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  #1  
Old 08-06-2009, 10:20 AM
bheinen74 bheinen74 is offline
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20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

well....
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  #2  
Old 08-06-2009, 11:01 AM
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

GOOD GOD NO HYBRID PLEASE.

I have been wiling away spare mental cycles thinking of what I would love to see as a 2012 20th anniversary SVX...

Hybrid is NOT one of those things. Toyota is talking about a FWD Prius Coupe... leave it to them. SVX is not an economy car, and was already plenty complex almost 20 years ago, without redundant drive systems, and it doesn't need the weight, either.

I want the new Toyota/Subaru RWD coupe project to be that car, but I have a feeling it is not going to be. I have the feeling that if the most recent rumors about that project are true, it might struggle to even fill the GC 2.5RS Coupe's shoes... They seem to want to go "eco-car" with it... much to my vast disappointment.

Autoblog: Rumormill: Toyota/Subaru coupe drops 40 hp, loses weight, marketed to your dad?

A new SVX needs to be a different car than that, a Grand Touring+Sport coupe. Not a dedicated sports car, not an economy car, or some crazy mix of those two... a proper car that is great for the driver, and pretty darn good to ride along in the passenger's seat, too. Sleek, slick, and well equipped, powerful, competent, and all-around ready for a long life of good road use.
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1992 Claret SVX. Rescued from certain destruction, and still on the road, where it belongs. Waiting for a bit of a makeover, when I can afford it.
2005 Garnet Red Pearl Legacy GT Limited 5-speed. - The late great Subaru sport touring sedan.
1999 Classic Red Miata, Preferred equipment package 5-speed. Fun, fun, fun, in the Sun, sun, sun.

Last edited by BoxerFanatic; 08-06-2009 at 02:41 PM.
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  #3  
Old 08-06-2009, 02:14 PM
Mephis Mephis is offline
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

If they ever remake the SVX, all they'd need to do is smooth out the front end a bit and pretty much sell the same car over again.

It's still ahead of modern styling standards unless you look at supercars. Maybe throw a small turbo charger in it, and a 6speed.
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Old 08-06-2009, 02:41 PM
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

Here's a somewhat moderately broad stroke of my idea for what I would like to see Subaru come back with for the 20th Anniversary... Or just a new SVX GT coupe in general...

GR impreza chassis hard points. (basically the same thing as a BL Legacy, minus a bit of rear over-hang. the new Legacy/Outback platform is too big for Legacy, and SVX doesn't need to be that huge as a coupe.)
No aspect of Impreza's styling would be held over, though... The front end perhaps extended just slightly, an inch or as little as absolutely necessary, for Subaru's new low-front mount turbo engine, and to be sure an H6 option fits under the hood. Maybe re-fit for Subaru's new engine cradle, if it is worth including in the design.

BL LEgacy like low-cowl, low hoodline, and a mix of SVX and 2005-2007 Legacy GT front end styling. Minimal, non-embellished grille between the headlights, larger opening under the bumper beam.

SVX-like boxed, radiused fender flares, fitting 18x8 wheels, 5x114.3, capable of fitting 35-45mm positive offset wheels over brembo or Subaru-logo monoblock brakes, and bilstein USD dampers, similar to WRX STI.

SVX's flush fit glass canopy styling, including window-in-a-window and SVX's sleek fastback profile. IR and UV rejecting, visible-light-transparent film laminate in the windshield, and a similar coating applied to the rest of the glass as part of the factory glass tinting. the titanium coating is old tech...

Optional 2-panel glass roof, similar but larger than Scion tC or Mini, or louvered panel like was optional on Pontiac G6. Otherwise solid surface roof, possibly composite sheet over metal roof structure, to keep weight down. Roof rack attachment points on the rain rails above the door openings, similar to Porsche's integrated attachment system.

Liftback third door, similar to Ford Probe, which still had flush glass, and a bit of a horizontal profile change between the rear glass and the tail panel, but in this case styled closer to the original SVX's looks, with updated function: the dual-gate feature that SEAT and BMW and others have debuted... the back can open like a trunk, or fully open to the roof, like a hatch.

Fold flat split rear seats, and a fold-forward-flat passenger seat, for the very occasional ability to carry long cargo from the passenger's footwell all the way back to the trunk. power actuated from the trunk, as part of the passenger seat's power adjustments, and a solenoid release for the rear seat backs. (another trigger button for the rear seat backs being just inside the front passenger doors, to fold the seats from there, too.

