2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Subaru of America, Inc., the Ú.S. market All-Wheel Drive leader has introduced the 2006 B9 Tribeca, its all-new progressive SÚV. Arriving in Subaru dealerships in May, the bold new B9 Tribeca is the first-ever Subaru SÚV with available seating for seven passengers. It features a powerful 6-cylinder Boxer engine and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as its core technology.Positioned above the Legacy® and Outback® vehicle lines, the B9 Tribeca takes the Subaru brand into a new market segment and is the new Subaru flagship. Its dramatic new styling debuts the new Subaru design theme,
highlighted by a distinctive front grill inspired by the company's aircraft heritage. Subaru named the B9 Tribeca for the 'triangle below Canal Street' section of New York City, an area that has become synonymous with the cutting edge of the city's culture. The 'B' stands for the boxer engine, and '9' is for the model series.




The B9 Tribeca is powered by a 3.0-liter, 250 horsepower 6-cylinder Boxer engine teamed with a 5-speed automatic transmission and the brand's most advanced version of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The system combines Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) All-Wheel Drive with the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability system and four-wheel traction control system (TCS). The transmission's SPORTSHIFT feature allows intuitive and responsive manual shift control when desired.

Dynamic Styling Breaks New Ground for Subaru
The Subaru B9 Tribeca looks like no other SÚV on the market and features a dramatic new design that evokes
a sense of dynamic motion. The refined, confident and powerful design eschews conventional SÚV themes rooted in truck styling and will help to distinguish the B9 Tribeca in the market.



Viewed from the side, the vehicle's powerful fender and wheel forms, the J-curve character line and curved roofline express a sense of dynamic motion and agility. The character line is highlighted at the rear by elliptical-shaped tail lamps and dual exhaust outlets. The powerful wheel arches house 10-spoke 18-inch wheels, creating a bold, athletic stance.

Inspiring Interior
Subaru designed the interior of the B9 Tribeca to make as bold a statement as its exterior. In its design, fit-and-finish and feature content, the B9 Tribeca interior presents the most luxurious package ever from Subaru. The sophisticated twin cockpit design echoes the front grille treatment, with a flowing, sculpted dash and center console design. Aluminum-look trim highlights the sculpted shapes of the dashboard. However, function has not been sacrificed for the sake of style.

The B9 Tribeca treats its occupants to a very high standard of quiet and comfort. The driver faces large, clear electroluminescent dials and easy-to-reach switchgear. At night, subtle ambient interior lighting provides a sophisticated touch by illuminating the front and rear footwells, the center console and cup-holders. The center console is dominated by a seven-inch vehicle information touch-screen that groups the readouts for the audio system, clock, fuel efficiency and outside temperature (and navigation system when so-equipped). The easy-to-use audio and climate control system controls are located just below the screen.

Standard amenities include an automatic climate control system, a power tilt/slide glass moonroof, 8-way power driver's seat, 4-way power passenger seat and a 100-Watt AM/FM stereo system with CD player and six speakers (with remote controls on the standard leather-wrapped steering wheel).

Flexible 5- or 7-Passenger Capability
The B9 Tribeca is available in a variety of 5- and 7-passenger configurations. The 7-passenger model is equipped with a standard with a 50/50 split fold-down third-row seat that features integral headrests and carpeted back surface. For added passenger comfort, the 7- passenger model also features three-mode heated front seats and an auxiliary rear cabin air conditioner with fan speed control in the second row. The 7- passenger B9 Tribeca models can be equipped with an available rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

The sense of luxury is enhanced in the B9 Tribeca Limited 5- and 7- passenger models with the addition of leather seating surfaces for front and second rows, 160-Watt AM/FM stereo with six-disc in-dash CD changer (with MP3 audio file compatibility), eight upgraded speakers and a rear sub-woofer (nine speakers total). The B9 Tribeca Limited 5- passenger model also features three-mode heated front seats. An optional GPS navigation system and rear-seat DVD entertainment system are also available for the B9 Tribeca Limited 7-passenger model.

The seating configuration demonstrates outstanding flexibility for passengers and cargo. The second row rear seats feature a 60/40 split bench and a 40/20/40 split rear seat back with fold-flat capability. The second row seats can slide eight inches fore and aft to maximize second- and third-row passenger comfort. Second row seats also recline independently in a 60/40 split. The third-row seats accommodate two passengers and fold flat in a 50/50 split for cargo space flexibility. With rear and third-row seats folded, maximum cargo space measures 74.4 cu. ft. Cargo room measures 37.6 cu. ft. behind the rear seat and 8.3 cu. ft. behind the third seat in 7-passenger models.

