Honda has released a teaser sketch of its hydrogen-powered FCEV Concept. Intended as a successor to the current FCX Clarity, the FCEV will make its world debut later this month at the Los Angeles auto show.

Details of the FCEV will be kept a secret until the start of the LA show on November 20, but Honda says the concept’s styling will preview its next-generation fuel-cell vehicle, which is scheduled to launch in the United States and Japan in 2015.

“The Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates the company’s vision for the future of personal mobility and our commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles,” said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As we work toward the introduction of our next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, our long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help us pave a way towards a zero-emissions future.”

Honda has been leasing fuel cell vehicles to retail customers since 2002. The FCX Clarity is now in the hands of about two dozen customers. The production version of the FCEV should see higher production levels, but it will remain a low-volume seller.

The production version of the FCEV will compete directly with Toyota’s hydrogen-powered FCV.

 

There are few better ways to make a friend for life than to share an experience steeped in adversity.

That salient truth became evident as soon as the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid I was piloting plunged nose first into a half-frozen river that snakes through a desolate volcanic valley in one of the coldest and most remote places on earth. In Iceland, a new best friend was made – and it has all-wheel-drive and three hybrid badges.

The polar swim was, in fact, intentional. Our expedition guide, in a Land Rover Defender riding on tires taller than a middle schooler, told us to follow him. The same icy slush that splashed up to our car’s windshield had barely grazed the center of his wheels.

Scrabbling to the river’s far bank, the XV Crosstrek Hybrids in our group transformed from mere vehicles to beloved sherpas willing to do whatever was asked of them.

Little is predictable about Iceland aside from an unintentionally offensive machismo among its bearded locals: “Mountain climbing is for women. I climb frozen waterfalls,” a guide told us.

In one day, we saw nearly every extreme your local weatherman could conjure up: 80 mph wind gusts, hard packed and soft snow, deep rivers, sharp volcanic rock, hail and a mere seven hours of sunlight. We even nearly ran out of snacks; luckily, an Arctic Trucks-prepared support truck was well-stocked.

Those Arctic Trucks Land Cruisers and Defenders are intense beasts riding on 44-inch tires wrapped around special 15-inch wheels. But our caravan of Subarus – 10 in total – plucked along in their wheel tracks, only occasionally needing to be extracted from the kind of extra deep snow that requires a plow with tire chains.

For what’s essentially a Subaru hatchback with a lift kit and a so-so hybrid system, that inherent strength and capability should not be understated.

Going where no hybrid has gone

First, let’s address the hybrid system. The XV Crosstrek is Subaru’s first battery-electric offering in the U.S. and, on the face of things, it’s not a ground-breaking effort. Subaru chose a tried-and-true (and cost-effective) nickel metal hydride battery mounted where the spare tire would normally be mated to a 13.4 horsepower electric motor integrated into a continuously variable automatic transmission. That little motor enables the hybrid to move under EV power only up to about 13 mph.

Fuel economy? Up a modest 3 mpg combined, to 31 mpg (28 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway). It’s the most fuel-efficient hybrid crossover, but it’s also the only one this small.

Other hybrid cars and SUVs often use more advanced batteries and more powerful engines to deliver better EV range and fuel economy, but there’s more to the story than the numbers tell.

True, the hybrid system only adds 12 horsepower (to 160) and 18 lb-ft. of torque (to 163 lb-ft.), but the torque curve is now far more accessible, giving the car a more sprightly feel. Sure, you’ll need to work your way into the throttle pedal to move with real authority, but the Crosstrek Hybrid is noticeably peppier.

Moreover, it is vastly more refined. Positioned as the flagship of the XV Crosstrek range, the Hybrid adds substantial sound deadening, a laminated windshield and a thicker steel floor. Some of those changes will arrive on the standard gas-only model for 2014 and they’ll be welcome; even on snow tires, the increased isolation proved welcome (note: XV Crosstreks arriving in dealers late this month in the U.S. will ride on low rolling resistance all-season tires).

One tire kvetch: The lack of a spare seems at odds with this vehicle’s outdoorsy positioning. Maybe dealers should offer a hatch-mounted, swing-away unit like Ford Broncos once had. Or maybe not.

