Subaru ticks all the safety boxes

Subaru's sleek gullwing hybrid deals to back-seat drivers.

This sleek gullwing Subaru roadster could be the vehicle that puts an end to the back-seat driver or the Significant Other shouting warnings from the passenger's seat.

Buried under the bodywork is Subaru's EyeSight technology, an advanced driver safety system that recognises all sorts of driving environments and can, with other smarts electronics, intervene to avoid a collision.

Subaru reckons it's a major breakthrough in collision detection performance and even keeps a lookout for pedestrians and cyclists, using a stereo camera with a three-dimensional image-processing engine.

Even though it's far from production-ready, the systems threaten the role of back-seat drivers. Unlike the experts in the passenger seats, the electronics can actually do something about a potential problem.

To be fully effective, the Subaru system needs to be integrated with Others' vehicle-to-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communication technology. These systems are in their infancy, so back-seat drivers will be able to go at it for a while yet.

"Wide-ranging driving conditions that cannot be covered by a car-mounted stereo camera alone are acquired through vehicle-to-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communication technology, which is then synchronised with EyeSight," says Subaru. "This system continuously detects vehicles that move into and out of blind spots and advises the driver on appropriate driving manoeuvres."

The hybrid wagon concept car is being shown at the Tokyo motor that starts next week.

It's the first Subaru to combine a direct-injection boxer engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a petrol-electric hybrid drive. The car uses two electric motors and has regenerative braking and idle-stop systems.

The lithium-ion battery pack is similar to the one in Subaru's Stella plug-in electric vehicle. A 20kW rear electric motor provides drive for take-off and at walking-pace speeds.

It then assists the petrol engine during acceleration. The 10kW front motor assists during uphill acceleration but its main role is for electric-power generation.

Although the doors are the concept body's hero design feature, other interesting aspects include a flat rear floor to provide good passenger space; a specialised windscreen shielding to reduce driver eyestrain; and a new leather seat covering that allows good "breathability".