Photo: Subaru
Both urban hero and rural getaway. That’s how Subaru likes to describe the XV, which is basically an Impreza hatchback packing a raised suspension, roof bars, and some black plastic cladding here and there. Marketed as the Crosstrek in the U.S. of A., the six-year-old model is getting a little bit long in the tooth.
We first laid our eyes upon the go-anywhere vehicle in 2011, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Since then, Subaru made very few updates, the reason why many people regard the XV / Crosstrek as being yesterday’s news. When you consider that the Impreza was refreshed from the ground up for the 2017 model year, it becomes crystal clear that a new generation is duly needed.
And this is it in shady profile-view teaser form. The 2018 Subaru XV has been confirmed to debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March, with pre-order reservations for Japan slated to kick off on March 9, 2017. The Ebisu-based automaker didn’t say anything remotely of interest about the all-new model, albeit the writing is on the wall. Lighting up the teaser photo in Photoshop reveals lines inspired by those of the XV Concept presented last year.
Taking a cue from the old generation of the XV / Crosstrek, the XV Concept, and the 2017 model year Impreza, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 2018 model has its side mirrors mounted on the front doors, not the A-pillars. The FB20 2.0-liter boxer engine with 152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft from 4,000 rpm, and direct-injection technology should do the talking on the mechanical front, Symmetrical AWD included. In terms of swapping cogs, the good old five-speed manual transmission will be complemented by a Lineartronic CVT.
Subaru’s global platform is designed with electrification in mind, which is why there’s a huge likelihood the XV / Crosstrek will spawn a fuel economy-minded hybrid variant in due time (i.e. 2019 model year at the earliest).
And this is it in shady profile-view teaser form. The 2018 Subaru XV has been confirmed to debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March, with pre-order reservations for Japan slated to kick off on March 9, 2017. The Ebisu-based automaker didn’t say anything remotely of interest about the all-new model, albeit the writing is on the wall. Lighting up the teaser photo in Photoshop reveals lines inspired by those of the XV Concept presented last year.
Taking a cue from the old generation of the XV / Crosstrek, the XV Concept, and the 2017 model year Impreza, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the 2018 model has its side mirrors mounted on the front doors, not the A-pillars. The FB20 2.0-liter boxer engine with 152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft from 4,000 rpm, and direct-injection technology should do the talking on the mechanical front, Symmetrical AWD included. In terms of swapping cogs, the good old five-speed manual transmission will be complemented by a Lineartronic CVT.
Subaru’s global platform is designed with electrification in mind, which is why there’s a huge likelihood the XV / Crosstrek will spawn a fuel economy-minded hybrid variant in due time (i.e. 2019 model year at the earliest).
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