success of previous Outback models, the 2010 Outback
caters to a wide variety of customer tastes and needs. The Outback line
for 2010 will include three 2.5i models powered by a revised 170-hp
2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine. The efficient Outback 2.5i models
offer a new standard 6-speed manual transmission, or the available
Lineartronic? CVT. Both transmissions help to improve acceleration,
response and fuel economy.
Three
new range-topping Outback 3.6R models are powered by a new 256-hp
3.6-liter 6-cylinder Boxer engine teamed with a 5-speed electronic
automatic transmission. Compared to the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine it
replaces, the more powerful 3.6 has the same external size and uses
regular-grade fuel, rather than premium as the 3.0 required.
Subaru
is the only company that features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as
standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. This
invaluable performance and safety-enhancing system distinguishes the
Outback from crossover competitors, which generally offer all wheel
drive as an extra-cost option. The 2010 Outback model line employs
three different versions of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, each tailored
to the specific engine and transmission.
Bold New Design and New Level of Interior Comfort The
2010 Outback, while still clearly related to its predecessors, marks a
departure in design toward a new, bolder look. The new Outback blends a
sophisticated crossover design with SUV details. The upright grille
features the Subaru circular badge and wing design as the focal point
and is offset by dramatic hawk-eye headlamps. The new functional molded
lower valence and side skirts hint at the Outback's improved capability
and are more durable for off-road adventures.
The
2010 Outback also has a greater road presence with a wider track and
expressive wheel arches. Ground clearance on the new model has been
increased to 8.7 inches. As a new characteristic of the Outback, the
D-pillars project a powerful SUV-like presence. The taillamps blend
into the rear hatch, which highlights the more clearly defined beltline.
The
2010 Outback interior is not only more spacious, but takes another step
up in refinement from an already-praised design in the previous model.
The four-dial instrument panel is augmented in all Outback models by a
multi-information display with trip computer located in the center of
the dashboard. Richer looking appointments and details abound,
including a new 3-spoke steering wheel. A new electronic parking brake
(with electronic Hill Holder System) eliminates the traditional parking
brake handle, freeing up space in the center console. Seat
comfort, long a Subaru strong point, is further enhanced in the 2010
Outback with new front and rear seat designs. The rear seat includes a
new recline feature. The front seatback shape provides extra rear-seat
knee room, and the front-seat cushion design allows more rear-seat foot
room.
Right-Sized for the Times The
original Outback established a template for the many competitive
crossover models that followed, and the new-generation 2010 Outback
further strengthens the melding of passenger car and SUV attributes
that today's crossover shoppers seek.
Built
on an all-new platform, the 2010 Outback showcases Subaru's mastery of
vehicle packaging efficiency. A 2.8 inch longer wheelbase, now 107.9
inches, contributes to a smoother ride and increased interior space.
Total passenger room is increased by 8 cubic feet, now 105.4 cu. ft.,
and maximum cargo capacity (with the standard 65/35 split rear
seatbacks folded) is up by 6 cubic feet to 71.3 cu. ft. The Outback
also features a rear cargo area that is deeper and wider than in many
small SUVs and easier to access through its wide aperture rear hatch.
Rear
seat legroom is increased by nearly 4 inches to 37.8 inches. With a
2.0-in. increase in vehicle width, the 2010 Outback offers greater hip
room (+3.5 inches in front, +1.3 in. in back) and shoulder room
(+1.9-in. front, +2.4-in. in back).
Remarkably,
the roomier 2010 Outback is almost one inch shorter than the previous
model, due to reduced front and rear overhang dimensions. The new
Outback is also four inches taller than the previous model, increasing
headroom and cargo area height. The new packaging thus preserves the
maneuverability, agility and parking ease that Outback customers highly
value.
Surefooted Handling and Safety for any Road or any Weather The
new Subaru Outback improves crash-worthiness and provides a stiffer
platform that makes for a smoother, quieter ride - still with crisp
handling. Outback customers have long valued the way Outback models
have balanced comfort with capability, and the 2010 Outback improves on
both. Reduced front and rear overhang dimensions, combined with 8.7
inches of ground clearance, help enhance Outback's off-pavement
maneuverability.
All
Outback models for 2010 are equipped as standard with Vehicle Dynamics
Control (VDC), which combines stability and traction control
capability. The all-new electronic Hill Holder System holds the vehicle
in place until the driver applies the throttle to pull away from a
stop. Previous systems held the car in place for only a few seconds.
MacPherson-type
strut front suspension is mounted to a new engine cradle, and the
engine is attached to the cradle using new hydraulic mounts. The new
cradle is designed to also enhance crash-worthiness in front. A new
double-wishbone rear suspension, mounted to a sub frame, replaces the
previous multi-link configuration to provide improved ride and
handling. The enhancement of body rigidity and the new suspension
design help to reduce levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).
Increased wheel travel and optimized suspension geometry improve ride
comfort.
All
2010 Outback models are equipped with a standard 4-wheel disc Anti-lock
Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).
Brake Assist safety system is also available on all models.
Significantly, the stiffer body structure and new suspension combined
with higher profile tire ( 215/70R16 on base Outback 2.5i) yields a
more comfortable ride without sacrificing handling agility. Models with
17-in. wheels likewise benefit from a higher-profile tire size,
225/60R17 compared to 225/55R17 used before.
Efficient New Powertrains The
2010 Outback 2.5i models are powered by a revised 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
Boxer engine, teamed for the first time to a new 6-speed manual
transmission or the available new Lineartronic? CVT. The CVT is
standard in the Outback 2.5i Limited, where it is also equipped with a
manual mode and steering wheel paddle shifters.
