ACCORDING TO British outlet Auto Express, Subaru’s recently-announced Hybrid Tourer Concept will form the basis for a “spiritual successor” to the Subaru SVX of the 1990s.

Due to be officially unveiled on October 21 at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Hybrid Tourer Concept mates a 2.0 litre direct-injected flat-four boxer engine and permanent AWD drivetrain with a pair of electric motors and a dramatic gullwinged body.

It’s unclear whether the hybrid drivetrain would get the nod for a production version of the car, but Auto Express believes a turbocharged 2.5 litre boxer engine will see service in the next-generation SVX. Don’t count on those large gullwing doors making the transition, though.

Performance will reportedly be in the same league as the HSV R8, but the production car will likely be pitched as a luxury/performance vehicle rather than an out-and-out sports car.

The so-called “SVX successor” is expected to supplement the upcoming Subaru version of Toyota’s FT-86 budget RWD sports coupe in the Japanese company’s line-up.

Subaru’s FT-86 based car has yet to be revealed, but is believed to share much of its bodywork and mechanical layout with the Toyota.

GALLERY » Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

[Auto Express]