Subaru is celebrating: the 15-millionth Boxer engine has just come down the line, a landmark achieved 49 years after the brand’s trademark horizontally-opposed four-cylinder powerplant was first slotted under the bonnet of the Subaru 1000. Just last month – January 2015 – the brand also doffed its hat as the 14-millionth Symmetrical All Wheel Drive platform went into a Subaru vehicle.
“The two engineering fundamentals – Boxer and Symmetrical AWD – are the very essence of Subaru,” says Ashley Lazarus, Marketing Manager of Subaru Southern Africa. “They underpin our dynamic advantage, enhancing driving pleasure and safety, and giving our vehicles exceptional breath of capability. It’s a combination of which no other brand can boast.”
Over 22 000 Subarus have been sold here since 1992, with current records indicating that more than 80 percent are still registered. All these vehicles, with the exception of the BRZ sports coupé, boast the low-slung Boxer engine mated to a Symmetrical AWD system; a combination designed to distribute torque to all four wheels all the time for maximum traction, stability, and handling balance, irrespective of the conditions.
“With activity across most of our nameplates, 2015 is going to be another busy year for Subaru Southern Africa: we grew our volumes in 2013 and again in 2014 – in both instances by double digit percentages – and we expect further sales growth this year as we refine our model line-up,” adds Lazarus. “We’ve just announced a new Outback – which will reach showrooms in March – with a new Legacy following this, and further product enhancements coming through on the rest of the line-up.”
Subaru Southern Africa will also continue to invest in making the ownership experience special, highlighting the brand’s unique strengths which translate directly into the pay-off line, Confidence in Motion.