New Subaru pickup: the company admitted that it is working on a competitor to the Ford Maverick

The most logical basis for the new product could be the Subaru Global Platform, on which the Forester and Outback are built. This would allow the use of existing gasoline and hybrid powertrains, minimizing development costs.

During the presentation of the updated 2026 Subaru Outback to Australian media, Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence addressed the topic of long-standing rumors about the pickup truck. He confirmed that the company has thoughts about creating a car based on an SUV. According to him, “there is talk about utes” (as pickup trucks are called in Australia).

Lawrence emphasized that while the company’s current focus is on the Forester and Outback crossovers, the idea of ​​a pickup truck has not been abandoned. “It never means no,” he said, adding that he sees a market niche for a car with a monocoque body.

Unlike traditional body-on-frame pickups, Subaru will likely rely on its signature concepts of comfort, on-road handling and all-wheel drive.

However, Lawrence made it clear that any decision to launch the series must be approved by the parent company, Subaru Corporation. Thus, despite optimistic statements, the project still has a long way to go from negotiations to production.

Let us remember that the original Subaru Baja, produced from 2003 to 2006 on the basis of the Outback station wagon, although it gained loyal fans, never became massively successful.