Subaru Outback 2015 News

Cars equipped with futuristic technology that can save lives by braking automatically are being recalled in Australia and overseas because their latest safety systems are on the blink.Japanese car makers Subaru and Honda have issued two separate recalls involving technology that is designed to prevent rear-end crashes and/or avoid hitting pedestrians.Subaru is recalling more than 5000 of its latest Outback wagon and Liberty sedan models equipped with its “Eyesight” system that uses two cameras behind the windscreen to scan the road ahead.A sign of just how complex modern cars have become, Subaru has discovered a seemingly unrelated brake light fault can disable the vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system.A statement from Subaru said: “The (Eyesight) system may not operate as intended in an emergency braking situation (where the driver has failed to apply the brake), or may fail to properly engage the brakes when the vehicle has been placed in (automatic cruise control) mode. This is due to a software programming issue.”Subaru says the fault “does not affect the performance of the brakes when engaged by the driver” and no incidents have been reported in Australia or overseas.See full details on the Subaru recall here.  Meanwhile Honda Australia is recalling more than 2000 examples of its latest Accord sedan and CR-V that are equipped with similar automatic emergency braking technology.Rather alarmingly, in the case of the Honda fault, the automatic braking system can be activated when it is not supposed to.“In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may unexpectedly activate while operating the vehicle,” the Honda recall statement says.“In rare cases, the system may interpret certain roadside objects, such as metal fences or guardrails, as obstacles and apply emergency braking.”See full details on the Honda recall here and here.The faults come as the car industry is debating how much technology should be introduced in modern cars, and how much control should be taken away from the driver.Car giants Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and technology companies Apple and Google, are all experimenting with driverless cars that rely on cameras, radars and other sensors to navigate their way through traffic with limited or no input from the driver.But the latest recalls show that the technology still has a long way to go before it becomes failsafe.

New Subaru Outback SUV brings improved fuel efficiency and safety with reduced pricing.Subaru's fifth-generation Outback SUV has arrived in Australia this week, with new technology, safety features and significantly sharpened pricing across all variants.The new Outback range kicks-off $1,500 cheaper than before with the $35,490 manual 2.0D turbodiesel, while the auto-only 2.5i petrol is priced from $35,990.Both the 2.5i and 2.0D are available in the better-equipped Premium trim-level for an extra $6,000, while a CVT automatic for the 2.0D is available for a further $2,000.The top-spec Outback remains the six-cylinder petrol 3.6R at $47,990, which is a full $10,000 cheaper than before.SAFETYAll Outback variants bar the 2.0D receive Subaru's EyeSight technology, which incorporates autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and brake light detection as well as adaptive cruise control.Subaru claims the new Outback is the safest yet, adding to the previous model’s five-star safety rating from ANCAP with the highest individual  test scores recorded by a Subaru to date.FEATURESThe 2015 Outback also features increased luggage space, with 512 litres available in the back with the seats up - a 22 litre increase over the outgoing Outback. Premium model Outbacks also score a powered tailgate.The multimedia system in the Outback has also been updated, with 6.2-inch touchscreen now controlling the audio, car information and Bluetooth connectivity.Premium variants and the 3.6R also get satnav integrated within the touchscreen. The top 3.6R scores all of the above plus a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSThe Outback range keeps its all-wheel drivetrain options from the existing range, however the boxer engines and transmissions have been refined to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 output.The 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a CVT automatic transmission achieves 7.3L/100km, down from 8.0L/100km previously.The 191kW/350Nm 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine loses its previous five-speed auto for the same CVT as the 2.5, and achieves 9.9L/100km on the combined cycle, down from 10.3L/100km.The 110kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine achieves a combined fuel efficiency figure of 5.7L/100km when paired to a six-speed manual transmission (down from 6.0) and 6.3/100km (down from 6.5) when paired to the CVT automatic.The improved fuel efficiency figures have not affected the towing capacity of the Outback, with each drivetrain maintaining the braked towing capacities of 1500kg for the 2.5i, 1700kg for the 2.0D and 1800kg for the 3.6R.CVT variants will also come with X-Mode first seen on the Forester SUV, which is designed to improve off-road performance through specific traction/stability control and ABS settings, working in conjunction with hill descent control.

