Subaru releases Advanced Tourer Concept in Tokyo

Wagons are rarely noted for their appearance, but the Advanced Tourer Concept is wickedly styled. (Photo: Subaru)

Tourer Concept which recently debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. Though specifications about the new wagon are slight, the Advanced Tourer Concept hints at what a future Subaru Impreza wagon could look like.

While wagons are rarely commended for their exterior styling, the Advanced Tourer Concept is a wickedly styled proposition. The imposing front end features angular headlights and a big, three-bar grille. At the back, a black diffuser, twin exhausts and angular taillights complete the menacing look. Its low slung, sculpted body is mounted on large, split-spoke wheels with cross drilled rotors.

Inside, the Advanced Tourer Concept features seating for four occupants with wood and metal trim on the dashboard, centre console and even the foot pedals.

Inside there's seating for four and a glass roof. Front scissor doors and rear suicide doors make for an exotic style statement. (Photo: Subaru)

There's a monitor housed in the steering wheel that displays maps, television and Internet services, while up above there's an entire glass roof to provide a bright and airy ambiance.

A turbocharged 1.6-litre horizontally-opposed Subaru boxer engine with direct fuel injection provides power for the Advanced Tourer Concept. The gasoline engine is supplemented by an electric motor which makes the Advanced Tourer Concept a hybrid vehicle. When the electric motor is engaged as the sole power source, the concept's all-wheel-drive system can be enabled for low speed travel. The Advanced Tourer Concept also has regenerative braking which uses the electric motor as a generator whenever the vehicle decelerates.

Shift duty is taken care of by Subaru's Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Lineartronic CVT is claimed to be the world's

Big twin exhausts, a black diffuser and and angular taillights complete the Advanced Tourer Concept's menacing look at the back. (Photo: Subaru)

first longitudinally-mounted chain drive CVT for mass-produced all-wheel-drive passenger vehicles. According to Subaru, it was developed to "satisfy the high-power output turbo engine" of the Advanced Tourer Concept.

Another innovative feature of the Advanced Tourer Concept is Subaru's EyeSight Version 2 advanced driving assist system. The EyeSight system uses stereo camera equipment to detect pedestrians and cyclists in front of the vehicle. EyeSight can slow the vehicle to a stop if it detects the risk of a collision and also features adaptive cruise control which allows the vehicle to maintain a set distance from a vehicle in front of the Subaru. Version 2 of EyeSight features a stereo camera with an expanded field and depth of vision.

On display at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept features a modern powertrain, innovative technologies and a bold, exciting design. What's especially interesting is the fact that the concept uses many existing Subaru components and could therefore go into production rather quickly. Could the Advanced Tourer Concept indeed be the next-generation Subaru Impreza wagon?©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)]]>