GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Subaru XV Concept premieres

Japanese car maker Subaru has taken the wraps off its next compact SUV at the 2016 Geneva motor show in the form of the Subaru XV Concept.

The new model delivers a sneak peek at how the next-generation XV will look. Expected to arrive in Australia in early 2018, the next-gen XV will lob just after after its twin-under-the-skin, the new Impreza.

Subaru calls the new design language seen on the nuggety little SUV 'Dynamic X Solid'.

The company hasn't revealed what engine hides under the bonnet or what features the production model will have, but we do know this concept vehicle is significantly bigger than the current XV, which is one of the brand’s top-sellers in Australia.

At 4520mm long (current XV: 4450mm), 1920mm wide (1780mm), and 1570mm tall (1615mm), the XV Concept is bigger in every dimension than the current car. Even the 2670mm (2635mm) wheelbase is longer.

Going up against the likes of the Honda HR-V and upcoming Toyota C-HR, the current Subaru XV is priced between $26,490 and $35,290, and the new model is likely to continue this pricing, despite bringing more safety tech to the table.

The reason for the XV's growth is Subaru’s switch to an all-new platform (the SGP or Subaru Global Platform). Only the the BRZ sports car will stand alone with its own platform under the new strategy.

In an interview with motoring.com.au at the car's unveiling in Geneva, the Executive Vice President of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent), Takeshi Tachimori, explained the 'one platform' system will benefit the company by reducing development costs.

"Yes, we will introduce the new platform first with Impreza and XV and then Forester and Legacy [Liberty] and Outback. All our symmetrical AWD platforms will be renewed for the next generation," he said.

As well as underpinning the XV Concept seen here and its production spawn, the new platform will also underpin larger vehicles, explained Tachimori.

In the strongest hint yet towards the existence of a next-generation new seven-seat Tribeca SUV Tachimori stated: "It's scalable because basically Impreza, XV and Forester are using almost the same platform size, while Legacy and Outback are a little bit bigger. But utilising the common engineering design [we can] with some adjustment [make it] for bigger vehicles."