Subaru Unveils Its Biggest Concept Ever to Preview Upcoming 7-Seat SUV

Subaru has just pulled the wraps off its Viziv-7 Concept to preview an upcoming seven-seat SUV that will be the brand’s replacement for the Tribeca.

The Viziv-7 is the biggest concept in the brand’s history, and when the car it previews comes out in 2018, it will also be the biggest vehicle Subaru has ever built. The upcoming three-row SUV has not yet been named, but it will fill the large gap at the top of Subaru’s lineup that has existed since the Tribeca was discontinued in 2014. It will also be built on Subaru’s new global platform at the Indiana plant starting in 2018 and will only be sold in North America initially.

The Tribeca was never that successful because it was just too small to compete with the other three-row SUVs on the market. Subaru is promising that the new SUV will be bigger than the Tribeca in every way, and will also be more premium.

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Although this imposing concept has an interesting style and looks quite futuristic, it’s not meant to preview the design of the upcoming SUV, but rather preview the direction the automaker is going in terms of size. The Viziv-7 previews the size footprint and segment that the upcoming Subaru SUV will have. According to Subaru, it measures 204.7 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 73.2 inches tall including the roof rail. The concept rides on a 117.7-inch wheelbase and is rolling on 265/55/21 tires, further accenting its large size.

No powertrain details have been released, but it’s a Subaru SUV, so we can expect full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard, some type of four- or six-cylinder boxer engine, and a continuously variable transmission.

Spy photographers have already seen a big Subaru SUV testing alongside a Ford Explorer and a Mazda CX-9, indicating that these will be the new SUV’s main competition. The Japanese automaker confirmed the all-new, three-row midsize SUV will be introduced to the North American market in early 2018.

“The concept expresses our core brand values, safety, dependability, capability for outdoor activities and a forward-looking attitude,” said Takeshi Tachimori, corporate executive vice president, Fuji Heavy Industries, LTD. “We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle and the next 3-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever.”