Subaru to market diesel engine cars by the end of 2007 or 2008

Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, is developing a diesel engine with an eye to mounting it on its flagship model in Europe as early as the end of next year, its president said.

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“Because we’re a small company, we had to choose between hybrid and diesel. [...] We’re hoping to get it to market sometime around the end of 2007, or 2008,” he said.

The engine would be compatible with its iconic symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, used on about two-thirds of its vehicles. Subaru will probably start offering the diesel option on the Legacy model, Takenaka suggested.

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To reduce investment outlays, Subaru would build the engines on the same line as gasoline engines — a task that was possible thanks to the unique structure of the symmetrical AWD drivetrain, he said.

Fuji Heavy has yet to decide how specifically to proceed in developing gasoline-electric hybrid cars using Toyota’s technology, but Takenaka said those vehicles would come to market only after the diesel products.

Tagged as: Subaru Diesel