Subaru Teases Levorg Prototype Before Tokyo Motor Show Debut

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Subaru has teased the prototype for its second-generation Levorg, confirming the model will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 23rd — alongside the WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition. However, it’s not the commemorative EJ20 we’re interested in. As the Levorg shares its heritage with the Legacy, Impreza, and WRX, the model will likely to preview the group’s evolved styling.

While the Viziv Performance Concept was also supposed to do that, its radical design seems a bit ambitious for the sixth-generation WRX that’s supposed to debut next year. Meanwhile, Subaru’s latest Levorg teasers appear to showcase a production adjacent automobile. Any physical changes the wagon undergoes prior to production are likely to be minor.

The dimly lit, three-quarters perspective Subaru provided doesn’t give us much to work with. However, the prototype Levorg’s proportions don’t appear terribly different from the model that’s currently on sale in Japan. Fender flares may be a bit more pronounced and the tail lamps seem to have been elongated, but it’s difficult to say anything with much certainty.

Considering we’ve yet to see a single millimeter of the vehicle’s front, even suggesting that the new Levorg could look like the old one is a bridge too far. We’re content to wait until October while we keep our ears to the ground for rumors — like Subaru’s adoption of a new, U-shaped headlamp design that’s been previewed on various concept vehicles.

Despite keeping most details tucked away, Subaru did suggest the Levorg will gain a host of technology updates. Predictably, those features include some level of autonomous driving — but we’re inclined to believe that element will fade once the automaker moves away from the prototype. Production models are likely to incorporate advanced driving aids, perhaps even something providing a hands-free experience under specific conditions, but true self-driving capability is unlikely.

Subaru’s other Tokyo Motor Show highlight, the WRX STI EJ20 Final Edition, is less of a mystery. Clearly designed to be reminiscent of the Impreza 22B STi, like so many before it, the Final Edition adopts gold BBS wheels and a (Rally) blue paint scheme. Serving as a final farewell to the company’s EJ20 motor (unavailable in North America), it’s also relegated solely to Japan. Subaru has decided to limit its production run to just 555 models, with customer eligibility dictated by lottery.

[Images: Subaru]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Macmcmacmac Macmcmacmac on Sep 26, 2019

    Sounds like something you'd hear emanating from a toilet bowl after a night of heavy drinking. Also, isn't that grovel spelled backwards?

  • Scott25 Scott25 on Sep 26, 2019

    I thought the Levorg was one of the B&B’s favourite forbidden fruit, why is everyone acting like they’ve never heard of it now? If it’s anything like the current one it’ll share styling from the windshield forward with the WRX

  • Varezhka Maybe the volume was not big enough to really matter anyways, but losing a “passenger car” for a mostly “light truck” line-up should help Subaru with their CAFE numbers too.
  • Varezhka For this category my car of choice would be the CX-50. But between the two cars listed I’d select the RAV4 over CR-V. I’ve always preferred NA over small turbos and for hybrids THS’ longer history shows in its refinement.
  • AZFelix I would suggest a variation on the 'fcuk, marry, kill' game using 'track, buy, lease' with three similar automotive selections.
  • Formula m For the gas versions I like the Honda CRV. Haven’t driven the hybrids yet.
  • SCE to AUX All that lift makes for an easy rollover of your $70k truck.
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