What Is It?
Subaru B5-TPH
What's Special About It?
Is this the next Impreza? That's the question we posed to Subaru's head of Advanced Design, Andreas Zapatinas. "No, not exactly. But you will see many elements of the B5's design in future products."
If it's not the next Impreza, then what is the B5-TPH? Like countless other crossovers, Subaru claims that it's a blend of a car and an SUV. Since we've heard that line a hundred times before, we'll get to the TPH part.
It stands for "Turbo Parallel Hybrid," and it consists of an electric motor placed directly between the car's turbocharged engine and automatic transmission. Unlike the Prius, which can run directly off its electric motor, the TPH system only uses its electric motor as a booster for the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine.
Subaru says it's an optimal setup as the major drawback of most turbocharged engines is a lack of low-end torque. Electric motors provide instant torque at low speeds, so the TPH system should deliver balanced performance to go along with the vehicle's promised combination of utility and a carlike ride. Given that the turbocharged engine already makes 256 hp without the extra juice, the B5 could be a pretty quick crossover.
The B5 is roughly the same length as the current Impreza although its wheelbase is about 5 inches longer. The extra room between the wheels allows for a reasonably comfortable set of rear seats. A clamshell hatch opens up to reveal a good size cargo area, yet its unique design doesn't compromise the car's profile. Other than the lime green leather, the interior looks like it could be a production car without too much tweaking. Maybe this is the next Impreza.
What's Edmunds' Take?
It's been shown that people who drive hybrids like a car that's instantly recognizable as a hybrid. If Subaru could turn the B5 into reality, it could become the next must-have Hollywood hybrid. — Ed Hellwig
Subaru B5-TPH
What's Special About It?
Is this the next Impreza? That's the question we posed to Subaru's head of Advanced Design, Andreas Zapatinas. "No, not exactly. But you will see many elements of the B5's design in future products."
If it's not the next Impreza, then what is the B5-TPH? Like countless other crossovers, Subaru claims that it's a blend of a car and an SUV. Since we've heard that line a hundred times before, we'll get to the TPH part.
It stands for "Turbo Parallel Hybrid," and it consists of an electric motor placed directly between the car's turbocharged engine and automatic transmission. Unlike the Prius, which can run directly off its electric motor, the TPH system only uses its electric motor as a booster for the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine.
Subaru says it's an optimal setup as the major drawback of most turbocharged engines is a lack of low-end torque. Electric motors provide instant torque at low speeds, so the TPH system should deliver balanced performance to go along with the vehicle's promised combination of utility and a carlike ride. Given that the turbocharged engine already makes 256 hp without the extra juice, the B5 could be a pretty quick crossover.
The B5 is roughly the same length as the current Impreza although its wheelbase is about 5 inches longer. The extra room between the wheels allows for a reasonably comfortable set of rear seats. A clamshell hatch opens up to reveal a good size cargo area, yet its unique design doesn't compromise the car's profile. Other than the lime green leather, the interior looks like it could be a production car without too much tweaking. Maybe this is the next Impreza.
What's Edmunds' Take?
It's been shown that people who drive hybrids like a car that's instantly recognizable as a hybrid. If Subaru could turn the B5 into reality, it could become the next must-have Hollywood hybrid. — Ed Hellwig
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