German Car Zone

Monster · 06-17-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Press release:

Based on the concept of a seven-seater with panoramic visibility for the touring experience, the Subaru Exiga has been developed to provide a safe and pleasant journey for all occupants. Capitalizing on its accumulated know-how from building wagons and crossover SUVs, Subaru has succeeded in creating open and comfortable interior space for all the passengers to easily engage in conversation and share the experience of touring enhanced by dramatic wide-angle views through the windows.

The new model represents Subaru's latest proposal for a new type of multi-passenger vehicle, built on Subaru's strengths in vehicle stability, low noise, and quality ride - all realized by Subaru's Horizontally-Opposed engine layout and the Subaru Dynamic Chassis Control Concept (Subaru DC3).

Seven passengers

Despite a body size that's convenient for maneuvering, the Subaru Exiga comfortably accommodates up to seven occupants, ensuring ample space and a pleasant ride for each passenger. Excellent utility and comfort have been added through the adoption of new designs for better visibility, ingress/egress, and cargo space.

Panorama
A bright, open interior space has been created for passengers in any seat to enjoy the scenery outside. The vehicle's low noise level allows all passengers to easily converse.

Touring

In addition to high levels of safety, both active and passive, the Subaru Exiga blends high performance and smooth handling with high-quality riding comfort. The vehicle also offers excellent environmental performance and fuel economy.

Exterior design

The Subaru Exiga exterior design expresses the integration of the utility of a seven-seater and elegant styling.

Two distinctively different front grille designs are available. The naturally aspirated models possess style that highlights refinement and simplicity with flowing chrome-plated contours. The design for the turbo model stresses a sporty and muscular impression by adopting a powerful wing-shape embellishment in dark plating on a metal mesh background.

Headlamps are designed to provide depth from the front view. With a blue-tinted lens placed in the middle of the lamp, the design accentuates boldness and presence.

Each of the four Exiga model types is equipped with distinctive wheels and individually designed spokes.

Eight exterior colors are available.

Overall length: 4,740mm
Overall width: 1,775mm
Overall height: 1,660mm
Wheelbase: 2,750mm

Interior design

Decorative insets with a horizontally flowing pattern from the center panel of the dashboard to the door trim add spaciousness and a quality look to the interior. Rich and refined interior design is further accentuated by the center panel, which combines wood and metal finishes, as well as by the indirect blue LED light installed on the overhead console, center tray and some foot areas.

Ivory tone that accentuates openness and light, and black tone, which highlights both sportiness and elegance, are available as interior colors.

The seats are newly designed to firmly support the occupants and reduce fatigue, even during a long drive, and the seat cushions are made thick to effectively absorb vibration and provide comfort.

The meter module on the instrument panel is distinctively designed with the meter background faces illuminated in blue to make the white dials clearly readable. The Sport Luminescent Meter, outlined with chrome-plated meter rings, is available on the 2.0GT, 2.0i-L, and 2.0i-S.

Powertrain
2.0-liter DOHC Engine (2.0i, 2.0i-L, 2.0i-S)

The use of a redesigned DOHC cylinder head and the active valve control system (AVCS) promotes excellent environmental performance. Also better fuel economy is realized through adoption of the regular gasoline engine.

With the optimization of the diameter and length of the intake manifold, and the adoption of the equal length/constant pulsation independent exhaust system, the engine's intake and exhaust performance has been elevated.

Two catalytic convertors have been placed in tandem. The layout enables the convertors to quickly heat up, which facilitates catalytic activation during engine startup and improves on emission reduction efficiency.

By expanding exhaust capacity with the twin mufflers, air flow resistance inside the mufflers is reduced, and excellent engine output characteristics and noise reduction are realized.

The electric control sensor system helps reduce engine load and further improve fuel economy by controlling electric generation according to driving conditions.

Max. power: 109 kW (148PS) @ 6,000 rpm
Max. torque: 191 Nm @ 3,200 rpm
2.0-liter DOHC Turbo Engine (2.0GT)

A lightweight, resin-based intake manifold is used. The inner walls of the manifold are smooth and less resistant to the intake flow, elevating intake efficiency.

The turbo charger was exclusively developed for the Subaru Exiga. Optimization of its A/R and compressor, as well as a redesign of its turbine vane, have distinctively improved low-end torque and made powerful and responsive acceleration possible.

Also adopted is a secondary air system that forces air into the exhaust port to burn out any gasoline remaining in it. The system helps eliminate harmful substances when the powertrain is still cool, and it promotes early activation of a catalytic converter.

Through optimization of the construction of the intercooler, the pressure loss is kept at a minimum to improve cooling efficiency.

The electric control sensor system helps reduce engine load and further improve fuel economy.

Max. power: 165kW (225PS) @ 5,600 rpm
Max. torque: 326 Nm @ 4,400 rpm
Drivetrain and Chassis

Lightweight and compact 4-speed AT with the SPORTSHIFT gear selection is standard on all 2.0 liter naturally aspirated models. By optimizing the final gear ratio, as well as through reducing friction among part assemblies, driving performance has been enhanced and fuel economy improved.

5-speed AT with the SPORTSHIFT gear selection is standard on 2.0 liter turbo models. The down-shift blipping control is added to enhance smooth gear change response when shifting down in manual mode.

