Report Says Subaru Crosstrek Will Get A New Fuel-Efficient Turbocharged Engine Soon

According to a new report from Japan, smaller more fuel-efficient engines are being developed by Subaru Corporation. The Crosstrek compact SUV and Impreza hatch and sedan could be the beneficiaries. CarSensor, a Japanese website says the Japanese automaker is working on three new turbocharged engines to be introduced sometime next year.

The new engines will get the latest direct-injection technology that will improve fuel-efficiency, which is why Subaru is revamping its engine lineup. We already know about the 2.4-liter Ascent-sourced turbocharged engine that will likely power the next-generation 2020 Subaru WRX STI performance car.

The next engine is Subaru’s newest FA18 1.8-liter direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine that will power the new second-generation Levorg hatchback. The sport wagon is only sold in Japan, parts of Asia, Europe, and Australia.

The big news is, the third engine will be a newly-developed 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine that will replace the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer that currently powers the Crosstrek subcompact SUV and the Impreza sedan and hatchback models.

The report says Subaru Corporation is upgrading 80 percent of its global production with the smaller direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engines by 2021. The Subaru Outback, Ascent, and Legacy models have already been fitted with the smaller 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. The next-generation WRX, WRX STI, and BRZ are next to get new engine upgrades.

Subaru has not confirmed this information but it fits with what the Japanese automaker spelled out in its Vision 2020 plan. They said they would develop smaller turbocharged engines for its all-wheel-drive lineup.

The 2021 Crosstrek was recently upgraded with the 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine, so Subaru will most likely keep that engine as an option in the Sport and Limited trims. The Base, Premium, and Hybrid trims would get the new 1.5-liter turbocharged powerplant. The report says it will produce close to the same 152 horsepower (148-hp) as the 2.0-liter engine.

If the report is accurate, we would guess Subaru will wait to upgrade the Crosstrek and Impreza models with the new 1.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine when they get a complete remodel. Impreza is set to get a new model change for the 2022 model year, and Crosstrek in 2023. Stay tuned.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press and the founder of Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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