The New Appliance Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com

SUB-ZERO & WOLF
800-222-7820
Maker of glorious "must-have" refrigerators for the jet set, and Wolf pro-style cooking appliances.

2006 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Sealed Burn Pro-Style Cooktops
The SRT features a dual-stacked 15K BTU sealed burner in order to keep up with Viking's move to sealed burners.  Each cooktop features (1) simmer burner of 9,200 BTU max, 300 BTU min.
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The Three Door Fridge
This is a 3 compartment fully integrated fridge with dual evaporators allowing for different temperatures between the main cavity and the two drawers.  Total of 21 cu ft and featuring all the plastic compartments one would expect in a refrigerator of the 21st century.
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A Better Warming Drawer
New warming drawer which can be installed anywhere inside or out and features stainless construction, 450W heating element and preset temperatures and shutoff. 
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45" downdraft vent
Rises 9", featues 3 speed control, automatic shutoff, and time to clean filter warning.  Supplied by Best.
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2005 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Induction 2-Burner
A new induction 2 burner cooktop module (with a 2.2 kw, and a 1.8 kw burner) for the Wolf module cooktop line.  Priced at $1800.  This is not the most powerful induction unit out there by a long shot, but maybe they're getting their feet wet.
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The Lots o' Door Fridge
An all stainless 6 door PRO-48 fridge with 18.4 cu ft of refrigeration and 11.4 cu ft of freezing space that they promise uses less energy than a "100W lightbulb" (less than a 100W Taser perhaps even?), that is 876 kw per year.  It's a little bit bizarre to be dropping the environmental card when discussing a 30 cu ft ice chest, No?  These are piggish fridges, in size, cost, power, and environmental impact sold to piggish people.  In fact, I am sure that the line about the 100W is for the "press" and not the consumer.  Can I interest anyone in ocean front property in Madison?
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15" wine unit
They have a wine storage unit, and we refuse to discuss wine storage units.

2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Updated Side by Sides
The 680 and 690 units are restyled.  The ice and water dispenser is moved from the freezer to the refrigerator door and gets the trendy blue LED light which Sub-Zero claims "casts truer, even lighting"......Truer???    hah!.  Both units are adapted to allow custom cabinet overlays.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/subzero/description.asp?id=695
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/subzerowaterdispensor.jpg

Cooktop for the Anally Retentive
Wolf offered a Ceran top for flush fit, inlay installations.  In this type of installation the hole is cut to allow for the rough-in box while a ledge is milled around this hole to exactly match the dimensions of the glass main top.  The gap is sealed with silicone.  To take it up one more notch, this cooktop has a large radius on each corner, making the milling that much more complex.  Well you can't take it with you, and this is for people desperate to keep their kids from getting it.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=26
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Upgraded Gas Cooktops
Wolf added a 15K BTU burner to their 2 year old gas cooktops by upgrading one of their 12K burners.  Why now and not in 2002?  The market is now demanding at least one 15K burner in drop-in cooktops, and we imagine Wolf's distributors and dealers were screaming for the upgrade to keep up with the Jones's.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=5
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=4

Comparison of Wolf 36" gas cooktop BTU output with other brands:

Convection Microwave Oven
Wolf introduces a 1.5 cu ft 900W built-in microwave oven can also broil, bake and convection bake.  Features sensor so that the oven can monitor temperature and moisture and automatically adjust power levels as necessary.  Optional 30", and 36" trim kits.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/description.asp?category=ovens&id=3

2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
A Wolf Pack is Launched to Attack Viking and the California 3
With the addition of 30, 36, 48, and 60" dual fuel ranges, Wolf has become a full line supplier of pro-style cooking appliances.  The electric ovens feature 4 heating elements, a 2 fan convection system, 8 cooking modes (bake, roast, broil both with and without convection, bake stone, and number 8 is convection alone??).  Also features hideaway electronic oven controls which rotate into view, red or black knobs, and a hydraulic oven door damper for a luxurious closure.  The cooktop features electronic ignition, and automatic re-ignition, a double-burner burner system in which the lower burner is for simmering, and optional BBQ, griddle, and French top modules.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/dualfuel.asp
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New Pro Hood and New Pro Hood Supplier
Certainly these units are not so different from the competition in features or design, but with a simple flick of a designers wrist it seems they have added a gorgeous bullnose.  I can't explain it, but I like it.  These hoods feature IR warming lamps, infinite speed blower controls, 304 stainless steel which is continuously welded polished and brushed and decorative rail options, a 900CFM internal blower option and 4 remote blower options.  Wolf offers this batch either in 24" or 27" depth at an 18" height or in a 22" depth at 10" height.  These are the maiden launches from Wolf's new hood supplier, Independent of Reno, NV, which was brought in to replace Windcrest of Anaheim, CA.
http://www.wolfappliance.com/wolf/ventilation.asp
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More Glass Door Refrigerators
Sub-Zero adds glass door versions of the 650 and 611 models.
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2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Glass Door Refrigerator
The Model 601RG adaptation of their 600 series features a glass door, 19.9 cu ft of interior space, additional shelf space to make up for lost door shelves and various levels of interior lighting which you can adjust depending upon how photogenic your leftovers are.  "No longer will consumers have to stand in front of an open refrigerator door letting cool air out, trying to decide what to prepare."  Sub-Zero goes on to say that this unit "is more energy efficient than solid-door refrigerators".  Are they saying that it is more efficient than the solid door 600 series?  That would be a neat trick, wouldn't it?  I have been told that to accomplish that, one would need to greatly improve the door seals, and non-door insulation to make up for the heat gain from the triple pane, argon filled, glass door.  
And the Answer Is:  Sub-Zero says that the 601RG uses 471 KW/year vs the solid door 601R which uses 424 KW/year.  The only member of the 600 series line with an Energy Star rating is the 650.
http://www.subzero.com/subzero/description.asp?id=601rg

An Entire New Line of Wolf Cooking Products
Built-in Ovens
Sub-Zero spent the big bucks on the 36" single and 30" single and double ovens which feature hide-away electronic touch controls on glass which rotate into view by way of motor, 2 convection fans, 4 heating elements, 8 cooking modes and self cleaning..  These units also feature oven door springs and dampers for smooth closure, hidden dual ribbon bake element, temperature probe receptacle in each oven, and dual halogen lighting.  The ovens sound fantastic and are aesthetically different from every other unit on the market.
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/ovens.asp
There has been some industry gossip related to a summer 2001 photo showing a model with towel in hand opening the oven door, the towel perhaps indicating that the handle was too hot to bare hand.  Photographers and food stylists don't know appliances, they only know how to make pretty pictures of appliances filled with cold food sprayed with nasty noxious chemicals like hairspray to make everything photogenic.  The pretty shot slipped by Sub-Zero's marketing department review and was used in several brochure printings (and was still being used on the website until November 12).  The towel was finally digitally removed for the June 2002 brochure reprinting.  You can see their "handy" work below.
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Gas Cooktops
The 36" unit features (5) sealed burners of which (2) are 12K BTU burners, and (3) are 9.2K BTU burners.  Also features, right front corner controls location, back lit controls indicating which burner is on, electronic ignition and re-ignition, continuous grates, a simmer feature described as "True Simmer so you can simmer without boiling, melt without scorching".
The 30" unit features (4) sealed burners of which (2) are 12K BTU burners and (2) 9.2K BTU burners.  The controls are located on the right side but otherwise the features match the 36".
Available in stainless steel and a platinum finish stainless steel.
The 36" unit seems to be nearly the functional and aesthetic twin of the Thermador SGC365, which incidentally has been transferred from Thermador to Bosch, the "meat and potatoes" division of BSH.  The use of glass under the control knobs is a very KitchenAid /Amana kind of feature that should have been eliminated to avoid the sludge and crud catching areas between glass and maintop.  All in all though this sounds like a great unit.
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=5
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=4

Oh Boy, Another Ceramic Cooktop Line
36" unit features a triple element with 2700/ 2200/ 1050 Watts, a double element 2200/ 750 Watts, and (3) single element zones of 1800W, 1500W, and 1200W.  
30" unit features a double element with 2200/ 750 Watts a double element with 1900/ 950W, and (2) single elements of 1500 and 1200W.  
Both unit features universal shutoff, a hot surface indicator, and electronic touch control.
The 36" unit might have been improved with the use of pot sizing on the triple element zone.
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=6
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=7

Downdraft Ventilation
Wolf is sourcing the 30" and 36" Broan downdraft with features such as wired remote control, a delay "off" switch and finishes such as Carbon and Platinum Stainless.  Works with 500CFM integral and 600, 900, 1200 CFM Remote blowers.
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=ventilation&id=26

Microwave
2 cu ft microwave.
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=ovens&id=3

2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Pass Fed Regs
Pass Fed Regs with their refrigerators, other than this, Sub-Zero could not identify any other improvements or new products in their Sub-Zero line.

Not Much New at Wolf
Wolf introduced some new features such as a new French top, an improved grease tray, and the change to black burners from chrome. Wolf also made it easier to change from Propane to Natural gas in the field. It is hard to believe that after all that, they had enough time to update the "Wolf" logo. Actually we believe that Sub-Zero is busy developing products for a huge product launch next year. This is just a theory.

2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Wine Refrigerator Line & Surly Demeanor
Sub-Zero showed off some Wolf Range products, and introduced 4 new wine storage refrigerators. Models hold from 46 to 147 bottles, 2 zone digital temperature controls from 38 - 65 F, UV blocking glass or solid door options, special lighting and optional locks. Sub-Zero's VP of Sales Steve Dunlop when called after the show about Wolf product development said, "We have no comment. We have no comment on anything." This warm conversation may or may not be the result of ApplianceAdvisor's analysis of the Sub-Zero purchase of Wolf in March. We hope that is not the case, since we love Sub-Zero products, and think that they kick ass. You can see our analysis: http://www.applianceadvisor.com/0300analysis.htm

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Revised: December 19, 2006