Subaru takes last year’s Geneva auto show concept a step further with the VIZIV 2 debuting today at the 2014 iteration of the show.
The VIZIV 2 echoes a future production CUV from Subaru, although the automaker is quelling speculation the concept represents a replacement for the departing Tribeca CUV.
Subaru says the new concept blends eco-friendliness, performance, design and utility into one package.
The most obvious difference between the new and old VIZIV concepts is the addition of two more doors to the VIZIV 2. The 4-door body style allows for four adults to ride comfortably on long road trips, Subaru says.
The other change is a smaller-displacement diesel engine for the VIZIV 2. The new concept pairs a 1.6L boxer diesel with direct injection and turbocharging to three electric motors, one in front and two in the rear. The previous VIZIV used a 2.0L turbodiesel.
The front motor assists the engine to provide power to the front wheels, while the two rear motors control the back wheels and vector torque to quell understeer or boost traction.
Subaru adds a new drive mode, Eco Cruise, to the previous concept’s Intelligent and Sports modes. The new mode adjusts output based on what Subaru’s EyeSight camera picks up ahead of the car.
The VIZIV 2 also has Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and a lithium-ion battery, placed so as to maintain a low center of gravity for the vehicle, the brand says. How much range a full charge of the Li-ion provides is not disclosed.
Design cues of the concept include flared fenders and a hexagonal shape echoed in the grille and rear of the vehicle.
The VIZIV 2 is about 6 ins. (15 cm) shorter in length and height than Subaru’s Forester compact, but 5 ins. (13 cm) wider.
The concept also is 5 ins. wider than Subaru’s smallest production CUV, the XV Crosstrek, but just a tad shorter in overall length.
Subaru also shows off its WRX lineup at the 2014 Geneva show. The European WRX STI gets the same 2.5L boxer 4-cyl. engine as the U.S.-spec model, making 296 hp.
