I wonder if Traviq will even use a Subaru AWD system. Subies are designed to work with longitudinal boxer engines, not high mounted transverse in-line engines.
GM is trying to get the Borrego not to cost so much. I think they used a Legacy platform, but perhaps an Impreza platform would meet their goals. They want it to start at less than $20k, which is kind of tough.
John: I have customized my Forester plenty. I tinted the windows at New Again for $170 with SolarGard 35% tint, for instance. I'd like to see a factory tint, too, but I rely on the aftermarket a lot to fill those gaps.
I think Subaru should offer an off road package to the L, that adds the rear disc brakes and rear LSD from the upper models without all the gadgets. Really, I'd like to see 3 basic models in the next iteration:
Basic: similar to current L model
Sport: the model I just mentioned, plus low range, skid plates, window tint, hitch standard, tranny cooler for towing
Premium: moonroof, curtain air bags, loaded to the gills, turbo engine
Yes, there' tis. If it had a manual it would have a hill holder like a Subie; actually, Subies have/had hill holders like it did. Many of its trim bits and mechanicals have been hauled around in the rear of the Forester.
That's actually the first photo of the WX-01 that I've seen. Until now, I had only seen text.
Well, I like the profile. The tapered roof looks good, but I wonder if they'd accomodate 3rd row passengers that actually have heads! The big fender flares look good, too. :-)
The triangle theme looks goofy. Those side mirrors are dumb looking as well as useless. The front is downright ugly. More triangles at the headlights look like a copy of that Ford concept from a few years ago. The high grille/low lights make it look droopy, like a fish. Or like something GM would design. :-(
The wheels are also silly. They have a rather blatant Chrysler pentastar logo right in the middle of them. Hideous.
I like the concept, in fact it's exactly what I want in a family car, can't they just find a better looking wrapping? I look at the gorgeous new Mazda 6 wagon, and I'd almost be embarassed to own that WX-01 instead.
Hmmm... I thought everybody had seen these. In any event, I do like the WX-01 (so, what did you expect from me?). Keep in mind concept cars are designed to push the envelope. Not everybody will like them.
OK, the rear is much better. Much better. Kind of has the look of the Toyota Matrix from the rear/side, and the Focus from behind. That's a good thing, as both cars are stylish, and they did a good job getting a bigger car to look as sporty. I like the D-pillar especially. Very unique.
The front, though, would prevent me from buying one. I'm usually function over form, but even I have my limits. I mean, c'mon, it looks like a cat fish. A mud cat, bottom dweller, scavenger. Yuck. I'm gonna be sick.
Some notable points are the turn signal in the mirror, which is more likely to see production than the traingular shape.
So, I say lose the wheels, mirrors, and redesign the entire front. If you want to get inspiration from the Matrix, great. Toyota copied the Forester to create the Highlander, so they'd be even. Or copy the Mazda 6. Or anything else, please!
The Axiom is butt ugly from the front. If I bought one, first thing would be 2 big Hella 4000s mounted in the lower grille portions to break it up. Heck the Axiom is rather large and even Isuzu knows you can't fit 7 people in it!
WX-01? Roofline reminiscent of Focus wagon, Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix. Wheel cutouts remind me of SVX, Forester. Angle of rear deck brings back memories of AMC Gremlins. Something tells me this could be a future Forester or Traviq replacment - maybe something we'll even see wearing a GM division badge.
I could easily see something looking like this replace the Pleo or Justy. It may be too radical for North America, but it could work in Europe or Asia, where micro-cars are common.
I like it. For its size and price class, it's much better than the WX. Just look at how ugly these tiny cars can get, like the Renault Twingo (scary!). The Subaru would be a super model in this class.
Reminds me of a Civic Si from some rear views, Ford Ka in profile, and Toyota RSC (rugged sports coupe) from the front. Wheels look like the ones on the WRX.
Inside it's much more impressive, though, even cutting edge. I really like it. 3 spoke steering wheel. Manumatic shifter, and even though it grows out of the dash, it is better incorporated than the Civic Si's. Surprisingly, I like the 3 overlapping gauges in the console, which is compact and elegant.
Man, oh man, what a beautiful roof! Please, bring that idea here in any model, I don't care! Wonderful! Like the Mercedes Coupe but bigger!
So surprisingly, I much prefer the smaller concept. It has more bright ideas, it's cuter, more trend-setting. Avant garde, even.
Bob- my screen keeps coming up blank. Guess I've got to use my imagination with everyone's decriptions. And... it's starting to look like... Hey, it looks like the car Homer Simpson designed! Doh!!! :-D
The Avignon looks like it could be next year's Legacy GT wagon, though decorated with some leftover ST-X fabric. Now Patti, if you're out there I have to say to SoA: come on with the manumatic in the US already! I want one in my next Subaru, whichever model it may be!
Doesn't matter - the US one would be watered down in looks at least. Hopefully not in the powertrain department.
I think it would look good in black, if you could delete the geeky orange upholstery.
