Subaru Corp. picked an apt time to roll out a new model whose name is synonymous with moving up.
The carmaker is debuting the new Ascent sport utility vehicle at this week's Los Angeles Auto Show amid a growth spurt that's been the envy of the auto industry. After stringing together a streak of monthly gains nearing six years, the Japanese company looks on track to surpass Kia Motors Corp. in 2017 and is closing in on South Korea's larger Hyundai Motor Co. on U.S. sales charts.
On one hand, the Ascent is more of what's been driving Subaru's success — another all-wheel drive crossover model that will be built at its expanding Indiana assembly plant. But it's also filling a major void in the company's lineup: Subaru has lacked a three-row SUV since production of the Tribeca ended almost four years ago.