Subaru Tribeca ‘til 2013... Then Kluger?

Subaru Australia has committed to a MY13 [model year 2013] version of its six-cylinder boxer-engined Tribeca SUV but is uncertain of its future after that.

Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, confirmed the short term plans for the Tribeca at last week's launch of the new generation Impreza but stopped short of saying he was confident that a replacement was on the way.

Dismissing quotes from a senior Subaru exec which killed off the Tribeca as "translation issues", Senior reiterated Subaru's Australia desire to retain the Tribeca in its line-up.

"We have already planned in MY13 Tribeca so that will take us through to the end of 2013... [But] The life after Tribeca -- is there going to be a replacement -- has not been decided." he said.

Senior says, despite modest sale volumes, Tribeca is an important model for Subaru Australia and is positive towards retaining a medium/large SUV in the brand's lineup.

"We would love one and [we're] pushing for one because it’s an important segment here... It’s [also] important for Subaru family in terms of starting with the brand, moving forward, getting to where you got the kids and then they will downsize after they become empty-nesters.

"There’s been a huge amount of focus and work from us trying to get them [Subaru Japan] to help build a business case for the next generation," he stated.

Senior says he believes Subaru USA is also pushing the cause of the replacement model but stressed Australia's business case discussions were standalone.

One thing Senior is definite about is the prospect of rebadging Subaru shareholder Toyota's SUV product as Subaru models Down Under.

The question could a badge-engineered Kluger be sold Down Under as the next generation Tribeca was met with an emphatic: "No."

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