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The rendering from Subtle Solutions pictured above of a new Subaru midsize pickup is what performance and truck fans want in their garage. A new Subaru truck with a hood scoop would have an FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine producing close to 300 horsepower and extra torque for towing. We think it’s the missing vehicle in Subaru of America’s all-wheel-drive lineup, and it would be a top-seller for the Camden, N.J. automaker.
Pickup trucks are hot sellers, and Subaru would be in a great position to cash in if they would go even further and build a new Wilderness truck to join the Outback and Forester Wilderness sub-brand. Hyundai introduced the all-new Santa Cruz Sport-Adventure Vehicle (SAV), and a Subaru Wilderness truck would raise the bar.
photo credit: KDesign AG (Kleber Silva)
A midsize Subaru Ascent-based Wilderness pickup would likely succeed and fill a hole in the Japanese automaker’s all-wheel-drive lineup. The brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system would be a perfect fit for the new pickup and would likely be a big hit with truck buyers who want to go off-road.
The new Subaru Global Platform would allow the Japanese automaker to use the Ascent platform without significant changes. Engineers could easily cut off the back, make exterior design changes, and Subaru would have a good-looking 4-door all-wheel-drive truck for its U.S customers.
photo credit: KDesign AG (Kleber Silva)
It would be manufactured alongside the 2022 Ascent 3-Row family hauler in Lafayette, Indiana, with its 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine for power. The new Wilderness truck would sit higher off the ground with at least 9.4-inches of ground clearance like the Outback Wilderness with an upgraded suspension.
The new truck would come in Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, and Wilderness trim levels. The Wilderness would feature black alloy wheels, interior, exterior accents and badging, and Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode all-terrain all-wheel-drive system.
An all-new Ascent-based pickup would be right in Subaru’s wheelhouse of niche all-wheel-drive models and appeal to tens of thousands of midsize truck buyers. The Ascent platform gives Subaru a truck to compete in the hot midsize pickup segment with the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon. It would be the missing piece in the Subaru all-wheel-drive lineup.
We want Subaru to bring back the Baja nameplate for its new midsize truck. Would you buy a new rugged 2023 Subaru Baja Wilderness midsize pickup if the Japanese automaker offered it next year?
You Might Also Like: Why The All-New Wilderness Trim Could Launch Subaru To New Heights
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: main image used with permission from Subtle Solutions @subtlesolutions
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Comments
This would be fantastic. It
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This would be fantastic. It is what thei lineup is missing. Why not share with Toyota on the truck the way they are planning to do on the electric cuv.
For what it's worth Toyota
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In reply to This would be fantastic. It by Patricia Schaeffer (not verified)
For what it's worth Toyota owns about 20% of Subaru, so it's less sharing and more just normal in-house operations
I own a Subaru Legacy.Iam
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In reply to For what it's worth Toyota by Do I have to? (not verified)
I own a Subaru Legacy.Iam hunting for a All Terrain pickup.Iwill sell the Legacy.It was a fantastic vehicle
I have owned subaru cars for
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In reply to This would be fantastic. It by Patricia Schaeffer (not verified)
I have owned subaru cars for over 20years.
Owned Toyota tacoma ,tundra and a f150
now. The last thing we need is another off road vehicle. Of all my friends that have pickups any
4wheel drive will get the job done. I would venture to say that most off road trucks never go off road. The perfect truck would be the size of the old tundra ,bigger than a mid sz and smaller than a full size . It would need to get
25 mph a gallon. Rather basic and affordable to the masses
That would be the Toy T100
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In reply to I have owned subaru cars for by wayne walts (not verified)
That would be the Toy T100
That would be the Toy T100
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In reply to I have owned subaru cars for by wayne walts (not verified)
That would be the Toy T100
A 4 cylinder engine in this
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In reply to I have owned subaru cars for by wayne walts (not verified)
A 4 cylinder engine in this would be over worked when used as a utility vehicle , towing, loading the bed ECT. This engine will burn out . It is a beautiful truck just needs at least a good V6
At 25 mph you should get
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In reply to I have owned subaru cars for by wayne walts (not verified)
At 25 mph you should get pretty far on a gallon. .... I know what you mean though. :0)
I don't know I drive a Subaru
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In reply to This would be fantastic. It by Patricia Schaeffer (not verified)
I don't know I drive a Subaru daily and have quite a bit of trouble picturing a truck. What comes to mind is the brat and you just don't see too many of them still out there but I see lots of Toyota trucks from the same era. I like the idea of driving my car and being under estimated when it comes to going off road. I have been more places in my legacy than most trucks would even dare to go.think we should save truck building for manufacturing for the pro's. Subaru is great the way they are and should probably just leave well enough alone.
