Liberty DNA for Subaru's next large SUV?

Ever since the last seven-seat Subaru Tribeca SUV rolled off the US production lines early this year following sluggish sales – some of the worst in the company's history – there have been rumours of a replacement large SUV from the Japanese car-maker.

There is a strong desire from within many Subaru markets – particularly the largest, North America – to develop a new flagship SUV to sit atop the Subaru range, and Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, is listening.

The North American market is currently snapping up Outbacks at a rate of 13,000 per month as demand for Subaru SUVs increases and the company gears up to significantly increase capacity at its US-based Indiana plant by 2017.

By this time the company is expected to fill the gap in its SUV line-up with a spiritual successor to the Tribeca.

Although details of the new SUV model are still a tightly guarded secret, Masayuki Uchida, the Senior Product General Manager of Liberty and Outback products, told motoring.com.au the Tribeca's replacement could be based on a modified version of the platform used by the Liberty and Outback.

In Australia for the local launch of the new Liberty and Outback this week, Uchida explained that the Liberty/Outback platform in its current state, with a 2745mm wheelbase, would be too small for its next large SUV, but that it could be stretched in length and width to accommodate the necessary three rows of seats.

The Tribeca was first launched in Australia in 2006 and was criticised for its lack of interior space -- a mistake Subaru is unlikely to make again.

"Three-row SUV has to be bigger [than Liberty and Outback]" said Ichida-san.

The Indiana factory would make the new SUV for the US market, noted Uchida, who acknowledged there will be strong interest from many other markets, including Australia.

The Subaru project leader also confirmed that a new Subaru concept car would be shown at the 2015 Tokyo motor show in November but wouldn't be drawn on whether it would be the mooted seven-seat SUV.

Closer to home, Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, said that a new range-topping SUV would be "interesting" and that the importer would "certainly like to have a look it".

The Subaru Australia supremo has previously expressed his desire for a seven-seat model that would keep loyal customers who needed a seven-seater within the Subaru fold.

With a preview of the new SUV possible within a year, a production version of Subaru's all-new large SUV could arrive by 2017 at the latest – the sort of timing we've previously reported. The Tribeca name is not expected to be retained.