Sophisticated Subaru FHI Hybrid Concept to Debut in Tokyo

Historically Subaru isn’t a company many necessarily associate with producing elegant touring cars. The BRAT, half car half truck with seats in the bed was the iconic Subaru in the 80′s. The 90′s were all about the gravel eating Impreza WRX inspired by the World Rally race car that tore through muddy forests and up rocky mountain roads. But the designers at Subaru are about ready to show that they can also turn out a refined touring sedan that is environmentally friendly.

The FHI concept will debut next week at the Tokyo motor show and is based on the theme “Take a Moment to Free Your Mind”. The exterior design hints at the styling evolution of the Subaru brand and features large gullwing doors. The interior has an architectural quality with structural overhead beams and large expanses of glass. The top of the dashboard is movable and can be adjusted to the height of the driver for better visibility.

The hybrid system has a motor located in the front and the rear. At low speeds, only the rear electric motor is used. When more power is needed, the front 2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine gets switched on. The system automatically shuts off the engine when stopped at a signal to save gas.

[via cartype]