Subaru Exiga
Encyclopedia
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
that debuted as a concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
. According to the Japanese Subaru press introduction materials, the name "Exiga" is a neologism combination of the words "exciting" and "active".
The vehicle boasts 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
Flat-4
A flat-4 or horizontally opposed-4 is a flat engine with four cylinders arranged horizontally in two banks of two cylinders on each side of a central crankcase...
based on the Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
The Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza, an all-wheel drive, four-door passenger vehicle. It is available as a sedan or wagon....
coupled to Subaru's 5EAT automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
used in the Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
and Subaru Tribeca
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries . Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City...
.
According to an article from Autoblog
Autoblog
Autoblog is a neologism and misnomer used to describe a particular type of website which uses software designed to automatically add content in a blog format. The owner of an autoblog is generally referred to as an autoblogger. Engaging in this practice is called autoblogging.Autoblogging does...
, Subaru introduced the seven seat wagon in the Japanese market June 18, 2008.
The Subaru Exiga isn't sold in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, opting to sell the similarly-sized Subaru Tribeca
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries . Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City...
7-seater instead. However, both the Exiga and Tribeca are sold in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
In Singapore, the Exiga is sold in 2.0i and 2.0GT trim levels. The same models are also offered in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, where the market of 7-seater MPV is very big.
Production version
The Exiga was released for sale in Japan on June 17, 2008, and was built to replace the Subaru Traviq, which could also hold 7 passengers in the Japanese market. It was initially sold only in Japan but Australia is the first export market outside of Japan to receive it, where it is badged Subaru Liberty Exiga.The Exiga is available in four trim options: the 2.0i is the entry level version, followed by the 2.0i-L, the 2.0i-S, all with a non-turbocharged engine, and the turbocharged 2.0GT with intercooler. The front grille and hoodscoop denotes if the engine is turbocharged; the chrome plated version is attached to vehicles without a turbo, and a metal mesh with dark plating is for the turbo. Two catalytic converters have been installed in a tandem configuration for effective emissions control. Active Torque Split transmission is used on engines without a turbo, and VTD is used with the turbo. Wheel sizes are either 16" or 17" for the turbo. For the Japanese-spec Exiga, AWD is optional on the naturally aspirated version and standard on the turbo as of July 5 2008.
On September 2 2009, the Lineartronic CVT transmission was available on AWD vehicles, and a driver safety aid called "EyeSight" was added as an option on the top level 2.0GT.
EyeSight consists of twin cameras, one on each side of the rear view mirror, that use human-like stereoscopic vision to judge distances and generally keep tabs on the driver. The system can help maintain a safe distance on the highway, a lane departure warning system, a driver alert warning for various safety situations, and even keeps an eye out for pedestrians. SI-Cruise
Autonomous cruise control system
Autonomous cruise control is an optional cruise control system for road vehicles. It makes no use of satellite or roadside infrastructures nor of any cooperative support from other vehicles. Hence control is imposed based on sensor information from on-board sensors only...
has also been integrated into the EyeSight feature.
The Exiga can seat seven passengers, utilizing a gradual elevation of the seats, placing the first and second rows slightly lower than the third row. An optional, fixed position, panoramic glass roof covers the first and second rows of seats. Large rear door openings open to almost 90 degrees for easy access to the third row. The rear suspension uses double-wishbone architecture to make room for the third row and a wide luggage compartment when the second and third row seats are folded down. The second row seats can be individually slid back and forth 180 mm (7.1 in) as needed, with a one touch folding mechanism to allow access to the third row. The cargo area offers a covered stacking approach, allowing items to be placed under the floor. Two airbags are used for front passengers, supplemented with first row side impact and additional side curtain airbags protect first and second row passengers. The seats utilize anti-whiplash, impact-absorbing technology. A collapsible brake pedal is included to reduce the chance of foot injury in a severe collision. There are no air conditioning outlets for the second and third rows but the front outlet is designed to channel the air further along the ceiling of the vehicle.
Indirect blue LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
lighting is installed in the overhead console, center tray and foot wells.
Australia
With the good reputation of Subaru LibertySubaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
in the Australian market, the Exiga was released in Australia in November 2009. Marketed as Subaru Liberty Exiga, it's powered by 2.5 liter normally aspirated EJ25 engine and available as the base 2.5i and upmarket 2.5i Premium trim levels.