1997 Subaru Exiga

The Subaru Exiga is a mid-sized MPV that debuted as a concept car during the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. According to the Japanese Subaru press introduction materials, the name "Exiga" is a neologism combination of the words "exciting" and "active." The Exiga name was taken from two unrelated Subaru concept cars: the Alpha Exiga from 1995 and the Exiga from 1997.

The vehicle boasts a supersize panoramic glass roof and theater-style seating, with rear passengers sitting slightly higher than those in front. The rear seatbacks incorporate fold-down tray tables, similar to those on airplanes. Seats in the concept vehicle were upholstered in leather and trimmed in pearl, white and blue.

The instrument panel in the concept vehicle offered displays from eight monitors, providing excellent visibility around the car, and also housed a clear blue multi-display zone. There continues to be indirect lighting in the side doors and ceiling in the production vehicle, providing soft ambient light at night.

The engine is a 1994 cc turbocharged H4 based on the Subaru Impreza WRX coupled to Subaru's 5EAT automatic transmission used in the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Tribeca.

According to Autoblog, Subaru introduced the seven-seat wagon in the Japanese market on June 18, 2008.

Subaru never sold the Exiga in North America, having opted to sell the similarly-sized Subaru Tribeca 3-row crossover instead. However, both the Exiga and Tribeca were sold in Australia and Singapore. With Subaru having ceased production of the Tribeca in 2014, it was expected that the company might bring the Exiga to North America as a replacement and entry into the seven-passenger crossover SUV market. Still, Subaru chose not to because of the Exiga's size and intent to produce a Tribeca successor in the United States, called the Ascent.

Sources: Subaru releases Exiga teaser – Autoblog; "SUBARU : 車種紹介 > レガシィ". Subaru.jp. Retrieved 11 October 2010.

Image: www.subaru-impreza.de