Right now, the tally for the first half of 2023 is looking quite nice for the US automotive market. But, as it turns out, it's not the Japanese that have the reigns, but rather the locals. So, what can the former do about the latter?
Following the sales figures is always challenging with all the market movements. However, now we know that General Motors still tops Toyota at the halftime of 2023's US sales, while, of course, Tesla decimates its competition for the EV laurels. But that does not matter all that much because, as far as segments are concerned, compact crossover SUVs rule the party, followed by full-size pickup trucks and large crossovers.
Interestingly, Toyota lost the lead in terms of brand dominance – this time to Ford instead of General Motors. And that is with a full-on assault of novelties on the US market: Prius Prime, Corolla Cross Hybrid, 2024 Grand Highlander, 2024 Tacoma, and more that are still to come. Well, if Toyota can't rule undefeated, what could little brands like Subaru do to keep up with the fast-paced sales trend? Of course, for starters, they could cater to the most popular segment.
And that is exactly what they are doing with the $25k Subaru Crosstrek or 2024 Outback. But even more is needed since this is a niched automaker we are talking about. So, while their 2024 Impreza and Legacy cars are also available, the brunt of the sales needs to be taken care of by popular nameplates like the Forester, for example. And the latter is growing a little long in the tooth if you ask fans since the current SK fifth generation built on the then-new Subaru Global Platform has been around since 2018 after it was revealed in spring at the New York International Auto Show.
Some would say that the facelifted model was released pretty fresh for the 2022 model year in North America with a new front fascia style and a subtly restyled end – but others will argue the powertrain remained unchanged with the four-cylinder 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer mill and a sole transmission option - Lineartronic CVT – to send the 182 hp and 176 lb-ft (239 Nm) to the wheels.
As such, although there are no spied prototypes or teasers to speak of just yet, everyone is expecting Subaru to start the preparations for the all-new sixth generation fashionably. The rumor mill – and especially the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, is thinking about the next iteration. The Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info that is corroborated with their virtual designs, and now there is a new CGI take on the next Forester.
It's a flimsy one because there is no supporting evidence (spies, teasers) about the potential looks, so the resident pixel master obviously tried more than one approach – the orange 'Forester' might be the work of AI-assisted tools. In contrast, the chromed version looks like a toned-down concept car. As such, do take all this with a healthy dose of salt as nothing is official from Subaru just yet – not even the potential switch from boxer engines to Toyota RAV4 Prime's plug-in hybrid powertrain. So, do you think we should give this attempt our CGI hall pass, or is the author better off a little more patient to render something closer to reality?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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