The glass canopy covers can be opened wide, letting the sun drench the interiors.
The outside grill and headlamps are tinted blue and the rear lift gate melts into the rear windows making the boot accessible from the sides as well as the back of the car. The two-door B5-TPH can seat four.
The Subaru B5-TPH is 175.8" long, 71.7" wide with a ground clearance of 7.9". The wheelbase is 105.2" and its weight is 3,052 lb. These 19” (245/45R19) wheels together with the ground clearance means its maneuverability and handling of the road are extremely good.
Add to that futuristic technology that goes by the name of IVX-II which employs stereo cameras and a milliwave radar that scans the area in front of the car and you'll see why this vehicle really is ahead of its time.
This concept car Subaru B5-TPH has at its heart the Turbo Parallel Hybrid powertrain which is a combination of a lithium-ion battery pack as well as an electric motor-generator.
This motor-generator is tightly packed between the automatic transmission and the turbocharged, horizontally opposed engine. Thanks to this system which helps the 2.0L Miller cycle engine at low revs, turbo lag is eliminated. This year, the Japanese are testing this system out on their roads.
The 2-liter Miller-cycle engine has an active valve control system and it is horizontally opposed with four-cylinders. It makes for great fuel economy. The motor-generator is powered by a manganese lithium-ion battery pack.
The combined output in the vehicle is 256 hp and 253 lb/ft of torque. The electric motor of the B5-TPH generates electricity, propels the wheels and recharges the battery when there is regenerative braking.
Also included is an IPM or Intelligent Power Module as well as a condenser, motor controller and a converter. What Subaru is in the process of doing is the development of a lithium-ion capacitor. This should enhance the energy density of batteries considerably, maybe double them. It really is a giant stride towards more environment friendly vehicles on the road.