The SI-Dive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) system on the 2.0GT model offers three different modes of driving for the driver to enjoy: Intelligent; Sport; and Sport Sharp.

The Active Torque Split AWD system is mounted on all naturally aspirated engine models. The turbo model comes with Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system. Both systems distribute optimal torque to the wheels with the firm grip and traction, providing unrivalled vehicle stability.

Integrating robust body structure with finely tuned chassis elements, all models feature Subaru DC3, which ensures outstanding handling and vehicle stability as well as superb riding comfort.

The vehicle is equipped with a strut-type front suspension, which is made lightweight and resilient. Newly designed cross-members and stabilizers yield excellent steering response.

A double-wishbone rear suspension with optimized suspension geometry settings provides exceptional traction and vehicle stability, as well as riding comfort, even at full occupancy.

All models employ four-wheel ABS disc brakes with EBD (Electric Brake-force Distribution) for superb braking performance. The Brake Assist system and a brake booster with unique tie-rod design appropriately maximize braking control.

Two types of tires, 205/60R16 and 215/50R17, are available. Both are capable of balancing various vehicle elements, including stability, braking, comfort, and mileage.

Body Construction and Safety
The Subaru Exiga uses an advanced form of Subaru's proprietary Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame Body Structure. Through streamlined body construction and the extensive use of high-tensile steel, the new model has achieved high body rigidity and light weight.

A cowl stay enhancement is used to connect the front side frame and A pillar, and supportive cross-members have been adopted to further improve steering response and increase vehicle stability.

The Subaru Exiga, with its advanced frame construction, has realized high levels of safety and crash-worthiness through effectively absorbing and dispersing crash impact in frontal, side-, or rear-impact crashes.

By enhancing impact absorption in the front bumper and incorporating structural changes to the hood, the new model addresses safety features for pedestrians and other vehicles in collisions.

The front wiper system features a new uniform-pressure, fin-shaped design that creates downforce to prevent blade lift-off during high-speed driving.

Dual SRS (supplemental restraint system) air bags are standard on all models. SRS side air bags and curtain air bags that protect the third-row occupants are manufacturer's options.

All pillar trim adopts impact-absorbing structures. To reduce the risk of whiplash injuries in a rear collision, the seatbacks employ new impact-absorbing designs.

A collapsible brake pedal is available on all models to reduce the risk of foot injuries in frontal collisions.

Subaru Exiga (2009) with pictures and wallpapers

martinbo · 06-18-2008, 07:56 AM

Ardent supporter though I am, this is easily the ugliest of the latest raft of Subarus. Good driving dynamics coupled with genuine practicality won't save this Subaru from being roasted in the looks department by the press.

Let's hope it remains a JDM-market model for now...

Monster · 06-18-2008, 08:18 AM

It looks like one of those dated generic japanese cars. Those headlights, the front grill, the odd looking proportions, it is an Impreza and Legacy mix together but resulted in a failure.

Quote:

Headlamps are designed to provide depth from the front view. With a blue-tinted lens placed in the middle of the lamp, the design accentuates boldness and presence.

Pure bullsh*t.

The interior design is slightly better, the new bigger screen and new air con buttons gives it a higher class feel. The giant sun roof is pretty cool as well.

martinbo · 06-18-2008, 09:05 AM

... also monster, notice how a turbo'd sporty version manages to look at least vaguely passable but the cooking mass-market model looks terribly bland.

On a positive note, observe the tail lights: there's at least a whole lot of red in there compared with the awful clear LED combo lenses in the Impreza. Are Subaru finally catching on that non-descript, mono-colour, cheap-looking clear lenses are hideous? Let's hope that the Impreza gets them made over soon - it'll go a long way to making the car look more upmarket.

As for the blue stripe in the headlamps: from the sublime to the ridiculous. Does it light up at night? Woo woo...

Interior design isn't bad - it's shapely without coming across as overly generic but the quality of the hard plastic dash-top surfaces is questionable.

Yannis · 06-18-2008, 05:48 PM

Ιs this the first step towards a Toyota-ised new Subaru range?

martinbo · 06-19-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

Ιs this the first step towards a Toyota-ised new Subaru range?

Not at all - the fact that the car is so ugly speaks volumes for Subaru's genetic heritage remaining intact!

No, the car looks this way because of the lack of packaging options that result from Subaru's use of the Symmetrical all-wheel drive layout. With a nice, cute little French MPV you can scrunch the engine and transmission transversly across the front axle. This gives more scope for a shortened nose and front overhang. Also, because the FWD car has no drivetrain linkage to the rear axle there are hence more options for floorplan and rear suspension layouts - leading to a shorter, more compact but typically taller MPV.

The Exiga, like many Subarus is a victim of its engineering superiority (show me a more dynamic MPV) in that its styling is very much dictated by the packaging constraints arising from the application of Symmetrical AWD.

If anything, it wil be Toyota that may make use of some of FHI's high performance engineering expertise. An example of this is the now confirmed RWD Impreza-based coupe to be badged jointly under the Subaru and Toyota labels.

As far as hybrid technology goes, I'm sure that Subaru will leverage off Toyota's experience in this area pretty soon.

The only thing that Subaru really lacks from a technological perspective is a proper six-speed automatic transmission. Diesel engines are on the way and I don't think the world needs a turbocharged 3.6 litre Boxer petrol-fired engine (in the front of a car, that is...)

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Official: Subaru Exiga