Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid PHEV Boasts Prius Prime-Like Electric Range

Subaru’s first plug-in almost goes the distance.

Way back in May of this year, Subaru officially announced its first plug-in hybrid model – the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid – that should enter the U.S. market near the end of 2018.

Details were and still are scarce on this newest plug-in. But now, thanks to a CARB certification filing, we’ve got a few new details.

It appears as though the Crosstrek Hybrid (plug-in) will get a city all-electric range (AER) rating of 25.65 miles or an equivalent all-electric range rating of 26.273 (EAER). Meanwhile, its highway figures are AER 21.9 and EAER of 27.381.

***Note – UDDS stands for Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule, and refers to a United States Environmental Protection Agency mandated dynamometer test on fuel economy that represents city driving conditions which is used for light duty vehicle testing.

That’s certainly not Chevy Volt territory (53 miles / combined), but it will challenge the Toyota Prius Prime (of which it’s loosely based off of) at 25 electric miles combined.

Subaru named its plug-in hybrid simply Hybrid, like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Of course, this is quite a confusing name too, as the Crosstrek Hybrid was around in the past, but in conventional hybrid form, not this new plug-in version.

As previously mentioned, Subaru makes use of the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) that is integrated with Subaru’s four-cylinder direct-injection BOXER engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and an all-new transmission.

The PHEV model was already expected this year with an all-electric Subaru hinted for 2021.

Conventional Subaru Crosstrek

6 photos

VW IS BUILDING AN ELECTRIC RACE CAR FOR PIKE’S PEAK

Volkswagen showed the world it was serious about diesel performance by taking a diesel-powered Audi team to LeMans, where the cars dominated the 24 Hour endurance event for the better part of two decades. Now, well- let’s just say that VW is taking a step back from diesel. You know, because of reasons. Instead, they’re shifting their focus to electric cars. And, to prove they’re serious about that, they’ll be building an all-electric race car. For Pike’s Peak.

“I can emphasize it is the project for 2018,” VW motorsport director Sven Smeets said, in a recent interview with Motorsport. “For the future, we have to do well, and prove the concept is working with an eye to the future in the electric world in motorsport.”

Volkswagen will be joining Honda, Mitsubishi, Rimac, and others in the growing electric class at the historic Hill Climb event. Despite the heavy-hitting nature of its competitors, however, VW wants to do more than show up. VW plans to win. “For us it’s clear when we enter as a works team [it will] always be with cars very closely linked to the product on the road,” Smeets explains. “So, if we can call it e-WRX, it would be one of the first series we could have a proper look at because it would fulfill those requirements.”

Surely, Subaru will have something to say about Smeets’ proposed use of the WRX name- but this is about a race car, not blatant copyright infringement. Here’s hoping VW releases more info. and photos of its Pike’s Peak competitor soon.

Source | Images: VW, via Motorsport

Autolist Sees Storm Clouds Ahead For US New Car Sales

A recent survey by Autolist of more than 9000 people finds there may be storm clouds ahead for new car sales in the US. The survey shows that a higher percentage of likely car buyers intend to buy used rather then new. Overall, 38% said their next car would be used. 34% said they intended to buy new. 27% were undecided.

When the responses were broken down by age, the differences became much more stark. Among people under 40, nearly 54% said used is the way they planned to go when they bought their next car. Only 46% said a new car purchase was on their horizon. For those over 40, the percentages are about equal.

Not only are younger drivers less likely to buy a new car, they report they plan to keep that car for less than 5 years. 60% of centennials and 46% of millenials said they would keep their next car less than 5 years. For older Americans, the percentage who say they will keep their next car for less than 5 years is around 40%.

Centennials are defined as between the ages of 16 and 24; millennials between 25 and 39, Generation X as between 40 and 54, baby boomers as 55 to 69, and traditionalists as over 70.

For those who say they plan to keep a car for less than 5 years and then buy a new car, Cadillac (77%) and Audi (75%) were the brands those people said they were most likely to buy. For those who responded that they intend to keep their car for more than 5 years and then buy new, the winner was Subaru with 73% of the responses.

