Subaru has launched its new two seater R1 mini-car and the B9 Tribeca seven-seater crossover model at the Geneva Motor Show.

The R1 has just gone on sale in Japan and is one of their domestic K-class sector cars.

Powered by a 660cc petrol engine, the R1 is unlikely to come to the UK, but if public reaction, along with market forces and customer demand is positive then it could be possible.

The Subaru B9 Tribeca, first shown in January at the Detroit Motor Show, will be built at Subaru’s US Indiana factory and sales to the US, Canada, Brazil and Chilean markets will begin this summer.

Subaru UK officials say it is under evaluation for the European markets, but sales of Japanese produced versions are likely to reach the UK in 2007. The estimated UK price would be in the region of £30,000.

The Tribeca uses the 3.0-litre flat-six ‘boxer’ petrol engine from Subaru’s Legacy models. The suspension is changed to give it extra ground clearance for use as a soft-offroader.