NEWS
TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Subaru show cars' premiere
Three new concepts point to Subaru's future styling direction, and perhaps an expanded model rangeSubaru plans to make a grand splash at this year's Tokyo motor show near the end of November.
The manufacturer will turn up with three new concepts, one of which is definitely headed for production. That car, named Levorg, is the subject of the featured teaser pics, and looks to be a vehicle smaller in size than the current Liberty/Outback, but larger than Impreza.
Wondering about the name? Levorg, according to Subaru's press material, combines 'Legacy', 'revolution' and 'touring', suggesting it would be a high-performance wagon or hatch. The manufacturer says a vehicle based on the show car will enter production for the Japanese domestic market in 2014 – hopefully wearing a different badge.
A 1.6-litre direct-injected turbo engine has been specified for the show car, but there is a hint in the Japanese press material that a 2.0-litre version of the motor could slot into the engine bay of a production version. Other than that, Subaru is keeping its cards close to its chest, as a spokesman for Subaru Australia told motoring.com.au this afternoon.
"There isn't a lot more I can tell you... because we only got the information ourselves this morning," said David Rowley, National Corporate Affairs Manager for the importer.
While the PR manager for Subaru Australia was giving away nothing, it's clear this is a car aimed at export markets as well as Japan, based on the car's styling and the potential for a 2.0-litre engine in the production version. Promotion of the concept car as a high-feature model with a new generation of the EyeSight safety system is further evidence the car will be exported.
However, Rowley wouldn't be drawn on that prospect, let alone the likelihood a production version of the Levorg would be sold in Australia, where it would presumably slot into the product range between the larger current model Liberty and the smaller Impreza.
"We're always interested in new products from FHI, but at this stage it's just far too early to tell. And as their release says, it's primarily aimed at the Japanese domestic market initially."
When asked whether that meant it was definitely ruled out for the Australian market, Rowley replied: "Never say never..."
As for the prospect of the 1.6-litre turbo engine powering the BRZ sports car (and Toyota's badge-engineered 86) in the future, Rowley was quick to side-step that particular can of worms.
"I really couldn't comment on that at this stage," he concluded.
The two other show cars scheduled for unveiling in Tokyo are the Cross sport SUV and the Crossover 7. Subaru's own press material indicates that the Cross Sport SUV is just 4.3 metres long, making it shorter than the XV. That would place it up against SUVs like the Holden Trax and Peugeot 2008, should it ever go into production and reach Australia.
According to Subaru's press release, Crossover 7 has "a sophisticated urban look but its exterior also projects rough-road driving capability." That would suggest a successor to the Tribeca SUV, but given the name hints at something more car-like than the Tribeca, the show car may be a foretaste of a new-generation Liberty Exiga.
Subaru will reveal all three concepts at the show, in less than three weeks' time.
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Written byKen Gratton
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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