Subaru Levorg

Subaru Levorg
2021 Subaru Levorg GT (UK)
Overview
ManufacturerSubaru
Also called
  • Subaru WRX wagon (2021–present)
  • Subaru WRX Sportswagon (Australia, 2021–present)
  • Subaru WRX GT (New Zealand, 2021–present)
Production2014–present
AssemblyJapan: Ōta, Gunma (Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car
Body style5-door station wagon
LayoutFront-engine, four-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorSubaru Impreza Station Wagon

The Subaru Levorg (Japanese: スバル・レヴォーグ, Hepburn: Subaru Revuōgu) is a mid-size car manufactured since 2014 by Subaru. According to the company, the name Levorg is an Blend word or portmanteau of three words: legacy, revolution and touring.[1] The first Levorg shares its platform with the Impreza/WRX and the Legacy. The second generation Levorg sits on the Subaru Global Platform used by the majority of Subaru's family cars.

The Levorg was first shown as a pre-production concept car at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show in November 2013.[2] Subaru began collecting orders on the Japanese market on 4 January 2014, and the car went on sale in May.[3] In February 2015, Subaru announced the introduction of the Levorg on the European market, and the car made its première on the continent at the Geneva Motor Show in March of the same year.[4]

First generation (VM; 2014)

First generation (VM)
Pre-facelift
Overview
Production2014–2020
Body and chassis
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Power output
  • 125 kW (168 hp; 170 PS) (FB16)
  • 221 kW (296 hp; 300 PS) (FA20)
TransmissionLineartronic CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,650 mm (104.3 in)
Length4,690 mm (184.6 in)
Width1,780 mm (70.1 in)
Height1,490 mm (58.7 in)
Kerb weight1,520–1,580 kg (3,351–3,483 lb)

Specifications

Rear (pre-facelift)
Interior

On the domestic Japanese market the Levorg is available with two DOHC flat-four petrol engines, both turbocharged, intercooled and direct injected: a 170 PS (125 kW), 250 N⋅m (184 lbf⋅ft) FB16 1.6 L and a 296 PS (218 kW), 400 N⋅m (295 lbf⋅ft) FA20 2.0 L.[3] The two are coupled to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission and four-wheel-drive.

V-Sport

On 20 November 2019, Subaru launched the 2020 Subaru Levorg V-Sport. It features front sports seats with fabric upholstery, a leather wrapped steering wheel with silver stitching, as well as piano black and chrome trim. As with the variant it is based on, it sports Bilstein dampers, ventilated disc brakes and 225/45 R18 tires. V-Sport will be available in Japan and is priced at JPY 3,150,000.[5]

Sales

During its advance sales before launch, Subaru received about 11,000 orders in three months, 2,000 short of its projection.[6]

Facelift

  • Facelift

    Facelift

  • Facelift

    Facelift

Motorsport

A Subaru Levorg, as campaigned by Team BMR in the 2017 British Touring Car Championship.

On 12 January 2016, Subaru announced that it was entering the British Touring Car Championship, as a manufacturer entry, in partnership with Team BMR.[7] For the 2016 season, the team were preparing four Levorg Sports Tourers to the championship's Next Generation Touring Car specification. The BTCC Levorgs are configured as rear wheel drive rather than four wheel drive (which is disallowed by the championship's regulations). Former double champions Jason Plato and Colin Turkington piloted the cars, along with team owner Warren Scott. The marque's FA20 2.0 litre boxer engine was race prepared for the team by Mountune Racing.[8]

The 2017 season saw some changes, including Ashley Sutton joining the team from MG Racing. Sutton went on to win the 2017 British Touring Car Championship for the team. Jason Plato continued driving the Levorg, but struggled to find pace throughout the season.[9]

The 2018 season saw Team BMR switch from Mountune to Swindon as engine suppliers for the Levorg.[10]

Second generation (VN; 2020)

Second generation (VN)
Overview
Also called
  • Subaru WRX Sportswagon (Australia)[11][12]
  • Subaru WRX GT (New Zealand)[13]
  • Subaru WRX wagon (international)[14][15]
Production2020–present
Body and chassis
PlatformSubaru Global Platform
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Power output
  • 130 kW (174 hp; 177 PS) (CB18)[16]
  • 191 kW (256 hp; 260 PS) (FA24F)
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,670 mm (105.1 in)[16]
Length4,755 mm (187.2 in)[16]
Width1,795 mm (70.7 in)[16]
Height1,500 mm (59.1 in)[16] (with roof antenna)
Kerb weight1,550–1,580 kg (3,417–3,483 lb)[16]
Rear view

Unveiled as a prototype at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show on October 23,[17] the second-generation model switched to the Subaru Global Platform, with a newly developed 1.8 L CB18 engine. Like the previous generation, this model would not be sold in North America, but would go on sale in Japan in the second half of 2020.[18]

On August 21, 2020, the second-generation Levorg was released in Japan.[19]

