Since the Subaru XV is essentially a raised and macho-fied Impreza hatchback, it’s almost possible to not to talk about it during the ASEAN market 2017 Impreza launch. At a media roundtable with Mr. Glenn Tan, Executive Director of Tan Chong International Ltd, the parent company of Motor Image, revealed some interesting facts about the all-new Subaru XV.

The distributor of Subaru in 10 countries, including the Philippines, Mr. Tan revealed that the production model Subaru XV will finally bow in at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show which will be held from March 7 to 19, 2017. It comes a year after the Subaru XV Concept was shown at the same show last year.

Like the Impreza, the 2018 Subaru XV will move to the new Subaru Global Platform. Its design will also take on the company’s new DYNAMIC x SOLID language only this time it’s meant to convey a solid, three-dimensional design. Like its predecessor, the 2018 Subaru XV will blend both function and style, offering ample ground clearance and space as well as excellent aerodynamic performance. The blue-gray color on the XV Concept called Glacier Khaki Silica will most likely added to the available color palette.


The Subaru XV is expected benefit from the 2017 Impreza’s improved FB20 direct-injection boxer engine. The engine is 80 percent new featuring a more rigid cylinder block, a lighter crankshaft and connecting rods, sodium-filled exhaust valves among other changes. Though power is expected to be identical to the Impreza’s, the Lineartronic CVT in the Subaru XV is said to have been tweaked for better off-the-line performance.

After its global unveil at the Geneva International Motor Show, Mr. Tan then said that the Subaru XV’s regional launch will be held in Taipei, Taiwan by around May or June 2017 with the Philippine launch by around August 2017.

When asked whether Tan Chong International Ltd will assemble the all-new Subaru XV at its plant in Malaysia, Mr. Tan confirmed that the Subaru XV will indeed be assembled there and that the plant itself is already being prepped up for the necessary tooling. However, he clarified that the Philippines will continue to get a Made-in-Japan Subaru XV thanks to the full implementation of JPEPA (Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement) by 2020. But the decision was THAT close to have Philippine units sourced from Malaysia.

With safety being one of Subaru’s main pillars, the Philippine-spec Subaru XV will finally arrive with Subaru’s innovative EyeSight safety technology. The EyeSight is the first driver assist system ever to use only stereo cameras to detect the objects such as vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Praised as both ingenious and cost-effective to implement, EyeSight includes pre-collision braking control, all-speed adaptive cruise control, and even lane departure warning.

After the launch of the all-new Impreza and Subaru XV, Motor Image Pilipinas isn’t stopping there. They will be launching three other models before the year ends. With their sales hovering around 3,000 units last year, the slew of new products in 2017 can definitely help propel them to their elusive target of 4,000 units.