2012 Subaru XV on sale in Australia in January

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior said the Subaru XV would be the first of a number of new launches for the Japanese brand in Australia in 2012.
As previously reported, the XV will be a stand-alone model in Subaru’s global range, slotting into the SUV line-up beneath the larger Forester, Outback and Tribeca.
The XV will launch in Australia just weeks before the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatch, which are also due here in the first quarter.
Mr Senior said the Subaru XV – essentially a high-riding, off-road-ready version of the new Impreza hatch – promised to offer greater on- and off-road versatility than its direct competitors.

“On preliminary figures, our centre of gravity is 39mm lower than a Nissan Dualis and 22mm lower than the Volkswagen Tiguan, and these are key competitors,” he said.
”Yet despite this the new Subaru XV has a ground clearance of 220mm. That’s 32mm more than the Dualis and 25mm more than the Tiguan, demonstrating the superiority of Subaru’s Boxer engine and Symmetrical AWD, and our years of experience in building world class SUVs.
“A lower centre of gravity, but not ground clearance, adds up to a load more fun – fun to drive, fun for adventure, fun for recreation, fun for the Australian way of life.”