Subaru Pleo Plus

新世代トマールエンジン

2013 Subaru Pleo Plus

2013 Subaru Pleo Plus interior

The trend of kei car rebadging is becoming a bit too far here in Japan and the Daihatsu Mira e:S, launched last year, became a subject of rebadging. Sure, Toyota borrowed one for their new Pixis Epoch and now, in a terribly confusing way, Subaru decided to join in the fray by borrowing a Daihatsu Mira e:S and replace it with Subaru badges. What do you get in return? Something called the all new 2013 Subaru Pleo Plus! The most fuel-efficient Subaru offered and the most affordable.

Starting at 795,000 Japanese Yen, the Pleo Plus is equipped with the special KF engine that accumulates 52PS/6800rpm of power output and 60Nm/5200rpm of torque output. It even comes with a CVT for optimized fuel economy and smooth driving. Because it's fuel economy is rated at 30.0km/L in Japan's JC08 Mode scale, it is the most fuel efficient Subaru ever offered for fuel-conscious drivers in Japan. The secret of getting a good fuel economy for this new model is because of its Eco Idle (Idle Stop and Go) system, newly developed i-EGR (ion controlled Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system (that applies the ion current combustion control, in which ions in the combustion chamber are used to identify the state of combustion, to EGR control), lighter bodywork, thermal management, and Eco power generation control (with regenerative braking functions).

I'm afraid I have no words to describe this new Pleo Plus but if you live somewhere where a Subaru dealer is nearby and if you're too lazy to get a new Mira e:S or a Toyota Pixis Epoch, consider this. End of discussion.

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.