Is Subaru's new XV the next U.S. Impreza?

Some big changes are coming at Subaru – as it has revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.

The Japanese maker’s much anticipated rear-drive sports car still isn’t quite ready for primetime, though it generated much chatter at both the Subaru and Toyota stands – the latter maker helping develop the Miata-class 2-seater.

But what Subaru did have to reveal in the form of the new XV was arguably of even more significance as it could replace the long-lived Impreza, which is itself the foundation of products like the WRX.

And the changes will extend will below the skin, the maker confirmed, with an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged direct injection boxer-four engine coming for the line-up.

The Subaru XV has a clear familial resemblance to the existing Impreza, albeit the new model goes a fair bit more towards the crossover end of the design spectrum.

While that might suggest a vehicle ready to take on any road, the theme of the project was “Urban Adventure,” Subaru describing the XV as “a vehicle that would be perfectly suited to exciting, lively, yet stress-free use in the city.”

That fits, of course, the European buyer mindset, where even less motorists are likely to see anything rougher than a gravel road than back in the U.S.

But if trailblazing doesn’t matter, performance and fuel economy are the two somewhat competing challenges Subaru has had to address with the XV.  In basic trim, the new model is expected to put an emphasis on mileage – especially in Europe. The new model is expected to get a mix of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter boxer fours.  They’ll be paired to CVT and manual gearboxes.  Stop/Start functionality is apparently also in the cards for Europe.

The new XV will be hitting European showrooms early next year.  Plans for the U.S., however were left vague during the unveiling.

Mileage is an issue State-side as well, of course, and the latest iteration of the Impreza made an impressive jump from 27 to 36 mpg on the highway with the shift to a new 2.0-liter naturally aspirated boxer four codenamed the FA.

But Subaru isn’t abandoning its performance fans and has an alternative powertrain for them dubbed FB.  It will use direct injection and turbocharging to deliver a serious 300 horsepower in the new WRX, only five hp less than what the current STi puts out with its 2.5-liter four.

So, what will the next version of that rice burner get?  That, apparently is still a matter of loud debate inside Subaru’s inner sanctum, a senior source tells TheDetroitBureau.com.

There are two options under debate.  One would hold onto the 2.5-liter engine and just tweak it to turn out more power.  The other alternative would take the new 2.0 and use an even bigger turbocharger to bump up the pony count.  The challenge there is maintaining off-the-line torque.

The next versions of the WRX and STi are still a year away but a decision is likely to come in the very near future.