Rugged up! Raised and trail-ready Subaru WRX Sportback wagon in the works to replicate original Outback's success - report

Subaru is working on a lifted version of the WRX Sportwagon, or Levorg as it’s still known at home in Japan, apparently in the hopes of replicating the success of the original Legacy Outback. 

According to reports from Japanese auto media, Subaru’s planning to add a fourth SUV to its line-up to capitalise on the category’s success, joining the Forester, Outback and Crosstrek.

Best Car magazine says, in the same way the Liberty wagon was raised and eventually formed the Outback as a lifted offshoot model, the WRX Sportwagon is due to get the ‘XV/Crosstrek’ treatment.

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This means a lift as well as some body cladding, making it more suitable for trail driving. The Crosstrek, or XV as it was originally called in Australia, was born the same way with the Impreza as its basis.

According to Best Car, part of the reasoning behind the development of a lifted WRX Sportwagon is its size and luggage capacity.

The Forester and Outback have 498 litres and 522L of rear space respectively, while the smaller WRX Sportwagon boasts 492L - it’s less than the others but in a smaller body style. Compare this to the Crosstrek, slightly smaller but with only 291L of boot space, and the appeal of a relatively compact but lifted WRX wagon becomes clear.

According to reports from Japanese auto media, Subaru’s planning to add a fourth SUV to its line-up. (Image: Best Car)

The report also says it expects Subaru to drop its 1.8-litre turbocharged flat-four engine (not available in Australia) in the lifted WRX, based on available information, though whether the 2.4-litre (202kW/350Nm) turbo flat-four the WRX gets in Australia would be an option isn’t clear.

Further expectations are a ground clearance of around 200mm, a little less than the smaller Crosstrek’s 220mm, or the Outback’s 213mm.

Reports hint that the model could be revealed on October 25th during the Japan Mobility Show later this year, though a name for the model is yet to be determined.