Why Japan finally gets new 2015 Outback/Legacy now months after U.S.

Following the launches of the 2015 Subaru Outback and Legacy in the U.S., Japan finally gets the new models. Why do buyers in Japan have to wait?

Following the successful launches in North America, the all-new 2015 Subaru Legacy sedan and 2015 Outback wagon have finally gone on sale in Japan. It’s been nearly five months ago that the 2015 Subaru Legacy launched here in the U.S., and two months since the 2015 Outback made its way into U.S. showrooms. But the new-generation models have just launched in their home market Japan. Why do North American buyers get 2015 Outback/Legacy months before Japan?

U.S. sales are booming

Subaru of America has now seen 34 consecutive months of year-over-year growth and is well on its way to its sixth successive annual sales record. Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) caters to the U.S. market because this is the largest market in the world for the Japanese automaker followed by Japan and Australia. They have recently expanded their global reach into the world’s largest market China, and this will be a top priority market behind the U.S. and Japan. But for now, the U.S. gets the new models first just like we saw the new-generation 2015 WRX and 2015 WRX STI launch well ahead of the Japan market.

2015 Legacy Outback/ Legacy B4 sedan

Outback is called the Legacy Outback in the Japan market and launches with the same features the U.S. models get. The 2015 Legacy sedan is called the Legacy B4 in its home country and also gets the same features as North American customers. They will both feature the new EyeSight safety system and will come with all the new upgrades seen in the U.S. models.

READ ABOUT 2015 Outback and Legacy feature effortless behind the wheel connectivity

Japan models see one big difference

There’s one main difference between the Japan and North American 2015 Outback wagon and Legacy sedan models. There is no 3.6-liter 6 cylinder models offered in Japan. Japan gets the 2.5-liter 4 cylinder Boxer powertrain that’s been newly-redesigned. Subaru says 80 percent of the parts are new on the four-cylinder engine and gets new evolution intake and exhaust systems and combustion systems for improved fuel-efficiency. It also gets quieter with a new
alternator chain.

2015 Subaru Outback wagon and 2015 Legacy sedan sales are substantially up here in the U.S. with new-generation Outback sales up 38.95 percent and Legacy up 117.7 percent over the previous month. They finally have gone on sale in Japan and Subaru can only hope sales are this brisk in the home country.

Other 2015 Subaru Outback / 2015 Legacy stories of interest.
Subaru creates problem by new 2015 Outback and Legacy launches