Subaru XV hybrid due 2017

Subaru is set to finally join the petrol-electric hybrid ranks in Australia, with confirmation it will debut a hybrid version of the next-generation XV high-rider in 2017.

Speaking with motoring.com.au this week, a senior Subaru engineer said the company’s new global architecture had enabled a long-awaited hybrid model to materialise. While Subaru currently offers a hybrid version of the XV in the US and Japan, Australia is yet to debut the technology.

That will change at the end of 2017. The petrol-electric offering will follow in the wheel tracks of the all-new XV due mid next year, and is expected to be the first of several new green technologies from the Japanese car maker.

“Soon we will have a hybrid car, I don’t think we will have an electric car on this platform,” the source said.

“The electric car has limitations, we are all-wheel drive and you can’t charge your car in the middle of the bush.

“We do have electric car for specific purposes, but not as a mass market car in Australia.”

Asked whether the fifth-generation Impreza loomed as the first candidate for Subaru’s bourgeoning hybrid technology in Australia – given it’s the first vehicle based on Subaru’s new platform – the engineer said:

“We have a hybrid currently in the US, which is XV only. We will follow the trend here in Australia, XV will be the first hybrid if you want to put it that way.

“This will be the new generation model, we will launch the new model in about six months. We’re looking at bringing the hybrid to market at the end of next year.”