Subaru Exiga

The Subaru Exiga (Japanese: スバル・エクシーガ, Subaru Ekushīga) is a mid-size MPV that debuted as a concept car during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. According to the Japanese Subaru press introduction materials, the name "Exiga" is a neologism combination of the words "exciting" and "active". The Exiga name itself was taken from two unrelated Subaru concept cars: the Alpha Exiga from 1995 and the Exiga from 1997. The vehicle has a supersize panoramic glass roof and theater-style seating, with rear passengers sitting a little higher than those in front. Seats in the concept vehicle were upholstered in leather and trimmed in pearl white and blue. The rear seatbacks incorporate fold-down tray tables, similar to those on airplanes. The instrument panel in the concept vehicle offered displays from eight monitors, providing excellent visibility around the vehicle, and also housed a clear blue multi-display zone. There continues to be indirect lighting in the side doors and ceiling in the production vehicle, providing soft ambient light at night. The engine is a 1994 cc turbocharged H4 based on the Subaru Impreza WRX coupled to Subaru's 5EAT automatic transmission used in the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Tribeca. Subaru introduced the seven-seat wagon in the Japanese market 18 June 2008. Subaru never sold the Exiga in North America, having opted to sell the similarly-sized Subaru Tribeca three-row crossover instead. However, the Exiga and Tribeca were sold side-by-side in both Australia and Singapore. With Subaru having ceased production of the Tribeca in 2014, it was expected that the company might bring the Exiga to North America as a replacement and entry into the seven-passenger crossover SUV market, but Subaru chose not to because of the Exiga's size and its intent to produce a Tribeca successor in the United States, called the Ascent.