Subaru has given the world a look at where its Legacy car line is going with the world premiere of its new Levorg concept car at the 2013 Tokyo Motor. The concept, which stands for “Legacy,” "Revolution,” and “Touring,” is designed to combine practicality and sports car handling in a Sport tourer concept which is expected to hit the Japanese market next year.
Subaru says that the Levorg has been designed for high aerodynamic efficiency and uses a body with ultra-high tensile steel for light weight and rigidity. It still looks like a Legacy five-door with the same slightly heavy feel and an unimpressive spoiler, though the hexagonal grille and the “hawkeye” headlights do give the front some real character.
Like the Legacy, the Levorg concept is small engine car. It uses a new 1.6-liter horizontally-opposed direct injection turbo (DIT) Boxer engine producing 168 bhp (125 kW) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque, but it can also take the 2.0-liter DIT Boxer engine with 296 bhp (220 kW) and 295 lb-ft (298 Nm) of torque.
Very little has been revealed about the performance, but the Levorg does have Subaru’s eight-speed Sport Lineartronic CVT gearbox. There’s an independent suspension system and electric steering with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system for better handling and cornering.
For safety, Subaru has installed a Hazard Avoidance Assist system to anticipate collisions, a Pre-Collision Reverse Throttle Management system to cut engine output if reversing gets a bit hairy, and an updated EyeSight driver assist system that Subaru says provides improves the capabilities of the Active Cruise Control and Pre-Collision Braking Control systems.
Subaru’s innovative EyeSight driver assist system has been updated for the Levorg, and now features greater visibility and wider viewing angles for the Active Cruise Control and Pre-Collision Braking Control systems. The next-generation EyeSight introduces a new Active Lane Keep System.
Inside the Subaru Levorg, there’s a small-diameter flat-bottomed D-shaped steering wheel, piano black and metal trim, ice-blue lighting on the instruments, and a 3.5-inch LCD color display that provides constant updates on vehicle status.
The Levorg goes on sale in Japan early next year. Price has yet to be announced.
Source: Subaru
