TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Subaru teases next Forester... And Impreza

As even Blind Freddy can see, the Viziv Future Concept, is a manga version of the next Subaru Forester. And as the star world premiere of the Subaru stand at this month's Tokyo motor show, the Viziv incorporates every performance, environmental and safety technology the company has in its parts bin, packaged in an undeniably handsome SUV body.

At this stage Subaru is only letting on that the Viziv is powered by a downsized turbocharged hybrid boxer engine, which we interpret to mean a revised version of the Levorg’s 1.6-litre turbo-petrol flat four married to an upgraded hybrid system from the current XV hybrid.

A compact single electric motor mounted on the rear axle does away with the need for a propeller shaft while offering a new interpretation the company’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

Subaru says such a powertrain will not only save weight but deliver more than sufficient acceleration while minimising fuel consumption and emissions.

The Viziv also gets the latest version of the company’s EyeSight safety technology suite , featuring revised stereo cameras, radar and telematics to deliver not only state-of-the-art adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, but 360-degree crash avoidance that detects bicycles and pedestrians.

It will also introduce Subaru’s brand of autonomous driving technology, which can park the car automatically by itself.

Meantime, upgraded telematics and HMI (human-machine interface) technologies allow the Viziv to ‘predict’ traffic congestion and viable detours around sticky situations as well as forecast weather.

Inside, the Viziv gets a fresh new look with triple-tone cream, orange and black trim mixed with hints of aluminium frames. Employing a large central touch-screen and bright colours, the cockpit layout is the most radical we’ve ever seen from Subaru.

Subaru's second world premiere at Tokyo will be the Impreza 5-door Concept, which previews a new Impreza hatchback from the Japanese car-maker little more than three years after the current model was released here in February 2012.

Incorporating Subaru’s new design language but seen here only in sketch form, the five-door Impreza employs a sleek hatchback silhouette with inter-connected front and rear wheel-arches.

No details are forthcoming on powertrains, but expect the new Impreza to employ both 1.6- and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol boxer engines alongside the company’s trademark AWD system.

Finally, heralding its desire to improve interior trim and quality levels, Subaru has collaborated with well-known Italian leather house Mario Levi to produce a set of striking new seats for the WRX S4 SporVita not sold here.