What is it?
A hybrid concept vehicle, the two-door TPH features a powertrain called Turbo Parallel Hybrid (hence the TPH moniker), which is a turbocharged Subaru boxer engine mated to a 10 kW electric motor/generator and manganese lithium-ion batteries. The motor/generator sits between the engine and the automatic transmission and is designed to give extra power when the turbocharger is not active. The Miller-cycle engine leaves the air intake valve open during part of the compression stroke, which Subaru says provides better fuel combustion. Subaru claims that the TPH is 30 percent more efficient than comparable conventional gasoline engines. Like all Subaru's, the TPH is all-wheel drive.
What's notable?
Real-world applications for lithium-Ion batteries are said to be several years away, but the technology holds a lot of promise because it should give both higher-voltage output and long-lasting charges. These types of batteries are also much more environmentally friendly than lead-based batteries.
