Subaru releases Exiga teaser
by Damon Lavrinc on May 19th 2008 at 3:28AM 
After a flurry of rumors circulated last week, Subaru has officially confirmed that a production version of the Exiga seven-passenger wagon is on its way. To sate our appetites before the official reveal on June 17th, Subaru has released a teaser image of the Exiga, along a micro-site dedicated to the automaker's newest people-mover.Judging by the Japanese-language site, Subaru appears to be positioning the Exiga as a luxury alternative to the traditional wagon or crossover, with a well-appointed interior and a panoramic roof. Then again, our impression might be skewed by the up-beat techno soundtrack on the site (people at work, beware).
Click the image above for a high-res version of the teaser, along with a photochopped image that lightens up the pic to reveal a few more of the Exiga's details.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
norm 4:57AM (5/19/2008)
Looks like the new Legacy Wagon? unless they're bringing out something Highlander sized...
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Paul P. 5:23AM (5/19/2008)
That middle seat looks a bit rough, even for kids to ride in. It's really more of a 6.5 seater.
The other thing I've noticed is they don't give you much room for seven people's worth of stuff. Unless you're expected to strap it to the roof.
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Benfolio 8:40AM (5/19/2008)
Middle seat looks similar to what Japan gets in the the Mazda 5. While we are stuck with middle row captains chairs, the Japan version gets a fold-away middle seat that can seat a small child, or fold out of the way to allow a pass-thru.
speedball3 11:30AM (5/19/2008)
I've never ridden in a CUV that seats 7, but I always assumed that once you stuck 7 people in, you wouldn't have much room for their stuff. Is that not the case w/the Highlander, Rav4, etc?
ccweems 12:20PM (5/19/2008)
I can't wait to see the front / sides and how Suby applies their "design language" - you know butt ugly with no redeeming value. One thing about Suby they have the ugly 4wd market totaly saturated. By making 4wd a delete option they could open their market to those who like ugly but have no use for 4wd and don't want the mileage penalty.
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sk 7:16AM (5/19/2008)
Minivan in disguise. Remove the sliding door and call it a crossover or large wagon.
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JG 9:41AM (5/19/2008)
Looks to be a Taurus X style vehicle. We need more of these for growing families instead of lumbering SUV's. I hear Ford is dropping the X after model year 2009 so it looks like we will be getting fewer choices, not more. I would love the new 2010 Taurus in a wagon body style with three rows, and forget the stupid two tone SUV body cladding!
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mk 11:16AM (5/19/2008)
Because the Taurus X sucks. It is far too tall, and haldex AWD is not all that.
Subaru has been building vehicles in this genre since the mid-90s with the introduction of the Outback, and have much better AWD.
I can somewhat see this as the new Outback, but it definitely wasn't dressed as one as the Exiga show car. The Exiga show car was low, and not ruggedized at all. Hence no outback.
Just because Subaru has split the current Legacy and Outback as wagon vs. sedan, does not mean that is permanent, nor was it the correct decision.
AND that decision only applies in the US market. The rest of the world, including Canada, whose Legacy wagons are built along side at SIA in Indiana, still get Legacy wagons, as well as most markets getting Outback wagons as well.
The high roofline and exaggerated bling-y details of the exiga show car turned me off, especially the Acura-wannabe grille.
If they have a sedan with a properly sleek roofline (I would love a 5-door fastback sedan Legacy, BTW) and it doesn't gain weight, but does gain in other areas, it will be a compelling next-gen in '10.
Otherwise, if it gets botched, like Subaru sometimes does, perhaps an '09 Legacy GT Spec B will be my current '05 GT's replacement someday, now that they have decided to paint Spec B Legacys in more than just grey paint, and are slated to have a nice bright red, after cancelling the Garnet Red Pearl, which I do enjoy now.
Unless we somehow magically get the S402 Legacy in the US, which has about as much chance as SOA bringing the Legacy wagon back right now, before the '10 changeover, if at all.
BigMcLargeHuge 11:56AM (5/19/2008)
Off topic - what wheels do you have? And is it stock height? I have
Garnet Red Pearl on gunmetal grey Kosei's with 50% tint all-around.
