Subaru Revives the rex Name, But All-Wheel Drive is Missing from the Crossover
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Subaru equals all-wheel drive. It used to be about honest four-wheelers, today the Japanese, due to emissions, costs and market preferences, can get by with connecting the rear axle as needed. In the Czech Republic, this brand has found a very stable customer base among both older and younger drivers. After all, for example, in the case of the last WRX STI, it was among the largest markets for this model in Europe. Both generations of the excellent BRZ coupe also performed well.
From my childhood, I also remember the Subaru Justy in which my grandfather drove. The small hatchback with a boxy body from the late 1980s had an attachable rear axle, so it performed well even on snowy roads. After the end of this model, Subaru did not introduce any direct successor in Europe and focused on larger models. Simultaneously occurring, the domestic market currently offers a similarly designed crossover Rex, which is available with front and all-wheel drive.
The Japanese automaker offers a small crossover Rex on the domestic market, which can go a long way with all-wheel drive. On the Czech market, queues would be expected for such a car with exaggeration.
Subaru Rex Now Available with All-Wheel Drive in Japan
The Subaru Rex,a compact crossover revived in late 2022,is now available with all-wheel drive (AWD) in Japan. Initially launched with front-wheel drive only – a departure from Subaru’s traditional focus on AWD – the Rex now offers Subaru’s Dynamic Torque Control 4WD system, enhancing its capability and appeal.
A Shift for the revived Rex
The Subaru Rex is built on the same platform as the Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize. https://www.carbuzz.com/cars/subaru-rex/ Unlike many Subaru models, it doesn’t feature the brand’s signature horizontally-opposed “boxer” engine. Instead, it’s powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine producing 97 horsepower. The initial decision to offer only front-wheel drive was a point of contention for subaru enthusiasts, given the brand’s reputation for symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Dynamic Torque Control 4WD Explained
The newly available Dynamic Torque Control 4WD system intelligently distributes power between the front and rear axles.When the system detects wheel slippage at the front, it automatically sends torque to the rear wheels, improving traction and stability, notably in challenging conditions. https://www.subaru.co.jp/rex/
Pricing and Market Context
In Japan, the Subaru Rex 4WD starts at 2,511,300 yen, which currently translates to approximately $16,700 USD or 346,000 Czech crowns. https://www.subaru.co.jp/rex/grade.html For comparison, the Suzuki Swift, the least expensive new four-wheel-drive vehicle in the Czech Republic, costs 450,900 crowns. https://www.auto.cz/clanky/testy/martin-vaculik-a-nova-suzuki-swift-4×4-video-test
AWD Popularity and Potential European import
The availability of AWD on the Rex is important, as over a quarter (42,906 out of 161,067) of new cars registered in the Czech Republic between January and September of this year were all-wheel drive. While importing the Rex to Europe would incur additional costs like homologation, transport, and taxes, the demand for affordable AWD vehicles suggests a potential market.
Sources:
* carbuzz: https://www.carbuzz.com/cars/subaru-rex/
* Subaru Japan (Rex official page): https://www.subaru.co.jp/rex/
* Subaru Japan (Rex grade/pricing): https://www.subaru.co.jp/rex/grade.html
* Auto.cz (Suzuki Swift 4×4 video test): https://www.auto.cz/clanky/testy/martin-vaculik-a-nova-suzuki-swift-4×4-video-test