Hybrid Subaru Tourer

Later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show Subaru will reveal its Hybrid Tourer Concept. It will feature key elements of the company’s ‘DNA’, notably a horizontally-opposed engine – in this instance the world’s first ‘boxer’ hybrid powerplant – and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD).  It marries these with an opulent and spacious cabin accessed through elongated gullwing-style doors, and an eye-catching, finely sculpted body.

Articulating with the new trend toward hybrid tourer-saloon cars like BMW's Grand Tourer, this is Subaru's first salvo in this upmarket battle for new market. Throwing in a hybrid Boxer is nothing if not intriguing.

The hybrid system apparently uses Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed, direct-injection, turbocharged petrol pugilist allied to two electric motors. The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries.

According to press releases, in normal driving conditions the direct-injection petrol engine is used, but at lower speeds and start-up, the rear electric motor drives the car.  The forward electric unit, which is mainly used as a power generator, kicks in to assist performance and efficiency while tackling inclines.  Subaru’s in-house designed Lineartronic automatic transmission is featured, further boosting fuel efficiency and driving performance.

Wether it can retain the passionate punch of the standard scooby Boxer-driven cars remains to be seen of course. But the concept certainly looks good.