2013 Subaru Brz Limited Coupe 2-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Plans for 7-seat Subaru Tribeca replacement becoming clearer

Subaru is going to have its hands full at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, but while the Cross Sport Design Concept is expected to preview a Tribeca-replacing crossover, this new model could still be at least two years from production. It has already been confirmed that production of the Tribeca will end early next year, but in speaking with Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, the president of Subaru's parent Fuji Heavy Industries, Automotive News is reporting that there will be a lengthy gap between the Tribeca and its eventual replacement.
The next-gen three-row crossover wasn't included in an annual production capacity goal of 500,000 units expected in the US by the end of 2016, so it's likely that we won't see this much-needed CUV until 2017. While the details of this new model aren't known, Yoshinaga told AN that it will be "completely different" from the Tribeca. As we heard back in February, we do expect this seven-passenger crossover to grow in size in order to offer a larger cabin with more third-row space.
Automotive News even mentions that the Tribeca replacement could be based on the existing Subaru Exiga from the Japanese market. That three-row vehicle splits the difference between a minivan and wagon, with swinging doors instead of sliders, and a tall greenhouse.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek improves on an already winning formula

There's a brand-new Subaru Crosstrek on the way for 2018, and the European version, known as the XV, is making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. There's every reason to expect the new Crosstrek to be a stunning sales success. In 2016, Subaru sold 95,677 Crosstreks in the United States, easily besting models like the WRX, Legacy, and the Impreza upon which it's based. Those sales represented a 7.6 percent gain over the previous year, which is especially impressive considering that the Crosstrek is very much starting to show its age. The mini-crossover inherits all the benefits of the latest Impreza, including a stiff new chassis that promises drastically improved driving dynamics. Following in the footsteps of the larger Outback, which is based on the midsize Legacy, the Crosstrek adds a bit more ground clearance and aggressive off-road-lite styling to the compact Impreza hatchback. Don't expect the Crosstrek to tackle the Rubicon Trail – Subaru says it will have "excellent rough-road capability" – but do expect it to sell in droves in areas that get significant amounts of snow. View 15 Photos A 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine delivers 154 horsepower to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission. We generally prefer traditional stepped-gear transmissions, but Subaru has a history of keeping its CVTs pretty well behaved. Seven pre-programmed gear ratios can be selected by the driver in manual mode. A quick 13:1 steering ratio, active torque vectoring technology, and a lower center of gravity will all deliver dividends on the road, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance mean hard parts won't scrape the ground when the paved roads come to an end. All new Crosstrek models will come standard with EyeSight, a safety system that includes pre-collision braking control, adaptive cruise, and lane-keeping assistance. Blind-spot detection, lane-change assistance and reversing assistance will also be available. Expect more information to filter out soon, and stay tuned for live photos when we hit the show floor in Geneva. The US-spec Crosstrek will make its debut in April at the 2017 New York Auto Show. Related Video:

BTW: Subaru's SHARC won the 2012 Design Challenge

Part of the festivities that encompass the LA Auto Show is the annual LA Design Challenge. This year's winner was the Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept, or SHARC. It envisioned automated, zero-emission highway patrolling.
The 2012 edition of the challenge was to envision the future of highway patrol in the year 2025. The goal was to conceptualize a vehicle that would account for the needs of "dynamic urban environments." In addition to Subaru's participation in the contest BMW, General Motors, Honda and Mercedes-Benz, all took part in the challenge.
The SHARC is essentially a law enforcement land-drone. It is entirely automated and runs on renewable energy. Subaru envisioned a future where the Hawaiian Islands are connected to each other by a large highway system. Such an expansive area would require considerable manpower to patrol. The concept of an autonomous patrol vehicle would eliminate the need for a good number of full-time personnel.