Filed under: Diesel, Subaru, Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2008: Subaru changes their mind, diesel coming to the US after all!
When Subaru announced their new diesel boxer four-cylinder engine, American Subie fans were disappointed to learn that the company wasn't planning to offer the engine here. Fortunately it looks like rising fuel prices and increasing fuel economy standards are causing Subaru management to have a change of heart. Just as General Motors is now looking at bringing their new 2.9L diesel V-6 stateside, Subaru is now looking to add the diesel to just-released second-gen Forester and Impreza models. At the Detroit Auto Show, Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) president Ikuo Mori said the diesels should arrive here by mid-2010.
[Source: DieselForecast]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kenny 11:05PM (1/16/2008)
Anyone have MPG figures for the diesel Impreza models?
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jeffrey 2:52AM (1/17/2008)
There is no diesel in Impreza yet. It's coming first to Legacy and Outback in Europe (being released right now). Numbers from Subaru Finland for a 2.0L turbodiesel Legacy sedan:
City: 7 l/100 km = 33.6 MPG
Highway: 4.8 l/100 km = 49 MPG
Combined: 5.6 l/100 km = 42 MPG
http://www.subaru.fi/datasheet/hinnasto2008.pdf
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mark 8:01PM (1/22/2009)
when they offer a deisel outback I will order one asap
CT-Jake 6:39AM (1/17/2008)
I just find it difficult to believe it is going to take 2 1/2 years before it's available in the US. It is no longer new technology. US drivers should not buy new cars and just hold onto their current vehicles until the more efficient ones arrive. I am. Maybe that will pressure the car companies to get them into the market. God, grant me patience.
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Taser 9:06AM (1/17/2008)
This is very good news for Subaru. Now many will give Subaru a second look (AWD and diesel = winner).
Vermont and New Hampshire will be full of these.
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chris 10:42AM (1/17/2008)
I'm sure someone will think it retarded, but damn I hope they have a diesel wrx! Good handling, ok power, + great fuel economy? Count me in!
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Scott 12:11PM (1/17/2008)
I agree, why 2 years from now? Why not now with the launch of the redesign. Also, does anybody know how clean these are? I'm actually waiting for the Jetta wagon diesel, but this could be a contender if they turn out to be as clean. In fact I would prefer the Forrester over the Jetta. Come on Subaru!
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amg 12:47PM (1/17/2008)
All I can say is YAY! I had been hoping against hope for an Outback/Legacy hybrid but had since given up. I don't like the styling of the Forester but I would be willing to buy it with a good diesel engine and forgo the hybrid yearnings. But I figure, if they can bring it to the Forester, they'll bring it to the Outback. I'll be the first in line, because I need a fuel-efficient family car.
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C'est Raoul 1:10PM (1/17/2008)
AWDD rules!
Station diesel AWD: that's the perfect combo I have been looking for.
At a reasonable price!
I can't think of any in NA right now. Maybe MB, not even sure you can get a diesel and 4matic altogether. Maybe in the past though.
There was the Liberty...
Add Canada to VT and such. F*** SUV, let's keep it to real sport and utility vehicles.
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Snowdog 9:34PM (1/23/2008)
I imagine the lag is to clean up emission to Tier 2, bin 5. I hope they can do it without a urea tank.
Add me to the list of very interested potential buyers.
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frank78 9:56PM (1/23/2008)
I'll be in the market for a new car right around when this comes out. A Forester diesel sits as number one potential buy for me. I was thinking a Honda diesel previously, but this puts that at a distant second choice.
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Richard Shores 3:47PM (1/31/2008)
I agree with CT. I have had Subarus since the '70s, but my next car will be a diesel. I may not wait 2+ years for a Subaru, though.
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Shaun Garvey 4:29PM (5/13/2008)
Subaru's Achilles heel has long been fuel economy. A diesel would be great, though it is louder. A diesel hybrid version would be even better both for city fuel economy and the ability to run quietly at idle and low speeds, though I haven't yet heard of one. Hopefully, Subaru will not have to punish the whole country for California's ridiculously strict emissions standards.
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UX-admin 4:37PM (5/12/2009)
A modern turbo diesel is no louder than a gasoline engine, I should know, I own two.
Keyword here is -> modern
Joe (in San Diego) 8:39AM (7/24/2008)
Wow. A re-designed Forester with a diesel engine. I wonder if the people at Fuji Heavy industries can imagine what a hit that car would be south of the border. Everything in Latin America runs on diesel, and even I'm interested in the new Forester design (I have owned 6 Subaru wagon in the last 22 years). Seriously, if they ever marketed that car in Latin America, they would need to ramp up production somewhere else (like Indiana) just to meet demand. Keep up the good work.
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Rich79 1:33PM (7/24/2008)
I think Subaru are mad not to be bringing this diesel engine stateside before 2010. I'm a big fan of Subarus and would buy a new diesel tomorrow if it was available
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ecd4me 9:05AM (7/25/2008)
what about the dollar a gallon extra for diesel fuel? Does anyone think it will go down in the near future? It seems that if gasoline production goes down ,with decreasing demand, then diesel supply would also decrease.
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bgf 3:04PM (8/25/2008)
i just shite a lemon brick.
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Tyler 7:33PM (9/09/2008)
I don't really care that diesel is more expensive or that the car will cost more than with a gasoline engine. I have a subaru legacy that has had awesome reliability so far and if you throw in the long life of a diesel engine, I know I'll be happy and worry-free for a looooooong time; unless I crash it, then I'll be pissed. Good it has AWD.
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Rafael 1:45PM (9/28/2008)
AWD, Wagon, Diesel, Subaru.
I don't think news gets much better to someone like me with a 2004 outback, that loves it, but longs for better fuel efficiency.
As for those who say, "But, Diesel is more expensive!"
Well, that is true, oh wait a minute, no it's really not at all, at least in this particular situation. In my mind the test lies in what it costs in fuel to get there. Good ol' A to B, the tried and true method for any aficionado of the roadtrip.
For the sake of argument I made a few figures based on my florida average fuel costs, my current car's highway MPG, and the new legacy boxer diesel highway MPG, so kindly posted earlier by someone else. I'll hypothetically measure what it would cost if I left miami, buying fuel here before I leave, and drove 484 miles for a nice weekend in Savannah, Georgia.
In my beloved 2004 Outback Limited with the 2.5L H4 I get 27 MPG highway. The trip would constitute one long run on Highway I-95 so I'll just use highway miles for simplicity. To go 484 miles I need 17.92 Gallons of gas to get there. Florida Average today says regular is $3.71 X 17.92 Gallons needed to get there = $66.50 one way. Well I have a job so I need to get back home, so lets double that for the return trip. for a grand total fuel cost of:
$133.01
Now the new legacy (which will surely have and outback model) gets 49 miles to the gallon. So, once again, 484 miles to Savannah divided by 49 = 9.88 gallons of diesel to get there. Flordia average for diesel is $4.16 today. So, $4.16 X 9.88 Gallons = $41.09 oneway X 2 for the return for a total fuel cost of:
$82.18
Lets see if my science holds up under scrutiny but it looks to me like the trip in a Diesel is much cheaper, to the tune of:
$50.83
Or, another way to look at it is: Diesel would need to cost $6.73 before it was the same cost to run a gas car the same distance. I don't really see that kind of a difference happening any time soon, even with the apocalyptic prognosis of our economy.
Thats not even counting the fact that diesel engines are much much more durable than their gasoline cousins (lower operating costs). For sport and utility, well, in my mind there really is no contest, and I'd like to say, as an American that has lived in South America and Europe,
"ITS ABOUT F@$%ING TIME!"
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