Subaru’s new seven-seat SUV is “no chance” for Australia

The official word from Subaru is that the company has no future plans to offer a seven-seat SUV in Australia, despite developing a yet-to-be-revealed larger and more family-friendly alternative to Forester for the USA market.

Speaking to CarAdvice at the Tokyo Motor Show, General Manager of Design and Advanced Product Planning, Manoru Ishii, confirmed that a seven-seater is in the works as a replacement for the Tribeca (above), which was ultimately axed in early 2014 after dwindling sales in the US.

And while a new-generation seven-seater is in the works, it will be made specifically for the North American market and not be offered in the burgeoning seven-seater SUV segment in Australia.

In Australia, and also in the US, a seven-seat Subaru would compete with models like the big Toyota Kluger and the coming new Mazda CX-9.

“[It will be a] big SUV,” Ishii confirms, “but we won’t say what size. But we will [offer another SUV model range].”

Asked specifically if the new SUV might make it Australia, “no chance” was Ishii’s response.

Ishii refused to divulge any further details of the model.

Subaru current markets a seven-seat Exiga Crossover 7, a high-riding wagon, in its domestic Japanese market, which was updated with refreshed look in April this year.

As with this new Tribeca replacement, the Exiga Crossover 7 will not be offered in Australia.

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