Spy Shots: Subaru Exiga caught ahead of debut
by Damon Lavrinc on May 21st 2008 at 5:28PM 
In the run-up to the Exiga's launch, Subaru has released a teaser site along with a darkened photo of its new seven-passenger wagon. But it was just a matter of time before we got a non-Subie-approved glimpse of the automaker's new people mover. According to the crew at NASIOC, the version you see above is sporting an optional aero package with some additional front skirting, side sills and window treatments. The massive glass roof is likely to be one of the features that Subaru will hype when the Exiga launches in Japan next month, but don't expect to see the new super-wagon in the U.S. anytime soon.
Gallery: Subaru Exiga Teaser
Gallery: Subaru Exiga Concept
[Source: NASIOC via Straightline]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Torrent 5:33PM (5/21/2008)
Already want...
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Mehdi Cheddadi 5:38PM (5/21/2008)
If I had kids I'd want to drive nothing but that. *drools*
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wormyguy 5:38PM (5/21/2008)
From that angle it kinda looks like a Matrix . . .
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shadysi 5:45PM (5/21/2008)
wow..I already likes the looks of it :)
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Steve 6:07PM (5/21/2008)
Nice looking, looks a lot like the old Forester imho. Could have been its successor, was probably the design considered for it but the other one won out for whatever reason.
Michael 6:23PM (5/21/2008)
That looks awesome.
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Cole Mitguard 6:42PM (5/21/2008)
Im sorry, but that is hideous. It looks like CUV given the Too Fast Too Furious Tokyo Drift treatment. I don't know what market they are going for with this, but I don't see anyone over the age of 30 getting this. And as for me, I'm well under that and thats too many body panel angles for me... by far. That is just bad.
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Red 7:12PM (5/21/2008)
This vehicle is targeted at the "young, developing families" market. Obviously, Subaru's not trying to sell to more conservative (i.e. boring) individuals such as yourself.
This is a pretty nice vehicle for a Subaru. Loses the odd look and this, along with the new Forester look as if Subaru's finally finding it's stride in not-so-strange designs. I'd buy one if I could. :)
Cole Mitguard 7:51PM (5/21/2008)
Haha, well being a 20 year old college student, in CA, I think that I am probably closer to the target demographic than yourself. I just like to see a car put together with some thought towards taste. If that makes me conservative, then so be it. I just cant shake that "Wish I was still a teeny bopper driving my 98 Civic DX, with body kit and shrieking muffler" feeling when I see this car. I think that the Ford Edge is a good example of a design that is both classy, and targeting a younger demographic.
Big Jim Slade 10:27PM (5/21/2008)
"Haha, well being a 20 year old college student, in CA, I think that I am probably closer to the target demographic than yourself" --- Subaru is marketing a seven seat minivan to children??? News to me. I think you're a target passenger, not customer.
By your argument, only kids should be driving Minis since most of the bits on the Cooper out-rice this by a mile. Can you say: non-functional hood scoop, cute little flag stickers, etc.?
And I don't see how you get an old, riced-out McHonda from this Subaru design. Aren't really any extraneous add on bits, the scoop looks tasteful. I'm pretty sure there's plenty of people my age (38) driving cars with sporty scoops, spoilers, etc. From the angle offered above, I'm struggling to see where you're getting "Fast and Furious". One single example would be enlightening...
And I'm sorry, there is no way any person shopping for a Subaru is going to even consider a Ford.
Neat auto or fleet auto. Take your pic...
SteveRB 12:35AM (5/22/2008)
Hideous might be too strong. But I agree with you, it looks garish.
Chris 5:42AM (5/22/2008)
Got to agree with you Cole, maybe the others are looking at some other special pictures but not that one. That front air damn lower is overworked and the lights in way to small for the area they are in.
A pillar reminds me of a bus.
Cole Mitguard 6:06AM (5/22/2008)
Yea, because the Edge is really a fleet vehicle, I would bet that design will appeal to more people than this would. Look at the front clip, perhaps its just the Aero package that it has on, but it look very much out of place. The air scoop, yea, thats fine, but combined with that front end, its just too much for my taste. You can call me conservative if you want, thats fine.
Cole Mitguard 6:10AM (5/22/2008)
@Red
Oh, and to call me boring? That is just childish, especially when you consider that we are talking about a 7 person wagon, a PEOPLE HAULER, this is some super exciting sports car, or even a sedan for that matter. Its a family vehicle, as you said. Ill keep my SV650, and you can keep calling me boaring.
stefan 6:46PM (5/21/2008)
Thats one good looking station, subaru should have used that design theme on the impreza. After the exiga i have gained a little more hope fore the new legacy.
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mk 7:24PM (5/21/2008)
I have the distinct feeling that this is the precedent for the '10 Legacy/Outback.
Not that the Legacy and/or Outback is going to be this car, but this is probably the first foray into the updated Legacy chassis.
I have to say, I don't like the new fenders with the wide arch edges. (though not as bad as Acura's new TSX) nor the odd transition at the top of the windshield.
I usually love blacked-out roof treatments between side rails. I love the new M3's carbon roof treatment as such. (just saw a blue coupe and red sedan side by side at the dealer today. fantastic, BTW. Pictures don't really convey them very well.)
But at the top of the windsheild, in the A-pillar bend to the roof side rail, it is not a smooth transition. It gets thicker right there than either just below it, or just behind it. It can't be that hard to just maintain an aesthetic line.
The Aero kit is tacky. The headlights are more generic than the 05-07 (JDM 04-06) and the current 08-09 (JDM 07-09).
Noticing that the JDM models precede the USDM models by a model year, I think we are seeing themes of the next Legacy sedan, and the Legacy/Outback 5-seat wagons. (only US lost the Legacy wagon, the rest of the world still gets it, before someone flames me over that...)
Subaru has been talking about JDM and USDM models being simultaneously unveiled on the Legacy lineup. The Impreza and Forester are built in Japan, so have always been that way. The Legacy and Outback nameplates may indeed be simultaneously unveiled for an early MY'10 release, but we may still be seeing a partial year-early JDM roll out under the Exiga name anyway.
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djSyndrome 8:36PM (5/21/2008)
Subaru would make a killing if they brought the seven-seater over. No other manufacturer offers a true seven-seat wagon in the US except for Volvo, which is in another price stratum entirely. Everyone else has moved on to crossovers, but some of us still like the idea of a lower-slung wagon with room for two extra kids in a pinch.
I would buy this in a heartbeat.
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Justin 9:07PM (5/21/2008)
+1, never understood the appeal of the truck-like proportions/ride height of crossovers. This is a sporty people mover.
Richard 9:21PM (5/21/2008)
I think it is hard to do. Americans are BIG relative to most of the rest of the world - esp. Asia - so the cries of "Well, if you could only get into the seats," would be plentiful and loud.
Then, 3 rows of seats in a wagon don't leave a lot of crush room for the kiddies in the back now, do they. The Volvo rear-facing third seat just looked like a disaster on I-95 in waiting - though our 145 had it when I was a kid.
Additionally, this thing is tallish looking. Hard to sell the old low centre of gravity benefits of the H-4 or H-6, when you've jacked up the whole thing a la' Ford 500.
Pat 8:37PM (5/21/2008)
Sorta reminds me of a Flex!
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