Subaru Tribeca

The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Subaru for model years 2005-2014. Released in some markets, including Canada, as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name derived from the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Built on the Subaru Legacy platform and sold in five- and seven-seat configurations, the Tribeca was intended to be sold alongside a slightly revised version known as the Saab 9-6X. Saab, at the time a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), abandoned the 9-6X program just prior to its release subsequent to GM's 2005 divestiture of its 20 percent stake in FHI.

Inspired by Subaru's B9X concept, the Tribeca's original design was criticized at launch and revised for model year 2008, and its name name hortened to Tribeca in all markets.

North American markets received the Tribeca for 2006 model year 2006, and it was introduced to Australasia and Europe in late 2006. In addition to these markets, Subaru marketed the Tribeca also in South America, South Africa, China, the Middle East, and parts of Southeast Asia.^{[citation needed]} It was not sold in Japan.

Subaru presented the Tribeca as the B9X on November 5, 2004 at the South Florida Auto Show, and was renamed the B9 Tribeca in December after soliciting current and potential customer feedback. Subaru had planned on renaming all of its vehicles with a "B" (standing for "boxer") and a number corresponding to where they were in its lineup. "Tribeca" was added so that "Subaru [could] leverage the vested equity already associated with the progressive style, art, and culture that the name TRIBECA represents," according to Subaru President and CEO Kyoji Takenaka. The Tribeca made its worldwide debut at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005 and was scheduled to go on sale in early summer 2005 for the 2006 model year, with production at the SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana supplying vehicles for sale in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile. Reviewers from the Guardian and drive.com.au described it as a "soft-roader".

Subaru designed the B9 Tribeca with a roughly triangular grille and a rounded body shape, mirroring the styling of the Impreza, and the Japanese market Subaru R1 and R2 kei car products. As this proved controversial, all future Subaru redesigns abandoned this design language as well as the "B" naming scheme. The Guardian said the Tribeca "could even be deemed handsome, if you like this kind of thing" before elaborating on "the sheer embarrassment of its scale in a suburban setting", calling it a "bungalow-size, high-riding suburban 4x4".

The grille design and aviation theme was initially conceived and applied to the earlier B11S and B9 Scrambler concept vehicles by Fuore Design, an independent design consulting firm based in Spain. The grille design was reportedly "meant to convey parent-company Fuji Heavy Industries' glorious history in aviation". While the exterior design was largely complete prior to the arrival of Subaru designer Andreas Zapatinas, Zapatinas and his team were responsible for the design of the interior, and the dashboard in particular.

The Tribeca was initially powered by the 3.0-liter EZ30 boxer engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission.

The Tribeca was slightly reworked in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The updated model, first shown at the Chicago Auto Show, included a revised grille, struts, stabilizer bars, and spring rates. Inside, XM Satellite Radio and iPod connectors were provided. A backup camera and parking assist system were optional for the navigation system. A "Special Edition" package included a mesh grille, XM radio, and unique wheels.