NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Subaru Ascent SUV concept

The wraps have come off the Subaru Ascent concept, a seven-seat large SUV that will take on the Ascent name when it reaches production as a belated replacement for the Tribeca in 2018.

As well as a new design, new name and new seating concept – two front seats, two middle row seats and a trio of third-row seats – the Subaru Ascent also makes use of a brand-new 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder boxer engine.

The company has not said how much power the engine will make, nor whether it will be fitted to the next-generation WRX, but a new direct-injection boxer engine will be good news for Subaru fans, and long overdue.

Manufacture of the new SUV will take place at Subaru's Indiana plant in the US from 2018 confirmed Subaru of America president Tom Doll at the vehicle's global premiere in New York. He also said the production vehicle would be unveiled later this year at the Los Angeles motor show in November.

But despite being based on the company's new SPG (Subaru global platform), the vehicle will not be a global model. At least not initially.

Asked if the Ascent would be a USA-only vehicle, Doll told motoring.com.au: "At this time yes".

The vehicle is only planned for the US market in left-hand drive, meaning right-hand drive markets like Australia, Japan and the UK won't get the car for the time being.

"It's not to say that perhaps it won't migrate to other markets. But right now it's just the United States market," explained the Subaru of America boss.

The Ascent is the spiritual successor to the Tribeca seven-seat SUV, which was a sales flop, chiefly because it was too small.

The Japanese car-maker doesn't plan on making that same mistake twice, with the Ascent concept measuring more than five metres long.

Yep, it's a whopper!

The interior of the vehicle also has a premium look and feel with lots of leather and carefully designed seats and trims. The Ascent also gets a more mature infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Subaru says the exterior styling employs its "Dynamic x Solid" design ethos, showing off an angular and bold exterior, with flared wheel-arches and "bluff grille".

It's the second concept to showcase the company's seven-seat SUV future, following last year's oddly-named Viziv 7 prototype.

In many ways the car has the appearance of an oversized version of the brand's other popular all-wheel drive offerings, such as the Subaru XV and Outback.

Tom Doll said he predicts the Subaru Ascent will "...help us take our volumes to the next level," as the company looks to sell close to 700,000 vehicles in 2017.

"Millennials are now in their family formation stages, and Subaru missed that with the baby boomer generation because we didn't have a seven or eight passenger SUV.

"This provides that for us and allows our customers to move up as their families grow," he said.

On the potential for the car to come down under, the jury is out.

Speaking at a preview drive of the new Subaru XV in Japan this week, Subaru Overseas sales boss, Makoto Inoue, told motoring.com.au that the future for the three-row vehicle in markets outside the USA was uncertain.

"My estimate is that to meet each country's [requirements] we need more resource," Inoue told motoring.com.au.

"There is a very clear need for [this vehicle in] the US market. For Australia, we need to deliver RHD [right hand drive] and there are emission [certification requirements] as well. This is a struggle point for us," Inoue stated.

"We should consider, but I am not sure we have plans," Inoue stated enigmatically.

The name would also be a sticking point for Subaru. Ascent is a Toyota model grade that the Aussie #1 would be extremely reluctant to handover.

Do you think Subaru should bring the Ascent SUV to Australia? Have your say in the comments area below.