The 2008 Subaru Tribeca at NYIAS

The all-new 2008 Subaru Tribeca stirred the North American crowd at the recent 2007 New York International Auto Show that took place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The 2008 Subaru Tribeca "features more style, more power and improved efficiency", according to the Japanese automaker.

For the 2008 model year, Subaru gave the Tribeca a new bold exterior styling with a larger and taller front grille that is now integrated into the vehicle's front bumper. The grille features a chrome spread-wing design and Subaru star cluster badge. The 2008 Subaru Tribeca also comes with a new hood design with raised line, deeper front valance, new headlamps, functional rear three-quarter windows, new larger side-view mirrors, powerful fender flares and wheel form, new rear valance below the tailgate, and a new wider tail lamps.

Inside the 2008 Subaru Tribeca, comes a sophisticated twin cockpit design featuring sculpted dashboard with aluminum-look trim. Interior lighting provides a sophisticated touch and elegant feel including electroluminescent dials illuminating the front and rear footwells, center console, and cup-holders. The vehicle's center console consists of driver controls and information like audio system, clock, fuel economy, outside temperature, and navigation system with a seven-inch touch screen. Moreover, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system is also available as an optional component. As a sport utility vehicle (SUV) model, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca features a comfortable passenger space as well as luggage room. The 2008 Tribeca features a 7-passenger configuration with a standard 50/50 split fold-down third-row seat and auxiliary rear cabin air conditioner to enhance the interior comfort for its occupants.

A host of active and passive safety systems for the 2008 Subaru Tribeca are available as standard equipments. These include a Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame Structure, occupant-sensing, dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side impact air bags, and standard side curtain air bags for the front and second row seats. The side curtain air bags are activated through a Roll Sensor that detects vehicle rollover. In addition, driver assistance safety systems are also available including standard anti lock brake system (ABS) with Brake Assisst (BA), Vehicle Dynamics Control, and standard four-wheel traction control.

Powering the 2008 Subaru Tribeca is a new 3.6-liter boxer engine featuring an increased power and torque output. The engine now pumps out a maximum 256 hp (from 245 hp) and now produces 247 lb.-ft. (from 215 lb.-ft.) amount of peak torque. In spite of the larger engine displacement and increased power output, the 3.6-liter boxer engine maintains its fuel efficiency and lower exhaust emissions, thanks to the engine's Active Valve Control System (AVCS) variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves, as well as the standardized timing for all cylinders.

The new 3.6-liter boxer engine is mated to a standard 5-speed automatic gearbox powering the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system with Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) and four-wheel traction control system (TCS). The clutch parts comes with pressure plates equipped with release bearing similar to Jeep release bearing found on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, one of the Subaru Tribeca's competitor in the mid size SUV market segment.