Yes, the S204 is sex on wheels. If only...
Back on topic -
"The Exiga show car was low, and not ruggedized at all. Hence no
outback."
True, but I think with the Forester getting taller and more mainstream CUV-looking, they'll be looking to have a real wagon.
"Just because Subaru has split the current Legacy and Outback as wagon vs. sedan, does not mean that is permanent, nor was it the correct decision."
If this is where they are going with their next wagon, I'd say it was the correct decision, IMO. I was basing it on the roof and C-pillar lines. I just don't see them creating a funny-looking sedan from this vehicle.
Why have one contiguous blend of CUV from Legacy on up?
Might as well have:
Tribeca - raised 7-seat CUV
Forester - raised 5-seat CUV
Outback - lowered 7-seat CUV
Legacy - sport/luxury sedan (and wagon, but based off a sedan body)
Impreza - sport/compact sedan (and hatchback off of sedan body)
Don't know how 'rugged' any of them look anymore. I think they've
all gone soft.
Arumage 3:47PM (5/19/2008)
The Taurus X isn't too tall. It's really just right to slide in and out of. You have to have headroom for those 3rd row passengers, unlike some of it's competitors (aka, CX-9, whose 3rd row is useless to those over 5'9"). If Subaru can get the combination of headroom and legroom right, it'll be a great option.
Galley 7:51AM (5/19/2008)
Is that the final name? It's too similar to the Lotus Exige.
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Richard 8:01AM (5/19/2008)
I imagine they will call it the Legacy and it will, per automotive evolutionary dictum, grow in size and heft. They'll combine it with the H6, turbo 4 and diesel, which Jezza reviewed as not worth it in the current UK Market Outback....
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article3638139.ece
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David 8:11AM (5/19/2008)
you can watch the teaser video here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqb7YkHg1Qo
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BigMcLargeHuge 9:02AM (5/19/2008)
Nobody here has caught on that the Legacy comes in Sedan only? And this is not it. Any Legacy replacement will have 5 seats and a trunk.
They are more likely to separate the Legacy and Outback into 5-passenger sedan and 7-passenger CUV, since its hard to market the Outback as anything other than a wagon.
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BigMcLargeHuge 9:09AM (5/19/2008)
Also bear in mind that while the 2008 Impreza did grow drastically in 'size', it did not gain any 'heft.'
An Outback replacement might be more volumous, but not much heavier, based on their new platform's ability to keep weight down.
Richard 11:12AM (5/19/2008)
Both very good points, though the Legacy Wagon is still the Legacy Wagon in some countries - I think.
BigMcLargeHuge 12:49PM (5/19/2008)
Aside from the Legacy GT/ Spec-B / Blitzen / S204 being one of the
best-looking sedans on the market, you're still ignorant.
I don't know how you can say they have no redeeming value when the STI is among the fastest 300hp cars, and among the fastest sub-$40K cars, anywhere, ever. Thats AWD working in its favor.
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jeffzekas 2:14PM (5/19/2008)
One question: gas is over $4 a gallon in the US ($10 gallon in the UK), so, why a gas-guzzling wagon? Unless it has a diesel motor (come on, Fuji, bring it in to the USA! "Timing is everyting"), what is the point? I just got back from Ashland, and there were NO tourists! This, in a town that LIVES on tourism! Why? "The recession" and "expensive gas". So, Subaru, we know you have a green production plant. Now, how about some green vehicles?
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BigMcLargeHuge 4:28PM (5/19/2008)
I think 'gas guzzling' is a stretch. For a 7-passenger CUV, so long as its based on the wagon architecture it should stay as light as the current Legacy / Outback wagons and get ~25 average mpg.
For an AWD 7-seater, thats equivalent to any TaHybrids or Audi/BMW/Merc diesels.
Though I agree, that boxer diesel would help in a small CUV.
ryan 1:18AM (5/20/2008)
I can easily see this Exiga taking on the forthcoming Ford Flex, CX-7/9, etc. I'm sure Japan will keep the 2.0t while the US gets the 2.5 na/turbo..and hopefully that sweet-ass diesel in 2010.
I'm still wondering about that coupe..but cool nonetheless.
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