Geneva show: Subaru teases XV

SUBARU has officially started its second-generation XV hype campaign with the first low-lit teaser image of the crossover revealed on a new splinter site, ahead of its full reveal at the Geneva motor show on March 7 this year.

Other than the model’s name and a clock counting down to the reveal time of 11:00am, the stand-alone site contains no other information, although the Japanese car-maker may progressively add information to the page as the show day approaches.

The dark profile reveals little detail but enough of the new model’s form can be seen to connect it to the XV Concept that was unveiled in Geneva last year and has since been shown at several other events including, most recently, the Montreal Auto Show, where it wore a Crosstrek badge.

Its blocky wheel arches, window line, headlight and tail-light all appear to have survived the transition from concept to road car, while even the wheel bear a resemblance.

Unlike many manufacturers, Subaru is known for its showroom model’s likeness to the concepts that previewed them and the XV seems like it will not break the convention.

The single profile shot shows a repeat of the roofbars, side steps, extended bumper and wheel-arch plastic trims, and boosted ride-height that allowed the original car to keep one foot in the realm of SUVs and another in the wagon world.

When it arrives, the new XV will be the second car in the Subaru portfolio to roll on its new Global Platform following the recent Impreza, continuing the eventual proliferation to all models in its line-up.

The company’s boxer four-cylinder engine would seem like an obvious powerplant for the new version, as would its tried-and-tested continuously variable transmission (CVT) auto for Australia.

Like every Subaru model except the Toyota-built BRZ sports coupe, the new XV will have the brand-defining AWD transmission for more go-anywhere ability.

A hybrid version has also been touted for other global markets following in the tyre tracks of the previous version, but Subaru Australia has repeatedly said no for that variant.

An enigmatic clock counting backward to zero could be an emerging trend for car-makers to build anticipation ahead of a show reveal, with Kia using the stunt for its Stinger launch on January 9 this year.