Photo: Subaru
Subaru, the Japanese brand famous for its boxer engines and symmetrical all-wheel-drive systems, is planning an electric car with AWD.
The first electric model from Subaru will be a crossover, reports say. The car is not officially confirmed as an intended product in the company’s lineup, but sources that claimed to be close to the matter have told the Japanese Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun newspaper that the all-electric model will be launched to meet stringent emissions regulations.
According to Automotive News, Subaru’s next crossover model is expected to use the Japanese company’s all-new platform, which will be first introduced on the 2017 Impreza.
The same modular platform will also be used on the next Forester and Outback models, so the components should be suitable for an entirely different application, like an electric crossover would be.
The all-electric crossover from Subaru is rumored to feature all-wheel-drive, but its system might operate differently from the system employed on cars with internal combustion engines.
While the company insider does not mention this aspect, utilizing transfer cases and their corresponding driveshafts would not be required by an electric vehicle with multiple motors.
Instead of having a single engine placed in the front and powering all the wheels of the vehicle, the all-electric crossover from Subaru could use a twin-engine configuration, which implies one engine on each axle.
The solution provides all-wheel-drive without any transfer cases, thus saving weight and space for the battery pack, while also keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.
Automotive News inquired Fuji Heavy Industries representatives regarding the new product. Their spokesperson, Masato Saito, stated that the company that owns Subaru had not made any decisions relating to the launch of an all-electric vehicle with AWD.
However, the representative mentioned that if the product were to be launched, the company would use the new platform. Furthermore, the potential all-wheel-drive crossover with electric propulsion would be targeted to the North American market.
The statement brings hope for Subaru fans that dreamed of an electric model built by the Japanese brand, but it appears that they must wait a few more years before its eventual market launch.
According to Automotive News, Subaru’s next crossover model is expected to use the Japanese company’s all-new platform, which will be first introduced on the 2017 Impreza.
The same modular platform will also be used on the next Forester and Outback models, so the components should be suitable for an entirely different application, like an electric crossover would be.
The all-electric crossover from Subaru is rumored to feature all-wheel-drive, but its system might operate differently from the system employed on cars with internal combustion engines.
While the company insider does not mention this aspect, utilizing transfer cases and their corresponding driveshafts would not be required by an electric vehicle with multiple motors.
Instead of having a single engine placed in the front and powering all the wheels of the vehicle, the all-electric crossover from Subaru could use a twin-engine configuration, which implies one engine on each axle.
The solution provides all-wheel-drive without any transfer cases, thus saving weight and space for the battery pack, while also keeping the center of gravity as low as possible.
Automotive News inquired Fuji Heavy Industries representatives regarding the new product. Their spokesperson, Masato Saito, stated that the company that owns Subaru had not made any decisions relating to the launch of an all-electric vehicle with AWD.
However, the representative mentioned that if the product were to be launched, the company would use the new platform. Furthermore, the potential all-wheel-drive crossover with electric propulsion would be targeted to the North American market.
The statement brings hope for Subaru fans that dreamed of an electric model built by the Japanese brand, but it appears that they must wait a few more years before its eventual market launch.
Google News