I had a 1979 Brat and it was
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In reply to I don't know I drive a Subaru by Johnathan T Howard (not verified)
I had a 1979 Brat and it was an amazing little vehicle. It normally ran in FWD and you could engage the rear drive as needed. I drove in the snow, on my family farm in winter, and a lot on the highway. I am sure that Toyota sold a lot more small trucks than Subaru. Hell, in 1979, who had even heard of Subaru? The Baja that came later was a bit more roadworthy although not as nimble in the dirt. I don't think the Brat was a rugged as the Toyota trucks are since it was basically an auto body chopped off in the back. The Brat box is also very small compared to the Toyota.
lets remember why there's not
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In reply to I don't know I drive a Subaru by Johnathan T Howard (not verified)
lets remember why there's not that many out there they onle produced them for a 3 year run
I’ve test drove Acura RDX
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In reply to This would be fantastic. It by Patricia Schaeffer (not verified)
I’ve test drove Acura RDX Nissan Murano, Ford Escape , Toyota rav 4 by far my 2020 outback xt touring has the best overall handling and performance 0nly drawback is phone charger raise the screen up and make it more like a Toyota And under console storage or Chevy truck Phone location,but a pickup would be great with a locking storage bed like the Honda or new Santa cruise go knock it out of the park I will buy one!
Suggest Subaru build the
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In reply to This would be fantastic. It by Patricia Schaeffer (not verified)
Suggest Subaru build the truck bed with storage under truck bed floor like Honda does. Also built in rain shield on front doors so interior temperature doesn’t go up to 130 degrees when parked & locked on hot climates like in Florida.
Cool concept but don't put
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Cool concept but don't put the cvt in it
Love the rendering. I would
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Love the rendering. I would order one right now if it is available !! Please build it, Subaru!
Hope it has 4low and a non
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Hope it has 4low and a non-cvt transmission. All see if my credit is good enough when time comes ;)
I don't see this happening
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I don't see this happening because Subaru would have to go back to a normal automatic transmission instead of the CVT and I don't see them manufacturing an automatic just for one vehicle. It would be cool though. Putting a V6 in it would be better though. That is where Ford is failing with its new Ranger models.
Thats a f150 velociraptor.
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Thats a f150 velociraptor. The front fender, front bumper, cabin, front windows and bed area.
Check out a new "rendering"
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In reply to Thats a f150 velociraptor. by Aleks (not verified)
Check out a new "rendering" of a Subaru midsize pickup. Only a mockup/rendering.....of course the company would just use a standard stock pic of another vehicle, and put on the Subaru details. This DID NOT come from Subaru itself.
Get it done, build a truck
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Get it done, build a truck Subaru!
At first glance top Pic looks
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At first glance top Pic looks nice but turns out it's an sti face on a Ford raptor, and the truck shown below is butt ugly! Disappointing
Glad I'm not the only one who
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In reply to At first glance top Pic looks by Ryan (not verified)
Glad I'm not the only one who sees this. The blue one just looks like a base ranger w a face lift or a euro Toyota Hilux w a facelift as well either way they can surely do better
I would like to see Subaru
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I would like to see Subaru jump in with both feet and make an all wheel drive oversized work pickup. 9 or so inches wider wheel base and interior cab and cargo space. 3 nice seats in each row and not overly high and hard to get in. I don't want to drive a diamond ring. I want to drive a work belt with and . hammer
I am with you on that! Of
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In reply to I would like to see Subaru by Gary Diltz (not verified)
I am with you on that! Of course bringing back the gun rack would be a nice touch too!
I would absolutely trade in
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I would absolutely trade in my Forester for one of these! Only deal breaker is is it has less legroom than the Forester.
I would trade in my Legacy
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In reply to I would absolutely trade in by Isaac Madsen (not verified)
I would trade in my Legacy for one of these. I hope they come out before I decide to order a Jeep Gladiator.
Subaru- please make the rear
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Subaru- please make the rear window a full size roll down, like the Tundra. That is a great feature for anyone who wants an outdoor truck
I would love a Subaru pickup!
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I would love a Subaru pickup! I have been a Subaru owner for 14 years. Having had a Forester.and Outback. The past 4 years I've owned a Crosstrek & really hoped Subaru would bring back a pickup!! .
The last thing we need is
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The last thing we need is another stupid sedan with a tray on the back, pretending to be a p/u truck!
Remember...the purpose would
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In reply to The last thing we need is by JakeSnake696 (not verified)
Remember...the purpose would be to build a small pick up both handy a nd easy to use.......you want to haul a 12000# boat..........buy a big truck the Baja's bring a premium in todays market in good condition....there is definetly a market out there (59,000 Santa Cruz's sold "21, '22)....keep it small, light weight, sporty and forget about these nut heads that pay $60000 for a new truck and then go out on week ends and try to tear it up !!