What are the Chances?
Of all Japanese automakers, Subaru is one of the few that hasn't toyed around with a convertible. The company expresses its exciting, fun side in different ways, most notably high powered, 'sleeper' sedans with diehard durability and the traction of permanent all-wheel drive. How else are we to remember the various high-performance Impreza offerings such as the WRX and upgraded WRX STi? Hard, thrilling and fast are the primary descriptors, but what about graceful, sexy or just plain fun?
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| It is difficult to imagine Subaru producing a two-seat roadster, yet the B9 Scrambler concept shows the oddball carmaker is at least contemplating it. (Photo: Subaru) |
Could you picture Subaru producing a two-seat roadster? It's hard to imagine, but the B9 Scrambler concept certainly shows the oddball carmaker is at least contemplating it. Much like the surprisingly agile, luxuriously equipped SVX coupe of yore, the unforgettable BRAT pickup recently reincarnated as the much less successful Baja, and the B11-S concept, the Scrambler is proof that Subaru is willing to explore.
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| However surreal the B9 may appear, the thinking and practical side of Subaru is still ever present. (Photo: Subaru) |
With Subaru's new concept-car face started by the Fuore-styled B11-S prototype, the B9 features a rounded four-sided grille with side wings. Separate triangular-shaped intakes are carved in the car's lower valance, and the front end is topped off with a pair of unique L-shaped headlamps, which swept back towards the car's front fenders.
Two-toned in color-shifting metallic blue covering the upper half, and gray plastic making up the lower flanks, complimented by sunglasses-like bronze windshield tint, the B9 Scrambler seems as if it came out of a Californian, sun-soaked dream. However surreal as it may appear, mind you, the thinking and practical side of Subaru is still ever present.
Its massive 19-inch alloy wheels almost dominate the design, accentuated by the fact the Scrambler has virtually no front or rear overhangs. This adds to the B9's tiny appearance, but in reality it's much larger at 4.2 meters long, 1.88 meters wide, and 1.26 meters tall - significantly larger than the Miata in all dimensions for instance.