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Subaru's first hybrid drawing close

In 2011 Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries confirmed that a hybrid Subaru would debut this year. Ever since, there's been speculation about what kind of technology the gasoline-electric hybrid would use - Subaru's own or some version of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive, which car would debut the new system - Forester, Legacy, or Outback - and whether it would come to America or be a Japan-only model.
A report in The Detroit Bureau says that whatever that first model is, it could be shown as soon as the New York Auto Show, and while the company feels it's a must-have offering for the Japanese market it will also come to the US. It will have a Subaru-developed mild hybrid system that could have been previewed by the Hybrid Tourer concept shown at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and is not expected to be able to drive on electric power alone. The Hybrid Tourer used a direct-injected, 2.0-liter boxer engine connected to a CVT and assisted by an electric motor rated at 13 horsepower. Subaru has yet to give anything away about the details of its hybrid plans, so we'll look to New York for the long-awaited unveil.

2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid PHEV electric range, according to CARB

Subaru's first plug-in vehicle is coming, and it's coming soon. The end of 2018 is upon us already, and the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is almost ready for primetime. This time around, it has a plug, a feature that is notably absent from the car's nomenclature, a la the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. It will also borrow its PHEV technology from Toyota and now, we have California Air Resources Board ( CARB) documents that suggest the Crosstrek Hybrid's all-electric range. According to the document (which can be seen in PDF form here), CARB rates the Crosstrek Hybrid's Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule electric range at 25.650 miles. For what it's worth, the Toyota Prius Prime with which this Subaru shares powertrain tech, has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 25 miles and a highway electric range of 21.9 miles. The document also lists an "equivalent" all-electric urban range of 26.273 miles and "equivalent" all-electric highway range of 27.381 miles. ("Equivalent" range calculations come into play when PHEVs use a mix of electric and gas power at the same time.) The Crosstrek, which will use Subaru's own 2.0-liter gasoline engine, doesn't appear to suffer a reduction in electric range compared to the Prius Prime despite its size, elevated ride height or all-wheel-drive system, which raises a lot of questions. The reasons are still unclear, as we don't have a lot of details about the underpinnings of the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid, and we can't help but be skeptical about those figures. Will it have a bigger battery than the Prime's 8.8-kWh pack? Will the electric motor drive all four wheels, or will it only power one axle under all-electric power? What other mitigating factors could add efficiency and, in effect, range to this Subaru? Are these calculations, in fact, indicative of the yet-to-be-announced official figures? Of course, we'll have to see how the EPA's final estimated driving range shakes out before we draw our official comparisons. We'll know a lot more when the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid gets its official debut before the end of this year, plug and all. Related Video: News Source: California Air Resources BoardImage Credit: Subaru Green Subaru Fuel Efficiency Crossover Electric Hybrid PHEV

A stylish Subaru? Viziv Adrenaline previews next-gen Crosstrek

We're big fans of the Subaru Crosstrek — the lifted version of the Impreza hatchback — especially the new plug-in hybrid variant. So much so that one of us spent our hard-earned money on one. The rugged styling and extra ground clearance give it a little more character than the average hatchback. The second-gen model made its debut two years ago at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. At this year's show, Subaru revealed the new Viziv Adrenaline concept, a good preview of what the next Crosstrek might look like. Subaru says the Viziv Adrenaline uses the company's new "BOLDER" design philosophy. It's still obviously a Subaru, but the lines are sharper than what you see on the current production model. The Viziv Adrenaline packs LED lighting both front and rear, including six-dot fog lights that are mirrored on the rear bumper. White accents on the wheels and roof give it a handsome two-tone look, something that's becoming popular on compact crossovers like the Volvo XC40 and Toyota C-HR. The idea is to make the models even more distinct than they currently are. Some have criticized the new Forester and Ascent for being a little too conservative. We don't know for sure that this is what the next-gen Crosstrek might look like, but based on the size and styling, it's hard to imagine that this is anything else. Design/Style Geneva Motor Show Subaru Crossover Hatchback Concept Cars subaru crosstrek