Subaru and VW in UK launch frenzy – ish

Newswheel staff :: 10 February 2006 :: Filed under Hatchback, SUV, Subaru, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Polo, Europe & UK

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Polo GTI and Tribeca SUV hove into view

Not new cars, but new to the UK. Subaru has announced that the Tribeca SUV will finally be cooling its heels in Blighty, beginning in November. Meanwhile, VW has prepped the Polo GTI for its UK debut. Woo, and indeed, hoo.

The Tribeca is a classy and well-executed, if utterly conventional, soft-roader SUV with BMW’s X5, Volvo’s XC90 and the RX300 (soon to be RX350) from Lexus clearly in its sights. Power is delivered by Subaru’s 3.0-litre flat-six mill in 250bhp tune. And we hardly need tell you four-wheel drive and a five-speed slushbox are standard issue. Prices are expected to kick off at around £30,000. Sounds about right – the Tribeca starts at $32,000 Stateside, and everyone knows how much we Brits love being shafted.

As for the Polo GTI, we’re talking ubiquitous, droney 1.8-litre turbo lump in boggo 150bhp trim. Not exactly a pant spoiler, we grant you, but enough for respectable figures of 8.2 seconds to sixty and a top whack of 134 British miles per hour. Goodies and gubbins include an electronic stability system, red brake callipers, a 15mm suspension drop, 16-inch rims, air con and the usual ‘leccy window and central locking junk. Yours from £14,785 and on sale from May.