The
2.5-liter engine, which is also available as PZEV-certified, is
modified for 2010 to improve performance, driveability, and economy.
The engine delivers 170 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm and 170 lb.-ft. of peak
torque @ 4,000 rpm. The i-Active Valve Lift System (AVLS) ensures a
broad torque curve and smooth response at all engine speeds, while also
helping to improve fuel efficiency. All Outback models for 2010 feature
a larger fuel tank, now 18.5 gallons vs. 16.9.
Whether
teamed to the new 6-speed manual transmission or the Lineartronic? CVT,
the roomier 2010 Outback provides quicker acceleration and lower fuel
consumption than comparable 2009 Outback models. Either transmission
helps make the Outback 2.5i models more responsive in everyday driving.
Subaru
has adopted a chain-type CVT, the world's first longitudinally mounted
CVT system for AWD production vehicles. It employs smaller pulley
cores, which helps make the unit more compact and can help provide
better fuel efficiency compared to belt-type CVTs. Unlike a
conventional automatic transmission, which uses fixed gear ratios, a
CVT provides infinite variability between the highest and lowest
available ratios with no discernable steps or shifts.
The
CVT smoothly adapts to performance demand, helping to keep the engine
in its most efficient operating range. Because a CVT does not "shift"
gears, the driver enjoys smoother performance in all driving
situations. The manual mode of the Subaru Lineartronic? CVT offers the
driver a more engaging driving experience by operating through six
pre-selected steps. The driver can "shift" manually using steering
wheel paddle controls.
New 3.6-liter H6 Engine: Premium Performance with Regular-Grade Fuel The
3.6-liter H6 engine replaces the previous 3.0-liter H6, yet features
the same external dimensions thanks primarily to a unique shortened
connecting rod design. As a result, the new, more powerful engine
maintains its excellent low center of gravity. The 3.6 Boxer engine
produces 256 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of peak torque, compared to 245
hp and 215 lb.-ft. of torque for the previous 3.0-liter engine. Active
Valve Control System (AVCS) variable valve timing on both the intake
and exhaust valves optimizes power delivery across the engine's speed
range while helping to reduce emissions.
Not
only does the 3.6-liter engine produce more horsepower and torque than
the 3.0-liter unit, but does so using regular-grade fuel compared to
premium required in the 3.0 engine. The specially tuned five-speed
automatic transmission, combined with the greater torque output of the
3.6 engine, helps make the Outback 3.6R models more responsive.
New Level of Comfort and Convenience in All Models Standard
comfort and available luxury are increased across the Outback line for
2010. The base 2.5i model, for example, features standard steering
wheel audio and cruise control buttons, a new electronic parking brake
with electronic Hill Holder System, automatic lights-on function and
auxiliary input audio jack. A standard multi-function display with
onboard computer provides readouts for mileage/range and outside
temperature.
Underscoring
its versatility and attention to detail, the 2010 Outback comes
standard with an innovative new roof rack system. Its integral
crossbars swing into position only when needed. Stowing the crossbars
in the roof rails when they're not needed helps to reduce a potential
source of wind noise.
Outback
Premium models add more amenities and offer additional comfort and
convenience options, including a harman-kardon® audio system, a power
moonroof, and the All-Weather Package that adds heated front seats and
mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer. The Outback Limited models
feature leather upholstery, a dual zone automatic climate control
system, and a 4-way power passenger seat. Limited models also
exclusively offer an available voice-activated GPS navigation system
with backup camera, hands-free Bluetooth® connectivity and streaming
Bluetooth audio.
The Subaru Safety Story The
Outback, like all Subaru models, has consistently earned top scores in
government and insurance industry crash tests. The 2010 Outback is
designed to further raise the safety quotient. Subaru's Ring-Shaped
Reinforcement Frame safety structure, proven over a decade in all
Subaru models, again forms the foundation for crash protection and
occupant safety in the new-generation 2010 Outback. A new engine cradle
design improves front impact safety, and the 2010 Outback features
greater use of high-strength steel.
The
2010 Outback models include as standard equipment front seat side
impact air bags and side curtain air bags that offer additional head
protection for front and rear occupants. Intelligent dual-stage
deployment front air bags use sensors to detect the presence and weight
of a front passenger and also the driver's distance from the steering
wheel. The system determines front air bag deployment strength for
optimal occupant protection.
New
in the 2010 Outback, high-strength front seat frames provide enhanced
protection against whiplash injury in a rear-end collision. With the
entire seat optimized for a rear-end collision, Subaru replaced the
previous active front head restraints with a more comfortable design.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive A Key to Brand Identity Subaru
offers three different Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive systems in the 2010
Outback line, each one tailored to the engine and type of transmission.
In Outback 2.5i models equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission,
the system uses a viscous-coupling locking center differential to
distribute power 50/50 front to rear. Slippage at either set of wheels
will send more power to the opposite set.
Outback
2.5i models equipped with the Lineartronic? CVT use an electronically
managed continuously variable transfer clutch to actively control power
distribution in response to driving conditions.
Outback
3.6R models use advanced Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) All-Wheel
Drive with a 5-speed electronic automatic transmission. A planetary
center differential works with an electronically controlled
continuously variable hydraulic transfer clutch to manage power
distribution. The VTD system normally sends more power to the rear
wheels to enhance handling agility, and it continuously adjusts power
distribution in response to driving and road conditions.