New Subaru B5 TPH Concept

[The B4]

I searched so if it's posted I'm sorry!

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the major features of its vehicles and technologies, which will be exhibited at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show 2005, which will open its doors to the public in Makuhari Messe, Chiba from October 19 to November 6.

With the key word "Think. Feel. Drive. - Creating new value through the crossover concept", Subaru's core message is to appeal a car that realizes pleasurable driving, very high safety and excellent environmental performance. In the booth, the concept car "B5-TPH" which equipped with original hybrid system "Turbo parallel hybrid (TPH)", technology exhibit "IVX-II" next generation of intelligent vehicle which ensuring driving pleasure, comfort, and advanced safety, and new crossover vehicle "B9 TRIBECA" (US model) will be exhibited. By exhibiting these vehicles, Subaru will appeal the new areas of driving pleasure and new functions by integrating the different values.

Major exhibits of Subaru booth
B5-TPH -concept car- The B5-TPH concept car was designed around the concept theme of a car for long-weekend gataways get aways for couples. The vehicle develops the theme of crossover elements in 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 an efficiency and comfort glimpse of a future sport specialty car that further enriches the efficiency and comfort.

Major features of the B5-TPH
1. The Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) power train, a new AWD hybrid system, has been applied to 2.0liter Horizontally-Opposed turbo charged engine in the B5-TPH
2. By combining the electric motor and the Miller cycle boxer turbo engine (2.0L), the engine has achieved fuel economy improvements and reduced CO2 emissions. This superb, all-range performance is enabled by the motor assist feature, a motor that is designed to boost engine torque at low revolutions.
3. The vehicle promises versatile handling and maneuverability both on and rough road with its ground clearance of 200 mm and large-diameter tires.
4. The designs express the pleasure of driving, and of being driven as a passenger. Blending beautiful lines and the characteristics of the sport wagon, personal coupe and SUV, the car accentuates the crossover of its designs and function.

IVX-II (Technology exhibit)
"IVX-II (Intelligent vehicle X, X symbolizes the infinite) the next generation of intelligent vehicle which ensuring driving pleasure, comfort, and advanced safety. Enhancing pleasurable driving, while its integrated preventive safety functions help the car automatically avoid dangers and restores it to a safe driving position.

Major features of IVX-II
1. Improved its frontal recognition sensors (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 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.
2. Adopted the next-generation high performance controller with capability realized by Subaru's updated algorithms. the former ensures optimal driving position based on patterns of a driver's maneuvering. For the vehicle control, By-wire technology, which is the next-generation chassis control technology is used.
3. In addition to these fast and reliable systems, the IVX-II features Symmetrical AWD. Its low center of gravity ensures excellent vehicle stability and the ability to retain driving control, which allows a driver to handle the vehicle at his will. High-tech devices co-exist with the driver's enjoyment of vehicle handling, and they interfere with a driver's control only in necessary instances.


http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/1233/norm_1_orig.jpg

http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/1233/norm_3_orig.jpg

http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/1233/norm_4_orig.jpg

http://www.autoindex.org/images/news/1233/norm_2_orig.jpg

http://www.subarunews.net/news/B5_DRIVEs.jpg

http://www.subarunews.net/news/B5_Sides.jpg

[wukilla98]

flame surfacing anyone?

[The B4]

I think if you strip off the murano grill, two tone paint, beige, and give it real tail lamps...it would make a cool looking impreza.

I wish it had the hard crease on the side like the Tribeca though :(

[BrownBoy]

teh fugly^eleventybajillion

...although the underpinnings are def. interesting and I believe, the right way to go for subaru. It is a very good balance of performance/economy...pending actual real world numbers of course.

The "Edge" editions of the Outback and Forester are teh HOT!

[The B4]

Actual Review.

http://www.scoobymagazine.com/my07/sm07.pdf

[PGT]

http://www.autopress.be/images/saab9X_07.jpg

[The B4]

More pics.


http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95096.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95097.jpg

They parked this one where it looks like it has a hood scoop. What a tease!
http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95098.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95102.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95099.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95100.jpg


http://response.jp/issue/2005/0929/article74743_1.images/95101.jpg

[The B4]

http://www.autopress.be/images/saab9X_07.jpg

I concur...the execution isn't as nice as the saab though

[IwannaSportSedan]

The B5-TPH is UGLY. It might be salvageable, but in that color, with the design elements it currently has, it is ugly. Especially the front and the back. There isn't much on the side to make the profile look bad (aside from the door cut line interrupting the rocker black-out...), just bland. Why did they paint it beige and chartreuse green inside? Meh. :(

And after seeing the new posted pics... tail lights through the rear glass... bad news for tinting. Why have a nice big hatch like that, with such a HIGH lift-over height... I'd rather have a hatch that opened down to the load floor, than have one that encompasses half of the roof.

