20 years ago, we thought that the late-50′s through the late-60′s were the ‘Golden Era’ for cars. A time when imagination led to innovation, and cars became more than just transportation. They were 4-wheeled expressions of our world.
Today, we’re in the middle of our own ‘Golden Era’. Thanks to modern technology and manufacturing techniques, cars have surpassed what we previously thought to be possible. Adaptive cruise control practically drives for us. Airbags, stronger materials, and automatic braking help keep us safe. And SUVs can lap the Nurburgring, pulled along by 500-600 precisely applied horsepower.
Such power was once reserved for race cars, piloted by the likes of Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough. But your dentist can now get the same kind of power in his midlife crisis-mobile, along with stability control programming to keep him from knocking out his own teeth. So what does the near future hold for hybrid SUVs? Here is an overview along with links to more details.
2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid – Available: Summer 2013
Infiniti recently changed its model designations to include the letter ‘Q’. Somehow, this letter sounds more upscale, and the new QX60 Hybrid is really a gas-electric version of the JX crossover. And that’s fine, because the JX is already a great luxury CUV.
Sharing its platform and many of its components with the forthcoming Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, the 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid gets a supercharged 2.5L 4cyl, paired with an electric motor, and a compact, high capacity lithium ion battery pack, located under the 3rd row seat. A total of 250-hp is sent to either the front, or all four wheels. Gas mileage is quoted at a combined 26 mpg, giving this 7 seat luxury crossover a driving range of over 500 miles. In this case, maybe the Q does make it better.
2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid – Available: Late 2013
Subaru doesn’t march to anyone’s beat but their own. Their cars are quirky, yet infinitely useful. Such is the case with their track shoe-like XV Crosstrek CUV. It comes trail-ready with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and Subie’s famous Symmetrical All Wheel Drive. This butch looking CarUV slash off road hatchback really can go anywhere (within reason, of course), while hauling all of your muddy…belongings.
Taking their unconventional idea one step further, the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid adds a 13-hp electric motor, and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack to the little XV’s 2.0L boxer 4cyl. Making a combined 148-hp, Subaru’s new hybrid system can propel the trucklet up to 20 mph on electricity alone, resulting in fuel economy figures of 28 city / 34 hwy. They say the XV Hybrid will be the most fuel efficient, lowest emission AWD hybrid in America, which is fine. But the best part is; the Crosstrek Hybrid comes in Plasma Green Pearl!
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Available: Early 2014 (est)
Part of Mitsubishi’s recovery plan includes lots of electrified vehicles, and one of the 8 scheduled to launch by 2015 is a plug-in hybrid version of their all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander. Company brass have yet to announce an official release date for the U.S. market, but the Outlander PHEV is already on sale in Japan.
The world’s first plug-in midsize crossover uses a 2.0L 4-cylinder to both charge the batteries and drive the wheels. An 80-hp electric motor on each axle (harnessed by Mitsubishi’s S-AWC 4WD system) provides extra traction when needed, and a lithium ion battery pack keeps it all moving down the road. We don’t know what the total system output is, or the fuel economy expectations. But we do know this 3-row crossover will travel 34 miles on electricity alone, and an 80% recharge can be achieved in just 30 minutes. While we may morn the passing of the sporty Eclipse, a twin-motor plug-in crossover that seats 7 isn’t a bad replacement.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid – Available: Summer 2013
When Nissan first introduced the Pathfinder back in the mid-80′s, customers were asking for off-road wagons that were reliable and sporty. Being a well managed company, Nissan gave customers what they wanted. Naturally, their Pathfinder had high sales volume, and it made the company a tidy profit. Three decades later, customers are asking for cushy Cruisenwagens that focus on versatility and convenience. And still being a well managed company, Nissan ditched the locking differentials in favor of a car-like crossover chassis. Then they slathered their legendary 4×4 with soft touch materials, and other Mall-Rated niceties. Naturally, this change resulted in a 64% sales increase, and their legendary Pathfinder was once again returning a tidy profit.
The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid is looking to increase this upward sales trend, by providing a family-friendly CUV that seats 7, and gets 26 mpg. It uses the same supercharged gas-electric system as the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid, and the horsepower is also identical at 250-hp / 243 lb-ft. Nissan claims fuel economy of 25/27/26, and a maximum range of 526 miles from its 19.5 gallon tank. With Nissan’s penchant for making relevant vehicles, this new, softer Pathfinder should continue to be one of the hottest selling nameplates in SUV Land.
So, do any of these upcoming hybrid SUVs have you excited?
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