Does GM still have a stake in Subaru/FHI??

GM sold it's share of Subaru in October. Toyota bought the majority of what was sold. Toyota is now eyeing production of Toyota cars at Subaru's Lafayette IN plant.

OK, I see.

Well, GM have had a buying frenzy when it comes to gobble up all possible car producers around the world - and now it's time to sell off again. And probably with a loss as well....

Subaru's experiments with new hybrid setup:
Four-wheel drive vehicle, with one motor/generator at the front, and the second motor/generator at the rear.

Subaru Jumps Into The Hybrid Game | Autopia | Wired.com

This is a clever approach especially if the starter is integral and/or BAS operated. The tricky part is dealing with variable road conditions as this is a primary power transfer mechanism between the traction electric and ICE system. Of course this only works when rolling whereas the HSD works all the time.

I don't know enough about the Estima but I understand the rear wheels are electrically driven.

Bob Wilson

The Highlander Hybrid uses three electric motor/generators and HSD. A much nicer system. The only criticism I've seen of it is the rear electric motor isn't good enough for "-real-" off-roading. There is no rear driveshaft, which is nice. Now if they put in a little bigger rear motor with liquid cooling (overheating was the purported limitation) then they'd have something neat!

But it's still a fuel hungry SUV, just not as hungry as others. Perhaps the Subaru engineers will push this design to its' proper conclusion.

If by "proper conclusion" you mean low fuel consumption, I wouldn't hold your breath.

The most efficient vehicle in their lineup is the Legacy with the 170hp H4 and CVT transmission getting 23/31 mpg.

I think we'd be looking at Camry Hybrid fuel efficiency numbers ~33mpg at best. I'd like to be surprised and see Civic/Insight numbers, though!

Connect the dots (I hope some of you can this time):
http://priuschat.com/forums/other-cars/70206-yay-toyota-ft-86-concept.html
The amazing shortsightedness of some contributors in the above thread is unfortunate and very disappointing given the developments we are seeing between Toyota and Subaru:

1. Co-development of a small sporty car using an Subaru chassis
2. Intention of Toyota to revitalize the CRX as a hybrid
3. Transfer of Toyota hybrid technology in application to small Subaru turbo 4 engines.

I am hopeful that we will see a small sporty car with a turbo and a hybrid system (to eliminate low-end turbo lag) acting together to improve both performance and fuel consumption.

If it works like my Subaru it will also include a leaking gasket dripping oil onto the exhaust system. It was one of their earlier turbos, and the engine wasn't quite up to all of the boost. We called it "The Crop Duster" for obvious reasons.

Tom

Superb! Sign me up for the waiting list now.
Perhaps Toyota could bolt a turbo onto the Prius and call it the Prius XRS. It would be capable of the full Prius EPA 50mpg if driven gently and without using the turbo, yet if one wanted to use the turbo, it would achieve the 200hp. Superb!