Subaru XV Concept is a High-Riding Impreza Crossover
April 19, 2011
We’re going to see both the four- and five-door versions of the all-new 2012 Impreza at the New York Auto Show this week, but at the Shanghai motor show, Subaru lifted the wraps off a concept version of the hatchback model in a crossover guise. Named the XV Concept, the study essentially offers us our first glimpse at the successor of the North American market Impreza Outback Sport as well as the Impreza XV that is offered in Japan.
The lime-green XV Concept combines Subaru’s all-wheel drive system with a jacked up suspension and an array of SUV-like styling cues. The five-door model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,620 mm in height sporting a 2,635mm long wheelbase. It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine linked to a CVT.
ISIS AM01 is a Subaru STI-Powered Coachbuilt Sports Car [with Videos]
April 14, 2011
This odd-looking creation is the AM01 and it’s the work of a Dutch company named Isis Cars that is led by Anton van Nunen and Max Alting Siberg. In an even stranger twist, the AM01 is based on another coachbuilt sports car from the Netherlands called the Saker.
Underneath the composite body shell lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine sourced from a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The four-cylinder unit churns out 275HP and a peak torque of 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), with power being transferred to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.
Read more »New Subaru XV Concept Teased Ahead of 2011 Shanghai Auto Show
April 11, 2011
In the run-up to the Auto Shanghai 2011 that takes place in China from April 21 through 28, Subaru has released the first official photo of a brand-new crossover study called the XV Concept. The Japanese company did not give out many details on the concept simply stating that the XV is a stylish proposal for a crossover model. Read more »
Subaru Showcases its Upcoming RWD Coupe's Platform Enwrapped in a See-Through Plastic Body
March 1, 2011
If you were waiting to see a concept of the Subaru flavored version of the rear-wheel drive Toyota FT-86 at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, tough luck because the Japanese automaker simply displayed the car's chassis in a clear plastic body. Subaru didn't comment on exterior wrap, though there's a good chance that the shape may hint at the styling of the production coupe. Read more »
First Official Photos of Subaru's Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe Concept
February 22, 2011
Subaru has released the first-ever teaser picture of its eagerly anticipated rear-wheel drive sports car concept ahead of its debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show on March 1. Even though Subaru's original ghost sketch of the car shows only a darkened outline of the front end, we managed to significantly brighten up the photo through some photoshop trickery and reveal the coupe's shape in full detail. At least from this picture, the Subaru study appears to differ in styling from its Toyota FT-86 sibling sporting a more curvy and less angular design.
The Subaru variant will keep the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout as the FT-86, which will also be revealed in a more production ready form at the Geneva Salon. Power of course will be provided by Subaru's horizontally opposed boxer engine, but we'll have to wait until the Geneva Salon for more specific details.
Subaru to Finally Present its RWD Coupe Concept at Geneva Motor Show
January 14, 2011
It's been a long time in the making but we're finally going to get our first glimpse of Subaru's version of the Toyota FT-86 RWD Coupe, which is a joint project from the two companies, at the upcoming Geneva Salon in March. The somewhat blandly named “Subaru Rear Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” will share the spotlight with the Impreza Concept (pictured above) and the Trezio mini MPV, both of which will receive their European premiere at the Swiss motorshow.
Despite rumors suggesting that Subaru may present an all-wheel drive version of the coupe project, the Japanese carmaker is keeping the rear-wheel drive setup, at least for now.
Not surprisingly, the Subaru coupe will be powered by a boxer engine, possibly the same four-cylinder unit lent to Toyota for the FT-86. Subaru did not release any photos nor any additional information on the Coupe concept model.
Read more »Video Presentation of Subaru's tasty Impreza Design Concept
November 18, 2010
One of the head-turners at this year's edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show is Subaru's new Impreza Design Concept. As the name suggests, the purpose of the study is to tease the next generation of the Impreza.
Even though there's a familiar resemblance with the latest Subaru Legacy, the concept features more aggressive and taut lines and a lower, almost coupe-like roofline. As Phil pointed out in our previous post, let's just hope that the next Impreza will keep if not all, most of the key styling elements seen on this concept model. For now, hit the break to watch a pair of promotional videos as well as a clip from the LA Show presentation of the Impreza Design Concept.
2010 LA Auto Show: Subaru Teases Next Impreza with Concept Study
November 17, 2010
After bringing you a preview sketch earlier today, we now have some live images of the Subaru Impreza Design Concept from the LA Show floor. Taking Subaru's compact design in a new direction, the language of "Confidence In Motion" doesn't disappoint. In fact, this may preview the first good-looking Subaru in a long time. Hopefully it won't jump from concept to reality with as many "real-world" changes as the chubby/fugly Legacy.
As we already told you, the Impreza concept is powered by a 2.0-liter boxer engine and uses a Lineartronic transmission to drive the wheels through a Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system.
Outside, the face is all "new Subaru", while the the rear is home to some seriously fresh lines (like those rising from the diffuser) that continue the geometric theme from up front. The four-door compact coupe also gets cameras mounted on the A-pillar instead of mirrors, but for now those are still being relegated to the world of concepts.
2010 LA Auto Show: Subaru Impreza Concept aims at Audi
[Update: High-res picture added] Subaru appears to finally be getting on the stylish compact sedan bandwagon with its sleek, new LA Show-bound Impreza concept. Spearheading the brand's "Confidence in Motion" design language, the low and wide concept wears a more stylish interpretation of the Legacy's nose while losing the awkward lines found on previous Imprezas.
