Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV Concept revealed in LA | video

Subaru shows their intention to return to the seven-seat SUV market with the VIZIV-7 SUV Concept. Previews upcoming SUV model for the North American market that is due in 2018.

Ever since Subaru discontinued the controversial Tribeca SUV, the Japanese car maker's model range has been sorely lacking a model with three rows of seating for the international market.

That will change with Subaru rolling out the VIZIV-7 SUV Concept at the Los Angeles motor show this week, which previews the company's next large SUV for the North American market in 2018.

Its numerical designation hints at a seven seat layout within, though Subaru only goes so far as describing its production form will sport a "three row" arrangement.

Aside from that, Subaru hasn't disclosed any information on its powertrain nor the design of its cabin.

There is a strong amount of local interest for seven-seater SUVs.

Subaru says the VIZIV-7 is a design concept to demonstrate the size and look its upcoming model, which they say will be their biggest model ever. And if the production model follows the VIZIV-7's dimensions closely, it certainly will be the company's biggest. At 5,200mm long, 2,030mm wide, and 1,860mm tall, the concept car is bigger than a Mercedes-Benz GLS, or a Toyota LandCruiser.

With seven-seater SUVs quickly gaining popularity over traditional people movers, there has been a recent surge in such SUV models. The Volkswagen Group recently unveiled two new models - the Atlas and Skoda Kodiaq – plus the Tiguan XL around the corner, while both Peugeot and Renault have now styled their big people movers, the 5008 and Espace, with SUV body styles.

David Rowley, national corporate affairs manager for Subaru Australia, sees that there is a strong amount of local interest for seven-seater SUVs.

"There is a strong demand for seven-seater SUVs, as seen by the recent introduction of such models, but the production VIZIV-7 will purely be a North American model that will be built in their Indiana factory," clarified Rowley. "While we are interested in bringing in new models from Japan, there is no plan in the foreseeable future for this particular SUV for the international market."

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