The optional rear-seat entertainment system consists of a large, nine-inch, wide screen LCD screen and DVD player featuring remote inputs for video games and a video camera. The package also includes two sets of wireless headphones and a remote control. The optional navigation system (on Limited 7-passenger model only) uses touch-screen technology for ease of use and also includes external buttons to access its most-used features.

Engineering Excellence
Subaru built the B9 Tribeca on a highly modified version of the Legacy/Outback platform to provide a level of ride and handling not generally expected from SÚVs. Compared to the Outback, the B9 Tribeca features a longer wheelbase and length and wider front and rear track. The front suspension has been revised to provide even greater ride smoothness in this larger vehicle.

An all-new double wishbone rear suspension system replaces the multi-link configuration in Outback, providing more interior room for the available third-row seat while preserving crisp, agile handling and a smooth ride. To the benefit of both sporty performance and dynamic design, the B9 Tribeca features standard 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (vs. 17-inch for Outback). The wheels measure 18 x 8 inches and come equipped with 255/55R18 Goodyear Eagle LS2 all-season tires.

A stiff body structure is a fundamental building block in developing the ideal balance of handling response and ride comfort. The B9 Tribeca benefits from even further gains in rigidity over the new-generation Outback: a 22-percent increase in torsional rigidity and a 55-percent increase in bending stiffness. At the same time, the top-line B9 Tribeca, the Limited 7-passenger model, weighs 4,225 lb. – several hundred pounds lighter than some competitive 5- and 7-passenger vehicles. The B9 Tribeca is capable of towing trailers of up to 3,500 pounds with the available accessory towing package.

The 250-hp 3.0-liter engine produces 219 lb-ft. of peak torque at 4,200 rpm, with a broad torque curve that delivers the linear power feeling that is characteristic of a higher-displacement engine. Technology contributing to the impressive performance includes Active Valve Control System (AVCS) variable valve timing and Active Valve Lift System (AVLS).

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
The B9 Tribeca underscores the brand's All-Wheel Drive leadership. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive provides excellent balance thanks to the longitudinally mounted Boxer engine and the way power flows from it through the transmission and to the rear differential along a straight, near-horizontal path. In the B9 Tribeca (and Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited), Subaru has integrated its All-Wheel Drive technology with a stability system and traction control to form one of the car industry's most sophisticated and effective dynamic handling systems.

The VTD version of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive integrates a planetary gear-type center differential and an electronically controlled hydraulic transfer clutch to control power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Únder most conditions, the VTD system splits the power 45 percent front/55 percent rear, with the rearward bias contributing to sporty, agile handling. The VTD system continually optimizes power distribution in response to driving conditions.

Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) is a highly sophisticated stability system that actively controls the center differential's power distribution as part of its function. VDC ensures torque distribution to the appropriate wheel based on input from steering wheel angle, yaw and lateral g-force sensors. The system also monitors input from the ABS brake system, adjusting individual wheel braking as needed, helping to maintain vehicle control under a variety of driving conditions. Integrated with VDC, the 4-wheel electronic traction control

Advanced Active and Passive Safety
In the all-new B9 Tribeca, Subaru has brought to bear the technology and experience that have made the brand's vehicles safety performance standout in their segments. The B9 Tribeca has been optimized for both active safety, the technology that helps the driver to avoid hazardous situations, and passive safety, the technology that helps protect occupants in the event of a collision.

The safety design starts with the vehicle architecture. The Ring Frame Reinforced structure helps absorb the
energy of an impact and help protect vehicle occupants. Inside, the B9 Tribeca is equipped with the latest air
bag technology, including occupant-sensing, dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side
impact air bags, and standard curtain side air bags (front and second rows).

The B9 Tribeca chassis and suspension have been engineered to deliver crisp, agile handling that can help to
provide accident avoidance potential. The standard 4-channel/4-sensor ABS braking system with Electronic
Brake-force Distribution (EBD) helps to ensure confident, safe braking performance. The EBD system automatically
adjusts front / rear brake proportioning based on vehicle load and is more effective than conventional
brake proportioning valves. A standard direct tire-pressure monitoring system alerts the driver to potentially
hazardous inadequate tire pressure.

The 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca is built at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana.
system (TCS) provides an extra layer of handling control without impeding VTD All-Wheel Drive operation.

Source - Subaru Media