Electric Subaru Crossover Coming?

Tokyo August 12, 2016; Nikkan Kogyo Shimbu reported that Subaru is on track to introduce a battery-electric powered crossover vehicle by 2021.

According to Japanese newspaper, the midsize all-wheel drive vehicle will be based on the Forester or Outback models the newspaper said, without identifying the source of the information.

When it arrives, the new model is expected to use the all-new global platform Subaru’s parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, unveiled earlier this year that underpins the 2017 Impreza.

Fuji Heavy spokesman Masato Saito told Automotive News the company has not decided about introducing an all-electric, all-wheel drive vehicle.

“We have yet to decide on any specifics at the moment,” Saito said. Subaru's new global platform is to underpin gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles going forward.

Subaru’s new global platform is to underpin gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles going forward.

But if Subaru does introduce such a product, it would likely use the new platform and target the North America market, Saito added.

Subaru is well known for its symmetrical all-wheel-drive systems and boxer engines, a powerplant that has struggled to achieve the fuel economy numbers of competitors.

The company has already disclosed plans to introduce its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to meet the 2018 U.S. zero emissions vehicle regulations.

The new electric crossover will go along way to help the Japanese carmaker with the upcoming 2025 fuel economy regulations.

There are no details about the crossover EV, but the Subaru VIZIV concept (above photo) revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show may give a hint about the plug-in hybrid.

It featured a downsized 1.6-liter turbocharged boxer engine with a hybrid system.

Toyota is Fuji Heavy Industries largest shareholder and Subaru now has access to Toyota’s technology, but it isn’t known if it will be used in either the new plug-in hybrid or electric crossover.