The implications for automakers are clear. Younger people are less interested in buying a new car than older Americans. There could be a lot of reasons for that. Younger buyers have less money and little credit history to secure a car loan. But they also are more likely to see themselves participating in ride hailing or ride sharing services, particularly in urban areas where owning a car can be a hassle.

Autolist warns that new car sales may have seen their last great peak in the US and that car companies need to get used to selling fewer new cars every year. That lesson has not been lost on manufacturers, many of whom are deeply committed to transitioning at least part of their future business to online income stream models.

Subaru Will Add Electric Cars To Its Lineup

Subaru and Mazda are like twin sons of different mothers. Both are small players in the auto business who have carved out a niche of devoted followers by doing a few things really well. Both are happy to play at the margins while the big boys fight over the middle. Over the years, Subaru has gained a reputation for building reliable cars that offer a high degree of occupant safety. But to keep up with changes in the marketplace, particularly in China, it needs to add electric cars to its offerings.

To make that happen, the company’s CEO, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, told the press last week that his company will focus first on adding electric motors to its current models rather than creating a separate electric car division as Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz are doing. “If there’s already an attractive Subaru model, for example the XV crossover, and if a customer in Beijing wants one but is only allowed to buy an electric vehicle, if there’s no electric version then he can’t buy it,” Yoshinaga said. “Providing the choice of an EV means the customer can still desire the same Subaru.”

Subaru will invest $1.2 billion in research and development during the next 12 months, most of it aimed at getting a plug-in hybrid version of one of more of its cars into production by the end of 2018. Suppliers like GKN are already building complete EV powertrain components to speed the adoption of electric vehicle technology in the global marketplace and eliminate the need for each manufacture to design, test, and build its own hardware.

General Motors used to have a large stake in Subaru, but sold its shares some years ago to Toyota, which is also behind the curve when it comes to offering electric cars to its customers. It is likely some cross fertilization will take place between the two companies as each seeks to get in on the electric car future. Toyota will invest almost $9 billion in its research and development program in the coming year.

Yoshinaga also said his company expects to have a battery electric car to sell to customers by the beginning of the next decade. He did not indicate whether the BEV Subaru would be an entirely new model or based on an existing car in the company’s lineup. Building a car designed from Day One for electric power is the preferred approach, but developing completely new models takes about 5 years. Subaru may not have time to wait, as it is already late to the cars with plugs party.

Source: Bloomberg

EV Advertising By Major Manufacturers Is Missing In Action, Presumed Dead

It’s obvious to everyone. Despite all their chest thumping and fist bumping by the major manufacturers that they are gonna do this and gonna do that, when it comes to EV advertising, there just isn’t any. Even the Sierra Club has taken notice of the gigantic disconnect between what car companies say and what they do. When it comes to telling the public about their EV offerings, they treat alternative fuel cars — especially those with plugs — like three day old fish. If you live outside California, the chances you have never seen any EV advertising.

That’s according to a new study commissioned by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM). It was conducted by CompetiTrack and Motor Intelligence, two respected companies that track auto advertising activity. The study is for calendar year 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. The chart above makes the situation crystal clear. The blue bar represents national advertising for an electric car. The red bar is for ads that appeared only in the California market.

BMW has actually put some money into advertising its i3 electric sedan. Chevrolet has split its ad dollars between the national market and California, but the total sum is quite small. Oddly, Nissan invest almost nothing to promote its LEAF outside of California. Ford, however, is the worst. It spends nothing to promote the Ford Fusion Energi — which by all accounts is a pretty good car — outside of California.

Ford CEO Mark Fields, you may recall, is falling all over himself to kiss up to The Donald. He recently complained to the press that his company is being forced by the big, bad federal government to sell cars nobody wants to buy.

Too bad Fields didn’t ask his own people before running his mouth. In actuality, the Fusion Energi now accounts for 10% of all Fusion sales. How could the CEO of a major car company who enjoys a multi-million dollar compensation package not know that? Note to Ford shareholders. I would happily do Field’s job and only charge you half what he is making. Call me.

