Remember The Subaru Outback Sport? Report Says It’s Coming Back Soon As A Levorg

Remember the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport? Subaru of America sold the Impreza Outback Sport from 1994-2011 before it was discontinued. Shortly after, Subaru launched the 2012 Subaru XV Crosstrek, also built on the Impreza platform as its replacement.

According to BestCarWeb in Japan, a source told them Subaru Corporation would revive the Outback Sport, which will now ride on the Levorg platform. In addition, the report says Subaru will add to its SUV lineup that the company mentioned in its mid-term management "STEP" plan.

photo credit: BestCarWeb

Specifically, from 2018 to 2025, the SUV model lineup will be "strengthened," and Subaru will enhance its current variations. STEP's strategic roadmap clearly states, "We will introduce a full model change without interruption and expand the variation of SUV models."

Due to that long-range strategic plan, the Levorg Outback Sport, a Levorg crossover SUV variant, will be added. In North America, Outback Sport was part of the first-generation Impreza era. The Impreza Outback Sport created the genealogy that led to the first Subaru XV Crosstrek and the third-generation 2024 Crosstrek coming this spring.

Subaru Outback Sport

The Levorg wagon sits low and has a minimum ground clearance of 145 mm (5.7 inches) of ground clearance so the new Levorg Outback Sport will have the cargo capacity of an SUV but the sporty ride of the WRX.

Subaru Corporation is building the new Levorg Outback Sport for the Japanese market. The new model will slot somewhere between the Outback midsize SUV and the Forester compact SUV in terms of body size, except for the overall length.

The report says the Outback is too big for some customers, and the Forester SUV has less cargo space, making the new Levorg Outback Sport the perfect choice for potential customers.

The Levorg Outback Sport will likely be powered by the direct injection 4-cylinder 1.8-liter turbocharged Boxer engine producing 174 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.

According to sources at Subaru, the report says the Levorg Outback Sport will start production in Japan this fall. However, the new model will be for the Japanese market, and it's not expected to be sold in North America.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: BestCarWeb