Read more »
Subaru Teases Mystery Concept Model Model Ahead of LA Show
November 2, 2010
At this month's Los Angeles Auto Show (November 19 -28), Subaru will lift the wraps off a never-before seen concept model that is claimed to embody the firm's new global brand statement, called "Confidence in Motion". Aside from the single teaser image, we don't have anything else on the concept model as the press release concentrates on explaining the new slogan. So until we get more info and/or a better picture of the study, follow the jump to check out Suabru's P.R. and why not, speculate on the type of car that the company is preparing for the LA Show.
Read more »
Sydney Show Subaru Forester S-Edition Study Hints at Sportier Production Model
October 17, 2010
At the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Subaru unveiled the Forester S-Edition, a concept study that points to a new Forester variant for 2011. Built on the existing turbocharged Forester XT, the S-Edition produces an additional 32 hp and 20 lb ft (24 kw and 27 Nm) over the Australian market XT's 227 hp and 236 lb ft (169 kw and 320 Nm) lifting the 2.5-liter boxer engine's output to 259-horsepower.
Read more »
Subaru Celeno Sports Sedan Concept by Xuacu Pérez Quesada
September 3, 2010
Looking at Subaru's relatively boring lineup (barring the STI, and to a lesser extent, the WRX), it's refreshing to find people interested in bringing some new ideas to the brand. In the case of the Celeno, that person is budding car designer Xuacu Pérez Quesada.
Mr. Quesada interned for Italdesign and received an M.A. in Transportation Design from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia; he is obviously not a person playing around on the computer with a bong and some photoshop skills (to those people out there: feel free to keep sending stuff in, we don't mind).
The Subaru Celeno is Quesada's interpretation of a small Subaru with some BMW Visions EfficientDynamics thrown in. It's a sleek four-door coupe seen down the hypothetical line created by Subaru's own Hybrid Tourer.
Subaru Impreza Berlinetta Rear-Engine Concept Study
June 17, 2010
For as long as we can remember, Subaru fans have been hoping and praying for a sports coupe from the Japanese maker. And from what we know up until now, they will get their wish when Subaru unveils its own version of the Toyota FT-86. But until then, here's a different conceptual study for a hardcore Subaru coupe from Italian design firm, Beestudio.
The idea behind the Subaru Impreza Berlinetta was to create a high-performance two-seater sports car using the Impreza STI as base, but with a twist; the sedan's platform would be turned around, meaning that the turbocharged boxer engine on the Berlinetta would reside at the rear-end of the car.
Artist Creates Three-Door, Rear-Engined Subaru Impreza WRX
December 29, 2009
In the digital world of photoshop, the only limit is the imagination and talent of the person using the graphics editing program. This piece of work was created by the chaps over at Digimods and it shows a proposal for a three-door version of the latest Subaru Impreza WRX fitted with a rear-mounted engine. A wide bodykit with bulging fenders, new alloy wheels and a bevy of air scoops including one on the roof that supplies air to the engine complete the mods.
Source: Digimods , Via: Zerothundred
Tokyo '09: Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept 2.0 Turbo in the Flesh
October 21, 2009
We won't take the rumors about the Hybrid Tourer Concept spawning a spiritual successor to the SVX for granted, but we will say that the gullwing-door prototype may hint at the design language of future Subaru models. Beneath the skin, the all-wheel-drive Hybrid Tourer concept uses a direct-injection 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. This is combined with a pair of electric motors, one for each axle and a high-performance lithium battery.Depending on the driving situation, the four-seater Hybrid Tourer can be moved by the 27HP electric motor at the rear, the boxer engine or a combination of the gasoline and electric motors.
Inside, the Subaru model gets four individual seats and flat floor along with the usual futuristic and far-from production dashboard design that is common on concept cars of this sort.
Rumor of the Day: Subaru's Hybrid Tourer Concept said to Preview SVX Successor
October 13, 2009
While some media outlets are questioning the viability of Subaru's own version of the FT-86 RWD Coupe that has been co-developed with Toyota due to the lack of cash, other magazines are claiming that, in addition to that car, the Japanese automaker is also planning to introduce a high-end coupe model. But hold on; doesn't that contradict the first report/s about the uncertainty of Subaru's FT-86 coupe? It sure does, so it's up to you to decide which of the two stories has more truth in it...But anyhow. If you insist on learning the details, the second report comes courtesy of UK magazine Autoexpress which claims the range-topping Subaru coupe will be based on the Tokyo Show-bound Hybrid Tourer Concept (see photos and details here) and will serve as a spiritual successor to the long-gone, SVX.
The latter was a futuristic-looking four-seater GT designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign. The mid-size coupe, which was powered by a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine, was introduced onto the market in 1991 and remained in production until 1997.
Via: Autoexpress
Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept with 2.0-liter DI Turbo Engine and Two Electric Motors [PHOTO UPDATE]
October 9, 2009
*Story Updated with 18 New Photos
Power is primarily provided by the boxer engine that is linked to a new generation Lineatronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). According to Subaru, at start-up and extremely low speeds, the 20kW / 27HP rear electric motor can move the vehicle on its own while during acceleration, it kicks in to give an additional power boost to the gasoline engine.
As for the 10kW / 13HP electric motor located on the front axle, Subaru said that it is normally used as a power generator to recharge the lithium-ion battery while it also provides additional power for hill climbing.
Another special feature of the four-seater Hybrid Tourer Concept is the EyeSight + (yes, that stands for 'Plus'), a new driving assist system that utilizes "stereo camera technology" to detect any obstacles in the vehicle's path and advise the driver on appropriate driving maneuvers.
Specifications
Length x Width x Height: 4,630 x 1,890 x 1,420mm
Engine type: 2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine
Max output of Motor: 10kW (Front) / 20kW (Rear)
Transmission type: Lineartronic
Drive train: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with 2 motors assist
Battery type: Lithium-ion battery
