WRX/STI Sales Tank; Will Subaru Abandon the Performance Cars?
SUV/Crossover vehicles like the 2018 Outback, Crosstrek and Forester are driving sales for the brand, but Subaru isn’t giving up on WRX and WRX STI. Sales of the WRX/STI aren’t what’s helping Subaru of America set new records every month.
It’s the all-new Crosstrek and 2018 Outback that is leading the way. WRX/STI sales were down again for June with the performance cars slipping -12.4 percent for the month and down -7.1 percent the first 6 months of 2018. In contrast, Crosstrek has its best-ever June and was up a whopping 83.6 percent leading the brand to a record month.
But performance fans don’t have to worry, according to a report from Motoring,com.au, Subaru Australia managing director Colin Christie said Subaru isn’t going to ax their performance cars. Christie says, “Subaru has made is very clear that their focus moving forward is both SUVs and performance cars, and they’re continuing to work and develop that range (WRX/STI).”
Subaru won’t abandon their WRX/STI performance cars just because their SUV/Crossovers are hot right now. Sedans like the Impreza and Legacy have also slipped in sales, but Subaru won’t ditch their sedans like Ford is doing.
The Japanese automaker will continue to build these cars in the future.
Their performance line is a big part of the Subaru culture and it’s what makes their Outback, Crosstrek and Forester vehicles fun-to-drive. Subaru Corp and Subaru Tecnica International use the technology from WRX STI to develop their SUV/Crossover lineup. They develop the technology on the race track and rally stages and then design the performance features into their other vehicles.
The next-generation WRX/STI is still a couple years away, probably 2020, and big changes are coming.
However, performance fans don’t have to worry, Subaru Corp won’t give up on their performance car lineup. Christie went on to say, “I’m confident there will be a replacement for the WRX and STI moving forward. It’s not five to 10 years away, either, but it certainly won’t be here in the next 12 months.”
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Photo credit: Subaru USA