Subaru Cross Sport Concept Bows at Tokyo

With little fanfare Subaru showed two promising concepts at the Tokyo show, both based on iconic Subaru performance cars.

The Cross Sport Design Concept is an SUV/wagon body that rides on BRZ mechanicals. Think of it as a BRZ wagon, offering the nimble tossability of the sporty BRZ coupe with the roomy practicality of a wagon. It's the best of both worlds. While the engine is the same flat four from the BRZ, the concept gets Subaru's Lineartronic CVT. This is disconcerting to the enthusiast but the new WRX, revealed hours later at the Los Angeles auto show, also gets a CVT. Let's hope Subaru offers at least the option of a manual or else why tease us with such a promising configuration as this only to sap the life out of it with a CVT? We'll have to wait to drive it before passing final judgement.

The shooting brake Cross Sport is 169 inches long, 72 inches wide, 54 inches high and rides on a wheelbase of 103 inches. That's bigger than the BRZ. But the idea of a car this fun and this practical represents an ideal solution for sports car drivers with families and not enough money to buy a Ferrari FF. No other details about the engine were available but if this is platform sharing, bring it on (minus the CVT).

The Viziv, meanwhile, rides on Subaru WRX mechanicals. While it was shown at Geneva, Subaru parked the goofily name Viviz opposite the Cross Sport at its Tokyo stand. The two make a good pair. Viviz has a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter turbo diesel flat four with direct injection assisted by three permanent magnet electric motors, one driving the front wheels and two spinning the rears. Like the Cross Sport, the Viviz has a Subaru Lineartronic CVT. Power goes to all four wheels through Subaru's Symetrical AWD.

“Subaru's Viziv Evolution Concept is the embodiment of Subaru's vision of the future,” the company said.

Minus the CVT, that's a future we could look forward to.

By Mark Vaughn