Subaru's Gasoline-Electric Hybrid by 2012

Obama's recently-announced national fuel standard that requires automakers to meet an average of 35.5 mpg by 2016 is surely forcing car manufacturers to change their minds and concentrate more on less-polluting models. Subaru is joins the ranks of companies to do so as the Japanese carmaker plans to debut a gasoline-electric hybrid by 2012.

The news were backed by President Ikuo Mori who unveiled that Subaru is also considering rolling out a diesel powerplant that would better match the falling market's demands and that would perfectly fit Obama's new fuel consumption regulations. The company "hopes to introduce a hybrid around the same time," the official was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

Details are still unclear for the time being, but it appears that Subaru intends to use a hybrid system developed by Toyota. Is this the "Toyobaru" model we were talking about a few months ago? Not sure but judging by the similarities between these two projects, the upcoming hybrid might be indeed the long-awaited Toyobaru.

For example, we told you back in March that Subaru and Toyota plan to unveil the Toyobaru by 2011 which is almost around the same date with the one revealed by Ikuo Mori. However, the two companies said at that time that the vehicle would be based on a platform designed by Subaru, with the engine provided by the same company. In contrast, Mori hinted the powerplant will be sourced from Toyota.

Nevertheless, one thing is sure: Subaru and Toyota are currently working on a hybrid model and, be it Toyobaru or some other project, the car is very likely to become a tough challenger for the other hybrids on the market.