Japanese-only Subaru Exiga Crossover 7 revealed

SUBARU has revealed its new-generation seven-seater, off-road capable Exiga Crossover 7 wagon, but it has no plans to release the model outside Japan.

Despite retiring the Liberty Exiga last year, and with production of the seven-seat Tribeca SUV ending last year, Subaru Australia public relations executive Katrina Jones said there are no plans “in the short term” to reintroduce a seven-seat Subaru to the local market.

“The Exiga Crossover revealed this week is a Japanese domestic market only vehicle that is not coming to Australia,” she said.

The new Exiga Crossover 7, based on the 2013 Tokyo auto show Crossover 7 concept, shares many design similarities with the recently refreshed Outback, but adds an elevated third row of seats.

Other additions include more rugged bumpers and side sills, 17-inch aluminium wheels, LED daytime running lights, roof rails, and a 20mm boost in ground clearance to help off-road ability.

The new Subaru is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer four-cylinder engine, the same as the existing Exiga, and makes 127kW of power and 235Nm of torque.

Subaru launched the Exiga in Australia in late 2009 and recorded moderate sales before the car-maker confirmed mid last year that it would axe it and the Liberty wagon variants for 2015.

Subaru sales have surged this year with the updated Outback and Liberty selling 2595 and 1085 units respectively over the first three months. Compared with the same time last year, the Outback is up 352.1 per cent and the Liberty is up 410.8 per cent.

Overall, Subaru has registered 10,329 new vehicles this year, a 3.5 per cent rise over the same period last year, where the Japanese importer finished with 40,502 total sales.