-juice
PS You may not like the Focus, but it's a hot seller even without incentives, and has brought younger buyers to Ford. It's a hit, at least from a marketing perspective
has a number of influences as I see it: There's a bit of Ford Focus, mixed in with a bit of Cadillac's new hard-edge crease styling, as well as a hint of Buckminister Fuller's geodesic dome to it.
Remember, concepts are all about exploring ideas. Some fly; some don't. I do like it, but I know if it were ever to make production, the triangle-styling aspect would have to be toned down quite a bit. As it now stands, it reminds me a bit of redesign of the Ford Taurus, in that Ford went way overboard with the "ovoid" theme—and paid dearly for it.
...I don't see any Ford Focus at first sight (WX-01). Actually, when the pic appeared, Audi immediately came to mind. Hope those wheels won't be a reality. It makes me think "Crysler". Drop the stub that's holding the mirror, and use fiber-optic tech (also suggested to prod. dev. before) in lieu of mirror i.e. HM-01 concept.
I know that concepts are supposed to push the limits, but ugly is still ugly, any way you cut it. ;-)
I like concepts that make you say, "wow, I want one" right away. The WX-01 makes me long for the next draft, which I do think could be made attractive with a few changes. But it's far from being the beauty queen the Mazda 6 is.
If Subaru is just showing us new ideas that will appear in future products, then I'll take the turn signals in the mirrors and the manumatic, thanks very much. :-)
can be beauty to someone else. Remember the saying, "one man's poison, is another man's passion." Obviously someone at Subaru liked it enough to show it. I know, I know, the same could be said about the Aztek, but this is much better than the Aztek any way you look at it.
I'd bet, with just a few styling "tweaks" here and there, you might find the car very attractive. I think the overall proportions are excellent, if they lighten up on the heavy emphasis is on triangles, and soften some of the edges a bit, I think you might like it.
Ford Focus body with a Hyundai Accent nose...keerap!!! I wish that they would tone down the light size on the Legacy, also. It just looks a little too mid-nineties, otherwise, I like...
Drop-dead gorgeous. I'm not sure I've ever had a car make such a great first impression on me, and that passion hasn't faded. It's a real beauty, sleek, practical, balanced.
The Subie concept shares the same basic shape, but the devil's in the details.
I know I take this a little too seriously some times, but I've been begging for a bigger 3-row seat Subie for years, and I was hoping that concept would answer my prayers. It could, but not in that iteration.
Actually, the wagon market is fairly developed in Japan. All the big players (Toyota, Nissan, Honda) have wagons that compete directly against the Legacy. Despite the competition, the Legacy is still considered a top pick for wagons. All my buddies who are wagonphiles in Japan have nothing but praise for the Legacy.
Comments
GM is trying to get the Borrego not to cost so much. I think they used a Legacy platform, but perhaps an Impreza platform would meet their goals. They want it to start at less than $20k, which is kind of tough.
John: I have customized my Forester plenty. I tinted the windows at New Again for $170 with SolarGard 35% tint, for instance. I'd like to see a factory tint, too, but I rely on the aftermarket a lot to fill those gaps.
I think Subaru should offer an off road package to the L, that adds the rear disc brakes and rear LSD from the upper models without all the gadgets. Really, I'd like to see 3 basic models in the next iteration:
Basic: similar to current L model
Sport: the model I just mentioned, plus low range, skid plates, window tint, hitch standard, tranny cooler for towing
Premium: moonroof, curtain air bags, loaded to the gills, turbo engine
-juice
Check out those rear fender flares - kind of like the WRX sedan, no?
-juice
Jim
Dennis
Ed
PS: Where is bitman? He's a Stude guy too!
-Dave
http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_SUB/doc_sub0110231/article.html
Bob
Well, I like the profile. The tapered roof looks good, but I wonder if they'd accomodate 3rd row passengers that actually have heads! The big fender flares look good, too. :-)
The triangle theme looks goofy. Those side mirrors are dumb looking as well as useless. The front is downright ugly. More triangles at the headlights look like a copy of that Ford concept from a few years ago. The high grille/low lights make it look droopy, like a fish. Or like something GM would design. :-(
The wheels are also silly. They have a rather blatant Chrysler pentastar logo right in the middle of them. Hideous.
I like the concept, in fact it's exactly what I want in a family car, can't they just find a better looking wrapping? I look at the gorgeous new Mazda 6 wagon, and I'd almost be embarassed to own that WX-01 instead.
See, who says I'm biased?
-juice
It also looks real small for a 7 pass seating, maybe 7 asians, but not 7 mid-western, corn fed americans.
-mike
Hmmm... I thought everybody had seen these. In any event, I do like the WX-01 (so, what did you expect from me?). Keep in mind concept cars are designed to push the envelope. Not everybody will like them.
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/issue/2001/1018/78nsh_kt1018_22.html
Bob
I agree that it would not likely fit 7 "paisan-sized" adults. 4 adults and 3 kids, probably.
I really do like the idea, and even the profile, just please do a collage and slap the Mazda 6 front end on that bad boy!
-juice
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/issue/2001/1018/68nsh_kt1018_17.html
Bob
OK, the rear is much better. Much better. Kind of has the look of the Toyota Matrix from the rear/side, and the Focus from behind. That's a good thing, as both cars are stylish, and they did a good job getting a bigger car to look as sporty. I like the D-pillar especially. Very unique.
The front, though, would prevent me from buying one. I'm usually function over form, but even I have my limits. I mean, c'mon, it looks like a cat fish. A mud cat, bottom dweller, scavenger. Yuck. I'm gonna be sick.
Some notable points are the turn signal in the mirror, which is more likely to see production than the traingular shape.
So, I say lose the wheels, mirrors, and redesign the entire front. If you want to get inspiration from the Matrix, great. Toyota copied the Forester to create the Highlander, so they'd be even. Or copy the Mazda 6. Or anything else, please!
-juice
Love those wheels. They look like 3 piece from close up, and from far away they look like they are floating.
Nice headlights. Ugly spoiler. Nice mesh grille. Goofy silver leather steering wheel, though, reminds me of the MP3.
Interesting, but I'd take about half the changes and leave the rest.
-juice
-mike
-mike
I kind of like the Axiom's in-your-face styling. I give them credit for taking the risk that isn't just plain stoopid like the Aztec.
-juice
-mike
Ed
http://auto.ascii24.com/auto24/issue/2001/1018/66nsh_kt1018_16.html
Bob
I say make 'em boxy, then integrate a rear spoiler to make it acceptably sporty.
I really do expect the rumored 2005 SUW to be bigger than that. It almost looks smaller than the Outback.
-juice
Bob
Bob
Reminds me of a Civic Si from some rear views, Ford Ka in profile, and Toyota RSC (rugged sports coupe) from the front. Wheels look like the ones on the WRX.
Inside it's much more impressive, though, even cutting edge. I really like it. 3 spoke steering wheel. Manumatic shifter, and even though it grows out of the dash, it is better incorporated than the Civic Si's. Surprisingly, I like the 3 overlapping gauges in the console, which is compact and elegant.
Man, oh man, what a beautiful roof! Please, bring that idea here in any model, I don't care! Wonderful! Like the Mercedes Coupe but bigger!
So surprisingly, I much prefer the smaller concept. It has more bright ideas, it's cuter, more trend-setting. Avant garde, even.
How'd you like it, Bob?
-juice
-juice
Did you notice it's a 4-door? The rear door handle is hidden in the black panel by the window, not unlike the Pathfinder.
Bob
Guess I've got to use my imagination with everyone's decriptions. And... it's starting to look like...
Hey, it looks like the car Homer Simpson designed! Doh!!! :-D
-Dave
Bob
-Dave
Bob
Ed
I mentioned there were some Exiga influences in it.
http://www.subaru.net/prototype/exiga.html
Dennis
For once we agree. The rugged looking front end is its best angle (opposite of its big brother).
I do think a manumatic would be an important addition from a marketing stand point. With 5 ratios to go with it, of course.
I guess I was having the same problem viewing the pics that these folks are having now. I didn't see anything, so I had nothing to say.
Rare, I know!
-juice
-mike
-mike
I think it would look good in black, if you could delete the geeky orange upholstery.
-juice
PS You may not like the Focus, but it's a hot seller even without incentives, and has brought younger buyers to Ford. It's a hit, at least from a marketing perspective
-mike
Remember, concepts are all about exploring ideas. Some fly; some don't. I do like it, but I know if it were ever to make production, the triangle-styling aspect would have to be toned down quite a bit. As it now stands, it reminds me a bit of redesign of the Ford Taurus, in that Ford went way overboard with the "ovoid" theme—and paid dearly for it.
Bob
Actually, when the pic appeared, Audi immediately came to mind.
Hope those wheels won't be a reality. It makes me think "Crysler".
Drop the stub that's holding the mirror, and use fiber-optic tech (also suggested to prod. dev. before) in lieu of mirror i.e. HM-01 concept.
I still see Audi and not Ford Focus.
-Dave
Bob
I like concepts that make you say, "wow, I want one" right away. The WX-01 makes me long for the next draft, which I do think could be made attractive with a few changes. But it's far from being the beauty queen the Mazda 6 is.
If Subaru is just showing us new ideas that will appear in future products, then I'll take the turn signals in the mirrors and the manumatic, thanks very much. :-)
-juice
I'd bet, with just a few styling "tweaks" here and there, you might find the car very attractive. I think the overall proportions are excellent, if they lighten up on the heavy emphasis is on triangles, and soften some of the edges a bit, I think you might like it.
But then again, I could be wrong...
Bob
I wonder if it's a Mazda, or another reskinned Ford. I also wonder if there are plans to bring it to the US. I'm still hoping for a Wagon Renaissance!
--Bart
Stephen
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/preview/articles/47610/article.html
Drop-dead gorgeous. I'm not sure I've ever had a car make such a great first impression on me, and that passion hasn't faded. It's a real beauty, sleek, practical, balanced.
The Subie concept shares the same basic shape, but the devil's in the details.
I know I take this a little too seriously some times, but I've been begging for a bigger 3-row seat Subie for years, and I was hoping that concept would answer my prayers. It could, but not in that iteration.
-juice
Now Subaru has to bring over a Turbo GT to compete with all these V6 wagons!
Ken
-juice
Ken