Tokyo, Japan - This is the first teaser image released by Subaru of the Viziv Tourer concept, which will make its world debut at the 88th Geneva Motor Show on 6 March. And no, this is not the same Viziv Performance Concept that was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2017.
The image clearly shows a station wagon tailgate - but nobody calls them that these days, so it is likely to be introduced at Palexpo as a sportwagen or even a shooting brake.
As such it is likely to be the companion piece to a future production WRX sedan (expected in showrooms in 2020), also based on the Viziv concepts. Both will be almost certainly be built on Subaru’s new Global Platform, which has so far been used only on the current Impreza, and will have a similar footprint.
The
was 1950mm wide and 4630mm long on a 2730mm wheelbase, slightly bigger in every respect than the current WRX; we’d expect to see a little more wheelbase on the Tourer and a significantly longer rear overhang, to give it a really useful cargo bay.
Driver's car
The Global Platform is also designed to accommodate the EyeSight package - including autonomous emergency braking, side impact warning and driver fatigue detection - which is already in production on the new XV, but don’t look for fully autonomous functions in what Subaru insists will always a driver’s car.
There’s no guarantee that it will have a boxer engine though; Subaru design director Mamoru Ishii told Autocar late in 2017 that the signature engine layout wasn’t an essential part of the deal for many Subaru customers - and even hinted at a mild hybrid.
We read that as a possible transverse four (maybe borrowed from Toyota?) driving the front wheels on entry-level variants - but the top-of-the range models will almost certainly have turboboxer fours and symmetrical all-wheel drive, not least for that layout’s lower centre of gravity and the handling advantages it brings.
As soon as we know more, so will you.