Subaru Viziv 2 : sub-compact SUV concept closer to production-ready

Inspired by the phrase ‘Vision for Innovation’, the Subaru Viziv 2 Concept also looks close to production-ready as a vision for increased sales in an SUV-booming global market.

Now with a new-Liberty-like hexagonal front grille and ‘C’ shaped head- and tail-lights, Tokyo’s Viziv concept also transforms from a three-door to a five-door in this latest Viziv 2 iteration as it creeps closer towards expected production.

Called a “future-generation crossover concept”, the Viziv 2 is 160mm longer than a Forester at 4435mm, and about the same shorter with a 1530mm height, though its show-car 1920mm is about 120mm wider than its future bigger brother. Despite less length, the Viziv rides on a longer 2730mm wheelbase.

Where the Viziv originally used a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel boxer four-cylinder engine, the Viziv 2 upgrades to a 1.6-litre turbo petrol boxer four-cylinder – the first time we’ve seen a new-generation turbo petrol boxer engine of less than the 2.0-litre capacity seen in Forester XT and WRX.

Subaru hasn’t provided power outputs, nor interior space measurements, but the 1.6-litre turbo is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a drivetrain of which is almost certainly destined for use in facelifted Impreza and Forester variants.

What may currently be strictly concept-only is the electric motors that turn the Subaru Viziv 2 into a hybrid.

There’s one motor located up front and two at the rear, the latter of which independently drive the rear axle, leaving the petrol engine and other motor to run the front wheels and together create Subaru’s all-wheel drive system.

Catchily called a “Independent-rear-motor-driven symmetrical AWD” system, Subaru says the technology is “leading the way to a future generation of Subaru AWD,” and promises to continue refining the systems.

Although still a concept-only interior that seats only four, with suicide rear door access thanks to the lack of a B-pillar, a production version would be expected to have five seats and a normal body structure and doors.