They said the same thing about 8-cylinder cars 20 years ago.
And to be fair, they still do make those for a few applications.
Let's not forget that a modern 4-cylinder engine has more power than many classic V8s from days past. A few are near 100hp per liter of displacement from the factory- a feat that used to require quite a lot of hot-rodding.
I personally don't think Subaru is going to drop the 6 that quickly. Low fuel prices are likely to persist for at least a year or two, which gives them time to launch their next 7-passenger car and also time to develop a direct injection system with better reliability than the current generation.
They know that buyers of the most profitable version of the outback demand a certain amount of power. I think they also know most of those people don't really care how that power is developed.
Once that new car is started and that new engine management system is solid? Then they'll be safe to drop the 6-cyl option.
We'll have to see. Fortunately, I just purchased a new 3.6R LTD, so it won't matter for a few years. However, if they drop the 6, it will be my last Subaru.
I'd much rather have a turbo H4 than the H6. Hopefully the next motor in the outback will be a turbo, I would be inclined to sell the 2.5i for a turbo one
After 14 years driving turbo cars that require premium fuel, part of the attraction of a Subaru is 250+ HP on regular gas. Virtually every other comparable car with similar horsepower requires premium fuel. Premium used to be no big deal when the price spread was 20 cents. I now often see 50 cents or more.
My original Plan was new Forrester Turbo, since Crosstrek Hybrid is "not recommended" for towing (yea, I know, do it anyway. . .). Talked to Subaru Service guys, they said Turbo is pretty reliable, but you MUST stick with the regular oil changes. . . And yes, the 93 fuel cost.
Given that, I was kinda hoping for the 2.0DIT in the OB, but alas, not this year. So I stock with the tried and true H6. LOVE this engine. Most responsive I've ever had, the Engine/CVT work very well together.
Just a few miles shy of 6K miles, and still doing well. HW mileage gets into the 28-29 (actual) MPG range (the MPG meter in the car reads at lease +1 MPG more, sometimes more, depending upon the gas). One of the reasons for the H6 is towing. . . Turbo's get a bit finicky in low range when towing, since they generally have poor low end torque.
But it's probably inevitable that Subaru will switch to something else. After all, it's all about sales. . . And this year (2014) will be a banner one at that!
If so...I'm in. Right now my future plan it to wait until VW brings in the TDI Tiguan...which is slated for early '16...ish. By then I might be ready to give up what will then be my 12 year old TDI.
I think adding direct injection to the 2.5 H4 and getting around 200 hp/200 lb ft would be a good thing. It could hit a sweet spot of performance, economy, & durability.
I've read Subaru plans to introduce another hybrid in 2018, likely a version of an existing model. A hybrid 4 could easily make a 6 just not commercially viable.
Diesel is still $0.80 to $1.00 MORE expensive than PREMIUM out here. There's NO advantage to a diesel. Then my SO has a Prius, and while she loves it, it's an econobox, and drives like a slug.
When it comes time to trade my Outback, no 6 = no Subaru. I spent a day with the 2.5i LTD, and would never buy one. Nice options, but my wife's Prius would eat it for lunch, and get 50+ mpg doing it.
I came from an 01 Golf TDI and I still miss the torque. Even though at "only 90 HP" it should have been a slug, it certainly felt a **** of a lot faster when I could stomp on the pedal at **** near any RPM and GO. That is, until I hit the 4750 redline...
There's a reason all serious tow vehicles are diesels, and it's not the HP rating.
And FWIW we have a 2010 Prius and there's no way it's faster than our 2.5 Outback.
Prius drives like it does because Toyota chose to channel the extra efficiency to MPG. But other hybrids can and do channel efficiency gains to added power.
Lexus has models they channel both ways. There will be more coming out where it's channeled primarily to power but still with some toward economy. But Toyota/Lexus are the leaders in that technology. Porsche is catching up strong tho.
I wouldn't buy another non H6 Outback unless it has more than two pedals. I'd make an exception for a turbo possibly but I'm not terribly excited about attempting to tow with the CVT.
As always, a thread on the subject starts without even considering the vehicle from which the current 6 originates and for which the next bigger Subaru engine will be primarily meant: the Tribeca/new 7 pax.
The fate of the larger OB engine is a footnote to the decision that Subaru has made/is making/will at some point have to make, LOL, on the 7 pax. If they decide that the US consumer is ready for a turbo 4 in a larger than a Tribeca family hauler, the 6 is a goner. The B9 was a low-risk, no payoff car. The new 7 pax will take some risks, probably a much larger sunk cost. But I doubt that a turbo 4 is one of the risks Subaru will take on a vehicle that must be noticeably larger than the OB to succeed.