According to Subaru engine designer Tsuneaki Numamiyauchi, the displacement of the CB18 was chosen to balance an increase in maximum torque to 300 N⋅m (31 kg⋅m; 220 lb⋅ft) with improved fuel economy from adopting lean-burn technology.[20] Fuel economy improved from 16.0 to 16.6 kilometres per litre (38 to 39 mpg‑US) compared to the preceding generation's FB16 engine.[16] In addition, the overall length of the engine was shortened by 44 mm (1.7 in), allowing for a larger crush zone for safety.[20]

The second-generation Levorg is sold in Australia as the WRX Sportswagon and in New Zealand as the WRX GT ("Grand Touring"), leveraging the use of the WRX nameplate. For Australia and New Zealand, the Levorg is fitted with the larger FA24F 2.4-litre direct injection turbo engine.[21][22][13] On November 25, Subaru announced the FA24F-equipped Levorg also would be sold to the Japanese market as the STI Sport R model.[23]

Levorg Layback

A crossover SUV-inspired variant of the Levorg, named Layback, went on sale in September 2023.[24]

  • 2023 Levorg Layback front view

    2023 Levorg Layback front view

  • 2023 Levorg Layback rear view

    2023 Levorg Layback rear view

References

  1. ^ "スバル、東京モーターショーで新スポーツツーリング「LEVORG（レヴォーグ）」を世界初公開" [Subaru, new sport wagon at the Tokyo Motor Show: "LEVORG" world premiere]. car.watch.impress.co.jp (in Japanese). November 20, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Stoklosa, Alexander (November 21, 2013). "Subaru's Levorg Prototype is the 2015 WRX Wagon of Your Dreams". blog.caranddriver.com. Car and Driver. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Gauthier, Michael (January 2, 2014). "2014 Subaru Levorg hits the track". worldcarfans.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Padeanu, Adrian (February 6, 2015). "2015 Subaru Outback and Levorg in European specification confirmed for Geneva debut". worldcarfans.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  5. ^ 2020 Subaru Levorg V-Sport is here – and it’s not what you expected ZIG Wheels(12/11/2019)
  6. ^ Greimel, Hans (April 17, 2014). "A rare misfire for Subaru with new Levorg wagon?". Automotive News. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "SUBARU ENTER BTCC WITH TEAM BMR". British Touring Car Championship. TOCA. January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Hudson, Neil (January 15, 2016). "Mountune chosen as engine partner for Team BMR's four Subarus". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  9. ^ Ashby, Chris (October 2, 2017). "Jason Plato hails new BTCC champion Ashley Sutton "a superstar"". BTCC Crazy. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  10. ^ Gallagher, Ian (2018). "Team BMR to switch engine suppliers for 2018 season". Touring Car Times. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Please, Subaru, Bring This Australian 2022 WRX Sportswagon to the U.S." October 14, 2021.
  12. ^ https://paultan.org/2021/10/15/2022-subaru-wrx-sportswagon-a-levorg-for-australia/[bare URL]
  13. ^ a b "Subaru New Zealand reveals surprise 2022 WRX GT wagon". October 14, 2021.
  14. ^ De Guzman, Marcus (June 8, 2022). "Prices, specs, features: 2022 Subaru WRX arrives in PH". Autoindustriya. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 Subaru WRX, WRX Wagon launched in Thailand - 2.4L turbo flat-four; 275 PS; 6MT, CVT; from RM367k - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Tanikawa, Kiyoshi; Yasuda, Tsuyoshi (photographer) (August 20, 2020). "スバルの技術を極めた、新型「レヴォーグ」。SGPボディやCB18エンジンのカットモデル展示" [The technology of Subaru's new 'Levorg'; cutaway model of SGP body and CB18 engine]. Car Watch. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "World Premiere of All-New Subaru Levorg Prototype at Tokyo Motor Show 2019" (Press release). Subaru Global Media. October 23, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  18. ^ Stafford, Eric (October 23, 2019). "Subaru Levorg, Bold New Station Wagon, Previews the Next WRX". Car and Driver. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "2021 Subaru Levorg made its official debut in Japan". Zig Wheels. August 21, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Tsubakiyama, Kazuo (August 24, 2020). "スバル新型「レヴォーグ」のデジタルコクピットや1.8リッターの採用理由が明らかに YouTubeLive「NEW LEVORG 徹底解剖」レポート" [Subaru's 'Levorg' digital cockpit and the reason for adopting 1.8 litres revealed in YouTube Live 'New Levorg thorough dissection' report]. Car Watch. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon replacing Levorg in Australia".
  22. ^ "2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon in, Levorg out as Japanese brand's performance wagon model to take on Golf R and Skoda Octavia RS".
  23. ^ "SUBARU 「レヴォーグ」一部改良モデルを発表" [SUBARU 'Levorg' partially improved model announced] (Press release) (in Japanese). Subaru Global Media. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  24. ^ "SUBARU 新型 SUV「LEVORG LAYBACK」ティザー画像を公開 ～9 月 7 日より国内 SUBARU 販売店で先行予約を開始～" [Subaru releases new SUV "Levorg Layback" teaser image -Advance reservations will begin at Subaru dealers in Japan from September 7-] (PDF) (pdf). Japan: Subaru. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Subaru Levorg.