In May, Subaru rode record sales for the month to surpass BMW as the top automaker in TrueCar.com's Performance Scorecards, receiving the highest grade of A+. Last month was no different, with best-ever June sales at Subaru dealerships resulting in the auto manufacturer again acing its scorecard and leaving BMW in second place.
TrueCar.com's June 2012 Performance Scorecards evaluated automakers on several factors, including sales, pricing, incentives, market share, customer loyalty and days in inventory. Below Subaru's A+ were BMW and Toyota, both finishing with A grades, while Jaguar Land Rover came in third among auto manufacturers with an A-.
"Subaru's rating in the Performance Scorecards is more revealing than a monthly sales report, because it measures how the company is stacking up against other automakers," said Mohamed Elesseily, general manager of Quirk Works Subaru, a Subaru dealership in Braintree, Mass. "TrueCar.com has also gone beyond just sales volume to find that Subaru is offering very competitive pricing and incentives, as well as moving inventory very quickly."
In fact, Subaru's new BRZ sports car was one of the fastest-moving vehicles in the United States last month, according to Edmunds.com. The 2013 Subaru BRZ and Cadillac XTS each took an average of seven days to move at dealerships in June, compared to an industry average of 55 days of turnaround time. Meanwhile, every other Subaru model saw a year-over-year sales increase last month, helping the automaker's overall sales jump 40 percent compared to June 2011, with 27,702 units sold.
Subaru could get an added boost in the July Performance Scorecards thanks to the recent arrivals of its refreshed 2013 Outback wagon and Legacy sedan. Both vehicles house a new standard 2.5-liter FB series Boxer engine that improves power and fuel efficiency compared to the prior models. Even more impactful is the powerplant's increased responsiveness, which is created with greater low-end torque across a wide speed range.
The 2013 Subaru Outback and Legacy have each received a number of tweaks to their bodies, suspensions and steering to improve the comfort and agility of their rides, reducing body roll by up to 40 percent in the process. Additionally, buyers of either vehicle can now opt for a new Lineartronic continuously variable transmission that features a six-speed manual mode with steering-wheel paddle shifters.
"The changes to the Outback and Legacy for the 2013 model year are really about taking the things that make each vehicle so popular and adjusting them for added performance and comfort," added Elesseily. "Those improvements are complemented by the bolder front styling on both models, including new grilles, headlights and bumpers."
Source: readMedia
