The Subaru B9 Tribeca Makes its World Premiere at the 2005 North American International Auto Show

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.

Source -- Subaru Of America B9 Tribecca Press Kit.

P.S. Thanks to our Friends at Subaru, I have been given an opportunity to experince first hand the North American debut of Subaru's new and exciting vehicle. Thank you Sam, Amanda and the rest of the SOA crew who put this all togteher. My own pictures are coming shortly...

P.P.S. I is also very nice to meet James the Fishguy again.

P.P.P.S. Hey Sam, your phone is huge... ;)

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Discuss...

I think it's ugly. An STi version would be cool though. BTW I did'nt read the PDF's, what the price ragne for it?

Price is not set. I estimate it to be in the mid 30's.

Ugly, ugly, ugly. The rear end looks okay, with the dual exhaust and all, but man, I can't get over that grill!

I like it, actually, for a cross-over SUV.

Alex, do the doors have frameless windows? or are they framed?

It doesn't look too horrible. An STi version would be pretty hot though.

Yeah the front grill bothers me too. Otherwise not bad at all. Reminds me of the Infinity SUV, the FX I think they call it. Totally diggin the interior, looks real nice on the inside.

I guess I am a little confused. It seems like a pretty innovative design for a crossover type vehicle, and it seems like the boxer engine could be used very efficiently in such a car. Beyond that though, I am lost trying to figure out what could possibly be "cool" or "hot" about a bling'd out 4200lb minivan-like vehicle. Like an SVT Windstar or something? Nope - I don't get it.

-Jacob

Ugly SUBALFARU

Juege

You all should get used to the grill design since it seems to be the direction Subaru is heading with all of it's new designs. Look at the 06/07/? Impreza/WRX/STi pics in the General forum - almost all of them have a similar grill design.

See what I mean:
http://www.discountpartcenter.com/photos/11-12-04-01-2007-Subaru-WRX-STI.jpg

Any idea on the HP??

250hp
219lb/ft Torque

3.0L H6

http://www.b9tribeca.com/sub/b9/home_flash.html

I assume more options will be added later on.

It doesnt look too bad at all. Kind of reminds me of a Cayenne, but a little sleeker. Interiors pretty crazy.

I think it uglier than a kick in the ballz...My wife likes it but go figure what does she know...

If thats the new STi, I'm going to cry, I'm not kidding. Watch the re-sale prices for the 04-05's shoot up :)

The aztec lives!

I need to see it in the flesh before I make up my mind. I've been looking at pics for a while now and my first reaction was to not like the looks at all. It's starting to grow on me I think. I'm going to see it this Sat at the auto show and make up my mind then. I could use a replacement for our OB VDC Wagon and having 7 seats would be just the thing. We would only use the rear ones on rare occasions but it would come in handy. This car is targeted directly at me. I need a little more room because the kids are growing and they like to have friends come along when we go somewhere. Right now we can only fit one other kid in the car besides my two. All the features like the DVD and such appeal to me too to keep the kids quiet :)

you all can stay with subaru. But it looks like i going a different direction. Subaru is getting way too ugly for me.

Subaru is not going into a different direction. Tribeca does look good in person. It is stuffed with so many features and options that would make most people that have MDX and FX's cry. I like it. I mean it is not a sports car, so don't expect to be extatic about it. It is a family car/van/suv thing. It is what it is and it is a Subaru.

My wife says there will be one in the driveway, I look forward to parking it next to the STi

The look is not at all Subaru, at least what they have in the US. Kind of reminds me of the van things Subaru sells in Japan. It could just as easily be from Infinity or Lexus or whoever else. The styling guy from Alpha Romeo (sp?) needs to be kicked out with this stupid "horsecollar" grille shape hanging around his neck.

LOOKS SO CRAZY

my cup 'o tea!

Well...the interior is just spectacular.

The Damn nose looks like Subaru is almost trying to give it a F1 (Ferrari Enzo) type of snout but yeesh...the new corporate grill theme is UGLY!

It's not too bad. Headlights aren't to my liking. Interior is nice. Seems like it'll have some really cool features for a great price. I like everything about it except for the looks, who knows though, they might grow on me. It happened to a lot of people with the bugeyes didn't it?

edit: I think i agree with peaty, i want to see one in person before i make up my mind.

Well...the interior is just spectacular.

The Damn nose looks like Subaru is almost trying to give it a F1 (Ferrari Enzo) type of snout but yeesh...the new corporate grill theme is UGLY!

The enzo is ugly too.

I love that STi design, but I personally really dont like how that front end looks on the Tribeca. It looks too FX45 ish to me and I really HATE the FX45.

I love that STi design, but I personally really dont like how that front end looks on the Tribeca. It looks too FX45 ish to me and I really HATE the FX45.

