Subaru Passive Safety
The foundation for passive safety in the Tribeca, and in all Subaru vehicles, is the proven Subaru Ring Frame Reinforced vehicle architecture. The ring frame reinforced unibody structure with a front-end configuration disperses collision energy in three directions.
This design forms a series of "rings" around the passenger compartment, providing protection in a variety of collision types. High-strength steel reinforced center pillars enhance side impact protection, which is further bolstered by optimally positioned side-impact door beams.
The Subaru Boxer engine contributes to safety, because it allows more crush room in front impacts. Subaru vehicles are designed to allow the entire powertrain to slide under the car along the floor tunnel in a severe collision, helping to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment. In the rear, the spare tire is mounted underneath the vehicle to avoid intrusion into the passenger compartment. Additionally, a specially-designed 'M-frame' structure protects occupants with added reinforcement in the event of a rear collision.
Advanced Air Bag Systems
The heightened focus on side impact safety continues inside, where the Tribeca features standard front seat side impact air bags for thorax-area protection, and curtain side air bags (front and middle rows) for head and rollover protection. Mounted in the upper sides of the front seatbacks, the front seat side-impact air bags offer protection regardless of seat position. The curtain side air bags deploy from the headliner. Sensors in the vehicle determine if an impact engages the center pillar (deploying side air bags, belt tensioners and curtain air bags) or just the rear seat area (deploying curtain air bags). Special sensing and algorithms also will deploy and maintain the side curtain inflation when a potential rollover is detected.
The Subaru advanced frontal air bag system (SRS) uses dual-stage- deployment driver and front passenger air bags. A position sensor on the driver's seat track detects if the driver is sitting too close to the air bag, in which case the system would delay deployment of the air bag's second stage. The system also takes input from a seatbelt buckle switch, to determine if the driver is using the belt.
The passenger side front seat incorporates an occupant detection system that measures weight on the passenger seat - determining the presence of a child or adult - to control air bag deployment. In addition, the system takes input from a seatbelt tension sensor installed in the seatbelt anchor, as well as a seatbelt buckle sensor. If the system determines "empty seat" or "child" (based on weight thresholds), it sets the front air bag not to deploy and illuminates the "air bag off" indicator. If an adult is detected, the air bag will be set to deploy and the "air bag on" light illuminates.
All seating positions in the Tribeca feature a three-point seatbelt. The belt for the second-row middle passenger deploys from an anchor located in the headliner. All Subaru models incorporate electrically triggered pre-tensioners and force limiters in the front three-point seatbelts. These systems work together to gradually restrain the occupants and absorb the impact energy of a frontal collision. The seatbelt pre-tensioners operate simultaneously with the front air bags and cinch the front seatbelts to help restrain the driver and front passenger in their seats. Additionally, the mechanically operated torsion-bar force-limiters extend the belts to reduce the belt forces on the occupants' torsos. The seatbelt mechanism also absorbs energy through internal deformation.
The Subaru Tribeca also comes standard with active front head restraints that are designed to help reduce potential whiplash injury in a rear collision. A safety brake pedal system and impact-absorbing driver's footrest are also used to help reduce lower leg injury in a frontal collision.
In addition to these active and passive safety features, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca, launched at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, features more style and power. The vehicle boasts a new 3.6-liter engine that delivers 256 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque on unleaded regular gas. The exterior design of the new Tribeca is both streamlined and powerful, with a new, wider and taller grille, new front fenders and new hood design. In fact, all exterior sheetmetal is all-new for 2008 with the exception of the front/rear side doors. The grille is now integrated into the front bumper, featuring a new chrome spread-wing design.