http://www.subaru.co.jp/legacy/bt/index_f.html

Click on B4 Premium.

If Subaru could market like this in the States they'd have no problem with "premium" branding.

smeade

That site is great as well as the photography. I think the B9 Tribeca sales will dictate whether Subaru will begin to push their premium image here in the U.S.

Great photos.

I think the Tribeca is going to sell well after seeing it in person at the auto show this week. I really liked it, and some people I talked to were ready to buy a Tribeca right away.

If only SOA had these kinds of presentations on its website...

My god...just stunning.

Been to that site many times before..


Kuro.. I totally agree with you. The SOA site is so dull and boring.

I also really liked the music, too.

I'm a longtime lurker in the news and rumors forums. It seems that the most common item of discussion is Subaru's move to be more "upmarket" and to become a "premium" brand. An interesting facet I've been exploring lately is the notion that FHI has been pushing this a lot harder than SOA would prefer.

"Subaru will never be able to compete with the likes of BMW and Audi." When I hear phrases like that and see websites like this one for Japan, it becomes clear that "upmarket" and "premium" have completely different connotations in Japan and America. People in America equate "upmarket" and "premium" with "opulent" and "luxurious" -- a relation clearly not shared in Japan.

I don't think Subaru has any intention of building opulent and luxurious cars. The Subaru brand should stand for confident, clean cars for those who prize individuality, enjoy driving, and prefer frills that favor function over form. There's a certain confident, succint smartness to the new Legacy -- an element highlighted supremely in this piece of marketing.

Many people in this forum chastise SOA for not filling our option sheets with navigation, Xenons, and McIntosh stereos. While I admit that I think it would be very cool to see such items, I doubt I would buy them. If I wanted a vehicle filled to the brim with frills and techno-wizardry I would buy a Benz or a Bimmer. It's rather unfortunate that BMW has lost its way from what was once a hallmark of German design: uncluttered innovative engineering that emphasizes function rather than form. Bad for BMW; good for Subaru.

The only thing we need that SOA won't give us is our own version of the Legacy 3.0R 6sp. We could use svelte, no-nonsense sports sedan. The 2.5GT is great fun, but the motor is clearly more muscle than brains. I believe there is a whole audience of those who wish they could buy a new early 90s BMW sedan. The best part is, through efficient manufacturing and good engineering, it costs a lot less today than it did in the early 90s.

Finally, SOA needs to be more confident. Before I drove a WRX, I would have never thought that I'd buy a Subaru. Subarus were for odd people who weren't particularly remarkable in any way other than being weird. Subaru is building great clean, rugged, technologically advanced cars geared toward drivers...they should and deserve to portray themselves a little more confidently.

Stephen

Nice post, Stephen. You should lurk less ;)
------------

Subaru is.....

SEXY

http://www.bellsouthpwp.net/j/o/jordanad/sexylegacy.jpg

They had something going on with need-desire, but SoA chickened out at the last moment.

The Tribeca is a good product, but it needs to be priced against the Murano and the Highlander instead of going up against the RX330.

And Steve, don't be talkin' no smack about the Legacy GT's motor- anyone who messes with the EJ25 messes with me! :lol:

I think the Tribeca will be priced in that area. I went on CarsDirect.Com and an AWD RX330 with leather, heated seats, and 6cd changer has a price of $37,460. While I admit that the following data point may be fictitious, it is interesting none-the-less. My father (who recently bought an Outback XT Ltd) was told by his local Suby dealer that if he's willing to make a $500 deposit now, they will guarantee him a 2006 Tribeca 5pass w/leather for $30,000. Apparently dealers have gotten wind of a special loyalty incentive for current Suby owners. At $7500 less than the RX330, it seems like a good deal. From what I hear, the interior is very nice and doesn't feel "esuvee"-ish, even though it is certainly not as opulent and gadgeted as the RX. Plus, I think I like the styling of the Suby better.

As far as the Murano. My father's local Suby dealer is also a Nissan dealer. The Murano AWD only works up to 19MPH -- rendering it incomparable. I think the Tribeca interior is nicer and more stylish than the Murano too.

Stephen

They had something going on with need-desire, but SoA chickened out at the last moment.

The Tribeca is a good product, but it needs to be priced against the Murano and the Highlander instead of going up against the RX330.

And Steve, don't be talkin' no smack about the Legacy GT's motor- anyone who messes with the EJ25 messes with me! :lol:

Tribeca 5-pass with leather for $30k? That's a great price, and if it was priced around $33k without loyalty incentives, that would put it in a place above Murano/Highlander and below MDX/RX330 which would be perfect as not to be too expensive or perceived to be as cheap.

Now they just have to advertise the heck out of it!

http://www.bellsouthpwp.net/j/o/jordanad/sexylegacy.jpg


Hmm.

Hi there.




:D

Does this mean theres enough room to really get busy back there now?
:devil: