In May 2024, executives and engineers from Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru hosted the world's media to show off something odd in today's electric-centric automotive environment.
Instead of showing off a line of EVs, the trio of Japanese automakers showed off a series of "signature" gas-powered engines they intend to fit into future vehicles.
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Toyota brought a pair of four-cylinder engines, Mazda showed off a revamped and reworked version of its signature Wankel rotary engine, while Subaru showed off a hybrid version of its signature flat "boxer" engine installed in a prototype version of its popular Crosstrek crossover SUV.
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Just a few months later, the automaker is ready to show off its newest tech in a package that may steer curious American buyers away from EVs for good.
Subaru
What makes a Subaru a Subaru?
In a recent announcement, Subaru (FUJHY) unveiled a hybrid version of the popular Crosstrek crossover SUV for the Japanese market, featuring what the brand calls its "Next-Generation Hybrid System."
Dubbed the "Strong Hybrid," the rugged machine is underpinned by a hybrid system that uses Toyota TM-derived components in a way that is compatible with its signature "symmetrical" all-wheel-drive system.
At the center of the "Next-Generation Hybrid System" is an evolution of a Subaru tradition: a 158-horsepower 2.5-liter gas-powered flat "Boxer" engine designed specifically for electrified applications. This engine works in tandem with two electric motors: a 118-horsepower unit located near the gearbox and connected to the wheels, as well as another near the engine that acts as a generator to the lithium-ion battery underneath the trunk.
Subaru
Subaru says the new system is a series-parallel system that can drive the car using the gas engine or the electric motor. As it is hooked up to Subaru's all-wheel-drive system, the automaker says the electric motor can act as the "main source of power in a wide range of situations, with the engine covering areas where the motor is not well suited." All things considered, the automaker claims that drivers operating under optimal conditions can expect to last 1,000 kilometers, or 621 miles, between trips to the gas pump.
In addition to its long range, the Japan-exclusive Crosstrek was built with adventurers in mind. One of the niche features packed into the new Crosstrek hybrid is a power outlet that is designed to run small appliances like a Crockpot. In fact, Subaru's Japanese division is offering buyers who reserve the first few cars a free portable refrigerator/freezer that can plug into the car.
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Subaru's Hybrid Problem
Subaru does not currently offer any hybrids in its U.S. lineup, although from 2019 to 2023, the Crosstrek was offered as a plug-in hybrid. According to the automaker, it sold about 200 per month in states like California and others that adopted its emissions guidelines.
Subaru already presents impressive numbers for an automaker that is nearly crossover SUV-exclusive. According to the latest figures, over 52% of its September 2024 U.S. sales are made up of two models: its gas-powered Crosstrek and the Forester crossover SUVs.
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However, hybrid sales across the whole automotive industry have been on the rise. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, traditional gas-electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius accounted for about 9.6% of new car sales in the U.S. during Q2 2024, a solid increase from 8.6% in the previous quarter.
More compellingly, hybrids have been the name of the game for two of its Japanese contemporaries. According to the latest data, of the 162,595 vehicles that Subaru's technological partner Toyota sold through the month of September 2024, 48.4%, or 78,683, were hybrids, plug-in hybrids, pure electrics, and fuel cells—a figure largely propped up by vehicles like its popular Camry sedan, which is exclusively sold as a traditional gas-electric hybrid.
Over at Honda, the latest data shows that 25,316, or roughly 26% of the 95,601 Honda brand vehicles sold in September 2024 were hybrid versions of its CR-V, Accord and Civic models.
In a statement to TheStreet, a Subaru of America representative confirmed that the upcoming Forester Hybrid for the US market will use Subaru’s Next Generation Hybrid System. However, they have not confirmed the Crosstrek Hybrid or any other hybrid models for the US market.
Subaru Corporation, which trades on OTC markets as FUJHY, is down 0.12% from the opening bell, trading at $8.64 at the time of writing.
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