Autoblog

One of our favorite marque-specific, indie buff books, SubieSport, let a couple images slip of Subaru's warmed over 2008 B9 Tribeca.

Due to be shown on Wednesday at the New York Auto Show, the reworked SUV gets a new nose that's eerily reminiscent of Chrysler's Pacifica (with a little Touareg thrown in), dispatching the Edsel-like front grille that has caught the ire of several journos and consumers. The rear gets a mild tweaking as well, with a few more angles on the tail lamps and hatch.

As expected, a new 3.6L H6 finds its way underhood, developing 256 HP at 6,000 RPM (up from 250 HP) and 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Apparently, the five-speed autobox has also benefited from some additional engineering, with new programming that should make good use of the extra twist.

SubieSport's got all the technical details here, along with an a few pics.

Top tip, Jeffrey!

[Source: SubieSport]

The design of the horizontally-opposed engine has a myriad of benefits. One of the most common is its compact design, which allows the center of gravity to be lower in the host vehicle. Additionally, since the boxer's pistons cancel out much of the vibration, the rotational balance is second to none. Both of these advantages will lend themselves to the advent of the first boxer diesel, which will find a home within a variety of Subaru models in Europe and possible even here in the States.

Hiroyuki Ikeda, Subaru Europe's President, announced at the Paris Motor Show that the development of the H4 turbo-diesel boxer is almost complete. The design, pictured above, reveals two interesting tidbits: first, the turbo, which is traditionally housed towards the passenger side firewall on most Subarus, will be moved south of the crankshaft to retain the boxer's low center of gravity. Second, the new DOHC diesel will be outfitted with a timing chain, currently only seen on Subaru's H6 engines, and will be the first H4 so equipped.

If one of Subie's diesels does make it to this continent, expect it to reside under the hood of the new Forester.

[Source: GizMag via Straightline]