By Edward Niedermeyer
June 17, 2008
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…
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POWERED
June 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Must be Legacy-based. Impreza platform is too small. I would buy that car in a minute. Tribeca is too big and unwieldy. Bring it here, Subaru!
June 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
The alliteration police called regarding the caption: You’re over your quota.
A diesel version would be on my extremely short list for a new vehicle. Like a list of 1. If that is possible.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
USAFMech: I’ve been on the lam from those Keystone Kops for years…
June 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Is the ‘g’ hard or soft?
June 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Yes, definately not a Female Lotus.
SherbornSean–> I find it easier to pronounce if it’s hard.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
FWD?? But…but…but I thought AWD was what made a Subaru a Subaru.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
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.
June 18th, 2008 at 12:07 am
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…