Subaru debuts refreshed 2023 Outback SUV at New York International Auto Show

•Onyx Edition now offers two engine options

•Outback receives an updated look with redesigned front fascia and exterior cladding

•Latest version of EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology with Wide-Angle Mono Camera

•Updated Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android™ Auto

Subaru of America, Inc. today debuted the 2023 Outback at the New York International Auto Show. The legendary SUV receives updated styling as well as new safety and in-vehicle technologies. Also new for 2023, the Onyx Edition trim level will be available with two engine options.

For 2023 model year, Outback will be available in Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trim levels when it arrives in Subaru retailers this fall. The XT models and Wilderness come standard with the powerful 2.4-liter turbo engine. Also, a new Wide-Angle Mono Camera is added to Touring models.

The Outback lineup (except the recently released Wilderness) receives a bolder look thanks to a new front fascia incorporating a more prominent grille; redesigned LED headlights and fog lights; and a more rugged front bumper cover. On the sides, the expanded wheel arch cladding adds to the vehicle's bolder new look while providing additional protection.

The 2023 Outback comes standard with the latest version of EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The enhanced system operates more smoothly and under a greater range of conditions. These improvements are thanks to a wider field of view, updated control software, and the addition of an electric brake booster.

The top-level Touring trim adds a Wide-Angle Mono Camera that works together with the dual-camera EyeSight system. The additional camera further expands the field of view to recognize pedestrians and bicycles sooner when the vehicle enters an intersection at low speed. EyeSight gives an alert to the driver, and, when necessary, applies brakes to avoid collisions with crossing bicycles and pedestrians. Also new for Touring is a full LCD Smart Rear-View Mirror with auto-dimming, compass, and Homelink®.

On models equipped with Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, EyeSight includes Automatic Emergency Steering. The new feature works in conjunction with the Pre-Collision Braking System to help avoid a collision at speeds less than 50 mph.

ONYX EDITION UPDATES

The Onyx Edition is now available with the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated SUBARU BOXER® engine. The Onyx Edition features black-finish exterior elements, 18-inch alloy wheels, and badging as well as an exclusive gray two-tone interior. Further, the seats are wrapped in a water-repellant durable StarTex® material. The Onyx Edition builds on the Premium trim and adds Hands-Free Power Gate; Front View Monitor; Dual-Mode X-MODE; and full-size spare tire.

PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITY

The 2023 Outback delivers the optimal blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, Vehicle Dynamics Control and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance (9.5 inches for Wilderness) is greater than that of many SUVs, yet the Outback maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.

Standard on XT models, the 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine delivers robust all-around performance with 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Meanwhile, the standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter BOXER has a responsive 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

All 2023 Outback models are paired with a Lineartronic CVT featuring an 8-speed manual mode function with steering wheel paddle shifters. The 2.4-liter turbo delivers an estimated 23/30 mpg city/highway and has a 3,500-lb. towing capacity, the most of any Outback in history. The 2.5-liter achieves up to an estimated 33 mpg and a range of more than 600 miles on a single tank.

STRUCTURE AND SAFETY

Introduced for 2017, the Subaru Global Platform has been optimized for the Outback, boasting a structure that is 70-percent stiffer in both torsional and front-suspension rigidity. It is also 100-percent stiffer in both front lateral flexural and rear subframe rigidity compared to the previous Outback's platform. Crash protection is improved, as the new body absorbs over 40-percent more energy in front/side crashes than the prior model. When a crash is unavoidable, the Outback protects driver and passengers with eight standard airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Subaru expects the 2023 Outback will achieve top safety scores when it is tested later this year, including a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, which provides steering assist when the vehicle veers toward the outside of its lane, helping the driver maintain a direct path. The DriverFocus™ Distraction Mitigation System uses a dedicated infrared camera and facial recognition technology to identify signs of driver fatigue or distraction and provides audio and visual warnings to alert the driver and passengers. Additional available driver-assist technologies include Reverse Automatic Braking; and EyeSight Assist Monitor with head-up display.

An available Front View Monitor captures images within the driver's blind spots in front of the vehicle and displays a 180-degree view on the 11.6-inch display, providing safety and assistance when checking road conditions ahead, parking, and off-roading.

COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, AND VERSATILITY

All trim levels feature power door locks, windows and side mirrors; Welcome Lighting; Sound Insulation Windshield; and One-Touch Folding Rear Seats. Moving up to the Premium trim adds the All-Weather Package; a 10-way power front driver seat with lumbar support; and LED rear gate light. The Limited trim gains Keyless Entry with Push-Button Start and heated rear seats (outboard position). The Touring trim adds ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel (360-degree) to its roster of standard features.

For powering and pairing personal devices, Outback provides front and rear USB A ports and two 12-volt DC power sockets as standard. Front and rear USB C ports are added to Premium trim and higher.

