Subaru has chose to let us marvel at the possible design of the preview concept by enticing us via a teaser image – the attached photo is definitely not revealing too much of the sneak preview for the next-gen XV.
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Little can be determined from the picture, but Subaru has confirmed it’s a new XV concept, and should determine the design direction of the XV road vehicle – a crossover based on the Impreza platform. Those Impreza concepts had a wheelbase measuring 105.1 inches (2.67 meters) and chances are this will remain just about the same on the production models, including on the next XV. While the Impreza goes for a more sophisticated design than the current model, the XV carries forward with a rugged look characterized by a model-specific grille with a thicker frame, honeycomb inserts on both sides of the front bumper, and a slab of brushed aluminum-look trim that mimics a skid plate. The front fascia has been upgraded. At the rear, the 2016 Subaru XV adds a trunk spoiler and LED lamps.
There are also two new colour options available to United Kingdom buyers – Hyper Blue and Dark Blue Metallic – and like every Subaru, the XV is offered with a comprehensive five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Along with new exterior styling, the XV Concept will likely show new technologies that are coming like new safety features and interior upgrades.
The 2.0-litre 150PS petrol engine has been revised slightly to improve economy – the CVT automatic version now has an official figure of 43.5mpg, a two per cent improvement.
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Beneath the bonnet is a choice of two four-cylinder Boxer engines – a 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel plus two transmissions – six-speed manual and CVT automatic. It delivers 147 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. Despite the longer ratios, Subaru says that the new XV diesel is still able to accelerate from nought to 62mph in 9.3 seconds. No word yet on US availability.
