The Subaru Levorg (Japanese: スバル・レヴォーグ, Hepburn: Subaru Revuōgu) is a mid-size car manufactured since 2014 by Subaru. According to the company, the name Levorg is a blended word or portmanteau of three words: legacy, revolution and touring.[1] The first Levorg shares its platform with the Impreza/WRX and the Legacy. The second generation Levorg sits on the Subaru Global Platform used by the majority of Subaru's family cars.
The Levorg was first shown as a pre-production concept car at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show in November 2013.[2] Subaru began collecting orders on the Japanese market on 4 January 2014, and the car went on sale in May.[3] In February 2015, Subaru announced the introduction of the Levorg on the European market, and the car made its première on the continent at the Geneva Motor Show in March of the same year.[4]
On 20 November 2019, Subaru launched the 2020 Subaru Levorg V-Sport. It features front sports seats with fabric upholstery, a leather wrapped steering wheel with silver stitching, as well as piano black and chrome trim. As with the variant it is based on, it sports Bilstein dampers, ventilated disc brakes and 225/45 R18 tires. V-Sport will be available in Japan and is priced at JPY 3,150,000.[5]
Sales
During its advance sales before launch, Subaru received about 11,000 orders in three months, 2,000 short of its projection.[6]
On 12 January 2016, Subaru announced that it was entering the British Touring Car Championship, as a manufacturer entry, in partnership with Team BMR.[7] For the 2016 season, the team were preparing four Levorg Sports Tourers to the championship's Next Generation Touring Car specification. The BTCC Levorgs are configured as rear wheel drive rather than four wheel drive (which is disallowed by the championship's regulations). Former double champions Jason Plato and Colin Turkington piloted the cars, along with team owner Warren Scott. The marque's FA20 2.0 litre boxer engine was race prepared for the team by Mountune Racing.[8]
The 2017 season saw some changes, including Ashley Sutton joining the team from MG Racing. Sutton went on to win the 2017 British Touring Car Championship for the team. Jason Plato continued driving the Levorg, but struggled to find pace throughout the season.[9]
The 2018 season saw Team BMR switch from Mountune to Swindon as engine suppliers for the Levorg.[10]
Unveiled as a prototype at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show on October 23,[17] the second-generation model switched to the Subaru Global Platform, with a newly developed 1.8 L CB18 engine. Like the previous generation, this model would not be sold in North America, but would go on sale in Japan in the second half of 2020.[18]
On August 21, 2020, the second-generation Levorg was released in Japan.[19]
According to Subaru engine designer Tsuneaki Numamiyauchi, the displacement of the CB18 was chosen to balance an increase in maximum torque to 300 N⋅m (31 kg⋅m; 220 lb⋅ft) with improved fuel economy from adopting lean-burn technology.[20] Fuel economy improved from 16.0 to 16.6 kilometres per litre (38 to 39 mpg‑US) compared to the preceding generation's FB16 engine.[16] In addition, the overall length of the engine was shortened by 44 mm (1.7 in), allowing for a larger crush zone for safety.[20]
The second-generation Levorg is sold in Australia as the WRX Sportswagon and in New Zealand as the WRX GT ("Grand Touring"), leveraging the use of the WRX nameplate. For Australia and New Zealand, the Levorg is fitted with the larger FA24F 2.4-litre direct injection turbo engine.[21][22][13] On November 25, Subaru announced the FA24F-equipped Levorg also would be sold to the Japanese market as the STI Sport R model.[23]
Levorg Layback
A crossover SUV-inspired variant of the Levorg, named the Layback, went on sale in September 2023. It is available solely in the Limited EX grade powered with the CB18 engine.[24]
The Layback is 15mm longer, 25mm wider, 70mm higher, and ground clearance is set at 200mm, compared to the regular Levorg. The tires and bumpers are designed at an angle to make it easier to drive through obstacles and improve drivability on rough roads such as mountain roads.
2023 Levorg Layback front view
2023 Levorg Layback rear view
Markets
Japan
The Levorg was released in Japan on 15 October 2020, with three grades at launch: GT, GT-H, and STi Sport. All three grades have the option Subaru EyeSight (EX) advanced driving assistance package. At release, all variants were powered by CB18 engine. At launch, more than 90% consumers chose the Eyesight package and Subaru planned to produce 2,200 units per month.[25]
In November 2021, a new STi Sport R grade was added powered with the FA24F engine, it is available with Eyesight (EX) package.[26]
In July 2023, a special edition grade Smart Edition and later replaced the GT grade.[27][28]
Australia
The WRX Wagon went on sale in Australia in May 2022 as the WRX Sportswagon, with three grades available: Standard, GT, and tS. Unlike the Sedan, the Sportswagon is only available with Subaru Performance CVT.[29]
New Zealand
The WRX Wagon was launched in New Zealand on 24 May 2022 as the WRX GT (Grand Touring), with two grades available: Premium and tS. The NZ-spec WRX GT was available with either a 6-speed manual or Subaru Performance CVT.[30]
Southeast Asia
The WRX Wagon was launched in the Philippines on 8 June 2022, with two grades available: Standard and tS.[31] The WRX Wagon was launched in Thailand on 24 August 2022.[32] The WRX Wagon was launched in Malaysia on 7 December 2022, in a sole GT-S grade.[33][34] The WRX Wagon was launched in Singapore on 17 January 2023, in a sole GT-S grade.[35] The WRX Wagon was launched in Singapore on 17 January 2023, in a sole GT-S grade.[35] The WRX Wagon was launched in Indonesia on 16 February 2023 at the 30th Indonesia International Motor Show with two grades available: GT-S and tS.[36]
Latin America
The WRX Wagon went on sale in Chile in July 2022, in a sole variant.[37] The WRX Wagon also went on sale in Colombia in August 2022, in a sole tS grade.[38]
Taiwan
The WRX Wagon went on sale in Taiwan on 20 March 2023, in a sole variant.[39]
References
^"スバル、東京モーターショーで新スポーツツーリング「LEVORG（レヴォーグ）」を世界初公開" [Subaru, new sport wagon at the Tokyo Motor Show: "LEVORG" world premiere]. car.watch.impress.co.jp (in Japanese). November 20, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
^ abcdefgTanikawa, Kiyoshi; Yasuda, Tsuyoshi (photographer) (August 20, 2020). "スバルの技術を極めた、新型「レヴォーグ」。SGPボディやCB18エンジンのカットモデル展示" [The technology of Subaru's new 'Levorg'; cutaway model of SGP body and CB18 engine]. Car Watch. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
^"SUBARU 「レヴォーグ」一部改良モデルを発表" [SUBARU 'Levorg' partially improved model announced] (Press release) (in Japanese). Subaru Global Media. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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