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Das aktuelle Zapa-Design haut in USA offensichtlich nicht hin, Subaru sieht sich veranlasst gröbere Änderungen vorzunehmen:

Originally Posted by Diana T. Kurylko, Automotive News
Subaru is revamping its slow-selling B-9 Tribeca crossover after only two years on the market.

The B-9 Tribeca, with controversial styling and a too-small engine that requires premium fuel, is selling at roughly half its projected rate. The 2008 version that will be launched in May gets new front and rear styling and a more powerful engine that uses regular gasoline. And access to the rear seats will be improved, says Kunio Ishigami, CEO of Subaru of America. Subaru earlier had characterized changes to the vehicle as a minor freshening.

Subaru is responding to poor sales and criticisms of the crossover, says Ishigami. The highly polarizing design evoked a "50-50 reaction" among consumers, says Ishigami. The B-9 Tribeca has never met Subaru's initial U.S. sales target of 3,000 units a month, or 36,000 units a year. Last year Subaru sold 18,614 B-9 Tribecas in the United States.

Subaru has offered lease programs as low as $299 per month for 36 months. Its supply has been as high as 120 days.

It is offering a $329 monthly lease rate for 36 months.

Dale Walker, owner of Walker's Renton Subaru in Renton, Wash., says more buyers will embrace the new version of the B-9 Tribeca.

"Once you get customers into the vehicle, they like it," he says. "It's the exterior appearance that is polarizing them." With the styling changes and a more powerful engine that runs on regular gasoline, "Our numbers will go up," Walker says.

Ishigami doesn't mince words: Subaru wants higher sales from its flagship. The B-9 Tribeca is built at Subaru's U.S. factory in Lafayette, Ind., and exported to Europe and Japan. Ishigami says the new front end is less radical and likely to attract more buyers. The rear was changed to improve visibility, responding to another owner complaint, says Ishigami.

Buyers asked Subaru for more power, so the 2008 B-9 Tribeca gets a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder boxer powerplant. It currently has a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine.

Rear access to the second and third row of seats has been improved, but the overall dimensions of the B-9 Tribeca haven't changed, says Ishigami.

Subaru won't change the price of the B-9 Tribeca. But Ishigami hinted that Subaru may put more standard equipment on the crossover. The 2007 B-9 Tribeca starts at $30,620, including shipping, for the five-passenger version.

Ishigami says Subaru won't offer higher incentives to run out the B-9 Tribeca but has cut production so that the supply dwindles.