2011 SUBARU TRIBECA: STYLISH, POWERFUL, VERSATILE

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - The 2011 Tribeca is the SUV of choice for drivers who need 7-passenger seating capacity, want the confident all-weather multi-terrain handling of Subaru's outstanding Symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive, and demand the exceptional range of standard equipment that makes every trip a pleasure.

Every Tribeca includes an exceptional range of features and equipment to create a driving experience of outstanding comfort and safety. These include a power tilt-and-slide glass moonroof, automatic dual-zone climate control with air filtration, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, power-adjustable heated front seats with lumbar support, rear-view camera, roof rails, driver and front passenger front and side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, power-adjustable heated body-colour door mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, multi-reflector halogen fog lights, splash guards, and more.

Tribeca is also available with optional Limited and Premier Packages. These are further equipped with standard voice-activated Blueconnect, which eliminates the need for a handheld cell phone, headset, earpiece, or in-vehicle mounted handset adapter while making or receiving phone calls. In addition, Limited and Premier Packages feature Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, raised-profile silver coloured roof rails, leather seating surfaces, 385-watt Harman Kardon 10 speaker system with subwoofer. Urban styling with additional body coloured components and unique seven spoke alloy wheels further differentiate the Limited and Premier Packages.

Controlled Performance

Tribeca's 3.6-litre 24-valve DOHC Subaru Boxer engine produces 247 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, and 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The engine delivers excellent emission levels, good fuel efficiency in real world driving situations, and outstanding torque at low- to mid-range engine speeds. Owners will also be pleased to know that, unlike many competitors, Tribeca requires only regular-grade fuel.

The 3.6-litre engine features the Dual Active Valve Control System (Dual-AVCS), variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves and is connected to a 5-speed Direct Control automatic transmission with Manual Mode and blipping control. The result is quick gearshifts with minimal lag time and smooth, linear acceleration.

The shift control system uses the car speed and accelerator opening to determine available driving power while simultaneously calculating the optimum gear position for the road gradient. The total effect is fewer unnecessary gearshifts when climbing or descending grades and improved fuel economy. To further enhance smooth performance, Subaru's 'blipping control' matches the transmission to engine speed for a smoother, more controlled shift when selecting a lower gear.

Tribeca is equipped with the Subaru Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) Symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system. Enhancing the AWD are standard Vehicle Dynamics Control electronic stability control and four-wheel traction control system (TCS).

Occupant Safety a Top Priority

Tribeca has achieved the highest ratings in the auto industry including top honours in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests with 5 stars in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for both the driver and passenger seating positions. These results are in addition to the 4-star rating in the NHTSA tests for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Tribeca a Top Safety Pick for achieving its highest rating (Good).

The Subaru Tribeca features an advanced Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame structure, occupant-sensing dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side impact air bags, and standard curtain side air bags. A Roll Sensor system that detects a potential vehicle rollover and deploys the standard side curtain airbags is also standard. In addition, the Tribeca features Brake Assist on its standard ABS brake system. Brake Assist analyzes the force and stroke on the brake pedal and increases hydraulic boost to provide enhanced emergency braking, also activating the ABS system early if needed.

Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 85 authorized dealers across Canada.

For further information: Elaine Griffin, [phone]