Front seat mounted safety belts... All the convenience of getting to the rear seat area without a seatbelt in the way, and none of the hassle of 92-94 SVX's automatic belts, with separate lap belts. Standard 6 airbags. Heated and cooled seats, cloth or perforated leather, full power adjustment, and driver's side memory settings tied to mirrors and other pre-sets.

Full LED lighting for the whole car, from tail lights to illuminated interior buttons, to front turn signals. Electro-luminescent, LCD, or OLED gauges and information displays.

~6000K HID low beams, HIR 9011 high beams, optically focused LED amber/white fog lights, and white running and reverse lights.

Either traditional side mirrors with heated glass, LED indicators visible from lateral front and rear quarters, and auto-downtilt in reverse, and electric folding retraction... OR the first production car with CCD camera based side view 'mirrors', in order to cut down aerodynamic drag. Possibly shown on the LCD-based gauge display panel for the driver. Rear-view reverse and parking cameras, possibly 360-view of the ground around the car on the NAV screen, like new Infinitis are equipped with.

Multi-color Heads-up-display in the windshield, with adaptive display programming to bring pertinent information to driver's attention faster, in the driver's heads-up line of sight, possibly reducing the amount of information required to simultaneously display on the dash... But considering the digital display nature, such settings can be tailored to the driver's preference.

Personal bluetooth driven keyless entry and start (manual-gearbox models not getting remote start, just keyless start), which also triggers seat and mirror position memory, and information system preferences.

ICE/NAV screen in the dash with multi-touch, oleophobic touch screen tech, similar to new iPhone screens, but most direct functions driven by haptic physical buttons. (changing to radio controls, vs NAV controls, and what not... things that should be more inherent than being stuck in menus) HVAC run separately by Tribeca's 3 LCD-integral dials, not by ICE/NAV display.

Drivetrain:
2.0-2.5 liter H4 base engine, updated with DOHC, AVCS, and direct fuel injection for effective efficiency.
3.2-3.6 liter H6 main-line engine. EZ36R, maybe EZ32R if the engine can be made more robust by pulling back on the stroke length, and fitting normal rods, rather than the 3.6's asymmetrical con-rods. Similarly DOHC and DFI, with AVCS-II, a variable valve event and lift system similar to Nissan's VVEL system, or BMW's Valvetronic valve control system, or even corporate-partner Toyota's Valvematic system, which can control lift, as well as timing. 330+ horsepower target, perhaps on lower octane fuel.
Special edition "STI" model: twin-scroll 2.5-2.8 EJ engine, similar to '10 Legacy's low-front mount turbo, but tuned to STI specs or better, with a front-mount intercooler, and an offset-front intake manifold, like a rotated 05+ Legacy or 08+ WRX intake...

gearboxes:
base engine gets WRX 5MT or the Legacy/OB/Tribeca 5EAT-sport-shift/VTD. Viscous rear limited slip.
H6 and STI H4T get WRX STI-sourced 6MT DCCD/VTD front and rear torsen LSD setup, similar to WRX STI S204
or a new dual-clutch automated gearbox, like PDK/DSG, and the systems that Nissan GT-R and EVO X use.
The 5 and 6MT models would get a standard linkage-operated shifter, and clutch pedal.
The 5EAT and dual-clutch automated gearboxes would be electronically controlled from the dash, no shift lever needed. Maybe some sort of slick knob selector like the Jag XF has...

SI-Drive-II or plus, or something... next generation. not only does it sharpen throttle response and adjust fuel maps... it also adjust shift profiles on the automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes (think SVX Power Mode, and sport-shift as manual-mode, with shift paddles on the steering column, and the dual-clutch being much faster, and as direct-connected as a manual gearbox )

It would also adjust the profiles of the Variable torque distribution of the center diff on all gearboxes, except the base 5MT, and adjust the VDC and ABS engagement thresholds, or defeat them almost entirely.

It would also control the bilstein PSS10/B16 adjustable dampers, possibly magneto-rheological fluid dampers that some cars are using, as well as the electro-hydraulic power steering assist profiles, while both still being road-speed sensitive. Tied to 4-wheel active steering, if so equipped... (also optional on G37 now.)

