Tokyo green news: Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

As expected, Subaru unveiled the Hybrid Tourer Concept at Tokyo, which features the world's first hybrid drivetrain whose engine has Subaru's trademark 'boxer' configuration. That allows Subaru to herald a spurious green first.

What's all the fuss about?

The 'gullwing' doors, futuristic styling and the fact it's a hybrid all stand out, but most pressing is the fact it probably hints at what the next Impreza will look like. When we first saw this concept in picture form, we thought it looked somewhat like an Alfa Brera at the back end - and that's still the case in the metal, sort of. It's very stylish indeed, which is not something usually said of Subaru's products.

What makes it so green?

That boxer hybrid drivetrain is actually very clever, because it has two electric motors, one on the front axle and one in the back. The more powerful of the two is at the back and can drive the car alone at low speeds before the turbo boxer petrol engine kicks in at higher velocities. The front motor is normally a generator used to charge the batteries, but if extra traction is needed, the 13bhp unit can kick in and power the front wheels. Thus, this concept has an unusual type of green four-wheel drivetrain.

When can I buy one?

No chance. Like most concepts though, parts of what you see will end up in production, and it's likely the drivetrain will get an outing in a few years now that everyone's at the hybrid thing. The styling, like we've said, might appear on future Imprezas, but everything else is concept guff. Sweet guff, mind. However, the Impreza WRX STI Carbon on the stand probably will go on sale, because it's basically a stock STI with a carbon roof. That reduces weight, lowers the centre of gravity and makes the car cooler than Ice Cube, Ice-T and Vanilla Ice collaborating to record a cover of Foreigner's Cold as Ice.

Mark Nichol