Subaru Branches Out With B9

By Motoring Channel Staff - 24/01/2005

The new 'face' of Subaru, seen on the B9 Tribeca, which was launched at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show, will incorporate a new tri-grille look.

This new grille with its three distinct sections will eventually make its way on to all Subaru models; the next model expected to be given the tri-grille treatment the 2006 Impreza.

The central air intake is flanked by two "wings" and these are supposed to relate to Subaru and Fuji Heavy Industries' history in aviation manufacturing.

In Subaru's own words "The all-new Subaru B9 Tribeca features an all-new design theme, delivering added style to the capability, safety and durability Subaru is so well-known for".

And though Subaru Australia has confirmed that the B9 wouldn't arrive Down Under for at least two years - if at all - the new Japanese people mover gives a good insight into where the marque is headed.

It's future lies with its tried-and-trusted AWD system, naturally, but new B9 Tribeca "is positioned above the current Subaru Legacy [Liberty] and Outback line of vehicles" which would suggest that Subaru wants to move some of its products upmarket.

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The styling of the new B9, according to Subaru of America "distinguishes it in a market of bland SUV look-alikes".

The front of the vehicle is accented with a unique headlamp design that incorporates a series of cylindrical bulb housings.

This 'projector beam' style headlamp design adds a sense of presence to front of the vehicle, and provides a powerful and precise light pattern that aids driver safety in low-light conditions.

Powerful wheel arches house unique 18-inch wheels (shod with 255/55 R18s), giving it a strong stance on the road, while a sense of motion is glimpsed through the side view of the B9, particularly where the brake lights blister the rear doors' otherwise smooth sheet metal.

The 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca makes us of coil spring front strut suspension and an all-new double wishbone rear suspension design.

The chassis is enhanced by a stiff and strong unibody construction, which is a full 50 percent stronger in torsional rigidity than the new Subaru Outback, and it is also designed to tow trailers weighing more than 1500kg.

Driving the new Subaru people mover is the marque's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive; a total system that integrates a lightweight, horizontally-opposed ('boxer') engine and full-time All-Wheel Drive.

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive provides excellent balance thanks to the longitudinally mounted 'Boxer' engine and the way power flows from it through the transmission and to the rear differential along a straight, near-horizontal path.

The 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca delivers quick acceleration generated by the light and compact 186kW (250 horsepower) 6-cylinder boxer engine, mounted to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission equipped with the SportShift manual mode.

The dual overhead camshaft 3.0-litre engine develops 186kW @ 6600rpm and 296Nm of torque @ 4200rpm, and with a 1925kg (4245 lb) kerb weight, acceleration won't be as rapid as the Legacy/Liberty models equipped with the 6-cylinder engine.

The transmission allows manual gear selection when desired, and is coupled with a Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system, which normally sends more power to the rear wheels to enhance handling agility.

As well as bestowing drivers with the sure footedness that comes with an AWD transmission, the B9 was designed from the chassis up with high levels of safety as one of its primary goals.

Standard safety features include occupant sensing, dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side impact air bags, and standard side-curtain air bags. A direct tyre-pressure monitoring system is standard on all models, as is a 4-channel ABS braking system with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) for enhanced active safety.

Also standard on the B9 Tribeca is Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which distributes torque to the appropriate wheel based on input from steering wheel angle, yaw and lateral g-force sensors. The system also monitors input from the ABS brake system, adjusting individual wheel braking as needed, helping to maintain vehicle control under a variety of driving conditions.

As well as making an impression with its somewhat confronting exterior design, Subaru wanted to do the same for the B9's interior, and the twin cockpit design with swoopy dashboard lines and bold highlights does just that.

The sculpted dash and center console design are quite radical, and could lead to customers loving or hating it, but it's a chance that Subaru took, and at least it can't be accused of being dull and boring. The driver faces large, clear electroluminescent dials and ergonomically designed switchgear, while the center console is dominated by a 7-inch navigation/vehicle information touch-screen, with easy to use audio and HVAC controls located just below.

Ambient interior lighting illuminates the footwells, center console and even cup-holders at night in keeping with the sophisticated interior theme.

An optional Rear-Seat Entertainment system consists of a large, nine-inch diagonal wide-screen with DVD player and auxiliary video game and camcorder feed capability. Two wireless head sets and a remote control are standard. A rear seat air conditioner is standard on all Subaru B9 Tribeca models with the optional third row seating.

Second row rear seats feature a 60/40 split bench and a 40/20/40 split rear seat back with fold-flat capability. The second row seats slide eight inches fore and aft for improved rear passenger and third row comfort. Second row seats also recline independently in a 60/40 split, perfect for sleepy heads. The third row seats provide accommodations for two passengers and fold flat in a 50/50 split for a more flexible cargo space.

The Subaru B9 Tribeca will be built in Indiana, America, and will be introduced in the U.S. around the middle of 2005. It will also be sold in Canada and Chile later in 2005.