Competition Cometh

VW is going after Subaru Outback. With a better interior, maybe a diesel engine, maybe a manual, and of course the punchy little 2.0T...

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/24/vw-golf-alltrack-paris-outback-rival/

http://img5.avtolog.com/g2/volkswagen/golf-alltrack-2015.jpg

Now they just have to make the electronics work, and build a transmission that won't grenade itself.

:lol:

It probably wont even have an impact on the Outback sales, though it seems like a decent car.

There are also rumors of GM bringing this over as a Buick.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Vauxhall-Insignia-Country-Tourer-20-CDTi-4x4-2014-CAR-review/

1: Haldex awd

2: It's a GOLF= way smaller than the OB

Not really anywhere near the same target demo as the OB. I'm guessing a wannabe version of an Audi a3, minus awesome Quattro goodness(if you consider Quattro a good thing)

People fall over the slightly lifted Impreza with a cheap plastic 1996 interior, so I imagine these will do well. Lift a wagon a little bit and now it's an SUV seems to work really well.

I do agree on quality of anything in a German cars being a bit dodgy, but I'd say they've gotten better since the early 2000's.

I actually think demographically these would be targeted at the same folks that would be buying an Outback, Forester, or Crosstrek. If it's about the same size as the current Jetta wagon, it will slot right along the Forester, if not a big bigger and in between the Outback and Forester size wise.

I do believe that if all the drivetrains out of the current Jetta/Golf variants make it into this, it will be a tempting package.

1: Haldex awd

 

2: It's a GOLF= way smaller than the OB

 

Not really anywhere near the same target demo as the OB. I'm guessing a wannabe version of an Audi a3, minus awesome Quattro goodness(if you consider Quattro a good thing)

Probably more a Cross-Trek head-to-head competitor; Based on the Jetta, it's no where near size/capability of the Legacy/Outback platform.

And, the original Quattro system, with symmetrical AWD like the Subaru system, was pretty competent. The FWD converted to AWD VW/Audi setups, not so much.

it still not set in stone that vw is going bring over the awd tdi wagon. They should bring it over; crossovers are hit sellers and us vw sales are down something 20%.

If VW brings an AWD TDI wagon, they can have my money right now!

So its a VW badged A4 Allroad

Not even. It's a plastic clad Jetta Wagon with 6.2" of ground clearance. The A4 Allroad is a a different platform with real Quattro and a longitudinal engine mount. This is Haldex with a transverse engine.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/29/2015-volvo-v40-cross-country-awd-official/

Looks like Volvo is also coming up with a Crosstrek rival also. If this makes its way to the US, maybe that will give SOA a reason place the 2.0DIT into the Crosstrek.

Probably not. Volvo isn't competition to anyone. A base FWD S40 was $28 grand new. I wouldn't see a FWD lifted V40 wagon being introduced for less than $30k. They'd be playing in different ballparks.

I don't believe the S40 is available in the US market anymore. The cheapest new Volvo is the FWD S60 at $34k. A jacked-up V40 at $30k would allow Volvo a lower point of entry as well be classified as an CUV, thus bypassing current fuel economy requirements. But that logic would make too much sense, so Volvo USA would not do that.

Now that I think about it, you are probably right, Subaru has the Forester XT in the $30k segement. No need for a more powerful Crosstrek. The only remaining hole I see in Subaru's CUV lineup is the 7 passenger segment.

The S40 was also based on the Mazda 3 platform - competent in Mazda form, but less so in Volvo garb. With the decomposition of the Ford ownership of the Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Range Rover, et al, these brands are free to do what they want without Ford Corporate oversight.

Hopefully, the redesigned Tribeca will finally, adequately, fill the 7-passenger SUV (vs CUV) market for Subaru. Although I don't think there's much demand for a 7-passenger Subaru, the rear AC and amenities on the previous generation were pretty nice in total.

Looks the the Crosstrek is about to find itself in a crowded space.

Turbo, AWD...obviously better interior, and probably amenities as well.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/02/fiat-500x-paris-2014/

http://news247.gr/eidiseis/auto/article3059944.ece/BINARY/w660/Fiat500X2.jpg

http://www.thetorquereport.com/assets_c/2014/10/Fiat_500X_0006-thumb-530xauto-37096.jpg

http://www.topgear.com/uk/imageresize/image.jpg?OriginalImageUrl=%2Fuk%2Fassets%2Fcms%2F25d6864d-7317-497a-9a98-ac0bb7ed9034%2FLarge+Image.jpg%3Fp%3D141002_01%3A39&Width=615&Height=347

VW is going after Subaru Outback. With a better interior, maybe a diesel engine, maybe a manual, and of course the punchy little 2.0T...

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/09/24/vw-golf-alltrack-paris-outback-rival/

 

http://img5.avtolog.com/g2/volkswagen/golf-alltrack-2015.jpg

Thats nice. Let the modding begin.

Caveat emptor, when we speak of competition, especially AWD, that some AWD systems are pretty bad and not really AWD at all as far as anyone should be concerned.

Honda CRV choking big time are a pretty simple AWD test.

Reading Honda's "reclama" makes it sound like they don't trust their rear differential to take the load.

The Honda AWD system uses a compact, lightweight and fuel-efficient rear differential. The design requires a certain torque limitation for the device to be able to work effectively in real conditions, but at the same time, it must not exceed the total capacity of the AWD drive.

In real conditions, regardless of the surface, there is a certain amount of friction always available for both front and rear wheels. The AWD system benefits therefore torque between front and rear wheels in order to achieve optimal driving force.

In the roll test non-existent grip is simulated in the front and maximum grip at the rear.

If all the available torque required to move the vehicle forward would be transferred to the rear differential then the limit for the torque of the unit would be exceeded.

If the vehicle continues to run in this state (the front wheels spinning and the rear wheels standing still) the system senses the high speed variation and that the differential clutch slips and reduces the available torque to the rear wheels to prevent overheating. That is why the vehicle moves backward in the video.

And then there was another.

Mazda unveiled the CX-3 tonight.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sM0hVOcoAA/VGwkcn60TmI/AAAAAAAAaU4/pSc-AtX8sRA/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-3-7.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr-Uzi0X6Bc/VGwkQ_ptMGI/AAAAAAAAaQY/N8tDT9v63m4/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-3-14.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7RetqhY_RoA/VGwkYnsl-hI/AAAAAAAAaTU/CnQwx8s29rI/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-3-38.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGZtulxbvGQ/VGwkatIqexI/AAAAAAAAaUI/9BmkN8Fe7Fc/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-3-44.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ymWMYI05Xk/VGwkVigE2BI/AAAAAAAAaSc/Emse_2rbFG0/s1600/2016-Mazda-CX-3-29.jpg