Subaru plans plug-in hybrid Crosstrek

Subaru of America plans a plug-in hybrid version of the hot-selling Crosstrek subcompact crossover.Subaru said Friday the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid will be the automaker's first plug-in hybrid.The company's global platform that underpins the Crosstrek was designed and engineered to accommodate a plug-in hybrid.The platform's flexible design allows for gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric drivetrains. The Crosstrek was redesigned for the 2018 model year on the Subaru Global Platform.The plug-in hybrid can be driven "as a normal hybrid," Subaru said in a statement, using both gasoline and electric power or just in pure electric drive.The Crosstrek Hybrid will feature partner Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid system combined with Subaru's four-cylinder, direct-injection boxer engine, all-wheel drive and an all-new transmission, Subaru said.In February, Subaru Chief Technology Officer Takeshi Tachimori told Automotive News that the automaker would be drawing heavily from partnerships to engineer the plug-in hybrid."For our plug-in hybrid to be introduced this year, we have used Toyota's technologies as much as possible," Tachimori said at the time.The plug-in variant will also have "unique styling," Subaru noted, and is set to arrive at dealers at the end of the year, Subaru said. U.S. sales of the Crosstrek, the top-selling vehicle in the subcompact crossover segment, rose 67 percent to 45,728 units this year through April. Pricing of the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid will be released later.

Subaru plans plug-in hybrid Crosstrek

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