How long do you think it will take people to paint the blue B-pillar black to match tinted windows.... I give it 10 minutes after driving of the lot...

The technology of the hybrid drivetrain seems interesting, but I still wonder about the batteries and electrical current involved with a hybrid or electric vehicle.

The Forester and Outback Edge models look great. With the right equipment, and a reasonable price, I think they may put a little scare in the Audi All-Road and XC70 Volvo.
http://www.subarunews.net/news/outback_EDGEs.jpghttp://www.subarunews.net/news/outback_EDGE02s.jpg
http://www.subarunews.net/news/FORESTER_EDGEs.jpghttp://www.subarunews.net/news/FORESTER_EDGE02s.jpg

I think going a little more technical looking with the all-road vehicles, using greys and silvers, rather than tans and and bronze tones could be a good move for a specialized model. Especially if paired with a suspension and equipment package, essentially being the Outback/Forester equivalent to "Spec B."

Personally this one is my favorite, though
http://www.subarunews.net/news/Blitzen2006s.jpg
The blitzen sedan was evidently welcomed warmly enough to warrant a wagon... And the US still sees neither one :mad: In the absence of a WR Limited or STi Legacy, I want this one... We just get a very mildly adjusted Legacy Spec B for ~$6k extra!

[Aczwild]

Guys dont fret, as an engineer 75% of the time concepts dont make it to the road and certainly dont reflect the final body style...

However those gauge-pod-esq tail lights are kinda cool

[*Jedimaster*]

I kind of like it. And I love the rear bumper on the Outback Edge!

[Aczwild]

And god I love the Blitzen models.... please, please SOA bring us the Blitzen!!!

[The B4]

That blitzen is so hot...why couldn't SOA have added exterior changes to the Spec B? Oh well...JDM bumpers and the Blitzen grill. Reminds me of an Audi a lot but that's not a bad thing at all.

the B5 interior is too plasticky for my taste. The shapes are stuck together instead of flowing together. Acura does an awesome job of taking angular shapes and making them flow in their interiors.

[IwannaSportSedan]

Concepts may not represent future saleable vehicles, but they certainly can portend the future of the design language... If so, that is kind of scary...

I do wish SOA would have made the US Spec B more like the Blitzen, or the WR Limited Japanese models... and I fear we may never see them, if the Spec B we do get doesn't sell.

I want to support SOA if I thought they might learn from it and give us what we want, but I don't see it happening, and I can't justify spending 34-35k on the Spec B as it is configured, no matter how much I like the suspension or red leather.

If they'd painted the car Solid Red like the Blitzen, or WR Blue like the WR Limited, I'd probably save even more urgently and break the piggy-bank for it, just for the appearance and paint job. (I don't want to deal with changing the color of a new car...) but the titanium silver is underwhelming as a special color. (It should be the OEM color, along side, or instead of Brilliant Silver.)

If I had a real soft spot for silver, I'd just buy brilliant silver, and put the red interior in it. I am thinking Obsidian Black might even suit the red interior better.

for a limited run car, like they have made the US Spec B into, I really wish they had pushed the envelope a litte further, even with just the paint color. Interior, NAV, Suspension parts, wheels, etc., can all be changed MUCH easier than the paint color.

[Aczwild]

Alright why dont we get the damn cool shit!!!!

WR-Limited (http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&url=http://www.subaru.co.jp/wrlimited2005/)

[gt_ltd]

:eek:

[The B4]

:eek:

lol...best summation without words

[meier motor sports]

the b5 is pretty cool. i am looking at it as if it becomes more "real world looking. i like it

[The B4]

With mitsu looking like this these days.... Subaru needs to bring it in the design department. The B5 would be quite Plain Jane in production threads.

