Distributor reiterates Clean Car Standard hit is coming

RELEASE of pricing for Subaru Outbacks with a new turbocharged petrol engine has come with reiteration that these stickers will bump up by “thousands of dollars” when emissions legislation introduces on January 1.

The warning out of Subaru New Zealand comes with indication that, though the order book is now open for the XT Turbo and XT Turbo Touring variants with a 183kW/350Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder, the models themselves won’t land until December.

That means they will only be in the showroom for just a month at most before they are hit with increases.

The cars for now cost $62,990 and $67,990 respectively, which makes the them $3000 and $8000 more than the dearest of the three existing models that released here last year with a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre engine generating 138kW and 245Nm.

Subaru will continue with the original models, which span Outback, Outback X and Touring trim and equipment levels and respectively price at $49,990, $54,990 and $59,990.

The legislation set to later pricing is the Clean Car Standard, the next step in the Government’s emissions reduction strategy.

This will hit distributors who fail to meet CO2 targets with penalties that are additional, and higher, than those already being copped by anyone buying a car or light vehicle emitting 192 grams per kilometre or more.

Whereas the 2.5’s emissions are 168 grams per kilometre, the 2.4 seems to already be in the penalty zone.

While Subaru NZ has yet to release a CO2 figure specific to the Outback usage, brand-produced data cites the same engine in the WRX, where power is 19kW higher, as being problematic. The WRX engine has a CO2 count of 192 grams with the Lineartronic automatic that is standard to the Outback Turbo.

Subaru NZ believes the turbo engine will appeal to buyers who previously favoured a six-cylinder engine that used to go into Outback and had similar performance credential but was dropped due to poor economy and emissions.

The turbo engine adds more pep to the model’s step but the influence on the towing rating, which climbs from 2000kg to 2400kg braked, is expected to raise more interest, SNZ managing director Wallis Dumper believes.

He says the car will competently tow Kiwi drivers’ trailers, boats and other adventure toys.

Dumper is urging prospective owners to place orders quickly to beat the CCS fee.

“We will have limited stock arriving in December and we urge anyone … to get in touch with their local Authorised Subaru Centre to put down a deposit.

“The CCS fee will be introduced on January 1, 2023, and it will add thousands of dollars to this model.

“We know many Outback drivers are business owners and can therefore work around the GST on the tax implications.

“However, we are also very aware that many private, passionate owners will want to avoid paying more tax than they need to, if it’s simply a matter of timing their purchase right to buy their Outback XT before the end of 2022.”

The entry edition has Nappa leather accented seat trim, an electric sunroof, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, Harman Kardon audio, a power tail gate with hands-free sensor,an 11.6 inch tablet-like touch screen with satellite navigation and driver monitoring with facial recognition to detect driver drowsiness or distraction. The DMS can also recognise up to five drivers to personalise the driver's seat, wing mirror and air conditioning preferences.

The XT Turbo has a more rugged styling package - dark metallic 18 inch alloy wheels, black grille, wing mirrors, rear badging and roof rails, green stitching on the water repellent synthetic leather seats, centre console, steering wheel and gear shift boot – plus also has a dual function X-Mode with deep snow and deep mud settings.