Re: [NEWS] Subaru spinning off sub-brand for Outback and Forester

On 2/18/2021 2:06 PM, Your Name wrote:
> 
>  From Jalopnik.com ...
> 
> 
>     Subaru Is Spinning Off A Sub-Brand For The Outback And Forester
>     ---------------------------------------------------------------
>     Subaru wants in on the sweet, sweet profit margins that upgraded
>     models of current production cars bring, so it's going ahead
>     with the strategy by forming a new sub-brand for the Outback and
>     Forester.
> 
>     The Japanese carmaker is no longer oblivious to the upsell. It
>     will launch a sub-brand called Wilderness, per Automotive News.
>     The report calls it an off-road sub-brand, which is kind of
>     like when Dodge Ram pickups spun off into their own brand. Or
>     even something like VW's Chinese brand Jetta.
> 
>     The new Subaru models, which are set to launch along with the
>     2022 Outback, will sport off-road upgrades like higher ground
>     clearance and off-road tires straight from the dealer.
> 
>     But it's not exactly clear whether this is going to be a
>     distinct brand or if it's an edition of the Outback and Forester
>     that will sit atop the trim levels. If it is set to be a whole
>     brand, I think they could have come up with something better
>     than Wilderness. Maybe something with a space theme, or
>     something space adjacent, since Subaru is known for its
>     Pleiades badge.
> 
>     Sure, Wilderness is in line with the theme Subaru is going for,
>     but the two nameplates already have that covered. And it's a
>     going to feel a little strange referring to a souped-up Subie
>     as a Wilderness Forester or Wilderness Outback. Or if it's
>     just a trim, then maybe Wilderness will be tacked on at the
>     end, like a Wrangler Rubicon.
> 
>     But I find it odd, because wilderness is a region among nature.
>     And a forest is a wooded area outdoors. Uh, I think there's
>     some overlap there. Same thing with the Outback, though to a
>     lesser degree. The Outback refers to the remote region of
>     Australia. So a Wilderness Outback sounds conflicting. The
>     naming scheme with this sub-brand (or edition) sounds silly.
> 
>     But the dealers were clamoring for it and the chairman of the
>     Subaru National Retailer Advisory Board, Patrick Wergin, said
>     the new sub-brand is meant to satisfy consumer demand. Wergin
>     said the following, per Automotive News:
> 
>         "We're hoping that the Wilderness edition will attract
>          consumers that are active lifestyle families and that
>          do like to go out and maybe do a little bit more
>          off-roading. We're excited about the opportunity to
>          have this vehicle capture new clients in the segment."
> 
>     Wally Sommer, president of a Subaru dealership in Mequon,
>     Wisconsin, backed up Wergin, saying:
> 
>         "We've had customers asking for, and retailers have
>          identified the demand for, these more capable
>          off-road-type vehicles[.] Subaru has responded, and
>          people are going to be very pleased with the product
>          when they see it."
> 
>     I'm still a little suspicious of the move, but if it gets
>     drivers excited about the beefier station wagons people insist
>     on calling CUVs (in the case of the Outback) then by all means
>     Subaru, go wild.
> 
> 
> <https://jalopnik.com/subaru-is-spinning-off-with-a-sub-brand-for-the-outback-1846294441> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

Sounds like a new package to me, not a spin off brand:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35206089/subaru-outback-wilderness-spied/