Subaru wants to improve fuel economy across its lineup by 30 percent by 2015. Several major changes are to be expected, starting with the introduction of two new turbos for 2012.
The FB engine family, which currently includes the 2.0-litre flat-four of the 2012 Impreza and the 2.5-litre flat-four of the Forester, will expand as turbocharging makes its way to the 2.0L and a new 1.6-litre variant.
In STI guise, the new 2.0-litre FB turbo is targeting the same 300-hp peak output as the existing engine, but will return 10-percent better fuel economy.
CVT, lightweight materials and aerodynamics
The Japanese automaker also plans to adopt a new, lightweight platform that makes extensive use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels for all-wheel drive models. They will drop a number of kilos and benefit from improved aerodynamics.
In addition, Subaru will revise its Lineartronic continuously-variable transmission. Expect nearly all conventional automatics to get replaced by CVTs.
A hybrid for 2013
In other news, the FB will form the basis for a new, Subaru-developed hybrid system that will be introduced in Japan by 2013 before showing up elsewhere around the world.
Information remains scarce, but there's a good chance it will resemble the powertrain of the Hybrid Tourer concept launched at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, which featured a 2.0-litre boxer with both direct injection and turbocharging, a front-mounted motor/generator, and a second electric motor on the rear axle.
Sources: Car and Driver, Inside Line
The FB engine family, which currently includes the 2.0-litre flat-four of the 2012 Impreza and the 2.5-litre flat-four of the Forester, will expand as turbocharging makes its way to the 2.0L and a new 1.6-litre variant.
In STI guise, the new 2.0-litre FB turbo is targeting the same 300-hp peak output as the existing engine, but will return 10-percent better fuel economy.
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| 2012 Subaru Impreza (Photo: Subaru) |
CVT, lightweight materials and aerodynamics
The Japanese automaker also plans to adopt a new, lightweight platform that makes extensive use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels for all-wheel drive models. They will drop a number of kilos and benefit from improved aerodynamics.
In addition, Subaru will revise its Lineartronic continuously-variable transmission. Expect nearly all conventional automatics to get replaced by CVTs.
A hybrid for 2013
In other news, the FB will form the basis for a new, Subaru-developed hybrid system that will be introduced in Japan by 2013 before showing up elsewhere around the world.
Information remains scarce, but there's a good chance it will resemble the powertrain of the Hybrid Tourer concept launched at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, which featured a 2.0-litre boxer with both direct injection and turbocharging, a front-mounted motor/generator, and a second electric motor on the rear axle.
Sources: Car and Driver, Inside Line