Subaru has confirmed that both the Crosstrek and not just the Forester will be utilizing hybrid powertrains developed by Toyota.
Thanks to this partnership both the Forester (US-spec pictured) and the Crosstrek are getting hybrid powertrains
This was detailed by Automotive News, which further shared that this move will form a sort of bridge that will eventually lead toward Subaru’s planned electric vehicle lineup. And of course, it will also reduce costs for the company, since developing hybrid technologies is notably expensive.
“There is a huge risk for us to go it alone in this field. We have held talks with Toyota and have agreed that it is better to reduce risks through joint development,” said Subaru President & CEO Atsushi Osaki.
As a side note, Subaru’s relationship with Toyota is nothing new. The two twin sports cars: the BRZ and the GR86, were also borne out of the same partnership. There’s also the fact that Toyota currently owns a 20 percent stake in Subaru.
As per numerous other reports regarding this Subaru-Toyota collab, the Shibuya-based carmaker will keep using its boxer-four engines while pairing it with the Toyota Hybrid System (THS). Interestingly, this is the same setup as the sixth-gen Forester e-Boxer which is planned to see its global debut in 2025.
Subaru Solterra
The same report from Automotive News further added that the new hybrid version of the Forester will be built alongside the internal combustion engine version (ICE) in the United States, specifically in the state of Indiana. We are hoping though, that somehow, it’ll reach the Philippine market as well.
As mentioned above, the Subaru and Toyota tandem will also be developing three new EVs which will roll out by 2026. No exact details for these were revealed just yet, but one will be built in the US, while another will be built in Japan.
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