Subaru->ke86 has used two of the more recent auto shows – Tokyo->ke1834 in October 2015 and Los Angeles->ke211 in November 2015 – to introduce a pair of Impreza-->ke1319based concepts->ke169 that hinted at the future of the brand’s most recognizable model. For reasons that we didn’t know at that time, the Japanese automaker skipped on making another follow up in Detroit->ke222 and Chicago.->ke225 But as it turns out, Subaru saved the third model under the Impreza umbrella for the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.->ke228 So here it is, folks, the Subaru XV Concept.

The high-riding XV Concept is headed to Geneva with an all-new look that follows in the footsteps of its Impreza counterparts. That look is defined by the company’s new Dynamic X Solid design language, which Subaru plans to adopt to its new generation of vehicles.

Actual details are scarce, at least outside of the exterior, but with the concept->ke169 as close to a production version as you can get out of Subaru, there is some belief that the production version will look close to what the automaker is bringing to Geneva. There's no timetable yet on when the actual next-gen XV Crosstrek will be released, but with the current model on the receiving end of a recent mid-life facelift, 2018 would be the earliest possible date to see the next-generation version. For now, let’s take a long, hard look at the XV Concept.

Continue after the jump to read the full review.

Exterior

Since the Subaru XV Crosstrek is, for all intents and purposes, a high-riding version of the Impreza, it was only a matter of time before Subaru released a next-generation preview of the Crosstrek as a follow-up on the debuts of the Impreza Five-Door Concept and the Impreza Sedan Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show and Los Angeles Auto Show, respectively. The fact that it’s doing it at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show adds to the buzz of the automaker’s new Dynamic X Solid design language.

In truth, the XV Concept does have a lot of similarities with its two Impreza counterparts. The hawk-eye headlights are there, as is the large hexagonal grille. One particular difference in the XV Concept is the thick bar that cuts across the grille and where the Subaru badge is located. The two Impreza concepts had thinner versions of this bar. The two fog lamps are also new in design. They’re now vertical bars that are integrated into the matte black cladding that extends all the way to the wheel arches. The front section also has an underbody protection with some orange trim to complement the concept’s "Glacier Khaki Silica" body finish. The side profile of the XV Concept isn’t too different from what we have now with the production model, although it does feature a set of saucy 19-inch wheels with an updated version of the Crosstrek's star-shaped spokes.

The rear also comes with the same C-shaped taillights and the aluminum skid guard with the orange highlights. Matte black cladding on either side of the concept also make an appearance on the back end, albeit with honeycomb-looking brake lights firmly integrated into them. The concept also comes with roof rails, which has become a vital part of the XV Crosstrek’s overall package. Overall, the XV Concept measures 178 inches long, 75.6 inches wide, and 61.8 inches high. Wheelbase measurements sit at 105.1 inches. By those accounts, the concept version is 2.75 inches longer, 5.5 inches wider, and 1.7 inches lower than the current production model. Given Subaru's intention to make the next-generation XV Crosstrek look sportier and more muscular.

Interior

Just like the Impreza Sedan and Five-Door Concepts that came before it, the XV Concept’s interior is a complete mystery. Subaru intends to keep it this way, presumably because it’s working on designs and technologies that it isn’t ready to share with the public. That’s understandable now because we’ve been through this before with the two Impreza concepts.

Having said that, I’m beginning to believe Subaru has a fancy dashboard it’s still trying to develop. That dash could serve as the foundation of the interior, especially if the Japanese automaker opts to go completely digital with an all-new instrument cluster and a massive infotainment display occupying large amounts of real estate. New seats could also be in the development stage and let’s not forget the latest in infotainment, safety, and connectivity technologies. All of these things could be in play when the production version of the XV Concept arrives, presumably in late 2017.

Drivetrain

No mention was made on the powertrain so we can all assume that it’s going to carry the same 2.0-liter boxer engine that all current XV Crosstrek’s have. That engine is good for 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Base versions of the Crosstrek come with a five-speed manual transmission, but there is that option to convert the gearbox to a CVT version. Either way, the engine’s power is coursed through to all four wheels courtesy of Subaru’s noted AWD system.

Conclusion

I probably would’ve had a more boisterous reaction if I hadn’t seen the two Impreza concepts first. I have to admit that the excitement has worn off a little bit. But that’s not to say that the XV Concept isn’t nice to look at. It is. I especially like the adoption of the C-shaped headlights that I’ve been waiting a long time for Subaru to send to production.

Granted, the Japanese automaker has been known to skid an entirely different direction when it comes to building the production models. But I’m hoping that it’s going to be different this time and I’m banking on the positive reactions from these recent concepts to convince Subaru that it’s new design language has all the makings of a winner.