Overall, the industry has adopted a head in the sand approach to electric cars. Car makers spend billions every year to advertise their products, but in 2015, the total spent nationwide on EV advertising was under $25 million. According to my trusty Radio Shack calculator, that is a little more than 1% of the total budget. And you want us to believe you are doing everything in your power to promote electric cars? Please. You people lie almost as much as Donald Trump.

People marvel at how Elon Musk and Tesla Motors are disrupting the automotive industry, but it’s really no secret. The industry is doing everything it can to help Tesla succeed. It’s not that Tesla is so good — although their products are superior — it’s that the rest of the industry is so bad at recognizing the changes that are staring them right in the face.

It’s just another version of the “not invented here” syndrome that has been the bane of the American automotive industry since Engine Charlie Wilson ran General Motors. It’s what kept the Big Three from recognizing the revolution that arrived on their doorstep when the Volkswagen Beetle first came ashore in the early 50’s. Had they reacted sooner, Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Hyuundai, and Kia would never have gotten a toe hold in the American market, but Ford, GM, and Chrysler couldn’t make themselves believe people actually wanted small, efficient automobiles.

Instead of recognizing what Tesla is doing and adapting to it, the American car companies are trying their hardest to block Tesla’s direct to customer sales model and whining to anyone who will listen that nobody wants to buy electric cars except a few wealthy tech geeks. When the dust from the revolution settles, it may turn out that one or more of the Big Three car companies is already dead and just doesn’t know it yet.

Source: Sierra Club

Honda S2000 sports car to return as Mazda MX-5 rival

Honda is taking aim at the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat’s forthcoming 124 Spider by developing a successor to its popular S2000 roadster, company insiders have revealed.

Introduced in 1999, the original version of the Japanese manufacturer’s two-seat roadster garnered a reputation for its strong powertrain and lively handling, but the second edition of the car was axed in 2009.

Now a third generation is said to be under development as Honda tries to reconnect with the S2000’s dedicated fan base. Representatives from Honda’s advanced engineering department are said to have attended a recent S2000 owners’ club event in the British Isles - a sign that the firm wants to listen to enthusiasts in order to help it to position the next version of the car accurately.

The new S2000 will stay true to the original’s principles of a front-mounted engine, sited behind the axle line, and rear-wheel drive. It will be pitched as a faster alternative to the MX-5, although its performance should be more of a match for that car’s stablemate, the forthcoming Fiat 124 Spider, which uses a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine instead of the Mazda’s naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre units.

Honda has a number of powerplants under consideration for its roadster. More basic editions of the car could be powered by a retuned version of the firm’s forthcoming 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The four-cylinder unit has VTEC variable valve timing and produces around 150bhp in the Japanese-market vehicles it powers. This is likely to be ramped up to around 180bhp for the most modest S2000, giving the car around 25bhp more than the most powerful MX-5 and beating the US-market 124’s 158bhp.

This would leave scope for a hotter variant that could use a detuned version of the Civic Type R’s 306bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. It would also feature more extreme suspension and chassis settings, including a rear limited-slip differential, and could give Honda a useful extension to its Type R sub-brand, as well as a rival for the more potent, Abarth-badged 124. All versions of the car would feature a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox.

The biggest obstacle in the way of the S2000 replacement is the absence of a suitable platform. Honda is committing to a new global architecture for front-wheel-drive cars, including the next generation of Civic, which is due on sale in the UK in 2017, but its opportunities to spread the costs of a rear-wheel drive chassis are more limited.

It is therefore likely to pitch the car as a more expensive rival to the MX-5 in a bid to maintain workable margins, with pricing starting north of £20,000. It could slot the model into the line-up of its premium Acura brand in the United States, where it would be a rival to BMW’s next Z4 and the Audi TT Roadster.

Honda has been working on a number of sports car projects as it looks to rebuild its reputation as a manufacturer of enthusiasts’ models as well as more mainstream products and capitalise on its struggling F1 programme with McLaren.

