Subaru Impreza Hybrid on the way?

By Alborz Fallah | March 08th, 2010

Seems as though Toyota’s inclination to stick with its hybrid strategy has affected Subaru (which Toyota partially owns) with reports that the Japanese based company will bring out a hybrid version of the Subaru Impreza when the new model comes out in 2012.

Although previous suggestions of a hybrid car were thought to be for the Subaru Liberty, Road & Track’s Sam Mitani said Subaru insiders have suggested it will first be seen on the all-new Impreza.

The news should not come as a surprise given Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru, recently declared that his company will introduce a new hybrid vehicle in 2012. Given the Impreza’s size and popularity it’s certainly the right choice to start with.

With a diesel now in the lineup, Subaru is a brand on the move. A hybrid drivetrain based on the company’s boxer engine could be a very interesting idea and can potentially produce much better results than similar systems found in Toyota hybrids.

Even if a Subaru Impreza Hybrid does come out in 2012, it may not necessarily come to Australia straight away.

Would you consider an Impreza Hybrid?

Source: Road & Track Blog.

MAK

Why buy a Hybrid when a diesel has better torque/power/economy and is cheaper?

ADLover

Because Hybrid has more clean and futuristic images.
Diesel is oil burner at all…
And also many (actually all of) car company have made prototype of hybrid concept cars.
However only few company can produce actual production cars with realistic price tag.

MAK

Thats exactly right – IMAGE

Apart from that it is much more realistic to purchase a diesel.

And for those concerned about carbon footprint and throw CO2 figures at me – think about the footprint incurred when importing a foreign made hybrid when you can buy a locally made diesel.

Shipping, transport etc…

PN

Couldn’t agree more……

However, the diesels are an unenthusiastic drive…….

VW were making a diesel hybrid which only chews 3.3L/100

KM

What makes you say diesel’s are a unenthusiastic drive?

You think people that buy diesel/hybrids are in the market for a ferrari F430?

If you want enthusiastic drives – you don’t worry about Carbon emissions or Fuel Consumption.

http://Audi Robj

The Toyotaising of Subaru is well underway. Soon they will be just rebaded Toyotas once they dump AWD…

ADLover

I don’t think so.
At least Subaru has done good business in oversea market.
So they can keep making 4WD.
Personally I think Subaru needs better auto from Toyota or Aishin.

Crossy

I wish they’d just kill Suburu rather than let Toyota torture it to death like this. Do it now and do it quick while we can still remember some of the great cars they made pre-Toyota.
scottwheels

What about a diesel hybrid? There’s a few concepts around, but to my knowledge there’s none planned for production. I’ll happily be proved wrong.

J

LPG hybrid even better for Aus (I thought Hyundai were doing this – can’t remember if they have yet?)

Boney Maroney

Yep, you got it, Hyundai have released the Elantra (or whatever they call it now) in Korea as a LPG/Hybrid. Makes so much sense for oz considering we have at least 65 years of the stuff (from Wheels mag a few months back, so dont know how accurate that is) with current reserves

Fenno

My thoughts exactly. Imagine the economy.
I believe the issue lies with the constant on and off though related to the prerequisites that Hybrids require. Maybe a diesel hybrid in the form of the diesel motor being a generator (ie the volt) as opposed to the motive force (ie the Prius)

scottwheels

I think that’s the most efficient way to power a hybrid. A high torque hub motors at each wheel and an internal combustion engine operating at peak efficiency driving an alternator/generator to keep the batteries charged up. Or just go the whole hog and run the generator on a micro gas turbine with waste heat recovery! The hybrid is essentially transition technology to true EVs, but what fun could be had along the way.

Lagoza

Hi Alborz, I see Ireland has had the Diesel Imreza since mid last year. When do we get it?
Shak

No i wouldnt buy it. The normal version is ugly enough, and the hybrid will be much worse due to all the aero aids.
dasferg

The only good news in this article is that the new impreza is only 2 years away!

Alex

Hopefully a new Impreza in 2012 means new Forester as well, and hopefully the XT will get the WRX 192kw motor… can’t wait to drive that down the beach!
Joe

It’ll be a facelift, like the previous model’s (chassis code GD 01-07) 3 different incarnations.. not an entire new chassis.

Subaru seem to do the chassis change every 7 years.

Shak

Which is a good timframe for a new chassis. Think about the costs of a new Chassis and infrastructure every three years(ie GM)

Aleks

Maybe they should concentrate more on the new imprezza cause this one makes me sick to my stomach, especially its interior, the exterior only gives me a mild case of diarrhea.

robbo

@Aleks
Sick to your stomach? OMG, you actually get sick from looking at a car. What a stupid comment.

Aleks

I guess sarcasm is to complicated of a concept for your simple mind to understand. Let me put it in words you will understand. INTERIOR NOT GOOD

svd

Are Hybrid’s really green? I know they give good economy after you have bought one but does the manufacture of one use more green house gases and then what about the end of life costs? Some European manufacturers are looking at Diesel hybrids which is just a step on from Diesel/Electric trains and earthmoving equipment by having a storage battery. I think we need green national grid power generation and then plug in hybrids eg GM Volt (if it ever makes it to market). Whatever the auxillary engine runs on be it Petrol, Diesel or LPG or something else can be changed to suit the market conditions of a particular country/environment.
nick

Subaru don’t need to use hybrid technology to get more sales. It would be far cheaper if they made their cars less ugly and they would sell MUCH more cars.