WeeklySA_AdminCOMPACT CROSSOVER: The famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is a standard feature across the range
By Ali Mphaki
It’s a bold and non-conformist design which evokes a sense of playfulness and adventure. Conceptualised around the lifestyle for which it has become popular, the all-new Subaru Crosstrek now available in South Africa, as with all the Subaru models sold in Mzansi comes endowed with the famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system – a standard feature across the Crosstrek range.
Geared not to sacrifice capability at the expense of comfort or performance, Subaru says this always-on all-wheel drive system has been further improved with faster response times that enhance the vehicle’s agility and control in a number of different driving environments and surfaces.
For those in the know (if you know you know), there’s nothing quite like experiencing a brand-new Subaru vehicle. The brand has become synonymous with ultimate driving experience and safety in motion.The newcomer replaces the previous generation Subaru XV presented as the compact SUV within the Subaru SUV range next to the Forester and Outback.
Where the XV and Crosstrek names were used separately in different markets around the world, the Crosstrek name has now been adopted worldwide, including here in South Africa. The name is coined from the words Crossover and Trekking, an impression into the car’s versatility and capability in a variety of terrains and environments.
It was a bold step into the compact SUV segment when the Subaru XV/Crosstrek made its worldwide debut 12 years ago, sending the opposition on a spin with its leading ground-clearance and off-road competence as well as standout design.
Compared to the outgoing model, the Crosstrek features larger wheel arch cladding and rocker panels all around the vehicle. From the rear, the contours of the C-shaped tail light clusters are more pronounced.
Interior design and operation architecture previously seen on the new Subaru Outback and Subaru WRX models in South Africa continues in the new Crosstrek, which also features the latest driver’s multi-function display and steering wheel as well as a new 11.6-inch central display.
New on the Crosstrek compared to the outgoing model is Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration as well as Bluetooth® connectivity for audio and phone call operation and a wireless phone charging pad. The infotainment system also operates the vehicle settings such as EyeSight Driver Assistance features and X-Mode settings to name a few.
The top-of-the range iS is fitted with Subaru leather seats with 8-way adjustable power operation, and the base iL is fitted with fabric seats.
Like the XV it replaces, the new Subaru Crosstrek line-up comprises just a pair of derivatives, each employing the Japanese brand’s familiar naturally aspirated 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder Boxer petrol engine. With symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard, power again goes to all 4 corners via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters and 8 pre-set steps.
In the Crosstrek, this horizontally opposed motor makes an unchanged 115 kW and 196 Nm, though now sips at a claimed 7.2 litres per 100 km, making it ever-so-slightly more efficient than before. Luggage space, meanwhile, is listed as 320 litres, while ground clearance comes in at 220 mm.
So, how much does the newcomer cost? Well, the Crosstrek 2.0-i L ES is priced from R579 000, while the Crosstrek 2.0-i S ES kicks off at R669 000. For the record, the outgoing XV 2.0i was last listed for R464 000, with the XV 2.0i-S ES having cost R531 000
The Subaru Crosstrek is presented in 9 exterior colours.
an impression into the
car’s versatility and capability in a variety
of terrains and environments
motoring:
Briefs
TOYOTA PROMISES 1500K RANGE EVs
Toyota is promising a new-generation of industry-leading electric cars from the second half of this decade, with plans to introduce solid-state batteries from 2028.
At an all-day executive briefing – held under the theme of ‘Let’s change the future of cars’ – Toyota said it was expecting to bring electric cars to market with solid-state batteries delivering a driving range of approximately 1500 kilometres.
The Japanese car giant claims “next-generation” lithium ion batteries will be launched from 2026 with approximately 1000km of driving range, while its solid-state batteries will up the driving range by 50 per cent after 2028.
“We are determined to be the world leader in batteries,” Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima said.
BMW M – MANUAL IS DEAD
BMW M’s future is automatic. We’re talking transmissions, people. As far as M is concerned the twin clutch gearbox is dead, the manual doesn’t have long left. After that, it’s torque converters only until single speed EVs presumably take over.
The just launched M2 is highly likely to be the last manual M car. Expect an M2 Competition in a couple of years, a facelift in four, an M2 CS at some stage and then a gradual wind-down until the M2 finally smokes its last set of tyres around 2030.
What’s snuck up on us is the demise of the twin clutch gearbox. That much-vaunted instant shift gearbox isn’t currently used on any BMW M car – and won’t be making a comeback either. We could have guessed as much when the M4 CSL arrived last year sporting the same eight-speed auto as the rest of the M3/M4 range, but now Dirk Hacker, Head of Development at BMW M, has confirmed as much.
“The double clutch, from BMW M’s point of view these days, it’s gone,” he told TopGear.com. “It’s now manual or automatic, and automatic electrified for the future.”
LEXUS GX DEBUTS
The 2024 Lexus GX brings the SUV into its third generation to replace the current iteration that dates all the way back to a debut for the 2010 model year. The new model has a much more chiseled, rugged-looking appearance than the outgoing one. There’s more modern tech, too. The new SUV goes on sale in early 2024 overseas, and no pricing is available at this time.
The 2024 GX rides on the body-on-frame GA-F platform that’s also underneath the LX 600. It features a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link setup at the rear. The new model adopts electronic power steering, which Lexus claims offers increased steering feel on- and off-road. An Adaptive Variable Suspension with active dampers is an option.
At launch, the only powertrain available is the GX 550 that comes with a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 making 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It hooks up to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. This setup allows for up to 8,000 pounds of towing.
GERMANY U-TURNS ON EV’s
When EU lawmakers voted to ban the sale of new combustion engine cars in the bloc by 2035, it was a landmark victory for climate. In February, the European Parliament approved the law. All that was needed was a rubber stamp from the bloc’s political leaders.
Then Germany changed its mind. In a reversal that stunned many EU insiders, the German government decided to push for a loophole that would allow the sale of combustion engine cars beyond the 2035 deadline — as long as they run on synthetic fuels.
It’s an exception that could put the European Union’s green credentials at risk. The bloc is legally obligated to become carbon-neutral by 2050. With cars and vans responsible for around 15% of its total greenhouse gas emissions, a phase-out of polluting vehicles is a key part of EU climate policy.