It is understood that a mid-engined, turbocharged ‘baby NSX’ is also under consideration, but company officials have prioritised a return to the open-top two-seater market.

Honda’s global boss, Takahiro Hachigo, recently revealed that despite the NSX’s trick hybrid set-up, future sports cars from the company would not all need to have electric motors in their powertrains. “Whether or not we develop a hybrid depends on the type of car,” he said. “It is not the case that we have a fixed notion that a sports car always has to be a hybrid.”

Honda has decided that the diminutive S660 roadster that’s sold in Japan would not have a broad enough appeal to justify homologation in other markets. Hachigo said: “If there is strong demand from a region then we will always consider possibilities, but the S660 is a car that was developed for the Japanese market and we’d have to do a lot of work on it to make it comply with European regulations. I also wonder: would a car like this, sold in Asia, succeed in Europe?”

He did admit that Honda was considering sports cars beyond the NSX, however. “We are receiving requests from our regions who are saying they would like more sports cars, so we are considering ways to do that,” he added.

Engineers have also been working on a four-motor, all-electric sports car, as demonstrated by the SH-AWD CR-Z that finished 11th in this year’s Pikes Peak hillclimb in Colorado, but the commercialisation of that project faces a number of challenges, not least the cost of the lithium ion battery technology required to deliver the targeted range of 300 miles per full charge.Hachigo admitted that Honda had damaged its image by “abandoning” products such as the S2000 that had a strong reputation and hardcore fan base. The firm did have plans for a successor to the second generation of the car, but these were scrapped in the midst of the global automotive and financial crises in 2009.

It is believed that the firm’s European boss, Toshiaki Mikoshiba, has been given specific targets to improve continuity and nurture customer retention, as well as reducing the gap between product launches in Japan and the US and the arrival of those cars in Europe. The new HR-V and Jazz — plus the newly launched US-market Civic — are seen as prime examples of cars taking too long to reach European customers.

“We need consistency to build the brand,” said Hachigo. “We want to enhance the cars that we’ve already introduced. We are also working so we can introduce models more quickly to Europe. It’s a very important market for us.”

Honda is the latest Japanese brand to publicly state its goal to produce more cars that are fun to drive, although if the firm does get a new, rear-wheel-drive S2000 to market on its own, it will be bucking the recent trend for joint developments. Mazda and Fiat collaborated on the MX-5 and 124, while Toyota joined forces with Subaru to get access to the boxer engines that give the GT86 the handling agility that was the focus for the project.

Toyota is also working with BMW on a sports car platform that’s expected to underpin different sizes of car. BMW will place it under the next Z4 and its Japanese partner will use it to underpin a larger coupé that could carry the Supra badge.

However, some Japanese manufacturers are developing standalone sports car projects. Mazda is working on a rotary-engined successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 and Nissan is considering an expansion of its Z sub-brand.

Subaru planning modular platform, seven-seat SUV, plug-in hybrid

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles isn't the only big name in the auto industry releasing details on its future plans.Subaru, and its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, is aiming to bump its North American sales up from 478,000 to 600,000 by 2020. Now, that seems pretty reasonable, especially in the face of FCA's hugely ambitious goals for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. It's how Subaru will go about increasing the sales, though, that has us intrigued.

A focus on more fuel-efficient, direct-injection engines will complement a new platform, while the company is contemplating expanding capacity at its Indiana factory, which will now have more room since Toyota Camry production will be ending there.

As for that new platform, it's called the Subaru Global Platform. Original, we know. It's a modular deal and will eventually underpin a vast range of future Subies following its debut in 2016. The new platform may also end up underpinning a seven-seat SUV, which would serve as the successor to the Tribeca and debut between 2016 and 2020, according to Automotive News.

The direct-injected engines, meanwhile, would debut around roughly the same time as the new Tribeca. Cylinder deactivation could also appear, while AN reports that thermal efficiency is being given a big look, which could hint at an Atkinson-cycle engine powering future vehicles. A plug-in hybrid is also a very strong possibility, which also lends credence to AN's theory on the Atkinson cycle. While this focus on efficiency and emissions is admirable, it won't go so far as to disrupt the brand's heritage – Subaru has given no indication that it's ditching its trademark boxer engines.

