SUBARU COLLECTS BEVY OF AWARDS AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

Bolstering its tremendous seven-year sales growth, Subaru’s product line-up is also receiving strong recognition: at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show the company collected no less than four separate awards for its products. 

Subaru won the 2015 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for the Brand category. These awards are based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period. 

Motorweek awarded the all-new 2015 Legacy its Drivers' Choice Award for Best Family Sedan. Each year, MotorWeek editorial staff selects the best models in a variety of lifestyle categories ranging from family sedan to luxury car, to large utilities and pickups. From that group, an overall best of the year is chosen. 

U.S. News and World Report gave Subaru its 2015 Best Wagon for the Money award for the best-selling Outback. To find the award winners, U.S. News combines the average price paid from TrueCar, Inc. and five-year total cost of ownership data from Vincentric, LLC with their rankings data. The U.S. News rankings are based on the opinion of the automotive press about a car's performance, interior features and interior comfort, along with reliability and safety ratings.

Consumer Guide® Automotive awarded the Subaru BRZ with a “Best Buy Award” in the Sporty/Performance Car category. This is the second consecutive win for the BRZ in the category. Editors of Consumer Guide® Automotive test drive more than 150 new vehicles each year and select the top ones in each class as Best Buys. A vehicle does not become a Best Buy based solely on objective ratings; it also has to distinguish itself as being a good dollar value compared to others in the class.

The awards given to the Legacy model in particular cap a strong launch for the all-new 2015 model which has earned attention from media writers for its much improved interior, entertainment and connectivity, as well as improved ride and handling. Further to its status as an IIHS Top Safety Pick, Legacy was also named "Best Car to Buy 2015" By The Car Connection and “Best New/Redesigned Car $25,000-$30,000” in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Top Picks for 2015.

In January 2015, Subaru recorded a 24 percent increase over January 2014. These results continue the company’s sales momentum from 2014 where Subaru achieved six consecutive years of record sales and exceeded 500,000 annual sales – a first in company history. 

All seven 2015 Subaru models have Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards – two with Top Safety Pick and five with Top Safety Pick+ including the Forester, Legacy, Outback, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek, when equipped with optional EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. In January, Subaru also earned Kelley Blue Book’s prestigious 2015 Best Resale Value Brand Award and three vehicle segment awards – Compact Car Category: 2015 Subaru Impreza; Sporty Compact Car Category: 2015 Subaru WRX; and Mid-Size Car Category: 2015 Subaru Legacy. 

SUBARU AMONG ELITE FEW RATED SUPERIOR IN NEW IIHS FRONT CRASH PREVENTION (FCP) TEST

 •Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback crossover are the only vehicles to receive highest possible score of six points

• Legacy and Outback are two of seven models from 74 tested to receive highest possible “Superior” rating
• In addition, the 2014 Legacy and Outback models are 2013 TSP+ award winners.

Continuing its strong performance in crash testing, Subaru has two models, the top-selling Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback crossover, rated as “superior” in the new IIHS Front Crash Prevention (FCP) test program. The FCP program was created as a result of research by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicating that forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, such as Subaru’s EyeSight system, are helping drivers avoid frontal crashes.

The Institute rated models with optional or standard front crash prevention systems as superior, advanced or basic, depending on whether they offer autonomous braking, or autobrake, and, if so, how effective it is in tests at 12 and 25 mph.

• Superior rating is given to vehicles that have an autobraking system such as Subaru EyeSight and can avoid a crash or substantially reduce speeds in both tests.
• Advanced rating applies to vehicles with autobrake that can avoid a crash or reduce speeds by at least 5 mph in one of two tests.
• Basic rating is for vehicles with a forward collision warning system that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performance criteria.

In all, 74 vehicles (2013-14MY) were tested. Subaru’s Legacy sedan and Outback crossover were among the seven vehicles that received the “highest” possible rating of “Superior” when equipped with optional autobrake and forward collision warning systems. The 13MY/14MY Legacy and Outback were the only vehicles that received the highest possible score of six points.

“We want to help get the most effective systems in as many vehicles as soon as possible. That means a speed mitigation system like Subaru’s EyeSight that can prevent crashes at low and moderate speeds” said David Zuby, IIHS Chief Research Officer.

"Our buyers trust us to provide safety in their vehicles" said Thomas J. Doll, president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "With all of our 2013 models listed as IIHS Top Safety Picks and now the 2014MY Legacy and Outback models tested to 2013 TSP+ and FCP status, this is further proof that we deliver on that trust."

