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

On Fri, 19 Feb 2021 09:40:21 -0500, Frank <"frank "@frank.net> wrote:

>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/

Sounds like death and lawsuits to me.
Firestone Wilderness tires on Ford SUVs is the first thing that comes
to mind when connecting "Wilderness" with autos. Maybe Subaru got a
good deal on the trademark.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=firestone+wilderness+recall