2015 Subaru Outback in South Africa: One new model stands out

Subaru just released the new 2015 Outback in South Africa with three models and three powerplants. What makes the Outback unique among SUVs?

There are over 15,000 Subarus on South African roads and many of those are the multi-purpose Outback. Celebrating 23 years in South Africa, Subaru launches the new 2015 Outback with a new exterior design, a more luxurious interior and top safety features. The 2015 Outback now comes with Active Torque Vectoring to improve road holding performance and it comes in three distinct models for South Africans. One of those models stands out.

What sets the brand apart

The fundamental philosophy of Subaru, and what sets the brand apart, is its Boxer engine design in combination with all-wheel-drive technology, which provides outstanding driving performance. Each one is designed into the new 2015 Subaru Outback. The South African 2015 Outback comes with one other engine technology that the U.S. market doesn’t get. One Outback model uses the boxer turbo diesel powerplant.

Subaru develops a boxer diesel

In 1999, Subaru engineers were convinced that this unique brand identity must be incorporated in their new diesel engine. They succeeded in converting their gasoline boxer engine into a diesel developed for their multi-purpose all-wheel-drive vehicles. The Subaru Boxer engine design was already strong enough to handle the extra pressures because combustion pressure created inside a diesel engine is twice as powerful as that of a gasoline engine.

The only Boxer diesel in the world

Today, Subaru produces the only compression-ignition (diesel) Boxer engine in the world. The advantages are enormous as the Subaru boxer diesel has more torque than the gas engine, and because of its unique design, it cancels out inertial forces that cause vibration and noise, thanks to the horizontally opposed pistons. The compact and simply designed Boxer requires no balance shafts like the typical inline diesel engine. The engine configuration is also structurally rigid. Unlike inline diesel engines, the Boxer diesel features low vibration, a low center of gravity, and high rigidity.

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Turbo diesel stands out

The 2015 Subaru Outback features a 2.0-liter turbo diesel that is powerful and efficient. The boxer diesel produces peak power of 110kW and 350Nm of torque. The torque peak starts lower down and continues further up the rev range. Other advantages include improved fuel efficiency with fuel consumption in the 2015 Outback diesel improving to 6.3 liters per 100 km.

The Boxer diesel is mated to a Lineartronic Constantly Variable Transmission that’s been further refined for smoother shifting and a more linear feel in the 2015 Outback. For a more engaging driving experience, drivers can use the steering wheel paddle shifters, and have the option of using seven “steps” in the turbo diesel model, to put its higher torque characteristics to better use.

The 2015 Subaru Outback makes its way to South Africa with a new exterior design, a more luxurious interior and top safety features. The 2015 Outback now comes with Active Torque Vectoring to improve road holding performance and it comes with one model that stands out, a more refined 2.0-liter turbo diesel for South Africans.