Boxer, gasoline and double hybrid, Subaru responds to the uncertain electric future with its most promising engine

In Japan it is increasingly clear that The future of the automobile is not only about the electric carwhich is why Toyota, Mazda and Subaru have established a alliance to continue developing thermal engines. We are talking about a new batch of mechanics that promise to be leaders in efficiency and performance, but above all they will allow brands like Subaru keep the boxer engine alive, combining it with the latest technology in emissions reduction.

There is a future for boxer engines in the electric era

On the one hand we have Toyota presenting its two new gasoline and hybrid engines that are compatible with all types of fuels. On the other hand, Mazda is decisively betting on the use of range extenders based on a new generation of rotary engines. But what about Subaru?

The third Japanese firm that makes up this alliance has decided to evolve its e-boxer technology, a hybrid propulsion system with which it has already managed to electrify a large part of its range. And although Subaru maintains its plans to increase its range of electric cars, the truth is that hybrid engines are destined to continue capitalizing the bulk of the brand’s sales in the short and medium term.

Subaru will remain faithful to boxer engines and all-wheel drive

In this way, during the exhibition held by the three manufacturers, Subaru took there a Subaru Crosstrek where the new generation of its hybrid technology has been installed. Without giving too many details about this new gasoline engine, the maintenance of the four-cylinder boxer design as the main engine of the schemeimproving its efficiency and behavior.

But the great novelty in this hybrid mechanics is in the electrified partbecause Subaru goes one step further in this aspect to give it more prominence to the electric motor. Although Subaru had always considered the electrical part of its hybrid engines to serve as assistance and little else, now this is going to change with the use of a more powerful electric motor, which will enjoy more autonomy and which will allow the entire hybrid system to operate both in series and in parallel.

The new hybrid engine will be more efficient, will have more autonomy and will also improve its behavior

Thanks to being able to operate in these two modes interchangeably, the hybrid system will be able to choose when it is better for both motors to work in parallel, or for the electric motor to drive the vehicle while the gasoline engine only works to generate electrical energy ( serially). With this change in philosophy it seems logical to think of a improvement in consumption and emissions, something that until now has not been the strong point of hybrids in Subaruespecially if we compare them with some of their rivals.

Another added advantage in this evolution is the compaction that the entire hybrid plant has suffered., thus reducing the space necessary to accommodate all its components throughout the vehicle. With that Subaru will be able to continue maintaining its effective all-wheel drive systemalso avoiding having to reduce the volume of the fuel tank compared to non-electrified versions, since in order to be able to place different components of the hybrid system, cars like the Crosstrek are forced to reduce the size of the tank.