Subaru Gears Up for Tokyo Motor Show
Motoring Channel Staff - 29/9/2005
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Subaru's B5-TPH Concept Car
Frankfurt
one day, Tokyo the next...
Fresh from the automobile onslaught that Europe's
biggest motor show - Frankfurt - foisted upon
our eager oculars, Asia's biggest auto show gears
up.
The 2005 Tokyo Motor Show is the place where
some of the world's biggest automakers show their
wares - from Toyota to Nissan, Mazda to Subaru
- the latter of which is showing off the hybrid
B5-TPH and the production-ready Blitzen Liberty.
If only they were imported to Australia...
The Tokyo Motor Show commences on October 19
and runs to November 6, and let's not forget the
Australian International Motor Show either, which
runs from the 14th until the 23rd of October.
Indeed, the fourth quarter of the year is when
we get a sneak peek at all the new vehicles in
the Asian/Australasian region, so sit tight and
enjoy the upcoming ride.
- Feann Torr, Editor
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The B5-TPH concept uses a hybrid system that
could find its way into other Subaru models soon
The B5-TPH also hints at future design directions
Subaru's Blitzen Touring Wagon makes 206kW
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Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, has
revealed its Tokyo Motor Show line-up, which will include
the conceptual B5-TPH model.
The 39th annual Tokyo Motor Show 2005, which will open its
doors to the public at the Makuhari Messe hall in the Chiba
prefecture near Tokyo, will also play host to the IVX-II concept
and Subaru's red hot Blitzen Liberty wagon.
Subaru says the B5-TPH concept car was designed around the
concept theme of a car for long-weekend getaways for couples.
The firm insists the vehicle blends multiple ideas for a future
car – a crossover between a gasoline engine and electric
motor, and between a sport wagon and sport utility vehicle
(SUV).
Incorporating Subaru's signature Symmetrical All Wheel Drive
(AWD), the concept car provides not only an efficient vehicle
but a glimpse of a future sport speciality car designed to
tackle all types of terrain.
The Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) power train is a new AWD
hybrid system, and has been applied to 2.0-litre horizontally
opposed (a.k.a boxer) turbo charged engine in the B5-TPH.
By combining the electric motor and the Miller cycle boxer
turbo engine, the motor has achieved fuel economy improvements
and reduced CO2 emissions. The concept's all-range performance
is enabled by the motor assist feature, an electric motor
that is designed to boost engine torque at low revolutions.
The vehicle promises versatile handling and manoeuvrability
both on and off road with its ground clearance of 200mm and
large-diameter tyres.
Subaru has designed the vehicle to be visually provocative;
the 2-door style combines with the long body of a wagon, creating
a forward-looking design.
The ultramodern alloy wheels contribute to this advanced
styling theme, as does the expansive tailgate design, while
the front end has close ties with the new generation Subaru
face, seen most clearly on the B9 Tribeca, and less so on
the 2006 Impreza range.
Another vehicle Subaru will be showcasing at the 2005 Tokyo
Motor Show is the Blitzen Touring Wagon, based on the high-power
sedan of the same name.
The Touring Wagon version was developed on the 2005 Legacy/Liberty
Blitzen sedan, introduced in December 2004, and has since
enjoyed multiple accolades, and this model is based upon the
Legacy/Liberty Touring Wagon 2.0 GT spec. B.
Powered by a 2.0-litre boxer with turbo/intercooler, the
new Blitzen Touring Wagon produces 206kW of power @ 6400rpm
and 343Nm of torque early in the rev cycle @ 2400rpm.
The AWD wagon features a newly designed interior to match
it's new-found power, and the exterior has also been upgraded
quite comprehensively, with a dominant chrome-rimmed front
grille, a new rear bumper with dual exhaust outlets and roof
spoiler. It also gets angular 18-inch wheels.
The IVX-II concept will also be displayed at the 39th annual
Tokyo Motor Show, which is an innovative vehicle based on
the Liberty/Legacy model.
IVX-II stands for Intelligent vehicle X (X symbolises the
infinite), which Subaru insists is the next generation of
intelligent vehicle, which adds advanced safety to the usual
Subaru package.
Its integrated preventive safety functions help the car to
automatically avoid dangers and restore it to a safe driving
position.
It does this via frontal recognition sensors (called the
'Active Driving Assist' system), that include a pair of stereo
cameras as well as a milliwave radar unit.
The new stereo camera device can not only detect multiple
objects, road traffic lines and varying conditions, but it
also calculates the distance between the car and an object
as well as the relative speed with which another car is approaching.
Combined with the next-generation high performance controller
the Active Driving Assist system ensures the optimal driving
position based on patterns of a driver’s manoeuvring.
In addition to these fast and reliable systems, the IVX-II
features Symmetrical AWD and its low center of gravity ensures
excellent vehicle stability. Driven like a normal car, the
IVX-II's high-tech devices co-exist with the driver's inputs,
interfering only in necessary instances.
We'll have more feature reports from the Tokyo Motor Show
in the coming weeks.
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