Featured 2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV will be company's first plug-in hybrid

The Impreza isn't due for a redesign until 2021. If this PHEV is arriving for the 2019MY, it is going to be on the current model as part of the midcycle refresh. That doesn't bode well for the car's battery placement and interior space. Perhaps Subaru is using this as a learning case, or they need a plug in out now for CARB.

 

The dating on the Wikipedia headers threw me off. It listed the current Impreza generation as starting in 2016, but the car was unveiled then as a 2017MY. The Crosstrek might follow a year behind as reports are saying the 2018 of it is a redesign.
Why These 2 New-Generation Subarus Are Blowing Up the Entire Lineup | Torque News

So the question is did they allow for a plug in battery in this new platform?

 

I expect that the platform wasn't designed for a PHEV battery, but Subaru is free to configure the battery as they please to better fit the space.

If this does well, a Forester PHEV could arrive in a couple of years. Now it occurs to me that the Forester could not have been chosen in order to not compete with the Rav4 PHEV though.

 

because ....

 

Dumb question here ( no I didn't have time to do my homework ).

Does/will Subaru have 'regular' hybrids that use the Toyota HSD? If so, that is a very compelling package to me.

Thanks!

 

I think you're right- the new shell has room for "a battery" and "a big transmission" and enough strength to have extra holes cut in it for wires and ventilation. That's a big step up from the original Crosstrek hybrid, which just had a tire-shaped battery in the spare tire well. So Subaru ought to be able to configure it a number of different ways with useful results.

I would expect Subaru to proceed with hybrid versions of any & all of their cars. The Forester is due to get its new body for 2019, which should allow for the same hybrid powertrains. Then the Outback gets it in 2020.

Gas Foresters competed against gas RAV4s. Both still around. Quite possible that a hybrid Forester would just result in more parts being sold, but I would admit there is some risk to Toyota there.

They do not presently offer any hybrids at all. They previously offered a Crosstrek Hybrid, which has since been discontinued. It was a 'regular' hybrid, and a very mild one at that. Very small battery installed in the spare tire well and wired to an AWD CVT transmission with a 10kw electric motor added in. Of note, this was NOT a Toyota HSD though it had many similarities. I suspect that the battery itself was made by Toyota though.

It worked, but it wasn't impressive in any dimension. Very little electric boost, very little MPG savings.

Subaru chassis are very carefully laid out to make use of their flat four engine for AWD. The resulting sizes and shapes of the drivetrain parts are wildly incompatible with existing Toyota HSD designs.

I don't think there are any serious engineering or manufacturing hurdles- I really don't see anything stopping them from adapting the transverse HSD into a longitudinal package apart from making sure there is enough demand to justify the effort and expense.

And once they have a longitudinal HSD, that opens the door to a hybrid Tacoma and Lexus IS- they need the same shape Subarus need.

 

As I just traded my WRX for my Prime.. *sigh

 

Toyota owns 16.5% of Subaru Corporation(formally Fuji Heavy Industries), and non-competition may be part of the partnership arrangement for Subaru to use Toyota hybrid technology. If this is the case, I expect it is merely a temporary thing, assuming a Forester PHEV is planned.

Lexus has RWD hybrid systems. One of those is likely going to be the starting point for Subaru. Likely not the one in the LC 500h. I think that one is too costly, and maybe heavy, for a Crosstrek.

 

Seems like there are marks all over the scoreboard- the RAV4 and Forester have competed against each other for years. Meanwhile Toyota discontinued the Venza when it became obvious that the Outback was mopping the floor with them in sales. Always interesting to watch coopetition

Oh neat, I didn't realize they'd already done one! I agree it would be the right place to start for a Subaru. To add, Subaru transmissions have been on the big and heavy side for a while. The '05-'14 Legacy & Outback shared a transmission with the Nissan Armada & Titan, for example.

 

I look forward to test driving the first one in Huntsville, AL (I will not be holding my breath.)

Bob Wilson

 

Price? Oprions? Standard Features?
.

 

at least they'll have plenty of plug in credits available

will this save money over a regular suburu?

 

I'm due to replace my Outback before long. That car is going to get a pretty serious look.

 

All Subaru Crosstreck PHV or all new 2019 RAV4 hybrid, or whatever the SUV that can get at least 40 mpg will be the one I am going to buy.

 

Fuel economy is someplace where Subaru still has some fat... their bigger boxers and heavy AWD systems have real penalties for fuel consumption. Great machines, I'm on my second one now. But they're thirsty, so there is opportunity for a hybrid to show real savings.

Oh and did you hear fuel prices were in freefall?