Subaru XV crossover

The wraps have been taken off the Subaru XV crossover at the Frankfurt Motor Show – and the maker has also confirmed that its long-awaited coupe will be called the BRZ.

The XV is a compact crossover that's based on the Impreza. It features the latest version of Subaru's hexagonal grille, with 'hawk-eye' headlights, a sporty high-riding stance and oversized alloy wheel designs.

Developed under the concept of “Urban Adventure”, the four-wheel drive XV will come with three boxer four-cylinder engines – a new 1.6-litre petrol, a 2.0-litre petrol claimed to offer class-leading fuel efficiency, and the firm’s 2.0-litre diesel.

The 112bhp petrol offers greater pace and significantly better efficiency than the 1.5 currently used in the Impreza, and promises to deliver 44.8mpg in auto guise. The bigger petrol delivers 148bhp and 42.8mpg, while the 145bhp diesel gives 50.4mpg.

Three transmissions will be available – a new Lineartronic CVT developed specially for the XV to optimise efficiency, plus six-speed manuals for the 2.0 petrol and diesel, and a five-speed manual for the 1.6-litre.

The CVT models will feature a 60:40 front/rear split four-wheel-drive system, while manual models get a 50-50 split centre differential set-up. A new auto Stop-Start system was also developed for the model, while a multifunction display features inside.

Although confirming the BRZ badge for the coupe, fans hoping to see the finished model were disappointed, as the firm chose to unveil a wireframe model called the BRZ Prologue - Boxer Sports Car Architecture II.

 

The BRZ, which is being developed alongside Toyota’s FT-86, will be powered by a 2.0-litre flat-four boxer engine, and mated to a CVT transmission. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive set-up aims to deliver real driving thrills.

No precise engine details have been released, but it's expected to use the same 200bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant as the Toyota FT-86, which should mean a 0-62mph time of around seven seconds and a top speed of 140mph.

Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, President Fuji Heavy Industries, said he hoped the new models would boost Subaru's global sales to 900,000 by 2015.

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