Subaru Tribeca

Subaru Tribeca
Overview
Manufacturer	Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries)
Also called	Subaru B9 Tribeca (2006–2007) Saab 9-6 (cancelled)
Production	2005-2014
Model years	2006-2014
Assembly	United States: Lafayette, Indiana
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size crossover SUV
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L EZ30 H6 (2006–2007) 3.6 L EZ36 H6 (2008–2014)
Transmission	5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108.2 in (2,748 mm)
Length	189.8 in (4,821 mm) (2006–2007) 191.5 in (4,864 mm) (2008–2014)
Width	73.9 in (1,877 mm)
Height	66.5 in (1,689 mm) (2006–2007) 66.4 in (1,687 mm) & 67.7 in (1,720 mm) (2008–2014)
Curb weight	1,925 kg (4,245 lb)

The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru. Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City. Built on the Subaru Legacy platform and sold in five- and seven-seat configurations, the Tribeca was intended to be sold alongside a slightly revised version known as the Saab 9-6. Saab, at the time a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), abandoned the 9-6 program just prior to its release subsequent to GM's 2005 divestiture of its 20 percent stake in FHI.

Inspired by the B9X concept car, the Tribeca's original design was criticised at launch and subsequently revised in 2007, along with the model name revised to simply Tribeca in all markets.

Although not sold in Japan, North American markets received the Tribeca in 2005 for the 2006 model year, while it was introduced to Australasia in late 2006, with an introduction to Europe in 2007. In addition to these markets, the Tribeca is also available in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, China, and parts of Southeast Asia.

History

2006–2007

The Tribeca, introduced as the "B9 Tribeca" in several markets featured a new corporate face of a triangular grille and a rounded body shape. Subaru also used the grille styling on the Impreza, and the Japanese market Subaru R1 and R2 kei car products. As this styling motif proved controversial, all future Subaru redesigns abandoned this design language.

Pre-facelift Subaru B9 Tribeca (Germany)

External images

Saab 9-6

Facelift Subaru Tribeca (Australia)

The grille design was not conceived by designer Andreas Zapatinas, rather by Fuore Design, an independent design consulting firm based in Spain, hired by Subaru before Zapatinas involvement. Andreas Zapatinas and his team were responsible for the design of the interior, and the dashboard in particular. According to an Los Angeles Times article, the grille design was "meant to convey parent-company Fuji Heavy Industries' glorious history in aviation".^[1]

The Tribeca was initially powered by the 3.0-liter EZ30 boxer engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Saab planned to have also retail a version of the Tribeca, to be called the "9-6", but such plans stopped with Toyota's acquisition of the 20 percent FHI stake held by Saab's parent company GM.^[2] The 9-6 would have been built alongside the Tribeca at Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana factory in the United States. Saab revised their plans to replace the 9-7X after a short two-year lifespan, and instead the Oldsmobile Bravada-based body-on-frame SUV continued production until the 2009 model year.

The Tribeca was slightly reworked in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The updated model, debuting at the Chicago Auto Show, included a revised grille, revised struts, stabilizer bars, and spring rates. Inside, XM Satellite Radio and iPod connectors were pre-wired, while a backup camera and parking assist system were optional for the navigation system. A "Special Edition" package included a mesh grille, XM radio, and unique wheels.

2007–2014

Facelift Subaru Tribeca (US)

Subaru released the 2008 model year^[3] at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007 with a facelift as well as a larger 3.6-liter EZ36 flat-six engine rated at 191 kilowatts (256 hp). Subaru claimed 10 percent better fuel economy while using regular gasoline fuel (the 2006 and 2007 models use premium gasoline). At the same time, Subaru dropped the "B9" identifier where used, harmonizing the name internationally as the "Subaru Tribeca". The rear of the vehicle was also mildly redesigned—the tail lamps were more rounded, the "cutout" on the hatch above the bumper omitted, and the rearmost side window reshaped. Interior styling was unchanged, but the second row seats were redesigned for more room and easier access to the third row.

The facelift was released quickly after the original model's release, using much of the exterior styling tweaks from the unreleased Saab 9-6. Saab had withheld its version of Tribeca from the public until a July 2011 prototype release at the Saab museum in Trollhättan.^[4]

Market

North America

North American market Tribecas offered two trim levels—the standard Tribeca—and the Limited, which added a moonroof, leather interior, roof rails for enhanced cargo carrying and a premium audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer. The interior colors were somewhat limited to either dark gray cloth or a choice of dark gray or light beige leather interior.

Subaru Tribeca interior

The Limited trim level included an in-dash multifunction screen that displayed navigation system information, audio system information, trip computer functions, outside temperatures, maintenance intervals, controls for various vehicle settings, calendar, calculator and memo-taking functions. Video input from rear-seat DVD entertainment system was available with third row seating only, and could only be displayed on the instrument panel center screen if the vehicles parking brake was engaged.

