11:15 PM
Auto Car Design and Review
The biennial Tokyo auto show always presents a handful of unique and eye-catching concepts. Few are even remotely feasible, but that just makes the weirdest ones even more interesting. The Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept, however, is one 2011 Tokyo debutant we would love to see make production in some form, in part because it is a wagon and in part because it plain looks good.
Subaru is calling the ATC a "grand touring car of the future," albeit one that is roughly as "grand" as any Impreza-size car can be. Does it preview a wagon variant of the Impreza, which is currently offered in sedan and five-door forms? Subaru says that, as a company, it "has shown the most strength in the sports wagon category," and that the ATC "demonstrates Subaru's direction toward the future." So, maybe. Hopefully.
Greetings, ATC. Audi You Do?
Bracketed by a pair of slab-sided front fenders is a face that even an Audi stylist could love (and possibly find rather familiar)-hexagonal grille, A3-like LED lights, and all. The concept flaunts its unbridled wagonness with a chunky D-pillar, but we don't expect the double-gullwing doors on any production Subaru ever, no matter how grand it may be.
An all-glass roof allows ample lighting to the ATC's four-place interior, which features a wide variety of wood and metal finishes. Among the more frightening interior innovations is a monitor in the middle of the steering wheel with which the driver can adjust audio, climate, and cruise-control settings, as well as view maps, the internet, and even TV. Rather than ponder a future of automotive autopilot, we'll suggest Subaru put that monitor back in the dash.
Powering the all-wheel-drive ATC is a 1.6-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection version of Subaru's new boxer-four. Subaru made no mention of power for either the engine or the claimed hybrid system, except to say that the engine's output is similar to "current leading turbo engines." To us, that means horsepower and torque in the neighborhood of 180. The third member in this powertrain is a CVT-Subaru plans to replace most (if not all) of its automatic transmissions with rubber bands in the future. Overall, the company says the ATC should better the fuel economy of its existing products by up to 50 percent.
Preview of the WRX/STI?
With its road-scraping stance, aggressive front end, and huge wheels, the ATC could be seen as a preview of the next-gen WRX and STI. The pair will be built on a bespoke platform but may not be much different in size from the Impreza. At the very least, expect many of this car's stylistic elements, as well as its powertrain, to appear on and in future Subarus.
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