Subaru Evoltis PH Launch May Get Delayed Due to Plant Closure

Heads up, Subarists—if you’re waiting for their first three-row SUV, the Subaru Evoltis, you may have to wait a bit longer.

Known as the Ascent in the U.S., the carmaker confirmed that it’s temporarily shutting down Subaru of Indiana Automotive, the lone plant assembling it due to the spread of COVID-19. From March 23-29, 2020.

While no worker there has tested positive for the sickness, the Japanese carmaker is taking extra precaution to ensure the health and safety of its workers, and also due to falling market demand there.

Originally scheduled for a launch in the third quarter of this year (alongside the Forester E-BOXER), news of the temporary plant closure will entail a longer wait for Subaru’s 7-seater SUV.

Subaru Predicts 30 Percent Increase in Sales Thanks to New Models Including the 7-Seater Evoltis and More GT Edition Models

Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines has made a bold prediction regarding its sales this year. They project that thanks to a slew of new product introductions, sales will increase by 30 percent compared to 2019 levels.

At the sidelines of the Singapore Motor Show 2020, where the Subaru Forester e-BOXER, Forester GT Edition, and refreshed Impreza were showcased, Mr. Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Motor Image’s parent company, Tan Chong International says 2020 will be a strong year for the Japanese car brand.

More GT Edition Models on the Way

Mr. Tan says that he expects sales to be stronger this year thanks to the introduction of more GT Edition models such as the Forester GT Edition. A sportier variant of their most popular model, the Forester, it joins the Subaru XV GT Edition in getting a body kit specifically designed for Motor Image by former Subaru designer, Masahiko “Jack” Kobayashi.

“The introduction of the GT Edition to our Subaru XV has boosted our sales by around 30 percent,” reveals Mr. Tan. “We expect the same effect with the introduction of the GT Edition for the Forester as well as the Levorg GT Edition which will soon follow.”

The Forester GT Edition will launch this April for the Philippine market at the Manila International Auto Show.

7-Seater Subaru Ascent Arriving with a Different Name

Another interesting tidbit shared by Mr. Tan has to do with the 7-seater Subaru Ascent. Apparently, it will arrive in the country with a different name.

“The Subaru Ascent will carry the name Evoltis,” says Mr. Tan. “The Ascent name cannot be used for our market due to issues with its name. However, it will be the same vehicle—the same 7-seater SUV made at Subaru of Indiana using the turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer engine.”

This makes perfect sense since Subaru Corporation has actually filed a trademark for the name, Evoltis way back in 2018. Previously though it was rumored to have been the name of the brand’s upcoming plug-in hybrid vehicle; apparently, that’s not the case. Instead, it’s going to be the Subaru Ascent’s export name for markets such as the Philippines.

It’s understood that several units of the Subaru Ascent / Evoltis have already made it into the Philippines for evaluative purposes. The launch date is slated around the third quarter of 2020 and may launch side-by-side with the Subaru Forester e-BOXER.

No Subaru Impreza Hatchback

Finally, in a last piece of rather sad news, Mr. Tan also confirmed that the refreshed Impreza won’t be arriving as a 5-door hatchback after all.

“As much as we wanted to bring the 5-door hatchback to the Philippine market, no suitable specification exists from Subaru,” reveals Mr. Tan. “While there is a 5-door hatchback available for left-hand drive markets, it’s more of an entry-level model, unsuitable for our positioning in the Philippines.”

That being said, despite being difficult to sell, Motor Image says they will continue to sell the Impreza as a 4-door sedan. With that, they remain committed to the nameplate, with plans to bring in the refreshed 2020 model as soon as possible.

Yes, The Philippines is Getting the Subaru Ascent

The Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-9 better watch out: Motor Image Pilipinas is bringing in the three-row Subaru Ascent. Two years after its global debut at the L.A. Auto Show, and the subsequent pronouncements from the Japanese automaker that it’s “for the North American market only” that followed, the largest Subaru ever made is finally making it to the Philippines.

This nugget of information was revealed by no less than Mr. Glenn Tan, the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Tan Chong International Ltd., the parent company of Motor Image. He says that he and Subaru Corporation are now in the final stages of homologating the Ascent for the Philippine market.

Also underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), the Ascent has excellent body rigidity to suppress unwanted noise and vibration. Moreover, it promises to give it good handling at low speeds, and excellent stability at high speeds. Active Torque Vectoring also allows for better turning performance and hazard avoidance capabilities. And as with any other Subaru, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive comes as standard.

The Ascent is powered by Subaru’s new 2.4-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine making 260 horsepower and 377 Nm of torque. Mated to the engine is a High-torque Lineartronic CVT with paddle shifters. Together with a large 73-liter tank, Subaru promises a class-leading cruising range. In some trims, the maximum towing capacity is at 2,267 kilograms (5,000 pounds)—the highest of any Subaru.

Given how Motor Image Pilipinas times its market launches, the earliest time frame for the Subaru Ascent’s arrival would be at the Manila International Auto Show in April.