[Robert.Mauro]

Subaru of America just released a great big press release with a lot of goodies in it.

• Subaru of America, Inc. has set the starting price for the #SubaruAscent!!! It will start at $31,995!!!!
• Touring is $44,695 (and it's fully loaded!)
• It will have up to 86.5 cubic feet of cargo space (not the previously announced figure) and thus crushes the Outback's 73.3 cu ft.
• Manufacturer estimated gas mileage are 21 city/ 27 highway/ 23 combined for all but the Touring or any other variant that is upgraded to the 20" wheels. The 20" wheel versions are estimated at 20 city/ 26 highway/ 22 combined (EPA numbers not yet out)

A bunch more details and full breakdown of model pricing and option package pricing is at the link below:

>> Subaru U.S. Media Center

 

[azian_advanced]

one thing that surprised me is that it runs on regular 87 octane fuel instead of premium.

 

[kman]

one thing that surprised me is that it runs on regular 87 octane fuel instead of premium.

That's a pleasant surprise. I was fully expecting premium fuel for this.

 

[Nemesis099]

That's a pleasant surprise. I was fully expecting premium fuel for this.

I agree but I'm curious what the power numbers would be with premium. I wish they provided both like Mazda does for the CX9.

Either way my order was placed yesterday! It is going to be a long wait till late May/early June.

 

[txascent]

That also means there should be headroom for additional boost if you were willing to run premium all the time. I wonder if Cobb or anyone will offer ECU flashes in time?

 

[Robert.Mauro]

That also means there should be headroom for additional boost if you were willing to run premium all the time. I wonder if Cobb or anyone will offer ECU flashes in time?

I already talked to COBB a while ago. They sponsored a charity event I'm heavily involved in (one of a few wonderful sponsors). The answer is, yes, they expect to. :smile: I coulda won an Accessport, but wasn't thinking straight and passed on the opportunity because I didn't think to ask them until after the event. Ah well.

They aren't the only one. We'll have the also fun off road stuff as well, such as skid plates, etc. :tango_face_wink:

 

[Sparkland]

I already talked to COBB a while ago. They sponsored a charity event I'm heavily involved in (one of a few wonderful sponsors). The answer is, yes, they expect to. :smile: I coulda won an Accessport, but wasn't thinking straight and passed on the opportunity because I didn't think to ask them until after the event. Ah well.

They aren't the only one. We'll have the also fun off road stuff as well, such as skid plates, etc. :tango_face_wink:

The Cobb access port will be interesting, but the CVT on the Ascent will be the limiting factor!!

 

[pcampbell]

Here is my thinking - the CVT can handle stock power with a 5000 # trailer. With a COBB tune and no trailer it's going to handle whatever we throw at it with just a tune and 93 octane.

 

[Sparkland]

Is it the same transmission as in the new WRX (which is an upgrade from the Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback transmission)? Or is it something different - difficult to find information on the CVT of the Ascent.

 

[[email protected]]

Fuel

Where does it say that it runs on regular fuel?

 

[kman]

Where does it say that it runs on regular fuel?

It states the following on the At A Glance sheet from Subaru.

"Debut of all-new 2.4-liter turbocharged/intercooled SUBARU BOXER® engine with 260-hp and 277 lb-ft of torque that runs on regular-grade fuel (87 AKI)"

http://subarumedia.iconicweb.com/mediasite/attachments/19MY_Ascent_AAG-FINAL.pdf

 

[Trey T]

It's gonna be interesting to see the aftermarket support (i.e. tuning) on this car.

 

[Subiesailor]

Mileage numbers released

Models with smaller wheel size 23 in town 27 highway. 20inch wheel models 22/26

Mileage difference could br both wheel and weight of added options differences

 

[[email protected]]

RE: regular fuel. Thanks. That would be something. I will remain skeptical.

 

[kohyuta]

Ooooooo... aftermarket ECU tuning sounds like a distinct possibility Looking forward to see what comes to fruition.

 

[Tup]

RE: regular fuel. Thanks. That would be something. I will remain skeptical.

According to the Subaru.ca website:
260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque (on regular gasoline)

 

[laufu]

RE: regular fuel. Thanks. That would be something. I will remain skeptical.

Ok, how about a press release from Subaru Corporate in Japan for the US spec Ascent?

https://www.subaru.co.jp/press/news-en/2017_11_29_5112/

 

[Robert.Mauro]

Is it the same transmission as in the new WRX (which is an upgrade from the Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback transmission)? Or is it something different - difficult to find information on the CVT of the Ascent.

I am pretty sure it's based on the heavy duty high torque capable CVT of the Outback 3.6R, which is quite different than the Gen 1 and Gen 2 CVTs used in the Outback 2.5i and smaller cars.

Not sure which CVT is used in the new WRX, but I'd expect it would be a heavy duty high torque variant, and not the same one as is mated to the 2.5's.

Guessing that would make it the Gen 2 Heavy Duty CVT, but honestly, it was tough enough to find that there is a different CVT in the 3.6R than in the others, much less that there's a 2nd generation CVT in the 2.5's. That at least can be gleaned from parts listings and service manuals. As there's none publicly available for the Ascent yet, I haven't been able to do so for the Ascent. All I know is that SoA made some mention of this in an early press release.

 

[Carl Abrams]

RE: regular fuel. Thanks. That would be something. I will remain skeptical.

It's the same as the current turbo Forester. It can run on regular fuel, with a slight degradation in performance as opposed to if you run it on premium.