GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Subaru WRX wagon previewed

The current, fourth-generation Subaru WRX and STI sedans date back to early 2014, when they lost their Impreza name and hatchback bodystyle, but the next-generation performance twins could emerge on both sedan and wagon form.

That’s our conclusion from the Subaru VIZIV Tourer Concept – the latest in a series of VIZIV concepts dating back to 2003 -- that made its world debut at the Geneva motor show today.

Teased last month prior to its reveal today, the Viziv Tourer concept follows the Viziv Performance STI concept in January and the Viziv Performance concept last October.

Unlike those sedans, which clearly pointed to the fifth-generation Subaru WRX and STI not due until at least late 2019, the Viziv Tourer is a long, sleek wagon that rides on a lengthy 2730mm wheelbase and measures no less than 4775mm long, 1930mm wide and 1435mm high.

Forget the 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 tyres and the fact it has just four seats: the Viziv Tourer concept could well herald the first WRX/STI wagon, which like the sedan will be based on the SGP (Subaru Global Platform) architecture that underpins the current Impreza family.

That means it should bring big improvements in rigidity, lightweighting, refinement, efficiency, ride comfort and handling compared to the current WRX/STI, which received a midlife makeover for the MY18 version released in mid-2017.

Subaru has provided no firm technical details, but says the production version of its latest Viziv (which is coined from the phrase ‘Vision for Innovation’) concept will also bring a range of next-generation EyeSight driver-assist technologies that, by 2020, will include semi-autonomous cruise control.

Naturally, Subaru says the Viziv Tourer is powered by a boxer engine and its Symmetrical AWD system, but it’s not yet clear whether the next WRX and STI will come with a traditional flat-four turbo engine or a hybridised inline four-cylinder powertrain courtesy of Toyota.