Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Grovel at the feet of Subaru’s latest souped-up concept wagon: the Levorg STI

Stephen Edelstein
By
five customized subaru levorg concepts coming to tokyo auto salon concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Subaru Levorg wagon concept unveiled at last month’s Tokyo Motor Show, hasn’t gone into production, but Subaru is already customizing it.

At January’s Tokyo Auto Salon – think Japan’s version of SEMA – Subaru will unveil not one, but five customized wagons. Talk about overachieving.

Recommended Videos

The Levorg Premium Sports Concept will feature accessories from Subaru’s own catalog, showing customers what they can do to class-up their cars without resorting to the aftermarket.

Related

Similary, the Levorg STI Performance Concept will feature parts from Subaru Tecnica International, the company’s performance division. Those parts will include a front strut-tower brace and spoiler. Hopefully, though, STI will work its magic on the Levorg’s boxer engine as well.

Alongside the company-built concepts, Subaru will also display three customized Levorgs from prominent aftermarket parts manufacturers.

The name may sound strange, but the Levorg is essentially a new Legacy wagon. It’s roughly the size of the current Outback, but lacks that model’s ground clearance. Power comes from 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter boxer-fours, mated to Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

In fact, Subaru North America admitted to us that it’s the Levorg’s name that’s keeping it from the U.S. “Grovel” backward was too distasteful for Subaru’s American counterparts. And if you’re wondering: Yes, Subaru corporate refused to rename the Levorg for global markets.

In terms of the styling, the Levorg takes more than a few cues from the recently-unveiled WRX, indicating that this pugnacious mug could be the new face of the brand. While wagons are always great, it would have been even better to see something more like the Legacy concept unveiled at last month’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

According to Subaru, the Levorg is a thinly-veiled version of a production wagon that will go on sale next spring. Since the current Legacy wagon isn’t sold in the United States, this one might not be either.

Residents of Massachusetts and Oregon will surely be awaiting the new Legacy with bated breath, but but a production Levorg STI would be even better.

Whether it takes the form of a forbidden fruit wagon, Outback, or Legacy sedan, such a car would make a great a combination of speed and practicality, and would make an interesting rival for the upcoming Volvo V60 Polestar.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more
Scout Motors Electric SUV: rumored price, release date, design, and more
Scout SUV Teaser

There's another electric SUV on the way, and this one comes with a familiar name. Volkswagen is reviving the classic Scout name for a new electric SUV that's billed as being an "RUV," or a rugged utility vehicle. And, it could well prove itself as the best electric SUV in its price range, when it does finally come out.

The new EV isn't due out for quite some time, but there's already a fair bit that we know about it. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Scout SUV.
Design
There's very little we actually know about the Scout SUV so far, but we do know a little about the eventual design. A few teasers for the upcoming vehicle have been released, showing sketches of both the SUV and the accompanying pickup truck, along with what's presumably the front of the SUV -- though in a dark environment, with little detail.

Read more
Volkswagen ID.GTI concept is another icon reimagined as an EV
Front three quarter view of the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept.

Volkswagen reinvented one of its most iconic models with the ID.Buzz, a modern, all-electric homage to the classic Microbus. But that's not the only fan favorite vehicle currently in the automaker's catalog.

Debuting at the 2023 Munich Auto Show, the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept aims to do for the Golf GTI hot hatchback — VW's signature performance car — what the ID.Buzz did for the Microbus. VW claims a production version has already been given the green light, although it won't say when it will appear.

Read more