Toyota to Supply Hybrid Systems to Fuji Heavy (Subaru)

26 November 2005

Nikkei. Toyota Motor (TMC) will supply hybrid systems to Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI)—the maker of Subarus—and help train FHI engineers in hybrid technology, according to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

Toyota became a major shareholder in Fuji Heavy in October following its purchase of share from General Motors. (Earlier post.)

The details have yet to be worked out, such as when and how many hybrid systems Toyota will provide. However, Toyota will be delivering core components, including drive and control systems.

Toyota is also reportedly considering integrating Fuji Heavy engineers with its own engineers in hybrid car development.

Earlier this year, Fuji Heavy unveiled a prototype of a turbo parallel hybrid system for Subarus. (Earlier post.)

The FHI system uses a thin 10-kW motor in combination with the 2.0-liter 16-valve twin-scroll turbo engine currently used in the Subaru Legacy to create the Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) powertrain.

The combination of the motor generator and Subaru’s Boxer turbo engine, which is adopting the Miller cycle in this application, creates a motor-assist hybrid (similar in concept to the first generation of Honda IMA) that FHI hopes will provide the performance of the current 2.0 Legacy GT (turbo) while delivering a 20% improvement in fuel consumption.

The new hybrid system agreement further strengthens the cooperation between Toyota and Fuji Heavy. Fuji Heavy had already agreed to make Toyota vehicles in the U.S. and develop new vehicles for Toyota.