The cargo volume was 37.6 cu ft (1.06 m³) with the second row seats raised and 74.4 cu ft (2.11 m³) with rear seats lowered. Seating configuration remained at standard second row seats or optional third row seats.

The vehicle was equipped with six airbags; two for the front passengers, two side impact airbags that deployed from the outer edge of the front seats and side curtain airbags that dropped in front of the front and second row side doors.

Two stereo packages were offered, starting with a 100-watt six-speaker system with a single-disc in-dash CD player with MP3 compatibility, or a premium stereo with 160-watt, nine speakers with subwoofer and a six-disc in-dash CD changer, also MP3 compatible. Both stereos had auxiliary audio jacks for MP3 players and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

In North America, the Tribeca is the only vehicle in this class that comes equipped with all-wheel drive as standard equipment. In the United States, Subaru's television ad campaign for the Tribeca prominently featured the Kansas song "Dust in the Wind". The Tribeca won best interior of the year by Ward's Auto, a benchmark agent similar to JD Power, but more subjective. Also, it was considered Most Innovative Concept at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. The Tribeca scored well on Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. It earned a "Top Safety Pick" ranking.

Drivetrain

Subaru chose to use an aluminum alloy boxer engine in order to reduce powertrain weight. The Subaru boxer engines have a lower center of gravity than typical inline and V type engines, this helps reduce body roll. The weight of the engine and automatic transmission are balanced instead of being offset. The power delivery is also direct from the transmission to the front wheels, and to the rear wheels through a rear differential, which is limited slip on some models. The front differential is integrated into the Subaru transmission. Other AWD vehicles were first engineered as either front or rear wheel drive, but were modified with an additional, external transfer case and asymmetrical drive shafts to power the additional wheels.

The boxer design also provides near-perfect vibration mitigation because the movement of each piston is exactly countered by the corresponding piston in the opposing cylinder bank, eliminating the need for a counterbalance shaft, and that the movement of the pistons is on a horizontal plane. The only vibration caused by the boxer engine is secondary caused by the cylinders being slightly offset on opposing banks.^[5] This vibration, however, is minimal and is largely absorbed by rubber engine mounts. Torque steer is also reduced with this type of power train layout. This is achieved by having the front driveshafts being of equal weight and length, and extend from the transmission to the front wheels at almost perpendicular from the transmission.^[6]

Discontinuation

Subaru announced in January 2012 that the Subaru Tribeca would stop being sold in the US and Australia, and that its production cycle would come to a stop in December 2012.^[7] On October 18, 2013, Autoblog, Jalopnik, and Cars.com all confirmed that Subaru has informed its dealers that production on the Tribeca would end in January 2014 due to slow sales.

Subaru has sold just 78,000 Tribecas since 2005, making it one of the worst-selling vehicles in the US in 2011 and 2012. Only 1,247 Tribecas were sold in the first nine months of 2013,^[8][9] and placed seventh among the worst-selling vehicles in the United States for the 2013 model year with only 1,598 units sold, down 23% from 2012.^[10]

The move comes as Subaru is looking at replacing the vehicle with an upscale 7-seat crossover SUV, possibly based on the Subaru Exiga, that would compete against the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. The replacement vehicle had been in the planning stages in an effort to attract new buyers without alienating current ones, since the Tribeca (in its present design) does not fit the description Subaru needs in the crossover SUV segment.^[11]

Subaru confirmed on April 16, 2015 that the next generation Exiga Crossover 7 that will go on sale in Japan will not be the replacement for the Tribeca in North America because of its size. Subaru is planning a larger successor that could be built in the United States. ^[12]

References

1. Neil, Dan (October 31, 2007). "Soft-serve Subie". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
2. Treece, James (October 7, 2005). "Fizzled Alliance: Deal to sell Subaru stake puts $302 million in GM's bank account, spells end for Saab 9-6X". AutoWeek. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
3. "Tribeca leaves B9 moniker in the recovery room". AutoWeek. April 3, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
4. "The Saab 9-6 in pictures". inside.saab.com. July 12, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
5. "Timberwoof Motorcycles". Timberwoof.com. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
6. "Subaru Core Technologies". Subaru.com. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
7. Park, Barry. "Subaru Dumps Tribeca". Drive.
8. Subaru ending Tribeca production in January? from Autoblog (October 18, 2013)
9. Subaru Cancels Tribeca SUV from Kicking Tires/Cars.com (October 18, 2013)
10. "The top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2013" from Autoblog (January 8, 2014)
11. Subaru mulling three-row utility, upscale versions of existing models from Autoblog (February 18, 2013)
12. "Subaru beefs up new Exiga Crossover 7 in Japan" from Autoblog (April 16, 2015)

External links

• Subaru Tribeca Official Page
• Subaru Tribeca