Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love With the 2013 XV Crosstrek, Subaru reaffirmed its interest in niche crossovers, and early signs are that it's selling well, so will parent Fuji Heavy Industries green-light another one? That's the question begged by the new Viziv concept just unveiled here at the Geneva Motor Show.

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

Of course, this is a pure showcar, and the four-seat crossover coupe's drivetrain is suitably next-generation as well. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain system features a 2.0-liter diesel boxer engine mated to a CVT, and a pair of electric motors drive the rear wheels for a through-the-road all-wheel-drive system. By going with motor-driven rear axles, Subaru says it has been able to provide larger rear-seat footwell and lower load floor. More excitingly, Subaru says its control systems allow for side-to-side torque vectoring for improved handling, and the system actually apportions more power to the rear wheels when the Viziv takes a corner.

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love

In typical concept car fashion, the Viziv features flashy butterfly doors that provide access to both the front and rear seats, along with oversized 20-inch wheels and cutting-edge lighting. We like the Viziv's overall design direction – it looks more organic and all-of-a-piece than we're used to seeing from the Japanese automaker.

Subaru Viziv is a diesel hybrid crossover we could learn to love