With a cargo floor length of 75 inches with the rear seatbacks folded, the 2023 Outback offers up to 75.6 cu ft of cargo. And with a wide rear gate opening, the Outback can comfortably accommodate long items such as camping gear, golf clubs or strollers. For added convenience while loading the vehicle, an available Hands-Free Power Gate allows the owner to open the rear gate by simply waving in front of the Subaru emblem (positioned in the center of the rear gate), and a single-touch lifting cargo cover provides easier access. For additional cargo versatility, the Outback offers standard roof rails with tie-down points and integrated and retractable cross bars. Outback Wilderness retains its stronger roof rails that allow for roof tent capability.

BOLD DESIGN

The Outback's exterior emphasizes ruggedness and functionally while evoking a sense of adventure. For 2023, the Outback lineup (except Wilderness) receives a new front fascia that includes an aggressive front bumper cover; larger grille; and redesigned LED headlights and fog lights. The wheel arch cladding has been updated to improve functionality.

The interior design uses a wide windshield and long lines from the center of the instrument panel to the door panels to create an open environment. The tablet-style 11.6-inch Full HD center information display (dual 7.0-inch display on base) offers direct touch controls for multimedia, HVAC, X-MODE, and vehicle settings.

The top-of-the-line Touring trim leverages luxurious appointments inside and out, including new Black Nappa leather with contrasting tan stitching, high-gloss black molding for the pillars, chrome plating decorated door handles and satin tone plated side mirrors.

SUBARU IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

The 2023 Outback debuts the latest version of the STARLINK 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android™ Auto with full screen display. The system features an 11.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen with combination meter integration and improved on-screen controls for audio, HVAC, X-MODE and vehicle features. Additional standard features include new Valet Mode; Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio streaming connectivity; AM/FM stereo; rear vision camera; SiriusXM® All-Access Radio and SiriusXM Travel Link® (4-month free subscriptions); HD Radio®; and over-the-air updates.

The 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation system includes voice -activated navigation powered by the latest version of TomTom® and SiriusXM Travel Link (3-year free subscription).

The 2023 Outback is the first vehicle in the Subaru model line up to integrate what3words (W3W), an innovative location technology that provides a simple way to communicate precise locations using just three simple words. W3W has divided the world into a grid of 10-foot squares and given each square a unique combination of three words -- a what3words address. Customers can navigate to and share trailheads, scenic overlooks and other hard to find places with precise accuracy using just three words. The feature is standard on models equipped with the STARLINK 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation system.

The Outback is built at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) in Lafayette, Indiana along with the Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy.

by Subaru

Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, is best known for their use of boxer engines in their vehicles along with standard AWD. Over the years, Subaru has built up its reputation for high quality, reliable vehicles that don't sacrifice performance for daily practicality.

Introduced in the United States in 1996, the first Subaru Legacy Outback was marketed as ‘The World's First Sport Utility Wagon'. The Legacy station wagon featured all wheel drive, body-cladding, off-road tires and slightly higher ground clearance. A crossover sport-utility vehicle, the Subaru Outback was based on the Legacy/Liberty station wagon. The Outback was created in response to the truck-based SUV craze that had begun to reach fevered pitch with customers. Subaru station wagons, even those equipped with all wheel drive, where being forsaken in lieu of the popular new SUV's.

The popularity of the Outback was helped in part by ads featuring Australian ‘Crocodile Dundee' star Paul Hogan using the Outback in scenes were it competed again leading SUV's, most notably the Ford Explorer.

Largely visual changes were made to the existing Legacy extended roof Touring Wagon platform to suggest a more adventurous, rugged persona. In Japan the Outback was named the Legacy Grand Wagon before being renamed the Lancaster in 1997, and then again in 2005 as the Outback. An all-wheel-drive Outback was introduced to the US market in 1995 by Subaru as a 1996 model. In Australia, the model has been known simply as ‘the Outback'. Alongside the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Tribeca models, the US Outback is manufactured at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1998, the Outback Sport, which was based on the Subaru Impreza 5-door hatchback was introduced.

Olivier Boulay was hired by Subaru on a short-term basis to design the exterior of the Subaru Outback. In 1996, it became a separately-marketed line in the United States. It was at this time that the vehicle received Outback-specific changes that included unique bumpers, taller tires with more pronounced treat, slightly higher ground clearance, and tweed-like seats and door panel inserts. Only available with the DOHC 2.5 liter engine, the JDM Grand Wagon and Lancaster received a 10 hp improvement in 1998. On a select few Outback sedans and wagons, non-functional hood scoops were found, non-functional because Subaru did not install the turbo into any Outback vehicles.

