A report published by The Detroit Bureau indicates that Subaru may bring its first production hybrid to the New York International Auto Show (March 29 to April 7), and that the car could be sold in the US as well as in Japan.
According to the report, Subaru of America product management and coordination director Kenichi Yamamoto has confirmed that Fuji Heavy Industries is working on a hybrid model. He said the company’s interest in hybrids follows the rise in hybrid sales in Japan.
Subaru has to date showcased two hybrid concepts that we know of, both at the Tokyo motor show – the Hybrid Tourer (pictured) in 2009 and the Advanced Tourer in 2011. The former was powered by a 2.0 litre turbo boxer and two electric motors, while the latter was powered by a 1.6 litre turbo and a single electric motor. Both featured AWD and Lineartronic CVT.
There is speculation that the Forester will be the first to get the hybrid treatment, and that unlike the Advanced Tourer concept, the production vehicle will not have an all-electric drive mode. With the NY show not far away now, expect more light to be shed on this soon.
The Japanese carmaker recently rolled out the locally-assembled Subaru XV in Malaysia, while the fourth-gen Forester was launched regionally back in December and may hit our shores sometime this year.
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3 door hot hatch hybrid concept.
proton bila lagi? preve?