Photo: Subaru
Back in April, a birdie said that Subaru plans to make the Crosstrek better for the 2021 model year. By better, the birdie referred to a more potent powerplant in the guise of the four-pot boxer known as the FB25.
The name implies 2.5 liters and the FB family. In production since 2010 in three displacements, the FB with the largest bore and stroke is capable of 182 horsepower (185 PS) and 176 pound-feet (239 Nm) of torque in the Forester, Legacy, and Outback. This exact specification of the FB – codenamed FB25D – should be more than adequate for the new Crosstrek in Sport flavor.
“For real, they’ve called it the Sport?” That is certainly the case, dearest reader, despite the anything-but-sporty CVT that comes as standard. Indeed, no six-speed manual but only a continuously variable transmission.
Expected to deliver 29 miles per gallon (8.1 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined driving cycle as per the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2.5-liter will also be complemented by Subaru’s proprietary all-wheel drive. Even though the Japanese automaker calls it Symmetrical AWD regardless of application, you should know that not every AWD system is created equal.
By switching to CVTs, the Crosstrek has also switched to a forward-biased system with a nominal torque split of 60 and 40 percent. X-Mode assistance is also standard in this application, a software-based system that automatically sorts out the engine’s output, Lineartronic CVT, torque split, and the brakes.
“Check back on June 9 to be one of the first to see the most powerful Crosstrek yet,” says Subaru on their U.S. website. “We’re about to unveil the most adventurous and fun to drive Crosstrek we’ve ever made.” Yep, you know the marketing & PR team is trying a little too hard to hype up the Sport!
Dearest Subaru, where is the Crosstrek STI? Why isn’t there a go-faster option with the chassis tuning to match what lurks under the hood? The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Crosstrek are nice, but the enthusiasts couldn’t care less about the 2.5-liter if the rest of the vehicle leaves to be desired.
“For real, they’ve called it the Sport?” That is certainly the case, dearest reader, despite the anything-but-sporty CVT that comes as standard. Indeed, no six-speed manual but only a continuously variable transmission.
Expected to deliver 29 miles per gallon (8.1 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined driving cycle as per the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2.5-liter will also be complemented by Subaru’s proprietary all-wheel drive. Even though the Japanese automaker calls it Symmetrical AWD regardless of application, you should know that not every AWD system is created equal.
By switching to CVTs, the Crosstrek has also switched to a forward-biased system with a nominal torque split of 60 and 40 percent. X-Mode assistance is also standard in this application, a software-based system that automatically sorts out the engine’s output, Lineartronic CVT, torque split, and the brakes.
“Check back on June 9 to be one of the first to see the most powerful Crosstrek yet,” says Subaru on their U.S. website. “We’re about to unveil the most adventurous and fun to drive Crosstrek we’ve ever made.” Yep, you know the marketing & PR team is trying a little too hard to hype up the Sport!
Dearest Subaru, where is the Crosstrek STI? Why isn’t there a go-faster option with the chassis tuning to match what lurks under the hood? The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Crosstrek are nice, but the enthusiasts couldn’t care less about the 2.5-liter if the rest of the vehicle leaves to be desired.
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