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Subaru breaks all-time sales record well before year end

In case you needed a reminder, Subaru is hot. The Japanese all-wheel-drive specialist is doing so well that it broke its 12-month sales record in just 11 months. That's great, but even more impressive is that this is the company's seventh successive record-breaking year and its eighth year of overall growth. Through November, the bulk of Subaru's sales came from its strong crossover lineup – the Forester, Outback, and XV Crosstrek accounted for 350,000 of the company's 513,000-plus sales. As for the Impreza, Legacy, and high-performance WRX/STI, there were also "significant year-to-date increases," according the company's official release. You can expect a full report on not only Subaru's November and year-to-date numbers, but the entire industry's sales figures, in our latest installment of By The Numbers. Stay tuned. Related Video: SUBARU OF AMERICA BREAKS ALL-TIME SALES RECORD AHEAD OF NOVEMBER SALES REPORTING Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. has reported it has broken its previous yearly sales record with a month of the year still remaining. Sales for 2015 have now surpassed the previous annual sales record of 513,693 vehicles set in 2014 and mark the company's eighth year of sales growth and seventh successive sales record. Sales in 2015 have been driven by the Forester, Outback and Crosstrek carlines. Combined, the three crossover vehicles now retail over 350,000 units per year. Subaru sedans; Legacy, Impreza and WRX/STI, have also seen significant year-to-date increases. Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. said; "We are delighted to be celebrating yet another record. Our continued growth is built on strong products and outstanding retailers providing a great customer experience. We thank all of our retailers for their continued commitment in making these record-breaking sales possible. Given consumer demand for our products, we expect a strong close of 2015." Full month and year-to-date sales figures for November 2015 will be released on December 1. About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc.

Why a production Mazda Koeru won't be a Subaru Outback clone

No automaker has had a hit quite like the Outback Many have entered, few have won. The Subaru Outback is one of those automotive bogeys that competitors seek to imitate but never quite capture. Mazda is poised to change that, its CEO tells Automotive News, with a production version of the Koeru concept. We're torn on whether this attempt will be the one to do it, whether the proposed model is truly aimed at the Outback, or whether it's just another pale imitation destined for failure. While the ingredients are pretty basic – wagon-like shape, extra cladding, a smidge more ground clearance than a regular car – no automaker has had a hit quite like the Outback. Reasons include packaging issues, poor brand fit, and Subaru's seemingly unstoppable momentum in building all-wheel-drive archetypes. That hasn't stopped a bunch of companies from trying. And now for a list: Ford attempted with the Freestyle/Taurus X; note that that model no longer exists, having been replaced de facto by the Flex and the newly crossover-ified Explorer. Audi discontinued the A4 Avant and slapped the Allroad badge and some fender flares on to capture the affluent outdoorsy crowd, initially selling well but now down 40 percent since last year. The humpback Honda (Accord) Crosstour and Toyota Venza could also be considered Outback-apers, as both short-lived models took sedan bodies and added a hatch and optional all-wheel drive. Dodge got into this space a few years back with the Journey Crossroad trim level, but fake brush guards and black wheels do not an Outback make. Volvo has perhaps come closest with the XC70, a not-quite-crossover that it nevertheless brands like its other crossovers. It helps that the Volvo die-hard and the repeat Subaru buyer aren't too different. Most of these models no longer exist, and the ones that do haven't sold as well as Subaru's Outback so far this year. Even if you're generous and add all 96,718 Journey sales (and not just those for the Crossroad, which FCA doesn't break out separately) to V70/XC70, Venza, and Crosstour, it still doesn't equal the 136,227 Outbacks Subaru pushed through November of 2015. And, as Automotive News points out, Mazda hasn't sold that many crossovers so far this year (the number is 129,932 thanks to huge CX-5 numbers). So why is Mazda considering going after the hallowed Outback? First off, we're not sure that it is because there's the question of what tiny niche this vehicle would occupy. "It's a totally new car.

2015 Subaru Legacy to start at $21,695*

Subaru unveiled the 2015 Legacy at this year's Chicago Auto Show, and while the company was happy to tell us all about its new platform and features, it kept pricing a secret until now. The new all-wheel drive sedan arrives at dealers this summer with a starting price of $22,490, which includes its $795 destination charge, a $400 increase over last year's model with the CVT.
The Legacy takes advantage of a slightly larger, new platform, which Subaru claims is quieter. The 2.5-liter boxer-four-cylinder and 3.6-liter flat-six engines are carried over from the previous generation, but they see slight boosts in fuel economy. All models also now come standard with a CVT, and, of course, Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
The range starts with the basic 2.5i trim at $22,490 that comes standard with more airbags than before and a 6.2-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth and iPod integration. The $24,290 2.5i Premium trim really improves things with standard dual-zone climate control, power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 7-inch infotainment system and more. For $27,290, the 2.5i Limited adds a leather interior, 18-inch wheels, a Harmon/Kardon stereo, heated rear seats, fog lights, wood grain trim and more. A top-spec Legacy 3.6R Limited goes for $30,390 and comes with standard HID low beams.