To simplify the powertrain implementation of all wheel drive, and because of the natural smoothness of the engine design, Subaru chose to use the boxer engine in the Outback. Due to the fact that the engine sits inline, or longitudinal, with the transmission, instead of being transverse, the body roll of the Outback is minimized. Instead of being offset, the weight of the engine and transmission are balanced, which causes the weight of the engine and transmission to be unbalanced in the engine bay in other vehicles. Because the engine sits low in the engine bay and close to the ground, the Boxer engine affords a low center of gravity, in comparison to other vehicles. This also makes the vehicles more stable in moderate to high speed maneuvers.

While other manufacturers attempt to balance the offset weight by making their powertrains weight evenly distributed, this only results in making the powertrain heavier than the Subaru layout. The Subaru's power train is manufactured from lightweight aluminum. Providing perfect vibration mitigation due to the fact that the movement of each piston is exactly countered by the corresponding piston in the opposing cylinder bank, the boxer design eliminated the need for a harmonic balancer attached to the front of the engine at the crankshaft. With this type of powertrain layout, torque steer is also reduced. Having the front driveshafts being of equal weight and length and extending from the transmission to the front wheels at almost perpendicular from the transmission achieves this feat.

All past and current USA Subaru's can be easily recognized by their trim levels and the color of the outside door panels. While base trim levels can always be identified by their black plastic door handles, uplevel models have painted door handles directly matching the exterior color.

Sold in New England in 1999, the Outback Sport Utility Sedan was featured with a limited production test run. The SUS was introduced nationwide for the following year due to its success. The Outback became its own model in 2000, and along with receiving a 4-door sedan into its lineup, the Outback also received an available horizontal six-cylinder engine. Titled the 'Lancaster' in Japan for the second generation, the six-cylinder was also renamed the 'Lancaster 6'.

The second generation six-cylinder was featured with Subaru's VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) system, which integrated stability control with traction control. The VDC system was joined to an all new AWD system which split the power 45/55 front-to-rear in normal conditions. The system cuts power to the spinning wheel when a spin is detected, and reroutes power to those that aren't.

Depending on transmission choice, other models retained the typical AWD layouts that have been seen in previous generation Outback models. Relying on limited slip differentials to redirect power front to rear, rear to front and from one rear wheel to the other, manual models came with the mechanical ‘Continuous AWD' system, which was normally 50/50 front/rear. Automatic models featured an electronically-controlled AWD system that was 90/10 front/rear, that redirected differing amount of power to the rear wheels continuously depending on hard the accelerator pedal was pressed.

Differing front the previous 4-cylinder model in that it became an SOHC design, the Outback came standard with a 165 horsepower 4-cylinder boxer engine. Maximum torque was available at a lower rpm.

The only vehicles ever factory-equipped with McIntosh stereo equipment, the highest trim level of the Outback received a 200 W McIntosh stereo system as standard equipment from 2001 to 2003. Available options also included an in-dash 6-disc CD changer and dual moonroofs.

Rather than resembling U.S. models, Australian Outback models were designed closer to the Japanese models. The evidence lies primarily in the placement of the headlights, rear taillights, front and rear bumpers, the side indicators on front quarter panels, and higher placing of the ‘Outback badging' on the front door bodywork, rather than being placed on the plastic cladding.

Australian models were released in an early style with all-in-one headlights, gold colored cladding, a light gray cloth internally, light brown wood textured dashboard, and a plain instrument cluster. Available as an aftermarket option was a nudge bar, which was a smaller style of bulbar or roobar. From 2002 through 2004 the style was updated to feature silver cladding, a new updated range of paint color options, a dark gray/black cloth internally, multi-unit headlights, dark gray plastics, and a very dark brown faint wood texture, along with metal trims on the dials of the instrument cluster.

Available models included the base ‘Outback', the ‘Outback H6' which now included the 6 cylinder engine with VDC, and the ‘Outback Limited' which featured a new sunroof along with cloth/leather seats. The Outback H6 was now available in a single metallic pearl off-white color, rather than the usual color either gold or silver cladding, and also featured slightly different 16' wheels. Available only in automatic, the size of the 6- cylinder engine was most likely the reason, due to not enough space to fit the manual box and associated dual range mechanicals.

Introducing the fourth-generation Legacy at the 60th Frankfurt Auto Show in 2003, the Outback name was now being used worldwide with the launch of the second-generation Outback wagon. Introduced at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show were models equipped with a 3.0 L H6.

Based on the most recent Impreza, the Impreza-based Outback Sport is marketed on Subaru's U.S. website as a trim of the Impreza. For the 2008 model year, the Outback received an enlarged, chrome-ringed grille. In this same year, the Legacy wagon and Outback sedan were discontinued in the U.S., leaving only the Legacy sedan and Outback wagon.

by Jessican Donaldson