Best-in-class honours awarded to 2012 Impreza, Outback and WRX/STI.
TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Subaru Canada, Inc. is delighted to announce that it has received four Canadian Residual Value Awards from automotive insights company ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values. In addition to receiving best-in-class honours for the 2012 Impreza, Outback and WRX/STI, Subaru has been named Best Mainstream Brand for the third year in a row.
The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in producing vehicles that demonstrate the ability to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a four-year period for mainstream brands and a three-year period for luxury brands. Awards are given in 19 vehicle categories and also in two brand categories (mainstream and luxury). This year's awards are based on 2012 model year vehicles.
"Subaru earned its third straight Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award buoyed by consistently strong quality and a progressive desirability for their products in the Canadian market," said Geoff Helby, Canada Regional Director for ALG. "The brand continues to expand its devotee base with compelling redesigns like the new Impreza. Dependability, low incentives, and fleet sales have enhanced Subaru's used market brand image as well."
In addition to overall honours as the Best Mainstream Brand, three Subaru vehicles won their individual categories:
Compact Car Award: the Subaru Impreza. According to ALG, the new Impreza offers compelling value for the Canadian market, offering All-Wheel Drive in a segment where price is usually a large consideration. Although this is the fourth year in a row Impreza has won in this category, the combination of the redesign, AWD and segment-competitive fuel efficiency went a long way towards making the Impreza an attractive option for consumers yet again this year.
Midsize Utility Vehicle Award: the Subaru Outback. For the second consecutive year, Outback claims the midsize utility vehicle award. ALG notes that the Subaru Outback offers potential SUV shoppers the car-like ride and handling usually associated with a car-based platform. Subaru's subdued fleet sales and customer incentives also ensure that sales growth occurs by organic retail demand.
Sporty Car Award: the Subaru WRX/WRX STI. This is the fourth year the WRX and STI have claimed top honours in the Sporty category. According to ALG, the true value of the WRX and STI is the engineering underneath the aggressive exterior styling, which has drawn a near cult following of those consumers who are passionate about driving.
Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance, industry trends and economic conditions. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that impact ALG's residual value forecasts.
"We are thrilled with this achievement," said Shiro Ohta, president and CEO of Subaru Canada. "This outstanding recognition from ALG serves to reinforce the values behind our new global brand statement. Confidence in Motion is about driving enjoyment and peace of mind. These awards give our customers even more reasons to feel good about Subaru ownership."
About Subaru Canada, Inc.
Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of over 85 authorized dealers across Canada.
About ALG (www.alg.com)
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG is the industry standard for residual values and a leading provider of insights and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the Automotive Lease Guide - the benchmark for residual value expectations in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for nearly 50 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Joe Felstein or Julie Lychak
(905) 568-4959
Amyot Bachand
Media Relations, Quebec Region
(514) 691-9276
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