2016 Subaru Crosstrek Pure Red Special Edition

The 2016 Crosstrek Special Edition paired Pure Red paint with a coordinated cabin and convenience package for 1,500 US vehicles. Based on the 2.0i Premium, it retained the small crossover’s boxer-and-AWD architecture and was offered exclusively with a CVT.

A named limited programme introduced in February 2016

Subaru of America’s February 9 announcement introduced the Special Edition for the Chicago Auto Show and gave a 1,500-car production limit. It also identified Pure Red as the edition’s exterior colour and scheduled retailer arrival for late spring. This is a bounded named programme, rather than a claim that every red Crosstrek is rare. Its market, model year and Premium-based equipment should remain explicit in both the public profile and an individual car’s records.

Subaru of America: 2016 Crosstrek Special Edition launch

The powertrain specification is carried over clearly

The release specifies a 2.0-litre boxer producing 148 hp at 6,200 rpm and 145 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm. The Special Edition is exclusively CVT-equipped, with six preset manual-mode ratios operated by steering-wheel paddles. These are manufacturer references for the original US vehicle. They should not be replaced by the more powerful engine of the later-generation 2018 Crosstrek or treated as a measurement of a modified example today.

Pure Red extends into the cabin treatment

The factory describes matching red exterior mirrors, red stitching around the shifter, steering wheel and door panels, a red dash inlay and red interior accent lighting. Those details help distinguish the coordinated specification from a simple colour choice. Paint, trim and lighting can be changed, however, so a current appearance alone does not establish factory membership. Original sales documentation and chassis-linked equipment records provide the foundation for an individual identification file.

Subaru of America: 2016 Crosstrek Special Edition launch

Convenience equipment is central to the package

Subaru lists the All-Weather Package, a power moonroof, a colour instrument display, Keyless Access with push-button start and blind-spot and rear-traffic assistance. The release also describes the 6.2-inch multimedia system and rear-view camera. These references explain the edition’s practical purpose without turning it into a separately uprated performance model. Original equipment should remain distinguished from present service condition, software availability and any accessories fitted after delivery.

Subaru of America: 2016 Crosstrek Special Edition launch

The factory photograph supplies an exact edition reference

The included image was distributed with the Pure Red Special Edition’s original announcement. It illustrates the correctly named programme, rather than an ordinary red crossover or a later-generation Desert Khaki special. SUB-156 was previously held because a matched reusable image had not been secured. Editorial image terms now provide a documented route for that asset, while the announcement remains the source for the 1,500-car allocation and original equipment.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

The manufacturer announced a 1,500-car US 2016 Pure Red Special Edition programme. Ordinary red Crosstreks, later-generation specials and general Premium production are excluded. SUB-156 was held rather than imported in the earlier batch; a correctly matched launch image with documented editorial terms now resolves that gap. The cap remains an attributed manufacturer reference, with exact completed production and survivor totals blank rather than inferred from the announcement.

What the photograph represents

Factory-distributed Pure Red Crosstrek Special Edition launch image. It depicts the 2016 first-generation programme identified in Subaru’s announcement, rather than a generic red crossover or a later Desert Khaki edition.

Related Subaru profiles

• 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 50th Anniversary Edition
• 2018 Subaru Forester 50th Anniversary Edition
• 2016 Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV Concept

Frequently asked questions

Was the Special Edition available with a manual gearbox?

The cited US announcement states that this edition was offered exclusively with the CVT.

Does Pure Red paint alone prove edition membership?

No. The colour should be connected to original edition and equipment documentation for the actual chassis.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

The manufacturer announced a 1,500-car US 2016 Pure Red Special Edition programme. Ordinary red Crosstreks, later-generation specials and general Premium production are excluded. SUB-156 was held rather than imported in the earlier batch; a correctly matched launch image with documented editorial terms now resolves that gap. The cap remains an attributed manufacturer reference, with exact completed production and survivor totals blank rather than inferred from the announcement.

Sources and further reading

1. Subaru of America: 2016 Crosstrek Special Edition launch

Research checked 19 October 2026. Linked manufacturer heritage pages, factory announcements, official distributor publications and labelled contemporary coverage support the specifically identified claims. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.