Is this the World's First Plug-In Diesel?

At the moment,Subaru has just one hybridon sale in the US: the XV Crosstrek, and even there it's an optional package. But times change and Subaru must stay competitive. One way to do just that is to drop its long in the tooth Tribeca crossover. Its replacement? According to sources, it'll be a production version of Viziv 2 Concept that debuted at Geneva this year.

Not only does this concept give us a hint at Subaru's future design language, but it's also going to be the world's first plug-in diesel. One of the Tribeca's biggest drawbacks, other than its snug third row, was its not so good fuel efficiency. To fix that, the production-spec Viziv 2 will be powered by a diesel boxer engine paired to Toyota's familiar hybrid system. More than likely, it'll be the 2.0-liter turbo diesel, found in the Euro versions of the Outback and Forester, which produces 148 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Subaru will then modify that Toyota hybrid system to create a plug-in hybrid. Yes, this is one plug-in hybrid we're really looking forward to seeing. Expect a 2017 launch.