Subaru Concept Cars - Spectacular, Fun, and Futuristic!

Concept cars are kind of like the "fun" part of the auto industry.  The designers can take hold of their imaginations and create an end product with out holding back, as they would have to in a made for production car.  Subaru has rolled out some spectacular concept cars over the years, some eventually getting a modified production version, and some going no further than the showroom.

Legacy Concept

Subaru of America revealed the 2009 Subaru Legacy concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The new Legacy concept is a hint at the future of Legacy design. The design showcases the sport sedan heritage of the Subaru Legacy, but in more modern and purposeful package. Marking the 20th anniversary of the Subaru Legacy, the Legacy concept has been developed to showcase the Legacy's sporting capabilities and features Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system mated to a

Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine. The design concept is based on a larger 108.3 in. wheelbase designed to maximize interior space. The theme of concept design is "Presence", represented by the aggressive front fascia and solid yet expressive body. Sharp design lines carve out a substantial mass as they flow from the hood, across the roof to the trunk, while the sharp body lines project a sense of strength. A character line runs from just before the A-pillar and sweeps up to the tail just above the taillamps.

The EXIGA Concept

The EXIGA Concept is a seven-passenger wagon said to combine utility with a sporting driving experience. Power comes from what's likely the same turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer four that drives the Impreza WRX models and is sent to all four wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. A large glass roof no doubt lends the EXIGA Concept an airy atmosphere, while theater-style seating affords every passenger an unobstructed view.  De spite a body size that?s convenient for maneuvering, the EXIGA comfortably ensures ample space and a pleasant ride for each passenger.  The EXIGA has realized ideal proportions that provide the optimal body size for better handling, as well as ample interior space through its carefully calculated measurements of the height, width, length, wheelbase, floor size, and roof design. Front and rear visibility is maximized by the creative design and positioning of pillars and windows.  The three rows of seats are laid out at three different heights, like gradually elevated theater seating, placing the first and second rows slightly lower than the third to allow all passengers better outside views. A large panoramic glass roof fully covers area above the second row of seats and enhances the openness of the interior. The glass roof is available as an option on all models except the 2.0i.  Large rear door openings with wide plastic door sills are designed to facilitate ingress and egress, and the rear doors also open nearly 90 degrees for easy access to the third-row seating.  A double-wishbone rear suspension with reduced projection into the interior makes room for comfortable third-row seats and a wide luggage compartment. The subframe between the rear suspension and the chassis helps to reduce vehicle noise and absorb vibrations from the road.  By using the newly designed resin fuel tank  and optimizing the body frame structure, the floor has been made flat to provide spacious legroom for passengers in the third row.

Forester Mountain Rescue Concept

This concept was shown at the 2008 SEMA in Las Vegas and it has more than 14" of ground clearance with an Air Lift custom adjustable ride height air suspension system and huge Yokohama Geolandar 30 x 9.5-in. tires on special 15" wheels. Other upgrades include custom front and rear DeeZee skid plates, Bushwacker Trail Armor fender flares, door cladding, rear gate guard and tail light guards, Subaru Baja sport activity lights, 7 roof mounted LED spotlights, a 9,500lb winch, remote rear door openers, extra wide round crossbars and a rescue toboggan!  Lots of features, but what this concept really comes down to is the impressive 14" of ground clearance!

G4e Electric Concept

Subaru's G4e is an electric vehicle.  The G4e Conce pt offers seating for five and optimizes interior space by storing the batteries in the floor. The concept's handling is improved by this as batteries tend to be rather heavy, and his layout should provide for a low center of gravity. The G4e Concept somewhat mimics the styling of many of today's tall cars such as the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe, though it's slightly edgier. Subaru claims a 124 mile range from the G4e, thanks to lithium-ion batteries and a lightweight body.

Stella Electric Concept Car

The plug-in Stella Concept can cover 50 miles on a single charge, and its battery can be fully recharged in eight hours through a household socket.  The Stella offers electric city commuting at a reasonable cost.  Fuji is targeting fleet sales of up to 200 units during the car's first year, if it does go into production.  Stella leasing will begin in Japan, but the company has no immediate plans to bring it overseas.

B9 SC

The B9 SC is a hybrid-drive sports roadster and was introduced in 2004.  This concept vehicle showcases signature elements of the brand's evolving design language being developed.  The two-seat B9 SC roadster melds high-performance driving and environmental compatibility in an exciting, fun-to-drive sports roadster. Subaru believes that hybrid gas/electric powered vehicles will be the link in evolution from purely internal combustion engines to fuel cell-powered electric vehicles. Using its own hybrid drive technology, Subaru will be able to offer customers the kind of performance they are enjoying in the brand's growing roster of turbocharged models.  The hybrid system in the Subaru B9 SC is ideally suited to work with the brand's existing Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive systems and could be adapted to current vehicle platforms. The hybrid drive technology itself differs significantly from that used in most current production and proposed hybrid vehicles. In most hybrids, an electric motor is used to assist an internal combustion engine. The Sequential Series Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SSHEV) propulsion system in the Subaru B9 SC works the other way around.  The SSHEV system teams a powerful electric motor with a 2.0-liter DOHC Subaru boxer 4-cylinder gas engine. At low and midrange speeds, the gasoline engine is used primarily to charge the advanced laminated lithium-ion batteries. At speeds over 50 mph, the B9 SC runs only on its gasoline engine. Thus, the internal combustion engine always runs in its most efficient speed range. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, height-adjustable suspension and large wheels with run-flat tires give the Subaru B9 SC concept trail-driving capability, making it a sports car for all roads. The concept vehicle's lower body features a special protective paint that also wraps over the upper body behind the doors to provide unity to the design. The windshield is made of a special mirror reflective glass.
 

R1e Electric Commuter Vehicle

The Subaru R1e is a pure electric vehicle designed to appeal to urban markets where small, easily maneuverable commuter vehicles make sense for many drivers. The advanced laminated lithium ion batteries, developed by a joint venture between Subaru and NEC Corp., can be charged by plugging the vehicle into the type of AC outlet used for large home air conditioners.

B5-TPH

Called the B5-TPH for 'Turbo Parallel Hybrid', the three-door coupe combines a 260 PS 2.0 liter 'boxer' engine with an electric generator/motor fitted between the engine and transmission.  This provides a low-cost solution to giving driving enthusiasts lively acceleration and a high top speed but with excellent fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions.  The four-cylinder horizontally-opposed petrol engine features a Miller Cycle system which improves engine efficiency by reducing pumping losses thanks to a combustion expansion stroke that is longer than the compression stroke.  The electric motor itself produces 10 kW and 150 Nm torque while the petrol engine has a 191 kW output with 343 Nm torque.  A new type of manganese lithium ion battery charges to 95 per cent capacity in five minutes and operates not just in city driving but also when cruising. The design of the Subaru B5-TPH itself is a striking one featuring smooth contours and a large tailgate, hinged just behind the B-post. Its 'crossover' theme combines the practicality of a hatchback, fun of a coupe and all-terrain ability of a SUV, complete with a 200 mm ground clearance. Meanwhile, Subaru's much-admired full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive and low-centre-of-gravity 'boxer' engine ensures agile handling. Read more about Subaru Concept cars here.