Posted Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 9:36pm
On Tuesday, May 28, Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda announced a lineup of innovative new combustion engines that can be used either in a stand-alone or hybrid form in conjunction with a battery.
The new engines will be combustion engines but also compatible with alternative fuels such as e-fuel (synthetic fuel), biofuels, and liquid hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen, provided the hydrogen is made from electrolysis, emits zero carbon dioxide (CO2). And while both e-fuel and biofuels do emit some carbon dioxide, they’re considered “carbon neutral.” This is because e-fuels are made from captured CO2 from the atmosphere, which is then combined with hydrogen to produce synthetic fuel. Meanwhile, the justification for biofuels is that the plant biomass grown to make biofuels takes CO2 out of the atmosphere during photosynthesis. That may be a bit of a stretch, as all plants use photosynthesis, so at least for biofuels, there would have to be enough new plants put in the ground to offset the biofuel combustion.
Still, a future hybrid vehicle that combines a battery with one of these no-carbon or “carbon-neutral” fuels could be a killer for mainstream EV adoption.
Posted Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 10:00pm
Subaru expanded the WRX lineup for 2024 with the new manual-only TR model, which featured a series of upgrades including brakes, stiffer springs, retuned steering, and front Recaro bucket seats. Now Subaru is adding another special performance model with the 2025 WRX tS. That moniker stands for “tuned by STI,” and the latest WRX variant gains a new suspension tweaked by the STI performance division, along with a new digital gauge cluster.
The headlining update is the new electronically controlled dampers, which have three distinct settings: Comfort, Normal, and Sport. This setup was previously only offered on the automatic-only WRX GT, but the tS now pairs the adjustable dampers with the six-speed manual gearbox. The tS also gains a high-performance Brembo brake system, composed of six-piston front calipers, two-piston rear calipers, and larger pads and rotors. Subaru touts improved stopping power, more pedal feel, and better resistance to fading.
Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 10:28pm
It’s that time of the year when Japanese automakers are releasing details about how they performed in the previous fiscal year, which ended on March 31. Usually, companies also make some major announcements, such as Mazda’s confirmation of a next-generation CX-5 hybrid. Subaru has some important news to share as well–production of the new Forester is coming to United States. The sixth-generation model will be assembled in Indiana at the… Read More →
Posted Monday, May 13, 2024 at 10:14pm
As the era of widespread EV adoption looms, smaller automakers are looking to big conglomerates for help as they contend with the large upfront costs required to develop all-new platforms and powertrains. Subaru is one such company, as it seeks to strengthen ties with Toyota—which holds a 20 percent stake in Subaru—and has outlined plans for three new electric SUVs over the next few years. The plans were divulged during… Read More →
Posted Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 9:45pm
In an updated test that evaluated the performance of the crash avoidance systems of 10 popular, small SUVs, few models excelled. Only the 2023-24 Subaru Forester earned a good rating. The first results of the new vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention testing program, aimed to encourage automakers to improve crash avoidance systems, were announced on Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit financed by the insurance industry. “The… Read More →
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