That STi design looks like an old transformer that got stepped on too many times.

I think the B9 Tribeca is boring and offensive at the same time, stylewise - which I guess could be an innovation! Of course pictures can be deceiving and I could change my mind the first time I see it in person. The interior however is very impressive except for the inability to install an aftermarket sound system. I bet that need is not very high on the list for this car's target demographic tho..

The FX45 is flat out awesome. My only complaint is that I don't have one. Crazy to drive and very impressive features and ideas. Great car. Sweet V8.

All my opinion and worth what you paid for it.

-Jacob

typo in the pdf's. Someone is going to get fired for poor editing. "refisterred" trademark of Prodrive.

I like the dash. Other than that they need to ban suvs. Oh wait I have one, nevermind.

Pig body with a pig snount. yuk! A me too vanUV. Like that market segment needs a new entry.

I'd have to sit in it but I don't see what's so special about the interior. Looks like lots of style at the expense of function in the front and uncomfortable straight or small seats in the back. My kids are past the age where such a vehicle is much of a temptation so I wouldn't buy it anyway but from the pictures I wouldn't buy it anyway and would probably comment unfavorably on the poor judgment of anyone I saw driving one.

Subaru's latest round of re-design is certainly losing me. Looks like the classic years are over. Shame

Mrs. Oaf seems to like it.
I like that it looks different; very unique opposed to the other jelly bean kid haulers running around.
She presently hauls the mini Oafs around in an AWD Sienna, which is well built.
It will be interesting to compare the Tribeca's quality to the Toyota's.

My pics of the B9 from the autoshow today:

http://www.peatpics.com/public/gallery/albums.php

howd you like it in person?

You know it's wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I can't say I'm super excited about the looks but the way it is appointed kind of sort of makes up for the looks in a way. I have to say that this car is directed right at me in the sence that I would really like more room than I have in our current OB VDC Wagon. I also like the way the VDC works, and this has that too. Now that my kids are bigger we sometimes need to take a couple of their friends. When family comes to visit we need to take two cars now. The rear jump seats while not used often would come in handy. There seems to be a lot of room when the third row is down. With it up there isn't a lot of space left but it's more than I thought it was going to be. I was a little taken aback when I saw the window frames though. Just strange to see on a Subaru, I expected them though from the pics I saw.

Yeah definitely strange. It'll take some getting used to. Looking at the pics again I'm sort of undecided. I guess its growing on me. The rear isn't too bad but the front isn't too good. Sort of cheap looking to me and at the same time I'm reminded of the Porsche Cayenne.

edit: I know it doesnt really look anything like a porsche from the front, still reminds me of it though

also, the interior kicks major ass.

Blech. The Alfa design on the nose is the first thing that popped into my mind as well. The Italians pull that off just fine, but something gets lost in the translation to Japanese. I like the crisp, clean lines on my '99 2.5GT, and even the new Legacies as well, but this is just...yuck.

It does sorta have a Cayenne look to it I think... ehhhh. But I think the interior (especially the sweeping curved dash) looks great.

The cockpit is a bit cozy for an suv type vehicle, and it needs a hood scoop. The profile does scream FX though.

ugly, but hey i won't be buying it...
the thing that saves it is the H6, awd and the interior.
kinda reminds me of a porsche cayenne ugly stepsister


aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*

This is a little better.

How much will it cost. I want to trade in my outback wagon for one. It looks great.

It is downright nasty. All the people who say it will take time to get used to is either in denial or just being polite. The reaction so far echoes the sentiments to the bug eyes. And what did people do with the bug-eyes on the WRX? They put eyelids on it. They swapped it for the morettes. They did anything and everything to get rid of it. That means it's ugly. A beautiful car doesn't need time for the audience to warm up to it. It is born beautiful and will always be beautiful, like the current STi or an M3.

I don't understand the Infiniti FX-series. It's a "jack of all trades, master of none" kinda car. Little bit of speed, little extra room, little bit of utility in the remote chance it will even touch mud. To me, it's a sample of everything but has no identity.

I've always wanted an STi, but the wait will be even longer now.

i like the interior, thats about it....oh and the fact that its a subaru
but i dislike the alfa style grille quite a bit...

but from an engineering standpoint its gorgeous, those cutaway photos were awesome, theres quite a bit of stuff shoved in that thing.

I do love the interior. Has a great new and scifi look to it. The exterior is not my cup of tea. But maybe it WILL grow on me. When I saw the new bmw 5 series, the bug eye imprezas, and the m3 I didn't like them. I had my heard devoted to the 90s designs. But I love my impreza now. =D

I went to see it on tuesday. I liked it but, I do'nt know who can seat in the third row. I was very small in the rear and it saw hard getting in and out of the back. If I did'nt really need a 6+ passenger car I would get it.