Subaru Doesn't Want Toyota's Help on Hybrid Tech, will Develop its Own System

When Toyota acquired an 8.7% stake in Fuji Heavy Industries [FHI] from GM in 2005, everyone expected that FHI-owned Subaru would not only benefit from Toyota’s experience and economies of scale, but also utilize its new partner’s expertise on hybrid propulsion systems.

This, however, does not seem to be the case as sources within Subaru have revealed that the company has decided to develop its own system and not adapt Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive to work with its boxer engines.

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Land Rover Scores 54% of the Vote in MSN Cars’ Poll of Best 4x4 Brands

In a recent online poll, MSN Cars asked its readers a simple question: “Which firm makes the best '4x4' type cars?” The winner, with an astonishing 54% of the 39,663 votes is Indian British automaker Land Rover.

The brand’s winning combination of aggressive yet attractive styling, “go anywhere” off-road ability, ruggedness and comfort have made Land Rover the powerhouse brand it is today – and a deserved winner. Land Rover UK managing director Colin Green is understandably over the moon:

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Subaru BRZ Concept Rumored to Debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show

If we are to believe to a new report from Car&Driver - and we have no reason not to, Subaru will finally lift the veil off a concept version of the BRZ sports coupe with actual sheetmetal at the upcoming 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November.

And unlike the BRZ's sister model from Toyota, Subaru won't be showing another concept as both the BRZ and FT-86 (we're still not sure about the name), will be making their world premiere in final production trim at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in December.

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Good News Everyone: Subaru's See-Through BRZ Concept gets a Lime Tint…

If you were expecting Subaru to shed some light on its upcoming rear-wheel drive coupe with its BRZ Prologue concept, get ready to be disappointed.

The study shown in Frankfurt is the same clear-bodied display model we saw at the Geneva Salon this past March with the only difference being in the different tint on the plastic body.

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IAA 2011: Subaru Launches Impreza-Based XV Crossover

Subaru lifted the wraps off its new competitor in the small crossover segment at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show. The Japanese firm's Nissan Qashqai rival is based on the Impreza, but comes with a different body style and a jacked up suspension that provides close to 220mm or more than 8.5 inches of ground clearance.

The compact sized model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,780mm in width and 1,570mm in height and will launch in Europe with a choice of three boxer engines, including 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline units, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

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China May Reject Toyota-Fuji Heavy Industries Joint Venture with Chery, Say it is “One too Many”

China looks set to reject the proposal for a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries, in which Toyota holds a 16.5% stake, and the country’s seventh largest carmaker, Chery Automobile Co.

According to state sources cited by Bloomberg news, the reason is that this would give Toyota a third joint venture in the country. This violates current regulations stipulating that any overseas company can form only two joint ventures in the passenger car manufacturing field.

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