REPORT: Subaru may bring gasoline-hybrid to the U.S. in 2012
Subaru's been hyping its future green technology for years, but despite promises of diesels and hybrids, those of us in the States have yet to sample any alt-fuel, boxer-powered Imprezas, Legacys or Foresters. But according to Subie's president Ikuo Mori, in addition to bringing a new diesel powerplant to the U.S. in 2011 or 2012, Subaru, "hopes to introduce a hybrid around the same time."
As previously reported, Subaru will license and adapt Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system to its current drivetrains, which has proved difficult and, apparently, time consuming (Autoblog first reported on Subaru's hybrid plans back in 2005). However, with this week's new CAFE announcement that requires automakers' products to average 35.5 mpg by 2016 – with Japan and Europe likely to follow suit – Subaru seems to finally be ready to make good on its promise – seven years later.
[Source: Bloomberg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 9:48AM (5/21/2009)
They will all have to bring on hybrids to meet the new standards. The question is when. Timing is everything. Just take the Volt for instance. If it's not on the showroom floor, it's just a concept car as far as I'm concerned. Most of the new EVs are in that same category.
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steve 11:05AM (5/21/2009)
I would much prefer to see them bring something likea small BEV ( Stella, R1e? ) here, rather than licensing what will by then be pretty old hybrid technology :(
And why do we have to wait so long for the diesels. They have had them in Europe for a while now, and while Clarkson ( from Top Gear ) dislikes them, Captain Slow really took a liking to the Legacy diesel on their trip from Switzerland to Blackpool.
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jeffzekas 2:21PM (5/21/2009)
As a long-time Subie fan (all the way back to the original 360), I have one word: Bravo!!! I am waiting to purchase a new Subaru, but I won't buy it without a diesel or hybrid drive... I mean, 20 mpg with the WRX?!! Horrible! And 23 mpg in my Impreza?!! Heck, my 1958 VW Beetle got 25 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the freeway-- using 1930's technology!!! "Build it, and they will come!" Now, if only Fuji Heavy Industries would build that cool sports car they had at the auto shows, a few years ago!!!
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