Subdriven | The Subaru Enthuisast Website

Tokyo, January 11, 2005 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Subaru of America, Inc.*, has unveiled the all-new Subaru B9 Tribeca, at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, which is being held from January 9 through 23, 2005.

The Subaru B9 Tribeca was developed on the concept of a progressive sport utility vehicle (SUV) that represents the next generation of crossover vehicles. The Subaru B9 Tribeca features Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with a horizontally opposed boxer engine that delivers agile and stable control while ensuring superb maneuverability as a SUV, and is the first – ever Subaru with available seating for seven passengers.

The largest model in the Subaru lineup, the all-new Subaru B9 Tribeca reveals its roominess in flexible seating arrangements in three rows for seven passengers. Its sporty and dynamic exterior design contrasts with a sophisticated interior design that accentuates stylish comfort and safety.

The Subaru B9 Tribeca will be built at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) plant in Lafayette, Indiana, and will be introduced in the U.S. early summer of 2005 as the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca. It is also scheduled to be sold in Canada and Chile starting in 2005.

Since FHI introduced the Subaru Outback in North America in 1995, Subaru has been recognized as a pioneer in crossover vehicles by offering both the comfort of a passenger car and the rugged versatility of a SUV. The Outback is a variant of the Subaru Legacy with more sporty handling and maneuverability. The new Subaru B9 Tribeca will further expand the Subaru crossover product line.

Major Features of the Subaru B9 Tribeca:

1. Outstanding driving performance

- The horizontally opposed, 6-cylinder boxer engine maintains engine revolutions in perfect balance and delivers smooth acceleration. Responding accurately to the driver, the Subaru full-time All-Wheel Drive and suspension systems ensure high-quality handling. While the Subaru B9 Tribeca offers the fun-to-drive maneuverability of an SUV with its high road clearance, it delivers the comfort, agility, and stable ride of a sporty sedan, which is achieved by the low center of gravity of the Symmetrical AWD.

- A 3-liter, horizontally opposed, 6-cylinder DOHC engine provides flawless torque up to high rotations. The excellent balance of engine revolutions ensures smooth acceleration, which promises a high quality drive.

- Nimble cornering, agility, and stability are realized by the light weight, compact engine and wellbalanced powertrain unit of the Subaru B9 Tribeca.

- Acceleration response has been further enhanced. A driver can experience a high level of performance in the Subaru B9 Tribeca through its smooth acceleration at zero-to-cruising speeds, as well as through powerful acceleration when overtaking another car at high speed.

- With the road clearance of 213 mm, the supple suspension stroke enhances superb riding comfort, even on rugged terrain.

- An all-new double wishbone rear suspension design provides roominess in the cabin while reducing vibration and impact and heightening vehicle dynamics and riding comfort.

- 5-speed automatic transmission is adopted on all models. Smooth gear changes and sporty driving are made possible by finely tuned gear ratios.

2. Superb interior and packaging options

- The Subaru B9 Tribeca is a flexible seven-passenger vehicle.** Five adults can be leisurely accommodated in the front and second-row rear seats, and the optional third row easily seats two more passengers.

** Subaru also offers the five-passenger Subaru B9 Tribeca without the third-row rear seats.

- The second row of seats slides back as far as 200 mm, providing outstanding roominess.

- Second row rear seats feature a sixty–forty split bench and a forty–twenty–forty split rear seat back with fold-flat capability. According to the number of passengers and size of the cargo, seats can be flexibly arranged for convenience and utility.

- A large, 9-inch-wide screen, which is stored away in the ceiling, as well as a DVD player with video
game and video camera feed capabilities is available as an option.

3. Bold new designs

Exterior designs express the sporty and dynamic feel of the Subaru B9 Tribeca and represent the vehicle’s
originality that distinguishes it from other SUVs and adds a sense of presence. Interior accommodates the
driver not only with sense of security to be in the lap of high quality product, but also with excitement of
driving pleasure.

- A dynamic body silhouette extends from the front fascia to the end of the roof, and a powerful wheel
arch design creates a strong athletic stance on the road. The well-packaged rear design further
enhances the expression of dynamic motion.

- The front air intake design is highlighted by its spread-wing grille design, which is reminiscent of
aircraft wings. Directly relating to the history of FHI as an aircraft manufacturer, the design illustrates
the Subaru commitment to engineering excellence.

- A tachometer and speedometer are independently laid out, which emphasizes the depth and 3-
dimensional design of the instrument panel.

- A variety of indirect lights throw warm illumination onto the switchgear, cup holder, front and rear
seat footings, and entrances. While creating high-quality ambiance in the cabin, well-positioned lights
also are functional in many instances, including facilitating easy access in and out of the car at night.

4. Safety

While the outstanding agile handling and driving performance of the Subaru B9 Tribeca helps improve accident avoidance, its body construction is engineered to reduce the risk of injury in a crash. The vehicle is also equipped with safety devices to protect passengers.

- In addition to the Symmetrical AWD’s low center of gravity for excellent stability, its Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system, which is standard on the vehicle, simultaneously co-ordinates control of torque distribution, engine output and adjusting individual wheel braking as needed for helping diminish roll-over risks.

- The Subaru B9 Tribeca features body construction that effectively absorbs crash impact from all the directions. Adopting trim parts that also absorb impact, high levels of safety are obtained in all passenger spaces. Other standard features include dual-stage passenger and driver air bags, as well as seat-mounted side-impact air bags and side-curtain air bags.


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