Subaru's Radical Design to be implemented

Subaru will soon be adopting the angular face design of the Viziv concept crossover shown at the Geneva auto show across its entire lineup, Subaru's global design chief says.

Subaru's current lineup front end is dominated by a hexagonal grille and wraparound headlights. "It is currently too tame", says the global design chief Osamu Namba. Going forward, models will take their styling cues from the Viziv.

The concept's front has aggressively incised bracket-shaped headlights that fuse with the lower fog lights to cut an angular jaw shape. Elements of the look are likely to appear on a new performance concept car that will debut at next week's New York auto show. The look is unmistakable and people will know it is Subaru, and that's what we wants.

 "Up until now, it wasn't enough," Namba says of Subaru's traditionally staid front impression. "From here out, we want people to look at the headlamps and think 'Ah, Subaru.'"

The new styling points have crept into the redesigned Forester crossover, which debuted in November. But Namba says they will gradually work their way across Subaru's lineup.

"We've just started the change," Namba says.