Subaru in the Hybrid market?
I recall reading an article stating that Subaru was making a hybrid engine that would be able to placed in even their older model cars. I also seem to remember hearing that you could possibly do it with hondas. Ive looked around for information on honda hybrid engines for older year civics but I havent found any great resources. I need a cheap alternative to buying a new car and I like a good project. I think if people could do an engine swap in their older year vehicles than perhaps hybrid engines would see a higher demand, not everybody that wants to help the enviroment and save money can afford a 20,000 dollar car. What do you guys know about this? any good resources or even buying options?
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Just don't hold your breath, put it that way.
Subaru showed the B9SC concept last year, and that was basically a hybrid with the 2.0l WRX engine. But the announcement to partner with Toyota came later, so who knows?
I suspect Toyota wanted the partnership to get help with battery supply from FHI, Subaru's parent company. If so this could be win-win.
-juice
I own a Subaru Outback the LLBean Edition, I have been having lots of trouble lately with it. I may be looking at new cars, however, I want a Hybrid.
The deal with Toyota doesn't seem to be progressing, either.
Instead, it looks like Subaru will work with NEC to obtain battery technology, and go at it themselves.
There was a press release to that effect, anyone have a link handy?
-juice
Subaru Announces Development of Turbo Parallel Hybrid and Lithium-Ion Capacitor Technologies
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-07-2005/00041023- 86&EDATE=
Turbo parallel hybrid sounds nice, but the turbo engine might require premium fuel and that would be a HUGE mistake for the type of consumer that would be interested.
Seriously, I think it could kill it in the market place if premium fuel is required. These people want low fuel costs, first and foremost.
-juice
See the photos and comment about this in the Straightline blog at http://blogs.edmunds.com/.ee8d9e8
But hybrid, followed by plugin-hybrid will alway be the best option.
Bob
Toyota might not allow that, though.
-juice