News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.

2014 Subaru Forester Aces New IIHS Crash Test; Other Crossovers, Not So Much

Last year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced a new crash test -- and a new rating to accompany it. A total of 13 compact SUVs recently took that test, and the 2014 Subaru Forester was the only one in the bunch to earn a "good" rating. 

The test in question is the "small overlap crash", which has a much lower success rate than the IIHS' other tests, like the full-width frontal test and the moderate overlap front test. Those replicate collisions involving all or most of a car's front end, respectively.

The small overlap crash replicates crashes like those involving trees, telephone poles, and other obstacles that hit only a small portion of a vehicle's front end. According to a press release, "In a 2009 IIHS study of vehicles with good ratings for frontal crash protection, small overlap crashes accounted for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes involving serious or fatal injury to front seat occupants." In other words, a car can score well on the IIHS full-width frontal test and still be very vulnerable in small overlap collisions.

Vehicles that pass the small overlap crash test with a "good" or "acceptable" score are eligible for the IIHS' newest rating, "Top Safety Pick+". The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was rated "acceptable", and both the Outlander and the Forester were awarded the "plus" designation.

The other 11 vehicles tested earned either "poor" or "marginal" ratings in the small overlap crash. However, nine still earned a Top Safety Pick designation (minus the "+"). Those include the BMW X1, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Jeep Patriot with side torso airbags was also given a Top Safety Pick designation, despite performing among the worst of the lot on the small overlap test. All vehicles tested were either 2012 or 2013 models. 

Faring less well: the Jeep Wrangler and the Nissan Rogue. 

Source: Green Car Reports

Subaru BRZ To Get AWD TurboDiesel Hybrid Version

The Subaru BRZ is the first Subie product to not come with all-wheel drive standard for a very long time. Rather, the rear-drive sports car serves a niche customer group more concerned burnouts than stability control. But Subaru is bowing to fuel economy mandates and a ravenous fanbase demanding a turbodiesel hybrid version of the BRZ convertible with all-wheel drive.

As Subaru itself notes, this new car, aiming for a 2015 release, essentially cobbles all of the Internet and press rumors into a single vehicle. Obviously an April Fools prank, we still can’t help but be smitten with the idea of a turbodiesel-hybrid Subaru BRZ. It would certainly be more appealing than Subaru’s first hybrid effort, the XV Crosstrek. Blah.

So yeah, don’t expect a turbodiesel hybrid convertible sports car from Subaru anytime soon. Then again, rumors of a hybrid version of the Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S, essentially the same car as the BRZ, have been affirmed by Toyota engineers. So don’t discount the possibility.

Source: Jalopnik | Image: Autoemo

Subaru XV Crosstek Hybris

While it has garnered a well-deserved reputation as a “green” automaker, Subaru has yet to actually sell a single “green” car. But that has all changed with the introduction of the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, which debuted today at the New York International Auto Show alongside the new WRX Concept. But for a hybrid, this new Subaru isn’t exactly a fuel economy king.

In fact, the new hybrid setup mates a 2.0 liter gas engine to a small electric motor to produce the same horsepower as a non-hybrid XV Crosstrek; 148 horsepower and 145 ft-lbs of torque. That is respectable, if not impressive.

Unfortunately, fuel economy recieved what could only be described as a very modest boost. Subaru says that the XV Crosstrek will deliver around 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, up from 25/33 on the non-hybrid. Part of the problem is that the hybrid technology adds an extra 300 pounds to the Crosstrek’s curb weight, much of that from the 13.5 kWh nickel-hydride battery in the trunk area. Subaru also added start/stop features and regenerative braking, but all told, the fuel economy figures are kind of disappointing.

Subaru also debuted a new WRX concept vehicle, and while the radical design probably won’t make it into production, the car seemed to be very well recieved. No details were given out, but when a new WRX does hit the market, expect at least a few of these design cues to come along for the ride.

