Subaru Has Confirmed Its First Plug-In Hybrid - And It's Half Toyota

After borrowing a plug-in hybrid drivetrain system from Toyota and adding it to its own flat-four engine layout, Subaru has created its first plug-in car
Subaru Has Confirmed Its First Plug-In Hybrid - And It's Half Toyota

Subaru has announced a hybrid version of the excellent Crosstrek, known in Europe as the XV – and that means the XV is surely in line for the same.

The car is Subaru’s first plug-in hybrid but the electricals aren’t of the Japanese minnow’s own design. To save on what would be horrendous development costs, Subaru has simply borrowed the battery, motor and ancillaries from Toyota. It’s not the first time Toyota has taken the decision to help its tiny rivals, with Mazda also benefiting hugely from the big dog’s budget and production muscle.

The old Crosstrek Hybrid was a poorly-executed self-charging system
The old Crosstrek Hybrid was a poorly-executed self-charging system

While the Crosstrek has previously been built as a ‘closed’ hybrid (that’s the self-charging kind), this is the first concrete evidence of where former rally hero Subaru is headed. This time, the car can be driven on electric power alone for extended periods and you’ll need to plug it in to recharge.

Interestingly, the Subaru maintains the Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine, with Toyota’s cleverly-designed system more or less able to bolt on and go. This unit’s power in Toyota’s own applications reaches around 120bhp. Subaru may choose to do better than that.

Subaru Has Confirmed Its First Plug-In Hybrid - And It's Half Toyota

The Crosstrek Hybrid, on sale towards the end of this year, will get a few styling tweaks to mark it out from the normal one but don’t expect much more than a new grille, different wheels and maybe a few badges.

We expect a plug-in XV to follow in early 2019, but however likely it surely is, it looks like a European decision hasn’t been taken just yet. A spokesman said:

“The hybrid engine is planned for the US market only. It hasn’t been confirmed for the European market as of yet.”

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Comments

ATOGI_28

Will toyota make their own version of this but with a Toyota badge, making another toyoburu thing?

05/15/2018 - 11:35 |
0 | 0
BenPaye(JDMSquad)(MX5Squad)(LFAsquad)(Subie Squad) (Rotary F

In reply to by ATOGI_28

I was just about to ask that

05/15/2018 - 11:41 |
0 | 0

Toyota does own a part of Subaru so I’d assume so… Unless it’s a re bodied Rav 4 hybrid

05/15/2018 - 11:52 |
0 | 0
Rantar (RMG)(SSD)(S2000 squad)

Yay?

05/15/2018 - 11:42 |
2 | 2
TurboToddler (Straight-five)

The way the plastic around the wheel arches abruptly ends makes the car look like it’s got custom fender flares

05/15/2018 - 11:47 |
0 | 0
CS55

[DELETED]

05/15/2018 - 11:48 |
4 | 2
Jakob

In reply to by CS55

God beware, a company that’s famous for building SUVs and 4WD cars is building an SUV.

05/15/2018 - 12:30 |
16 | 2
Nishant Dash

Subaru Prius…
r/hmmmm

05/15/2018 - 11:53 |
92 | 2
Anonymous

Subaru’s first plug-in hybrid
(Excluding the Subaru Stella plug-in hybrid kei car launched in 2006 for the Japanese domestic market)

05/15/2018 - 12:08 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

iT’s jDm bRo

05/15/2018 - 13:14 |
4 | 0
Duggan (koalafan) (koalafan7) (Esprit Team) (Z32 Group) (Lot

It would be great if they brought the SVX back as s hybrid sports car maybe to compete with the Supra Idk as long as the SVX isn’t an suv

05/15/2018 - 12:10 |
34 | 2

And the xt as a awd brz

05/15/2018 - 12:35 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

Half Toyota? Hmmmmmmm *Toyobaru FRS

05/15/2018 - 12:12 |
20 | 0
DeclanCaper

TNTNINJA3

05/15/2018 - 12:22 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Subaru isn’t Toyota’s Rival. They own almost 17% of Subaru.

05/15/2018 - 12:23 |
0 | 0
HAYABUSA

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That does not necessarily mean they’re not rivals tho

05/15/2018 - 16:13 |
0 | 0