The Subaru EyeSight system is available on the Subaru Forester, Legacy sedan and Outback models and is one of the most affordable of such technologies available. EyeSight uses two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras developed by Subaru and is mounted inside the car on the upper edge of the windshield, thus reducing the potential for damage that could occur in bumper-mounted systems, such as radar. The EyeSight system processes stereo images to identify the vehicles traveling in front, as well as obstacles, traffic lanes and other items. The video information is relayed to the EyeSight computer, which is also networked with the car's braking system and electronic throttle control. Below speeds of approximately 19mph, EyeSight is capable of detecting pedestrians in the vehicle's path and can activate to mitigate or even avoid the collision. Under certain circumstances, EyeSight is able to bring the car to a complete stop, thus avoiding a collision.

About IIHS
The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of a moderate overlap frontal and small overlap crash test. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Building on its long-running vehicle ratings program for consumer information, IIHS introduced the small overlap test in 2012 to further improve occupant protection in frontal crashes. Most automakers design their vehicles for good performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal test and the federal government’s full-width frontal test, but many haven’t addressed the problem of small overlap crashes. In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants.

The small overlap test is a demanding crash that replicates what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a car’s front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2-instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a small (5th percentile) woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry -- the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.
In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is rated poor.

SUBARU REPORTS RECORD-HIGH JULY SALES

Company posts best-ever July sales for the Forester, Outback and Impreza models
Subaru sales continue to grow at record pace

2014 Subaru Forester

 Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 35,994 vehicle sales for the month of July, a 43 percent increase over July 2012. The company also posted best-ever July sales for the Forester, Outback and Impreza models. Year-to-date sales for Subaru total 240,591 – 27 percent higher than the same period in 2012.

July sales for Forester reached 9841, 52 percent higher than July 2012. Outback and Impreza monthly sales also increased 23 percent and 12 percent, respectively, over July 2012.

“Subaru sales have been on the rise for the past five years and we are excited to have achieved another record,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc.

Carline	Jul-13	Jul-12	% Chg	Jul-13	Jul-12	% Chg
	MTD	MTD	MTD	YTD	YTD	YTD
Forester	9841	6453	52.5%	60589	43549	39.1%
Impreza	5614	4553	23.3%	35167	44411	-20.8%
Impreza WRX	1471	925	59.%	11024	7769	41.9%
Legacy	3142	3321	-5.4%	26550	27593	-3.8%
Outback	10456	9282	12.7%	71767	63336	13.3%
Tribeca	128	151	-15.2%	994	1242	-20%
BRZ	706	498	41.8%	4774	1587	200.8%
XV Crosstrek	4636	n/a	n/a	29726	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	35994	25183	43%	240591	189487	27%

“At our current pace, selling 400,000 vehicles in 2013 is certainly within reach,” said Bill Cyphers, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. 

SUBARU REPORTS 42 PERCENT INCREASE IN JUNE SALES; BEST-EVER JUNE FOR FORESTER AND OUTBACK



2014 Subaru Outback



Subaru reaches 200,000 vehicle sales during the first six months of 2013 – a record-setting pace


Cherry Hill, N.J. -  Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 39,235 vehicle sales for the month of June, a 42 percent increase over June 2012. The company also posted best-ever June sales for Forester and Outback models. Year-to-date sales for Subaru total 204,597 – 25 percent higher than the same period in 2012.

June Forester sales totaled 10,170, a 41 percent increase over June 2012 and best-ever June for the model. The 2014 Forester was recently named a 2013 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2014 Subaru Forester is also the highest-safety-rated small SUV by IIHS.

June was also a record month for Outback sales. Monthly sales for the popular Outback model totaled 12,210, 32 percent higher than June 2012.

“We are thrilled to close the first half of 2013 with such record numbers,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Our products are being well-received and we are looking forward to adding Subaru’s first-ever hybrid vehicle to our product line-up later this year.”

Carline	13-Jun	12-Jun	% Chg	13-Jun	12-Jun	% Chg
	MTD	MTD	MTD	YTD	YTD	YTD
Forester	10170	7233	40.60%	50748	37096	36.80%
Impreza	5210	5181	0.60%	29553	39858	-25.90%
Impreza WRX	1697	1138	49.10%	9553	6844	39.60%
Legacy	4363	3894	12%	23408	24272	-3.60%
Outback	12210	9254	31.90%	61311	54054	13.40%
Tribeca	144	184	-21.70%	866	1091	-20.60%
BRZ	789	818	-3.56%	4068	1089	273.60%
XV Crosstrek	4652	0	n/a	25090	0	n/a
TOTAL	39235	27702	41.60%	204597	164304	24.50%

“Subaru sold more than 200,000 vehicles in six months, which is a record setting pace for our brand,” said Bill Cyphers, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “Consumers are looking for safety, versatility and durability; shoppers are finding that in Subaru showrooms.”