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Subaru XV Concept is our first glimpse at the next Crosstrek

Tue, Mar 1 2016 Subaru debuted a pair of Impreza concepts at last year's Tokyo and Los Angeles shows – one, a five-door hatch, the other, a sedan. But the Impreza range also includes the lifted Crosstrek, known as the XV in other markets. So at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, Subaru presents our first official glimpse at the next-generation, high-riding Impreza, by way of this XV Concept.

Details are few – what you see is what you get. The XV definitely has a more butch take on the sedan and hatchback concepts that came before it, in keeping with the Crosstrek's ethos. The concept rides on 19-inch wheels which surely won't make it to production, and we expect some sort of boxer four-cylinder engine to drive power to all four wheels.

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All in, the XV Concept looks pretty good. But Subaru has a long history of making attractive concept cars that don't quite carry their beauty over to production. Even so, the current Crosstrek has a sort of rugged handsomeness to it, so here's hoping something similar happens when this concept eventually transforms into a production model next year.

"Subaru XV Concept" Makes World Debut at 2016 Geneva International Motor Show

Tokyo, March 1, 2016 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today unveiled the Subaru XV Concept at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show.

The Subaru XV Concept is a design concept car that embodies Subaru's next-generation DYNAMIC X SOLID design philosophy in a compact crossover model. Its compact body features Subaru's DYNAMIC X SOLID design elements, the powerful form of a crossover, and a quality feel beyond its class – previewing the design direction of the next-generation Subaru XV*.

Main Features of Subaru XV Concept

The front, sides, and rear are seamlessly joined in the DYNAMIC X SOLID surface structure, creating a three-dimensional and solid body that is a feature of Subaru styling. The dynamism is enhanced by well-placed character lines on the compact body shape. The design expression of "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind", the value that Subaru provides to its customers, is fully pursued within the limits of the compact crossover model body size. In the area of functionality essential to a Subaru car, excellent aerodynamic performance is teamed with the ample road clearance and luggage space required of a crossover vehicle, achieving blend of function and style.

Quality feel is raised by the "Glacier Khaki Silica" exterior color, a blue-gray new color exclusive to this concept model that evokes the glacier ice. Matte-black cladding running from the front bumper over the wheel arches and side sills to the rear bumper, together with orange highlights on the front grille, front and rear bumpers, aluminum wheels, and roof rails, accent the exterior color to emphasize the diverse character of the Subaru XV crossover.

Front

The Subaru look is seen in the Wide & Low stance with its sporty impression, and in the unified three-dimensional structure extending from the hexagonal grille that symbolizes the Subaru identity to the hawk-eye headlights echoing a Boxer engine motif. The front face plays the role of starting point from which the front flows via the sides to the rear, with each part uniting into a solid form. A pleasing balance of classy silver, matte black, and active orange on the strong shapes of the hexagonal grille and the bumper expresses the diverse character of this crossover vehicle.

Sides

The rich inflection of the character line extending from the front fender to the door panels and rear shoulder, and the line rising energetically toward the rear from the lower door panel, give dynamism to the solid body surface. The powerfully extended fender flares express the reliability of Subaru All-Wheel Drive. The matte-black cladding running from the front bumper over the wheel arches and side sills to the rear bumper creates a dynamic form expressing all the enjoyment to be expected from a crossover vehicle.

Rear

The rear combination lights sharing the same motif as the headlights, as well as the powerful shoulders over the rear fenders thrusting all the way toward the rear combination lights, express a Wide & Low stance similar to the front. The tightened cabin silhouette enhances the sporty impression of the nimble crossover style. Like the front bumper, the rear bumper features a pleasing balance of classy silver, matte-black, and active orange to express the diverse character of this crossover vehicle.

Main Specifications

Body size (overall length x width x height): 4,520 x 1,920 x 1,570 mm
Wheelbase: 2,670 mm
Tire size: 245/50 R19
Seating capacity: 5 persons

By Steven J. Ewing


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