Subaru unveil a new hybrid concept

Subaru is set to unveil a hybrid tourer concept at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The grand touring concept will feature the company's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and horizontally-opposed boxer engine credentials, presented in a sporty gull wing-door design.

Besides a luxurious cabin and an eye-catching aerodynamic body, the car will feature items such as a flat rear floor to maximise passenger space, specialised windscreen shielding to reduce driver eyestrain and a new leather seat covering offering superior breathability, with an in-seat ventilation function for improved comfort and texture.

It will be powered by a 2.0l horizontally-opposed direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine with Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a hybrid system. The CVT drivetrain draws on technology recently introduced in the new generation Liberty and Outback.

Meanwhile, the lithium-ion, two-motor hybrid system features a power/drive 10kW motor in the front and a 20kW drive motor in the rear. At start-up and extremely low speeds, such as entering a garage, the rear motor is used primarily to allow driving without petrol engine power.

During normal driving, the petrol engine is primarily used, and under acceleration, the rear motor assists the petrol engine to achieve optimum performance. When accelerating uphill, the front motor, which is normally used as a power generator, also assists in driving the front axle, for improved performance. A non-idling function stops the engine when the car comes to a halt, reducing fuel consumption.