Subaru Debuts New Hybrid System on Crosstrek

Subaru reveals more information on its hybrid system as the company reveals it will make its debut on the Crosstrek towards the end of the year.

The Crosstrek Hybris is about to get even more efficient thanks to a new hybrid system Subaru is developing.

When Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru announced a novel triple partnership to build a new family of ICE engines, the three companies wanted to maintain their distinct identities while also building powertrains that would deliver more performance and efficiency. Toyota would focus its efforts on traditional four-cylinders while Mazda chose to stick to the venerable rotary engine. As for Subaru, the company chose to build on its experience with the Boxer engine and create a new hybrid system that would be better than its current setup.

Subaru finally decided to shed more light on what it’s working on and it appears that hybrid buyers will have plenty to look forward to with some of the preliminary stats that the company released on its upcoming hybrid system.

Crosstrek to spearhead new system’s debut

The new hybrid technology and the accompanying engie were built as a result of a triple partnership with Toyota and Mazda.

When we last saw Subaru’s new hybrid system, the company made it pretty clear that the Crosstrek would be the vehicle that will be responsible for bringing the system to consumers. That hasn’t changed with the company releasing new images that solidify its commitment to bringing the system to Crosstrek buyers. With the bulk of the Crosstrek’s redeeming qualities being carried over, there’s not much to talk about in regards to the exterior or the interior. Instead, the spotlight shines on what lies beneath and there’s plenty to talk about once you peel back the layers. 

The new hybrid system is paired with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with the powertrain being specifically developed to work with electrified powertrains. In the Crosstrek, the engine makes 158 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque and while these figures won’t set the world on fire in regards to raw performance, Subaru is instead focusing on efficiency with the company saying that the new hybrid setup is 20% more efficient than the current Crosstrek Hybrid. Part of this is due to the addition of a larger fuel tank which was achieved by moving the power control unit from the cargo floor to above the engine. The company didn’t release any U.S. fuel economy measurements but did confirm that the Crosstrek’s new hybrid tech allows it to go 621 miles on a single tank of gasoline.

The system pairs the boxer with two electric motors that are mounted at the front. One is the traction motor while the second one acts as a generator with Subaru saying that the traction motor can be the main source of power for the vehicle in most driving situations but it remains to be seen what parameters are in place before the gasoline engine kicks in to give the traction motor a break.

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• Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru Enter Triple Alliance to Accelerate Combustion Engine Development

When can I buy one?

Subaru is doing a calculated launch of the new tech to learn and analyze real world data with he Japanese market geting the model first.

The new system in the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (dubbed “e-boxer”) is slated to make its production debut in December with the first models being sold in Japan. These early Japanese sales will give the company an opportunity to gather real-world data and see how the system operates in real-world use before expanding distribution to markets outside of Japan. 

One unanswered question is whether the model will fully replace the existing Crosstrek Hybrid or if it will be sold alongside the model in select markets. Subaru chose to not comment on that front but it will be interesting to see when the Crosstrek Hybrid and its upgraded hybrid system will hit the U.S. which might allow it to reach a wider pool of buyers than the company’s only EV the Solterra.