As successful as Subaru is in the auto industry, SUVs have never been one of its strong segments. When Subaru launched the B9 Tribeca over 10 years ago, the result was nowhere near what the automaker expected as it ended with the SUV being pulled out of the market for good. Now, Subaru bets on SUVs one more time with its VIZIV-7 SUV concept unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show a few days ago.
A Second Shot At SUVs
Forbes reported that after Subaru's failure in its first attempt in the SUV segment, getting its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries' approval to give it a second shot was difficult for the U.S division of Subaru even with the fact that the demand in the SUV segment is higher than it's ever been. In the end, Subaru succeeded in convincing FHI which led to the creation of the VIZIV-7 concept. "The concept expresses our core brand values: safety, dependability, capability for outdoor activities and forward-looking attitude," said Takeshi Tachimori, executive vice president of parent company Fuji Heavy Industries. "We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle, and the next three-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever," Takeshi added.
An SUV Made Only For Americans
A report from Bloomberg stated that the SUV will be made exclusively for the American auto market and it will be manufactured in Subaru's plant in Indiana with an expected debut sometime in 2018. The VIZIV-7 SUV concept features three rows of seat, big tires measuring to 21 inches and heavy duty roof rails but that's about all the details available at this point since the SUV is still at a concept stage. "The whole idea was not necessarily to show the details of the car, but to give our future buyers a sense of what the size would be." said Subaru spokesperson Dominick Infante.
All Or Nothing
It remains to be seen whether this concept becomes successful or not. It's basically all or nothing as Subaru bets on SUVs one more time with its VIZIV-7 SUV concept. Subaru is currently on a roll and with the SUV demands showing no signs of slowing down, this may be its best chance at entering the SUV segment.
