It may seem far-fetched, but Subaru’s rorty flat-four may well be surpassed by a frugal diesel powerplant as the manufacturer that made all wheel drive its catchphrase plans to become more adventurous.
It may seem far-fetched, but Subaru’s rorty flat-four may well be surpassed by a frugal diesel powerplant as the manufacturer that made all wheel drive its catchphrase plans to become more adventurous.
When Subaru realised that it needed to expand its original line-up, financial constraints forced the manufacturer to choose between developing a hybrid or diesel powerplant.
But with Toyota’s recent purchase of an 8,7 per cent stake in Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, the company has agreed to share its hybrid technology with Subaru.
This would allow Subaru to concentrate on developing a diesel powerplant for the all-important European market. It has been suggested that the company’s lack of diesel models could restrict its possible earnings.
Diesel cars currently account for roughly half of all cars sold in Europe, and Subaru executives expect that by 2010 half of the manufacturer’s European sales will be diesels.
The diesel is likely to be introduced on the Legacy model by late 2007 or 2008. Those with ambitions to race their oil-burners alongside Impreza STis on the local strip may have to be more patient.