Subaru Is Open To The Concept Of A Compact Pickup – In Australia | Carscoops

The Japanese automaker might construct a pickup primarily based on the present Subaru International Platform

by Brad Anderson

Subaru Australia has acknowledged that it might launch a brand new ute ought to sufficient native prospects demand such a mannequin. This might give native customers a smaller choice to pickups just like the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Nivara, and Mitsubishi Triton.

Whereas the Japanese automotive producer is finest recognized for producing fashions just like the Outback and Impreza, it bought a ute in Australia often called the Brumby (aka the BRAT within the U.S.) from 1978 to 1994. Demand for smaller pickups has jumped on the again of demand for automobiles just like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz within the U.S. and Subaru’s mannequin might function an alternative choice to these.

Whereas just lately talking with Automobiles Information in the course of the launch of the brand new Outback, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Learn acknowledged that he was conscious of demand for a new-age Brumby.

Learn: We Envision A Small Pickup From Subaru To Rival The Ford Maverick And Hyundai Santa Cruz

“It could be nice,” he mentioned. “We heard the suggestions on Outback. We heard the demand from the general public and the Subaru consumers saying they wished a turbo Outback. Tick! It’s right here. So we’re listening, we’re watching, we learn the feedback, we go to the boards, we see what prospects are searching for and… it could be nice.”

Provided that each the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick use the underpinnings of pre-existing SUVs, Subaru might do the identical factor with a brand new Brumby, basing it across the Subaru International Platform utilized by fashions together with the Impreza, Forester, and Outback. And, on condition that neither the Maverick nor Santa Cruz are bought Down Beneath, Subaru might have the market to itself.

“We’re all the time listening,” Learn added. “We all the time hearken to the client. It’s not: what do we expect? It’s: what’s the buyer saying – what are they searching for? We hear the [Brumby] query on a regular basis and it has been some time – we get requested on a regular basis. We go round Australia and we get requested – and we’re listening.”