SI-Drive would become somewhat like F430's Manettino switch, but tied into most of the dynamic systems on the car.

I'd love to see a way to connect a PC/Mac/iPhone with a stand-alone configuration application to go through the car's configurable control and display systems, and set them to your preference, within a factory defined range, including things like door handle pull-code keyless unlocking, if you lock your keys in the car... visual dash representation "skin" options, and how much information is displayed standard, vs how much comes up as an alert if something meets alarm criteria. All that stuff would be tied to a profile, including seat and mirror memory positions, and perhaps directly to a bluetooth or encrypted RFID keyless entry identifier, if each one is unique. (It would be able to tell between you or your spouses identifier, and adjust the car's settings accordingly, including moving the seat before you even sit down.)

Personally, I would also like to see butterfly hinged doors, to try to minimize the parking space width the car requires to open long coupe doors, to allow people to get into the car. Theoretically, that could be another argument for a liftback hatch, and trunk-triggered folding seats... as it would be easier to crawl into the car and pull it out of the parking space, if people park too close for you to open the side doors wide enough to slip through. Long coupe doors require wider side clearances, but when the clearances are there, they are nicer to get in and out of than shorter doors on multi-side-door vehicles.
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1992 Claret SVX. Rescued from certain destruction, and still on the road, where it belongs. Waiting for a bit of a makeover, when I can afford it.
2005 Garnet Red Pearl Legacy GT Limited 5-speed. - The late great Subaru sport touring sedan.
1999 Classic Red Miata, Preferred equipment package 5-speed. Fun, fun, fun, in the Sun, sun, sun.

Last edited by BoxerFanatic; 08-06-2009 at 02:51 PM.
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  #5  
Old 08-06-2009, 03:20 PM
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

Sounds like a plan Is Subaru reading this?

One thing I'd change is to add 5EAT as an option to H6 as well. However, lots of "options" for a potentially low-numbers car would drive the costs immensely - so having an optional body packages (roof), 3 engine and 4 transmission options is impractical.

If that goes through, sign me up

On a side note, does anybody else think that the front part of the car on the Autoblog's picture



just screams I-am-like-a-Lotus-Elise?



(Elise photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
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  #6  
Old 08-07-2009, 03:58 PM
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

I like Fanatic's ideas a lot. All of that stuff is available on current models and is very realistic if a new SVX was to be in the same spirit as the original. In other words, Subaru's flagship vehicle priced twice as much as anything else in their lineup at the time.


Along those same lines though, I do agree with what Stilor said about possibly having "too many" options. Sticking to the original spirit of the SVX as a limited production flagship, less options might be better for both cost control and keeping it more exclusive. Stick with one engine, preferably whatever will make it the fastest car in the company's lineup for years to come, hopefully something based on an H6 for nostalgia's sake. Of course the option of a manual in addition to the auto would be good though as history has shown.


Of course knowing Subaru of late, it could have all of these things included and they'd still manage to somehow completely screw up the body design and make it ugly as sin.
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Old 09-09-2009, 06:25 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
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Hybrids aren't about fuel economy.

The first thing they tell you in Technical training for hybrid certification at toyota is "Toyota has been researching ways to reduce exhaust emissions since 1975, and Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive is a product of that research" Fuel mileage is a side effect. The only reason the prius is an economy car is because that's what the public wants to buy.

If you don't think a hybrid can be high performance, go take a look at a GS 450h.
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Old 09-10-2009, 12:08 AM
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Re: Hybrids aren't about fuel economy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NiftySVX View Post

If you don't think a hybrid can be high performance, go take a look at a GS 450h.
How about the LS600h? 472 HP, 25 MPG, at least that's the figures I saw online... $120k though
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Old 09-10-2009, 09:05 AM
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Re: 20th anniversary concept of the 2012 SVX Hybrid 2dr Coupe ???????????

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacGyver View Post
I like Fanatic's ideas a lot. All of that stuff is available on current models and is very realistic if a new SVX was to be in the same spirit as the original. In other words, Subaru's flagship vehicle priced twice as much as anything else in their lineup at the time.


Along those same lines though, I do agree with what Stilor said about possibly having "too many" options. Sticking to the original spirit of the SVX as a limited production flagship, less options might be better for both cost control and keeping it more exclusive. Stick with one engine, preferably whatever will make it the fastest car in the company's lineup for years to come, hopefully something based on an H6 for nostalgia's sake. Of course the option of a manual in addition to the auto would be good though as history has shown.

