We’re going to see both the four- and five-door versions of the all-new 2012 Impreza at the New York Auto Show this week, but at the Shanghai motor show, Subaru lifted the wraps off a concept version of the hatchback model in a crossover guise. Named the XV Concept, the study essentially offers us our first glimpse at the successor of the North American market Impreza Outback Sport as well as the Impreza XV that is offered in Japan.
The lime-green XV Concept combines Subaru’s all-wheel drive system with a jacked up suspension and an array of SUV-like styling cues. The five-door model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,620 mm in height sporting a 2,635mm long wheelbase. It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine linked to a CVT.
Exterior highlights include a protective armor of plastic add-ons around the wheel arches, side sills and on the lower part of the front and rear bumpers, along with large roof rails and splats of metallic trim here and there. The five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/45 ZR19 tires complete the look.
As for the interior, the XV Concept gets a two-tone color theme with white leather seats and black plastics elsewhere. There’s also a panoramic glass roof that extends from the front windscreen all the way to the rear, while Subaru fitted the XV with a futuristic touch-panel multi-information display in the center console.
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