Subaru is best known for hot all-wheel-drive sedans and go-anywhere station wagons but now Fuji Heavy Industries has struck out in a new direction with the XV compact SUV, revealed this morning at the Frankfurt motor show.
Subaru SA says there'll be a pearl white one on show at the Johannesburg motor show in October, ahead of the South African release in February 2012.
It's based on the concept of 'Urban Adventure', built for stress-free inner-city driving, balancing performance factors such as fuel efficiency and enjoyable driving with a distinctive, versatile exterior design.
The flowing body lines, high waistline and distinctive side cladding emphasise SUV practicality, while the hexagon grille and 'hawk-eye' headlights make it unmistakably a Subaru. But it's significantly taller than an Impreza, with bigger door openings and higher seats for easier access, a convenient cargo area and lots of small storage areas.
The instrument panel is styled horizontally to give the cabin a more roomy feeling, and the XV is trimmed with a mix of leather, metal, and cloth, with a multi-function display highly visible in the upper middle section of the instrument panel.
And yes, it's a real Subaru, with the new 1.6 and two-litre boxer petrol engines (plus a diesel under consideration for SA) and signature symmetrical all-wheel drive. Engine stop-start is standard, as is vehicle dynamic control; Lineartronic constantly variable transmission is an option.