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Manhattan's trendy Tribeca neighbourhood - sandwiched between Greenwich Village and the financial district, is described in New York real estate jargon as "essentially done".
Most of the commercial and industrial buildings have been converted into prestige accommodation for up-and-comers and, say agents who work the area, there are
no bargains left.
Subaru's latest and largest vehicle is named after this district - aptly so, because it is aimed at affluent up-and-comers, is no bargain, and, like the neighbourhood, is essentially done except for a few items, including a different nose and a diesel engine, both of which will be along in the future and may tempt many others to put in an offer.
A few years ago Subaru realised that when families grew and needs expanded, it was either Subaru's Outback, or change brands. Subaru owners tend to be loyal and having to go elsewhere was as hurtful for them as it was for Subaru.
Enter the Tribeca all-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle, the company's most expansive - and expensive at $10 under $70,000 - piece of rolling real estate.
Designed in America for Americans and built in Lafayette, Indiana, it embodies the values American motorists hold near and dear, along with Subaru's values of engineering quality, performance and handling. The combo has made the vehicle very popular in the United States, but how does it translate Downunder?
Here, it's up against such seven-seat vehicles as the Ford Territory Ghia at $65,490, the Holden Captiva LX at $49,990 and the Toyota Highlander Limited at $63,950. Tribeca was introduced to New Zealand and Australian media on roads that were sometimes winding and often rough.
It has undergone suspension revisions to make it more acceptable to Downunder tastes - including less soft-ride wallow in favour of more precise handling.
Generally, it acquits itself well. The ride is good and handling well up to Subaru standards, although the steering is on the light side. With 180kW at 6600rpm and 297Nm of torque at 4200rpm from its horizontally opposed six-cylinder 3-litre motor, the 1940kg Tribeca clips along quite nicely.
But it tends to be let down by its five-speed automatic that is prone to hunting for the right gear on hills and, when used as a manual, to responding slowly. The Tribeca might be better served with more low-rev torque, one of the factors of the horizontally opposed diesel now under development. This will go into the Tribeca, but probably not until 2009.
Although the diesel will bring better fuel economy, the petrol motor is not too bad. The overall rating is 12.4 litres for 100km, but on the introduction programme it was in the mid-11s.
Subaru will also deal to another area seen by some as a problem - the nose styling.
Subaru admits that this family face that is supposed to represent an aircraft grille will polarise the public and that although a true enthusiast of the marque may turn a blind eye, even Masaaki Owa, the Tribeca project general manager, agrees that a change may be no bad thing. On the other hand, the less-than-subtle exterior styling helps set it apart from other design excesses that are common on American highways.
Inside, the dashboard is also in-your-face, its sweeping lines reminiscent of Toyota's Previa.
Although Australia has a range of models, including five-seaters, New Zealand gets only one, the fully-loaded 3.0R Luxury, with seven seats, leather upholstery and a DVD screen that flips down from the ceiling for second and third-row passengers.
Other goodies include dual-zone climate control air-conditioning with separate rear controls and vents, a nine-speaker six-stack CD sound system with controls on the steering wheel. An auxiliary jack allows iPod or MP3 players to be used through the sound system. The DVD system includes two wireless headsets and a remote.
Subaru publicity terms the seating configuration as five-plus-two, correctly suggesting that it lacks the ability to generously accommodate seven. Getting into the third row is easy enough but the seating is a little too cosy.
The second row can be moved forwards for more legroom behind - but that makes leg-space in that row more cramped.
The second and third rows have a 50:50 split and can be folded flat for luggage.
Tribeca, the first all-new Subaru model since the Forester of 1997, has the full suite of Subaru electronic driving aids, including variable torque distribution, vehicle dynamics control and traction control, but it lacks the satellite navigation and reversing camera on the Australian models.
Based on the Legacy/B9 show-car platform, Tribeca sits on 18-inch alloys with 255/55R/18 tyres and uses MacPherson strut front suspension and double-wishbone multi-link rear suspension.
Brakes are ventilated discs on all wheels with ABS, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.
The wheelbase of 2750mm is 80mm longer than Outback's. Overall length is 125mm better at 4855mm and its 110mm wider at 1880mm.
It is rated to tow 2000kg braked, making it a handy choice for the boat-ramp crowd.