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74738_1.images/95083.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74721_1.images/95069.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74738_1.images/95084.jpg

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74739_1.images/95089.jpg

[unobtainium]

The B5 is too bland. It is salvage-able. It needs a character line on the side view and those weird door cut-outs have to go. It is very reminiscent of some of the Citroën studies, both interior and exterior. Seat designs and lower lip treatment are a couple of the indicators there. I'm delighted to see Citroën influence in these cars.

[apexjapan]

Note that the B5 concept is not the STI, but the base model concept. The Evo concept pics are just that, of the Evo, and do not look much like the base car that it will come from. If you look at a base Impreza right now, it doesn't look like much in comparison to the STI.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen
www.avoturboworld.com | www.sevenphotos.com | www.scoobymag.com

[The B4]

Note that the B5 concept is not the STI, but the base model concept. The Evo concept pics are just that, of the Evo, and do not look much like the base car that it will come from. If you look at a base Impreza right now, it doesn't look like much in comparison to the STI.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen
www.avoturboworld.com | www.sevenphotos.com | www.scoobymag.com


It's still a concept though...which tend to be more gaudy than production. Even if dressed down and dressed back up again...i doubt it will match the presence of the EVO

[IwannaSportSedan]

With mitsu looking like this these days.... Subaru needs to bring it in the design department. The B5 would be quite Plain Jane in production threads. *pics inline*

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74738_1.images/95083.jpg

Damn, that is pretty mean looking. Nice use of LEDs for front indicators... welcome addition.

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74721_1.images/95069.jpg

This car is just BEGGING for a glass roof between those chrome strips...

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74738_1.images/95084.jpg

Tail lights, fender flares, and even the wing looks decent. NICE OFFSET in those wheels... Some lippage or dish-action is possible with a different wheel design... Subie needs to reduce it's wheel offset like this, and go to a more standard 5x114.3 bolt pattern.

http://response.jp/issue/2005/0928/article74739_1.images/95089.jpg[/QUOTE]

The hump at the front of the hood is a little odd in profile... The front grille, and rear diffuser are a little bit boy racer, but not bad...

Subaru is gonna have a higher mark to hit, and they had better bring their new and improved A-game.

If a mitsubishi comes on the market looking like that I would consider it, even if it is a little less civilized, and a little bit smaller than the Legacy... The Impreza AND the Legacy need to bring more to the table in the future, and the B5 styling is definitely NOT it.

That Mitsu certainly makes a statement. Almost as good a statement as this: (Holden Torana concept... GM might actually be able to sell this one, even to me.)
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/holden-aims-04-1-big.JPG
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/holden-aims-04-3-big.JPG

[epicbard]

i hope the B5-TPH never gets made. this is one of those times i am happy most concepts never get made

[Aczwild]

That Torana is hot

[twisted]

man that mitsu is smokin....if scoobie dont step up their game i may just switch to mitsu camp.

The bug eyed rex was a disaster and the update after wasnt much better.

Fortunately the new rex /sti are looking decent (not killer looks but not fugly either...just decent enuff to keep on the 'someday wishlist').

But that B5 is just a crime against design. FUGLY is an understatement!!!:(
I've seens some nasty designs come from subaru in the past but this one by far tops the list of 'sins against automotive design'. !!!!YUCK!!!

Besides how many people are gonna even consider buying this 3 door atrocity?
Anyone in the market for something like this would rather get an RX or a 3 coupe or an infiniti G35. Didnt they learn from the blunder named SVX????

They shud be considering an AWD convertible right now to go after miata, skyy(yummy),z4,TT,s2k, clk,crossfire,mr2.

That designer better be getting castrated for this. I could design something way better than this (open challenge to the creator of this design)

NAsty front end, puke rear end...and i dont think i can go on to give my opinion about the interior......excuse me gotta go hurl...

.....back....(still shivering~~~~)

...when that mitsu comes out...my money may just go to them!!

Performance can only do so much...customers want character and prospective buyers of turbocharged 'sports compact/midsize sedans' want mean, aggressive, killer looks and stance (read M3, EVO, A4,S2k)


That holden looks nice except a bit of 'concept audi' meets 'acura TL-ish'

[IwannaSportSedan]

...Besides how many people are gonna even consider buying this 3 door atrocity?
Anyone in the market for something like this would rather get an RX or a 3 coupe or an infiniti G35. Didnt they learn from the blunder named SVX????