Of course knowing Subaru of late, it could have all of these things included and they'd still manage to somehow completely screw up the body design and make it ugly as sin.
The thing is, that aside from the butterfly doors, the premise of what I suggest is not that much new.

Most of the features exist on Subaru cars, or on other cars near Subaru's price tag. The integration of the chassis systems may be a little more tied together and adaptable than current, but that is mostly software programming.

I think limiting to one engine, or one gearbox is TOO much of a limit, and would potentially lose sales. Most of Subaru's lineup have at least two engine options, except for Tribeca, due to it's heft, and role as a CUV, having only the big H6 and Automatic gearbox.

If anything Subaru could EXPAND it's drivetrain/engine combo lineup. For instance, Forester doesn't get the 5MT Sport Shift auto, NOR does it get a 5 or 6-speed manual on the XT turbo model. 4-speed auto only.

WRX and Impreza GT should be the same car, and with a 5-speed auto or 5-speed manual, have the same 268 rated horsepower.

The Legacy 3.6 H6 should get a Spec B model sport package, with a manual gearbox option, as well as the 2.5 GT Turbo being similarly equipped with both 5-speed auto and 6-speed manual options. But Subaru seems to be trying to grenade the 2.5 GT turbo model, by the product planning choices that they are making, and I doubt we will ever see a Subaru with both an H6 and a manual gearbox on the same car, in the US. But it does, or at least it has previously existed overseas, as the B4 Legacy/Liberty 3.0R Spec B. (Liberty being the Australian name that Legacy is sold under.)

With chassis and component sharing with the rest of the Subaru line, and a little careful thought about systems integration, and proper product planning geared toward success, rather than selling to the lowest common denominator, and de-contenting certain models to make them justifiable to cancel in the future...

The car above that I propose, with proper styling, would not need to cost twice as much as other Subarus. Similar to WRX STI or G37x Coupe, perhaps... but 35-40K, not $70-80K.

I'd save up and pay for a car like that, if it were built right, screwed together well (no squeeks, and mis-fitting panels, parts, cheap plastic vulnerable pieces, etc...), and offered good styling, AWD, coupe good looks, AWD capability, and performance handling and power levels.

with a base H4 DOHC non-turbo engine for economy (gotta play the economy game with government regs... CAFE standards, and all...)
And the choice of either H4 Turbo for the power-rush and tuning crowd, and an H6 for the long-legged highway mileage grand touring folks... with a choice of either manual or automatic shifting... I think that is a pretty good mix to cover the vast majority of potential buyers.

GenCoupe doesn't offer AWD, nor does it have a liftback hatch, like the bodystyle seems to suggest. (and a tiny trunk lid portal makes a decent size trunk a moot point... SVX shows that, too...)

G37 doesn't offer a smaller engine option, you have to go to a FWD Altima coupe. G37x doesn't offer a stick, nor as much sport equipment as a sport package G37s 6-speed, but what if I want both AWD, and the manual gearbox and big brakes?

And I don't really feel like living 40 years in the past, with Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger, and none of those offer AWD versatility, let alone a low boxer-engined center of gravity, or an aerodynamic profile, and modern features.

A revival of SVX could be the car that hits that bulls-eye that the others that I just mentioned don't quite hit. With platform sharing and a bit more option diversity, it could actually have a bit more wide appeal than the original was able to get, being so uniquely different, and thus expensive to build and support, and without a manual gearbox that other cars like 300ZX, Supra, and Stealth/3000GT offered, even on their less-than-top-end models without the big turbocharged power. Even T-Bird SuperCoupe offered the option for a stick shift that SVX did not. Subaru may not have had the gearbox for that duty then, but they do now, and the also have chassis underpinnings that are capable of being upgraded for GT/Sport Coupe duty.
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"What you plan, and what actually happens ain't exactly ever been similar..."

------------

1992 Claret SVX. Rescued from certain destruction, and still on the road, where it belongs. Waiting for a bit of a makeover, when I can afford it.
2005 Garnet Red Pearl Legacy GT Limited 5-speed. - The late great Subaru sport touring sedan.
1999 Classic Red Miata, Preferred equipment package 5-speed. Fun, fun, fun, in the Sun, sun, sun.
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