Subaru is drawing out all the stops to lure purchasers to the Tribeca SUV model following disappointing sales since its launch in November 2006.
The Tribeca's sales have not been strong. To circumvent the slow sales, the Japanese automaker is offering a five year free servicing, warranty, home and roadside assistance, and a zero percent finance on the 4x4 between the months of May and July.
The finance arrangement calls for a ?50 deposit with the rest of the total amount payable monthly. In regard the entry-level S5, an initial outlay of ?14,548.50 followed by regular installments of ?242.48 is required.
The package is fully transferable to future owners, the only restrictions being that the warranty runs out at 100,000 miles and the service arrangement at 50,000 if these landmarks are reached before the five-year period is up.
The Subaru Tribeca, formerly dubbed as the B9 Tribeca, is a five- or seven-seat mid-sized luxury crossover SUV that is based on the Subaru Legacy platform and the B9X concept car. The production version of the vehicle is named for New York City's famous TriBeCa neighborhood. It is the first vehicle from Subaru, excluding the Japan-only R1/R2 that showcases the new design philosophy. Aside from the new styling, the new Tribeca is equipped with sophisticated auto parts including the , a 3.0 L boxer engine, suspension, radiator, and other trusted car systems from the automaker.
The Subaru Tribeca entertained a slight makeover to respond to the complaints of the auto reviewers. The new model with a more conventional styling features an enhanced nose with a blacked-out grille, improved struts, stabilizer bars, and even better spring rates for neater auto handling. Inside the Tribeca, the XM Satellite Radio and iPod connectors are pre-wired, while a backup camera and parking assist system can be added to the navigation system. A US$1300 Special Edition package includes the XM radio, a mesh grille, and prominent wheels. The vehicle is available in two five-seat trim levels and as a luxury seven-seat version.
Priced from ?29,097 on-the-road, the Tribeca is also equipped with standard features like the dual-zone air-conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, eight-way powered front seats, a six-disc CD autochanger with nine speakers and MP3 playback and a leather-covered steering wheel with remote audio controls.
Subaru's lack of diesel offering has hindered its sales in the United Kingdom. Hence, the automaker is expected to launch its first diesel powertrain in 2008. According to the executive director of sales and marketing, Lawrence Good, Subaru's first ever diesel engine will revolutionize the brand's performance in the UK.
Good said that the diesel engine would be introduced in the Legacy and Outback models in February 2008 before being rolled out into the Forester and Impreza. He predicted that the addition of an oil burner option across the range would boost UK sales to 15,000 annually by 2010.
"We can increase volumes to give dealers good business. They have had a difficult two years," Good said. "Customers have left due to the lack of a diesel but they will come back. The dealer network would be updated in 2007 in preparation for increased volumes which would partially be delivered by growing corporate sales."