They shud be considering an AWD convertible right now to go after miata, sky(yummy),z4,TT,s2k, clk,crossfire,mr2.

Performance can only do so much...customers want character and prospective buyers of turbocharged 'sports compact/midsize sedans' want mean, aggressive, killer looks and stance (read M3, EVO, A4,S2k)


That holden looks nice except a bit of 'concept audi' meets 'acura TL-ish'

I could see them marketing the B5, 4-door, wagon, and tall wagon (forester) as a replacement for the Impreza. Not a successful replacement, but a replacement. It probably wouldn't look so insane re-tooled for production, but it sure isn't going to win beauty contests. I doubt it would sell that well in the US. Maybe in the far east and europe... Look at the european civic...

I still think they need to do a 3 door variant of the impreza that looks more like a Scion tC, or Acura RSX (sleek fastback roofline, not a direct copy of either one... RSX is bland, and tC is a tad chunky.)

Again, have the hatch open to the load floor. Opening the roof does nothing for practical use since things aren't being loaded into the car via crane. Low lift-over height from the ground is more important. Put the miller-cycle/hybrid drive in it if FHI wants to. but make it good looking, and good performing. Do a roadster if they want to compete with Miata/Solstice/Sky. I think they need a coupe before a convertible.

Versus an RX8 or G35 Coupe, Subaru really needs a grand touring coupe from the legacy line. I think a take off on the RX's four doors, and adding a hatch to the longer, wider load floor (seats folded down, of course) could be a really versatile car. (five doors doesn't equal a coupe, though, even if it looks like one... Coupe means "2-doors")

they could even call it SVX again, or something derivative. The SVX wasn't too bad, other than having too much weight, and style that dated a little too quickly. A turbo AWD 5-door hatch could be quite the sport touring car.

Think of it as a resurrection of the Mercury MC4 concept from about 8 years ago, updated for today, er, tomorrow. With a slightly more conventional hatch, and a less dorky front end...
http://www.mcarsweb.com/mercury/mc4b.jpg
http://www.mcarsweb.com/mercury/mc4.jpg

I think the next revision of the Legacy really needs the looks to back up the motivation. The Legacy is a handsome car, and has taken a major step forward from the previous model. One more step forward like that, and the next legacy could be a real looker.

That in addition to "technify-ing" the outback, with those Edge trim concepts, could really infuse some needed enthusiasm in the subaru line. The B5 concept isn't going to do it.

BTW, the Torana concept is at least a couple years old... not bad looking for yesterday's future. I wish it were today's reality, in a more realistic color... It is RWD with a 6cyl, and manual trans, after all. that makes it better than most of GM's current lineup right there.

[type b]

That Torana would be one of these, then:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=12942

[brio11]

That Evo X is gorgeous. If it goes on sale 07 i'm so there.

[The B4]

More pics...It looks like it could end up being two toned from the B Pillar down.


http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=856044 has some good photochops
http://corism.221616.com/articles/0000029953/crsm0000000001.jpg
http://corism.221616.com/articles/0000029954/crsm0000000001.jpghttp://corism.221616.com/articles/0000029952/crsm0000000001.jpghttp://corism.221616.com/articles/0000029950/crsm0000000001.JPG

[SLegacy99]

Guys dont fret, as an engineer 75% of the time concepts dont make it to the road and certainly dont reflect the final body style...

However those gauge-pod-esq tail lights are kinda cool

I really wish Subaru had'nt cancelled the TPH. :cool:

[SLegacy99]

i hope the B5-TPH never gets made. this is one of those times i am happy most concepts never get made

Something I would have said two years ago in this thread. Now I think that they should take this car and offer it as competition for the Fit, Yaris, Versa. And since its a Subaru offer it in 2.0L and/or 2.2L. Knowing Subaru they'd choose just one engine option, but I think you might as well offer 115ish hp and 150 hp. Long live the 2.2L! Spent the time designing it, might as well make some money off of it. And get rid of the ugly green inside.

[sebberry]

I really wish Subaru had'nt cancelled the TPH. :cool:

Why? We have turbo diesel in the works :D

[SLegacy99]

Why? We have turbo diesel in the works :D
Because it will never make it to the states.