2015 Subaru Liberty and Outback receive five-star safety rating from ANCAP.Subaru's new Liberty sedan and Outback SUV have both achieved a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP, passing the crash tests with scores of 35.99 out of a possible 37.ANCAP said both vehicles' safety features, combined with their crash test scores met the requirements to be awarded the maximum safety rating, despite the absence of some safety features from local versions of both cars.Daytime running lights and tyre pressure monitoring are available on overseas models, but not locally according to ANCAP. They also noted Subaru's 'EyeSight' collision avoidance system is optional on the Outback while coming as standard on the Liberty.ANCAP Chairman, Lauchlan McIntosh said improved safety features should be available as standard."It is good to see safety assist technologies becoming increasingly available, but ANCAP encourages Subaru, and all other manufacturers, to include these technologies as standard in all models and all markets," he said.The crash test reports also included data from Euro NCAP testing, which demonstrated both the Outback and the Liberty provided acceptable levels of pedestrian protection in the event of a front-on collision.

Subaru shows how the new Outback can rekindle your kids’ interest in the great outdoors. The new fourth-generation Subaru Outback SUV isn’t expected to arrive on our shores until early next year, but the Japanese brand’s marketing is already in full swing in the US where it’s already on sale.This new Outback television ad highlights a situation that parents have battled for generations; general disinterest from the back seat. Promising the same balance of on-road refinement and off-road durability that made the first three generations such a family favourite, Australian buyers should have no trouble spotting our own range of wildlife with the Outback – given a local Bison sighting is a bit of a stretch.

Following the debut of the new Subaru Liberty sedan at Chicago motor show in February, the Outback is headed for unwrapping at the New York motor show on April 16.Subaru's teaser image shows us the expected face with headlight and grille cues familiar from the Liberty, but we're yet to get a look at the lines -- and importantly the profile -- of the wagon body.The Levorg Concept that starred at Tokyo motor show in November last year gives a few clues to what we might see when the silk comes off the Outback, and at this stage it's not known whether any of that will also morph into a Liberty wagon.Subaru is also yet to confirm engine and transmission details for the Outback, but the closely-related Liberty was unveiled with the carryover options of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 3.6-litre six-cylinder, both mated to CVT (continuously variable) automatics.Both have been tweaked to offer better drivability and economy, with the 2.5-litre developing 130kW/236Nm (up 3kW/1Nm) but the 3.6-litre now 190kW/335Nm (down 1kW/15Nm) with claims of improved fuel efficiency and better mid-range torque. It's possible we'll also see the continuation of a diesel under the bonnet, with similar enhancements for the current 2.0-litre.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Subaru has just unveiled the 2015 Liberty sedan at Chicago motor show last week, and it looks like we'll have only a couple of months to wait before seeing the new Outback, with reports it will bow at the New York show in April.Subaru is yet to reveal the engine line-up, but there is likely to be little change from the current 127kW/235Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 191kW/350Nm 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol units plus a 110/350Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel.Six-speed manual and CVT transmissions are also tipped to continue, with the six-cylinder model following its Liberty basis in dropping the five-speed auto for a CVT also.All will continue to roll on Subaru's all-wheel drive system, and high-specced versions will get the latest development of the brand's Eyesight safety system with larger monitoring fields and better detection of obstacles and pedestrians.The design is likely to follow that seen on the Liberty, with a sleeker face and more sharply raked windscreen, while the interior upgrades are tipped to include higher quality materials to better arm the Outback in an increasingly competitive field -- where non-prestige brands are upgrading their offerings, and premium brands are repositioning to target more volume.The current Outback starts at $38,990 but tops out at $57,990. That puts it within whistling distance to the Volkswagen Touareg, and about $12,000 to the Volvo XC90 and Lexus RX.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott