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Subaru could have all-electric CUV by 2021

Subaru doesn't exactly have an industry-leading electric vehicle program. It sells the Impreza Sport Hybrid in Japan and the Crosstrek Hybrid in the US. There have been electrified rumors and concept cars, but Subaru has been more content to promote getting out into the environment rather than using your car to help it. But maybe this'll change in 2021. That's when, according to a report in the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun newspaper in Japan, the automaker will introduce an midsize, all-electric AWD CUV in the US. The EV would be based on the Forester or Outback and use a new global platform. As for where the cells, batteries, or motors would come from, there was no mention. The newspaper cited unnamed sources and all that an on-the-record spokesperson would say is that, "We have yet to decide on any specifics at the moment." Or, as Subaru of America's national manager of product communications, Dominick Infante, told AutoblogGreen, "It's a bit early for us to discuss electric vehicles and PHEVs." There's a good reason for Subaru to be considering going electric, and it's the same one that's pushing the entire industry to zero-emission vehicles: tighter emissions regulations. As much as we want to know everything now, it appears that Subaru is taking the same approach to all-electric vehicles as it did with hybrids. At the New York Auto Show in 2013, Subaru's executive vice president Tom Doll said that, "We at Subaru were not the first to market with a hybrid, but we sure made sure we did it right." If it takes the company until 2021 to release an EV, it had better get it right. Related Video:

2019 Subaru Forester Drivers' Notes Review | Space with a view

The Subaru Forester, launching in the 1990s, is one of the earliest crossover models, blending SUV design and capability with car-like handling and refinement. For 2019, the Forester was completely redesigned, though it might be hard to tell. The styling is conservatively updated, and the boxy, upright design people seem to like it kept as untouched as possible. One of the bigger changes is the under-the-hood offerings. The 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-4 has been dropped completely. Also, the standard 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-4 no longer offers a manual transmission option. On the upside, power has increased from 170 horsepower to 182, and torque increases from 174 pound-feet to 176. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore: I spent a couple of nights in the 2019 Forester and I generally liked it. The new gen feels fresher, without overt changes. The front end looks great. All of the sharp design lines, the now-standard LED headlights and the prominent grille work together to make a statement. Subaru, Ford and plenty of others, all seem to have taken a page from Audi's playbook of using piercing headlights and a simple yet sporty silhouette. It works. The back is not as good. The last Forester looked cleaner. This one looks like a Honda CR-V knock-off. It's tough to make rear styling in a crossover great, but the Forester went in the wrong direction. Overall, though, it's a good looking machine, stem to almost stern. Inside, the visibility is outstanding. The pillars are relatively thin and the seats are mounted up rather high. You can see out of this thing in all directions. The Forester has always had a good greenhouse feel, so I'm glad that continues. Inside is more of a mixed bag. The cabin pieces and shapes are a little cheap and odd. This one, done up in almost all black with some leather, is decent, but I'd prefer a simpler aesthetic. The boxer four is fine. It works hard to build speed, but it channels mid-range power and blasts by slower moving traffic. The Forester rides better than ever, thanks in part to Subaru's new global platform. Steering is a little light in a good way, the brakes have a solid grab and in general, I like driving the Forester. I'm more of an Outback guy, but Subaru has fortified the Forester in enough ways to keep it competitive. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Subaru STI display celebrates the division's high-performance history in New York

Subaru Tecnica International is really getting to celebrate itself at the 2015 New York Auto Show. Not only is the Japanese brand's performance division showing off a turbocharged take on the BRZ in the Big Apple, it also set up a small exhibit commemorating four past achievements. The oldest car of the group is a 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type RA wearing full rally garb. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder kicks out 270 horsepower, but this specific one isn't a competitor. Instead, Subaru used the vehicle to promote the launch of the 1998 Impreza 2.5RS. STI also has one of the most coveted Subarus ever on display, a 1999 Impreza 22B STI. These limited two-door models were made to celebrate the company's World Rally Championship victories. Each one was plucked off the assembly line and fitted with a curvaceous, wider body and adjustable rear wing. Power was provided by a 2.2-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder with 280 horsepower. The final two members of this mini museum are a bit more modern. The 2004 WRX STI should be familiar to performance fans in the US with its 300-horsepower boosted 2.5-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual. There's also the 2015 WRX STI that blitzed the Isle of Man last year to set a new lap record of 19 minutes and 26 seconds around the island course. With STI planning a US expansion over the coming years, this is a fantastic reminder of the division's past. Hopefully, it can keep living up to these high standards. Related Video: