Subaru: Hybrid Tourer Concept news

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Old 10-07-2009 | 10:56 AM
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Subaru: Hybrid Tourer Concept news

Press release...

Subaru has condensed its DNA, developed over many years around the Subaru's core technology of "Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)" and "Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine", into the integration of a luxurious and high-quality cabin atmosphere and an eye-catching sculpted body. The concept car features Subaru's latest evolutions in handling agility, riding comfort and superior safety performance. It proposes Subaru's vision of a future grand touring car that excels in environmental friendliness thanks to Subaru's unique hybrid system.
2. Design and packaging

(1) Exterior
Subaru imagined wings with a feeling of freedom and confidence for driving far and wide in any environment. A luxurious and comfortable cabin, and advanced driving performance are contained within a sculpted aerodynamic form. The design features a combination of bright, open glass areas with a solid, reliable body.

(2) Interior
The original point of the ideal grand touring car is its interior design, featuring four independent and comfortably positioned seats. Passengers are enclosed within an atmosphere that provides a surpassing feeling of openness and stress-free reassurance, through the further pursuit of a human-centered philosophy, the essence of Subaru car design, and the incorporation of functions that are friendly to passengers.
The top of the dashboard is movable up and down to provide an optimal driving environment for the driver according to driving conditions.
A flat floor in the rear seat was achieved even with the implementation of AWD, for improved use and movement inside the cabin.
Specialized shielding is incorporated in the windshield to reduce eyestrain on the driver.
New leather covering developed with superior breathability and a ventilation function is used in the seats for improved comfort and texture.

3. Mechanisms
In addition to refinements to Subaru's core technology such as Symmetrical AWD and Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine, further enhancements were made for improved environmental friendliness, driving performance and high safety performance by offering a next-generation power unit system and advanced safety technologies.
(1) Next-generation power unit system
2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine
The Horizontally-Opposed turbo gasoline engine, with a reputation for powerful acceleration, is combined with a direct fuel-injection system for improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, and improved torque and response in practical range. This evolution in Subaru turbo technology excels in both environmental friendliness and engine performance.

Lineartronic (CVT)
Lineartronic, Subaru's new generation automatic transmission, achieves further improvements in both fuel efficiency and driving performance by reinforcing parts for use with the high-power output of a turbo engine.

Hybrid system
To further enhance the appeal of the Symmetrical AWD system, this unique hybrid two-motor system features a power/drive motor in the front and a drive motor in the rear.

At start-up and extremely low speeds when fuel efficiency is low, such as when driving the car into a garage, the rear motor is used primarily to allow driving without utilizing the power of the engine. During normal driving, the front engine is primarily used. The direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline mated with the Symmetrical AWD offers a whole new, Subaru driving experience. During acceleration, the rear motor assists the driving power of the engine to achieve advanced driving performance. Further, when accelerating uphill, the front motor, which is normally used as a power generator, assists to drive the front axle for improved performance. The implementation of a non-idling function that stops the engine when the car comes to a halt reduces unnecessary fuel consumption. The use of a high-performance lithium battery is based on experience and know-how achieved with the Subaru Plug-in STELLA electric vehicle, launched this summer. This includes the use of a precise energy management system and regenerative brake controls, for improvements in excellent fuel efficiency.
Old 10-07-2009 | 10:57 AM
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Old 10-07-2009 | 12:37 PM
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AsianRage's Avatar
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I like the new grill design, along with the exterior design.
Old 10-07-2009 | 01:37 PM
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Belzebutt's Avatar
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The future of the automobile looks bright.
Old 10-07-2009 | 10:01 PM
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agranado's Avatar
how handsome I am
 
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From: Miami, FL
IS in the front, A3ish in the back. sexy
Old 10-07-2009 | 10:04 PM
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Chloe @ 17mo
 
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Originally Posted by agranado
IS in the front, A3ish in the back. sexy
I don't see the IS reference, and the rear is more of a close cousin of the RDX.
Old 10-08-2009 | 08:21 AM
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ThermonMermon's Avatar
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Originally Posted by AsianRage
I don't see the IS reference, and the rear is more of a close cousin of the RDX.
more like alfa.


IMO, the gullwing door design would carry way too high of a development cost to carry a subaru price tag..(its ok for MB tho)
Old 10-08-2009 | 09:00 AM
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What Would Don Draper Do?
 
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looks awesome.
Old 03-05-2010 | 08:05 PM
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Post Update


Earlier reports have suggested that new CAFE standards would force Subaru to fast track its plans for diesel and hybrid options and possibly drop standard all-wheel drive as well for the U.S. market. Now, inside sources are claiming that the first hybrid may in fact end up being an Impreza – not the Subaru Legacy hybrid that has been expected since it was announced in 2005.

Subaru nears completion of its hybrid system

According to inside sources speaking with Road & Track, the hybrid Legacy that has been promised since 2005 does not properly host a hybrid powertrain due to unnamed issues with its chassis. Because of this, Subaru’s engineers have instead turned to the Impreza model to house their hybrid powertrain and become the automaker’s first production hybrid.

Subaru unveiled a concept vehicle at the 2009 LA Auto Show, known as the Hybrid Tourer that was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine in addition to a two-mode hybrid system and a CVT transmission. The 2.0-liter boxer engine is currently offered in the Japanese market for their Impreza, where the American market enjoys a larger 2.4-liter unit. Although Road & Track suggested Subaru may fit their hybrid system onto the 2.4-liter boxer engine currently used for the U.S. market, we find ourselves leaning towards use of the same 2.0-liter found in both Japan and the Hybrid Tourer concept vehicle.

The 2.0-liter unit would offer less power, but depending on the configuration, the hybrid system could help to boost power while also taking advantage of the less thirsty 2.0-liter boxer compared to its larger sibling. Since Subaru has already developed that exact system for its concept car, it would also make for an easier conversion to their production model.

How Subaru arrived where it is today in regards to hybrid technology

Just over two years ago Subaru shared with the world that it was in the midst of moving forward with diesel and hybrid powertrains for the future, but that diesels would likely be the automaker’s top priority. Subaru attributed this hierarchy on the “voices” of its consumers demanding diesels more loudly than they were demanding hybrids.

“There are many opinions. But currently, the voices calling for diesels are stronger than the voices for hybrids,”
Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, told Automotive News Europe.

Around the same time Toyota doubled its stake in Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Industries, and Toyota and Subaru were well on their way with sharing hybrid technology. “We agreed with Toyota to utilize the Toyota system in developing our own hybrid technology,” Mori said. “Fundamentally speaking, we can’t just plunk Toyota’s system into our own vehicles. We need to develop something that is adjusted to our products.”

Unlike other mainstream automakers, Subaru found itself in a unique situation in regards to more stringent fuel economy standards due to the fact that it strictly sells vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. Although AWD has its many benefits, the drawback is reduced fuel economy – regardless of how efficient the engine may be. With ever-pressing fuel economy standards, Subaru was forced to consider removing boxer engines and AWD off of the “standard” features list, and instead onto the “options” list.

Old 03-05-2010 | 10:14 PM
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Never Summer's Avatar
Drifting
 
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Stockton, California
The absolute last thing the world needs: Subaru Hybrids. Subaru drivers are already slow enough, don't give them an excuse to drive any more slow (or economically friendly, as they put it), please for the love of God don't let this car happen.
Old 03-05-2010 | 11:13 PM
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Steven Bell's Avatar
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From: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Very cool looking automobile! Interesting doors.
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