Subaru presents the Impreza Sport Hybrid for the Japanese market

Subaru will begin selling its second hybrid vehicle in Japan starting on 10 July. From next month, the new Impreza Sport Hybrid will join the XV Hybrid in the range, which was unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show — where the model is sold as the XV Crosstrek. The Japanese brand has no intention, for the moment, of exporting any of these products to Europe.

The structure of the propulsion system is identical to that of the XV Hybrid. The Impreza Sport Hybrid combines a 2.0-litre petrol horizontally-opposed engine producing 150 CV and 196 Nm of peak torque with an electric motor that adds around 10 CV and 24 Nm more. They are paired with the six-speed Lineartronic automatic gearbox and the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

According to Subaru, this configuration provides a significant reduction in fuel consumption compared with the five-door Impreza without an electric motor — it is also lower than that of the XV Hybrid. Specifically, the Sport Hybrid consumes 4.9 litres of fuel per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle, a reduction of more than one and a half litres compared with the amount the equivalent conventional Impreza requires to cover that distance.

Compared with a basic five-door Impreza — a body style not offered in America or Europe — the Sport Hybrid is given away by add-ons such as the side skirts, the redesigned front bumper, wider tyres — sized 215/50R17 versus the 205/50R17 of the regular Impreza — the clear rear light lenses with LEDs, or the small spoiler at the upper edge of the tailgate. The cabin differs only in the blue contrast stitching on the upholstery and other details decorated in that shade.

The Impreza Sport Hybrid, of which Subaru expects to place five hundred units a month in Japan, is available in two trim levels. Both come as standard with an exclusive variant of the EyeSight package of driver assistance and safety systems. Its intelligent cruise control works together with the hybrid propulsion system manager so that, whenever possible, use of the electric motor and regenerative braking is prioritised in order to limit fuel consumption.

Its starting price in Japan, excluding the local consumption tax, is 2,320,000 yen, a little over 16,500 euros at the current exchange rate. The XV Hybrid and the new Impreza Sport Hybrid will help Subaru make progress in developing its own hybrid cars. These will become very necessary in the coming decade in the United States and Europe, where pollutant emission regulations will be tightened. The company does not rule out, for example, following the model of Mitsubishi with the Evo line and likewise hybridising the WRX.

Source | Fuji Heavy Industries