Subaru has been spotting testing what looks to be
the next-generation, 2020 Subaru Levorg. A prototype was spotted driving around
the Nurburgring with a rather suspicious body. The WRX and the Levorg are some
of the last models in the showroom to switch to Subaru’s Global Platform. This
super-rigid architecture debuted under the latest Impreza, and then was used to
underpin the XV and more recently the new Forester.
This prototype spotted here is likely using the same
platform, albeit with the existing Levorg body bolted on top. The tailgate is clearly miss-matched and doesn’t line up properly. The 2020 Levorg might feature
a raised ground clearance to help shift it into crossover territory and swipe a
few more sales.
With the new platform the new model is expected to
provide a touch more interior space, while adopting Subaru’s latest media
screen and partially-digital instrument cluster setup. Safety is also likely to
be boosted by the company’s latest-gen EyeSight technology with autonomous-like
driving capabilities.
As for the hardware under the bonnet, the current
1.6-litre turbo and 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder flat-four engines might
continue as is. In the current model the engines produce 170 hp/250 Nm and
268 hp/350 Nm, respectively. Some tweaks and even speak of cylinder-deactivation
could be implemented to improve fuel economy, although nothing has been
confirmed just yet. A CVT auto is, unfortunately, set to continue.
All of this is pure speculation at this point. There
is the possibility Subaru is testing some powertrain tech and simply using bits
of the Levorg’s body to test it all.
