LA show: Subaru revives Viziv

SUBARU has pulled the wraps from a seven-seat upper-large SUV concept dubbed the Viziv-7 at the Los Angeles motor show, previewing a production version that will roll out in the United States in 2018.

At a massive 5200mm long and more than two metres wide, the monstrous Scoobie is 163mm longer than Volkswagen’s super-sized Atlas, and with proportions that dwarf Australia’s largest SUVs, the production car is unlikely to come Down Under at this stage.

Following the discontinuation of the Tribeca in 2013, Subaru’s largest model on Australian turf has been the Outback high-riding wagon and while Subaru Australia’s outgoing managing director Nick Senior has previously confirmed a Tribeca replacement, he also said there were no plans to introduce it here.

“There is a large SUV seven-seater but it is US only, being built in the US and the US production line is only left hand drive,” he said in September. “We would look at it but there’s no talk of it being in right-hand drive.” It is possible that the Japanese car-maker will revisit the idea of an Australian run later in its lifecycle, depending on its reception in the United States, but re-jigging for right-hand drive would require a watertight business case.

The Viziv-7 concept appears to be close to the version that will roll out to American showrooms with the unmistakable Subaru family grille, while its entire nose is a re-proportioned version of the Outback and Liberty front end.

Its crescent-shaped headlights, full-width rear light arrangement and classic big SUV stance are likely carry-overs to production, but, as is typical for concept evolution, the tiny door handles, mirrors, stylised Bridgestone tyres and inter-dimensional portal foglights are less likely to make the cut.

Extensive use of exotic but fragile carbon-fibre for the lower valances, side sills and wheel arches lends a prestige and high-performance touch but is another affectation unlikely to make it to the Indiana production line.

It is the third time Subaru has revealed concept vehicles badged with the Viziv moniker but the name is not limited to a specific class of vehicle. In its first incarnation, the Viziv was a 2013 Geneva three-scissor-door, while the Viziv-2 was a smaller version with more conventional styling.

Subaru says that in each of the applications, Viziv stands for “vision for innovation”.

Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) corporate executive vice-president Takeshi Tachimori explained that the United States market is creating a significant demand for a segment that the Viziv-7 will comfortably slot into.

“We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle and the next three-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever,” he said.

Powertrain and specification details were not provided at the reveal of the concept with information limited to the vehicle’s dimensions and tyre size: Length is 5200mm, width measures 2030mm, while height is 1860mm.

The Viziv-7 has a 2990mm wheelbase and rolls on 265/55 R21 tyres.