Exiga breaks new ground, says Subaru

SUBARU Australia general manager Nick Senior describes the Exiga people mover due in Australia in November as a new segment pioneer.

Dubbed the Versatile Utility Vehicle (VUV), the boxy mid-sized four-door wagon has an unusual six-seat layout, as well as a large, spacious body that breaks the low-slung mould of previous Subaru station wagons.

It is based on the next-generation Liberty and Outback platform, and will use a variation of the company’s naturally aspirated 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine driving all four wheels via an automatic gearbox.

“We believe it is a new segment category, a category breaker,” Mr Senior believes.

Left: These scoop pictures of Subaru's new diesel boxer engine, as fitted to the current Outback, on test in Australia were taken by a GoAuto reader.



“We call the Exiga a Versatile Utility Vehicle because it does have that seating versatility, but it also has an all-wheel drive system, and that it is fun to drive.

“It’s a little bit different, and Subaru has to do things differently, and this is a good example of it.”

While the next Outback will introduce Subaru’s first diesel engine model for the Australian market, don’t hold your breath for a diesel-powered Exiga.

“As this is a vehicle developed primarily for the Japanese domestic market, it hasn’t got a diesel, and until there is a diesel for the domestic market, it will be too hard to do one (for Australia),” Mr Senior said.

Pricing is expected to be about $40,000-$50,000.

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