Subaru hybrid concept set for Tokyo
September 30, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
It was only a matter of time before Subaru unveiled their first hybrid concept car and it’s destined for next month’s Tokyo Motor Show.
The Subaru hybrid tourer concept car is what a concept is all about, firstly it has a gull wing-door design, something that’s been missing from concept cars for some time. Subaru says the concept car combines environmentally friendly technology and safety as well as Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and horizontally opposed boxer engine credentials.
Some of the highlights include a flat rear floor to maximise passenger space, a new windscreen shielding to reduce driver eyestrain and a new leather seat covering developed with superior breathability.
The hybrid concept is powered by Subaru’s next generation power unit which makes use of a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed direct injection turbocharged petrol engine coupled to Subaru’s brand new Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and of course a hybrid system.
The hybrid system consists of two motors, a power/drive motor in the front and a drive motor in the rear. When the car is starting up or moving at slow speeds the electric motor will drive the car (similar to the Toyota Prius).
When driven under normal conditions the hybrid concept primraily makes use of the turbocharged petrol engine which if previous generation 2.0-litre force-fed Subaru engines are anything to go by, it’s bound to be an awesome drive.
When accelerating the rear electric motor also assists and under heavy acceleration such as going uphill the front electric motor which is mainly used as a power generator will switch to assist in driving the front axle.
Similar to the Prius the Subaru hybrid will also turn its petrol engine off when it comes to a halt, further reducing fuel consumption.
Unlike the current Prius, the Subaru hybrid will make use of high-performance lithium-ion battery technology which the company says it has learned to optimise thakns to the all electric Subaru Plug-in STELLA vehicle.
This includes the use of a precise energy management system and regenerative brake controls, for improved fuel efficiency.
Subaru Hybrid major specifications
- Length x Width x Height: 4630 x 1890 x 1420 mm
- Engine type: 2.0-litre horizontally opposed direct fuel-injection turbo petrol engine
- Max output of hybrid motor: 10 kW (front) / 20 kW (rear)
- Transmission type: Lineartronic CVT
- Drive train: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with two motor assist
- Battery type: Lithium-ion battery
Print it: 
Now why is it that the designer of this car wasn’t used in design for new liberty ?
It seems to me that subaru have a batch of designers and new liberty is work of second rated team!
I was just thinking the same thing. The front fascia in the first image just screams out loud to be the successor of the Liberty/Legacy 4th gen – it definitely has a resemblance. Rather disappointing that they had this in their back pockets all along.
That front is just gorgeous!!! that is Audi level beauty right there
Subari…
3.5 million cars recalled by toyota in the US.
Floor mats causing accelerators to stick have caused 17 accidents and 5 deaths.
err… looks ok, but the rear end, Alfa Brera anyone?
Can definitely see the resemblance but with Alfa converting its line up to ugly fat-faced MiTo design language I wouldn’t complain if Subaru took over the gauntlet
“if previous generation 2.0-litre force-fed Subaru engines are anything to go by, it’s bound to be an awesome drive.”
No doubt it “would” have been.
I seriously doubt this will ever see the light of day. Just the same as most concept cars – they rarely make production. Rather annoying actually!
looks pretty cool from the front. every other angle it sucks. so do the doors
Best looking Subaru ever!
I agree 100%
Anti-spam word – Subaru lol
This is the best-looking Subaru produced ever (behind the last-gen Impreza 2nd faclife in my opinion). The front is just so together and its actually almost beautiful. The rear is too similar to the Acura RDX but I’ll forgive them because theres abit of Alfa in there and the rest is so nice.
BUT this begs a question. HOW THE HELL could they produce a car that looks as awful as the Liberty and then they come out with this? Now seriously wtf!?
RDX? I still think its a Brera knock-off at the back.
What do you mean ‘RDX?’ The tailights are very similar and the RDX is a big SUV-ish thing like this car, unlike the Brera, meaning the rear shots have more than a passing resemblence to them. Subaru – make the bloody thing! :D
What I mean is, I barely see the RDX in this. This Subaru concept is nothing like an SUV. Look at the ground clearance, not even remotely SUV-ish. This thing is like a large hatchback if anything. The rear lights look more like the Brera, along with the rear window, shoulder line and general shape of the whole rear end.
I wasn’t aware it’s OK for Subaru to rip off other cars… But the headlights on the Cerato for example are vaguely similar to the Civic and people slam it, but Subaru and people applaud.
As much as I like it, how do those gull wing doors open in tight parking spaces – esp those in Japan. Many Jap spec cars have electrically folding rear vision mirrors owing to the tight spaces in which the car is stored. Cant see the gull wing seeing light of day.
Actually looking at the hinged opening from the front view the gull wing may not nu such a issue. It would be nice if some ‘regular’ car company had the foresight to build a model with doors like this. The novelty of it would help it sell no question.
I seem to recall subaru is working with toyota on a ‘light’ coupe…couldl this be a preview?
If so, BRING IT ON
Visualising this with a more conventional door arrangement & with frameless windows it would still look great.Bring it to production in coventional or hybrid drivetrains & watch them line up.