Subaru Exiga Not A Female Lotus
Subaru's freshly-unveiled Exiga CUV may be only a vowel away from sharing names with Lotus' Elise-based road racer, but that's where the resemblance ends. The three-row, seven-passenger Subie is a Japanese market only seven-seat option to the once-hideous, now bland Tribeca. Autocar UK claims that the Exiga is based on the Impreza. Elsewhere, we hear it's based on the Legacy. As a JDM-only product, Subaru will offer an front wheel-drive base version without shocking its export customers. Power comes from either naturally aspirated (FWD only) or turbo versions of the corporate 2.0-liter boxer four. The turbo version puts out a tidy 222 hp, in AWD trim only. A diesel version is rumored, but only if Subaru decides to export the Exiga to Europe. Now, if we could only get this turbo-AWD family-hauling thingie to mate with the superlight road-racing Lotus Exige…
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Yes, definately not a Female Lotus. SherbornSean--> I find it easier to pronounce if it's hard.
FWD?? But...but...but I thought AWD was what made a Subaru a Subaru.
I thought the Tribeca was a lengthened Legacy platform, the new Impreza was a shortened Legacy platform and the Forrester was a raised Impreza platform. Or maybe the Legacy is a lowered, lengthened Forrester platform etc. Subaru seem to make good use of re-using their engineering assets across their whole range of vehicles, pity they don't use the money saved to hire a few decent car stylists.
Ahh, I saw this one coming. The Subaru faithful get beat up here. As a member I have to say some of it is deserved. FHI should really look into bringing a FWD version here. I know how committed they are to AWD but with current gas prices, C’mon. I look at it this way. My 2008 Forester 2.5 X Sports gets 28 mpg, imagine a FWD version. With Toyota’s growing influence I am sure it will only be a matter of time…