Subaru announced earlier this year that they have a number of hybrid vehicles coming our way, but even we weren’t prepared for the coolness that is the Advanced Tourer Concept, which we’ve just looked at for the first time on the show floor in Tokyo. It’s got form-fitting leather seats and wood on the dash and center column, but also carbon fiber in the grille.
And don’t think they are just showing off, because the concept actually previews a production model to arrive on the market in 2013. This is their second attempt at a hybrid powertrain like this one, but with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder direct-injection boxer gasoline engine mated to an in-house hybrid system, it promises to be much more economical than the old 2.0-liter 2008 concept.
The electric all-wheel drive system usually sends power to the front, which is more efficient, but under more severe road conditions, it gets shifted round all four wheels.
The electric all-wheel drive system usually sends power to the front, which is more efficient, but under more severe road conditions, it gets shifted round all four wheels.