Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept Tokyo Debut

Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept arrives at the Tokyo Motor Show

Just as they did at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru have brought along a hybrid estate – the Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept.

You have to conclude that Subaru are serious about producing a hybrid estate car. They brought along a hybrid Tourer Concept to the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and, after teasing it earlier in the month, they’ve revealed the new Advanced Tourer Concept on the Subaru stand at Tokyo.

The focus of the Advanced Tourer Concept is to produce an eco-friendly hybrid estate car, but one which offers some proper sporty driving characteristics so the hair shirt you’re wearing by opting for a hybrid doesn’t scratch too much. And although there are some obvious concept elements to the hybrid Sports Tourer – big wheels, daft doors, OTT interior – the essence of the Advanced Tourer Concept looks completely production probable.

Powering the Advanced Tourer Concept is a 1.6 litre turbo, horizontally-opposed, Boxer engine with direct injection which runs through Subaru’s Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HIEV) system which channels drive to all four wheels through a CVT ‘box. The system has a single electric motor which allows electric-only use at start-up and at low speeds.

Subaru reckons the hybrid powertrain in the Advanced Tourer offers the same sort of performance as a naturally aspirated 2.5 litre lump, but with much improved economy and emissions.

It seem likely that the Advanced Tourer Concept – without the concept car fripperies – is basically what we’ll see in the 2013 Subaru Legacy.

All looks rather promising.