Subaru fans, we want to hear from you; were you expecting better from Subie’s first hybrid? Or does this work well enough for now?

Source: Gas2.0

Subaru’s First Hybrid Breaks Cover, To Make Official Debut This Week

While most automakers have embraced hybrid technology or pure electric vehicles as a means of meeting fuel economy mandates, a handful have yet to commit one way or another. Japanese automaker Subaru is one such company, though it appears the company that made Boxer engines and all-wheel drive cool will finally offer a hybrid of its own.

Called the Subaru XV Crosstrek, details are scarce, and won’t be revealed until the New York Auto Show later this week. But from what we can gather, Subaru is building a crossover-type hybrid, perhaps based on their popular Forester model. We’re actually surprised it took Subaru this long to crank out a hybrid vehicle, considering that the company has quite the reputation as a green automaker, though the company has teased some hybrid concepts before.

Among Subaru’s green credentials (asides from the fact that many people with liberal views seem to love them) is their zero-waste manufacturing facility in Indiana. Yet to date, Subaru has not really offered any vehicle that could be considered fuel efficient. Subaru’s commitment to all-wheel drive has really hurt their fuel economy ratings, but perhaps this new hybrid can change all of that.

We’ll be bringing you all the details from the showroom floor later this week.

Source: Subaru

Subaru DIZIV PHEV Debuts At Geneva

Subaru revealed the VIZIV concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show. It is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) comprising a propulsion system powered by a 2.0 liter Subaru Boxer diesel engine equipped with a high-torque-compatible Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). It is equipped with a front-mounted electric motor that both turns the wheels, and is used to generate electricity during braking. This vehicle has two electric motors in the back which are for driving the vehicle only.

The quantity of electric motors in a vehicle tells you nothing about its performance, the use of multiple motors may just fit into a manufacturer’s particular design more appropriately than one large one. Manufacturers all have their preferred designs. They may use 4 40 kW motors (just a fictitious example), with one at each wheel, two 80 kW (one in the front and the other in the back), or only one 160 kW motor in either the front or back.

The two rear motors control power the rear left and rear right wheels of the vehicles independently and one may be supplied with more power than the other to provide more torque to the outside rear wheel and less to the inside rear wheel when cornering to generate inner-directed yaw momentum on the vehicle and achieve extremely quick and smooth on-the-rail cornering.

The “Hybrid SI-DRIVE” system has an Eco-Cruise mode that provides control in conjunction with the EyeSight driving assistance system. This is in addition to “Intelligent” and “Sports” modes. Engine and motor power are regulatedl according to the travel conditions detected by the EyeSight’s stereo camera.

Source: Green Car Congress

Subaru Viziv Concept: Diesel Hybrid Crossover From Geneva Motor Show

Subaru's last crossover was the slightly underwhelming XV Crosstrek, but its latest concept looks a lot more exciting.

Unveiled today at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Viziv Concept is a diesel hybrid crossover, hinting at the looks and powertrain of some future Subaru models.

Traditionally, Subarus have always touted afour-wheel drive transmission layout.

The Viziv is no different, but rather than full-time, mechanical all-wheel drive, the Viziv is a through-the-road hybrid--little different from the European-only Peugeot 3008 diesel hybrid crossover we drove last year.

A 2.0-liter diesel engine sits up front, in Subaru's familar flat-four "boxer" layout, while two electric motors power the rear wheels.

The setup not only weighs less than a traditional all-wheel drive system, but frees up cabin space too--allowing for a flatter floor than vehicles with a propshaft running down a central tunnel.

Like other through-the-road setups, the car decides whether to use one or the other powertrain, or a combination of the two when greater performance is needed. The diesel engine would be used on the highway for maximum efficiency (running through a continuously-variable transmission), while the electric rear wheels would take over around town.

The styling too is a departure for Subaru, and while the two-door, four-seat crossover setup may not make it to production, the large grille, defined waistline, aggressive head and tail-light shapes and chunky body addenda may well find their way onto production vehicles.

Source: Green Car Reports