Subaru Shows Rendering of Upcoming B9X Sport Utility Crossover

New B9X to offer Taller SUV-Like Dimensions and 7-Passenger Seating

In 1994 Subaru brought the sport utility vehicle world to its collective knees with one vehicle, the Legacy-based 1995

In 1994 Subaru ushered in a new niche of vehicle - the crossover wagon cum sport utility. The current 2005 Outback (shown) continues this heritage. (Photo: Subaru of America)

Outback Wagon. It's hard not to remember the television and print ads of Australian actor Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) plowing through rocky, desert-like terrain in a jacked-up, plastic-clad station wagon, out-maneuvering, out-accelerating and simply put, out-driving the competition.

With these bold 30-second televised statements, Subaru ushered in a new niche of vehicle - the crossover wagon cum sport utility. The crossover concept caught on rapidly, with inspiration spreading to vehicles such as Audi's Allroad quattro station wagon and Volvo's

The Outback proved that a practical and capable vehicle didn't need to be packaged in a tall sport utility bodyshell, a theme still popular today. (Photo: Subaru of America)

V70/XC70 at first, and a multitude of others in following years.

Continuing on with the trend it set, Subaru expanded its Outback range to include the Impreza Outback wagon and Legacy Outback sedan based variants. At the same time, the Outback lineup was the quirky Japanese manufacturer's active statement that permanent all-wheel drive, decent levels of ground clearance and plenty of cargo room didn't mean that a vehicle had to be packaged in a tall sport utility bodyshell.

Nearly a decade later, Subaru is about to begin another significant stage in the company's 37-year existence North America.