Subaru takes its new badge engineering agreement with Toyota/Daihatsu further with the new Subaru Dex, which is essentially a Daihatsu Materia with Subaru badges and grill slapped on. Under the hood is not what you might typically find in a Subaru, a hardly exciting 1.3 litre VVT-i engine mated to a 4-speed auto, not unlike what you’d find in a Perodua Myvi. Speaking of Myvis, Subaru also rebadged the Toyota Passo as the new Subaru Justy. Anyone seen Myvis in KL with Subaru badges yet?
Anyway, check out a gallery of this Subaru-badged Materia after the jump. There will be more Daihatsus badged as Subarus to come in the future, with one of them being the Daihatsu Sonica. The phrase Subaru Sonica sounds a little catchy, at least.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
i hate those toyota ‘inspired’ centrally monted dials…really odd n uncomfortable…i must say i do like the boxy design!
how come P2 did not bring this car as replacement for Kenari? If yes, I am sure to grab one of those!
toyotanisation..
now, no more desire and passion in subaru…
subaru’s now is a toyboy for toyota, since toyota already had stakes in it.
the rear light look like savvy
Subaru is not Subaru anymore…
bad move , bad move .
i hate the way that once toyota took someone , the rebadging thing is going on without looking into the origin , the tradition of somebody .
when lambo has been overtaken by VW AG , parts are being shared , but the origin of the car is still there .
toyota has just ruined the blood of Subaru .
Toyota takes a different approach compared to other auto giants. Volkswagen differentiates its Audis, Skodas and Lamboghinis. GM cars such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, Opel, Hummer and Daewoo are all different from one another. Not so with Toyota. The entry level cars from Toyota group are essentially the same vehicles. Let’s see whose strategy will make more business sense in the long run.
If this trend continues, who knows we may be able to buy Perodua branded Yaris soon!
I think the future trend is merger & rebadging, as one of the japanese car maker giant said maybe there will only be 3 big guns at the end….. :p
Hopefully & crossing my fingers that p2 wont rebadge this model as ’10 kenari coz i really like to see d new Move as d new kenari & they would use a 1litre engine instead of d 660cc. Guess nowadays we will see more rebadging cars coming & wouldnt mind it as long as quality & price is acceptable.
Cant wait to see p1 mpv, p2 mpv & maybe d new ’10 kenari to be launched soon, guess d longer it takes d longer can save more money to buy 1.
Next generation Perodua Kenari?
Anyone saw the new Subaru Pleo (pronounced in thick Malay perak accent)………….
it looks like kenari wif savvy taillamp….so lame….
Kenari/Move is Kcar class.. Materia/Coo/Dex is not…they falls under Super Compact class i think, same as Charade, Vitz, Jazz, Myvi etc….
Toyota treat Myvi like a whore….
the only thing i heard from subaru is that it pulled out of WRC this year.
look it up on today’s straits times.
economy crisis and stuff.
Toyota bB
lochangyong said,
December 29, 2008 @ 10:36 am
bad move , bad move .
i hate the way that once toyota took someone , the rebadging thing is going on without looking into the origin , the tradition of somebody .
when lambo has been overtaken by VW AG , parts are being shared , but the origin of the car is still there .
———–
I woundn’t fault anyone in rebadging a cheap compact.
That market being the epitome of narrow margins, one can’t justify resources to simply rebody a car…just to look different.
Both the Materia and Myvi/Passo/Boon has optional AWDs so it fits in Subaru’s AWD “only” line-up.
Whats more telling is that with the trends of consumers going to smaller vehicles, Subary is sorely lacking in its super-mini portfolio.
Rebadging is a quick (and cheap) way to shore up its deficiencies..
The example of VW AG? They can afford to, given what they charge them for.
GM has a trio of sedans/hatches all rebaged from Daewoos with little more than badge engineering. The Daewoo Magnus/Chevy Epica sedan is also used by Suzuki named the Verona. It is also rebadged by Holden but retained the Epica name.
As an aside, its odd to see people not trusting Korean brands, all flock and buy Chevys…
bosan..
it’s like eating the same fish,
with difference serving style.
u want it steamed, fried or raw?
i like beef.
next kenari?
No.. this is not “next kenari.”
Daihatsu oredy have their facelifted Move in Japan
That will be the next kenari
i prefer the daihatsu materia front face,more 'garang' huhu..