Otherwise, aside from a trio of all-important hybrid badges, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid is much like its siblings. Following a recipe set by the original Subaru Outback, it is essentially an Impreza five-door with an impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance and a few rugged styling add-ons. Speaking perhaps most to the solidity offered by the standard Impreza, the XV Crosstrek is a remarkably capable mud and snow plugger limited only by a relative lack of suspension flex compared to more traditional SUVs.

Two flavors of Crosstrek Hybrid are on offer: Base and Premium, the latter of which adds leather seats, a moonroof and navigation. At $26,820, the base car is pleasantly equipped and roughly $3,000 more than a non-hybrid (granted, a the hybrid includes a few convenience goodies that make direct comparisons impossible). Stickering for $30,120, however, the Premium strikes us as a questionable value.

Inside, the hybrid gains an LCD display to show off what’s going on underneath, plus special silver plastic trim. Crafted more by committees than designers, the car’s interior is functional, well-built and generally covered in classy materials, but it lacks real flair. Still, there’s plenty of space, even if the cargo area floor sits about an inch higher than before.

Snowbound

Few automakers would consider hosting members of the automotive media in November in Iceland. Fewer still would plan a trip to a cabin accessible only by helicopter in the event of an emergency.

Not Subaru. This is an automaker that prides itself on its cars’ durability – even its highest-tech offering, which has far more features itching to fail after each river crossing.

“We will cross this river here,” our guide said nonchalantly, his steely gaze stoic beneath a wool hat. “And then we will cross it 25 more times.”

With its fresh air intake nestled behind the top portion of its grille, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid was designed for conditions like this. Subaru owners tend to be a hardy type, and while few will encounter anything quite like the cookies and cream-like landscape of Iceland, it’s always nice to know that they could if they wanted to.

On road, where most XV Crosstrek Hybrids will venture, the much-needed refinements added a dollop of sophistication to what was once a too-rugged brute in need of a trip to finishing school.

Aside from the decrease in interior decibels, the biggest change is that Subaru tweaked the car’s steering to be faster and more responsive. Not quite a corner carver yet – that’ll be the upcoming, Impreza-based WRX – the XV Crosstrek Hybrid proved nonetheless more nimble and precise on any surface.

Leftlane’s bottom line

Credit Subaru for developing a hybrid system ready to conquer the world. Sure, we could wish for better fuel economy, but simply slapping a hybrid badge and some semblance of EV ability onto one of the automaker’s most surprisingly good cars almost ensures it success in places like Colorado and the Pacific Northwest.

How many Toyota Prius owners have been eying their local Subaru dealer waiting for a hybrid to arrive? A lot, we bet.

And the best news is that their new XV Crosstrek Hybrids are ready for anything. You can’t say that about a Prius.

2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid base price, $25,995.

Photos by Ian D. Merritt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation involving the Volkswagen Tiguan after receiving several complaints that the compact SUV’s exterior lights are prone to failure.

The NHTSA announced on Friday that it is probing 61,000 Tiguan SUVs for a possible fault that causes the vehicle’s exterior lights to fail. The investigation covers Tiguans from the 2009-2011 model years.

The NHTSA launched the investigation after receiving 26 customer complaints involving partial or full loss of exterior lights.

“The reports suggest the problem worsens over time with additional exterior lighting malfunctioning as the problem progresses. Most of the complaints report finding an overheated and melted fuse in the under-hood fuse box,” the NHTSA said, according to The Detroit News.

According to one complaint, the issued occurred in a vehicle with just 35,000 miles on the clock. Another alleged a $630 repair was required after the vehicle’s original fuse box melted.

The investigation could eventually lead to a recall.

Photo by Mark Elias.

 

Volkswagen’s Ducati-powered XL1 is motoring toward a limited production run. Originally designed as a super efficient commuter car, the Ducati treatment promises to transform the XL1 into a bonafide supercar.

Hans-Jakob Neusser, head of VW research and development, revealed to Autocar that the super XL1 – which could be called the XLR in production form – is well into the development process. Neusser wouldn’t give a timeframe for the project, but the XLR is reportedly being prepped for an unveiling at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

“Yes, we are working on it internally. It is a very special project,” Neusser said.

The XLR is expected to be powered by the 190 horsepower V-twin engine used in the Ducati 1199 Pangile superbike. That kind of power paired with the XL1′s super-light curb weight should provide supercar-like levels of performance. Moreover, the XLR should still return eye-popping economy figures.

Pricing information remains a mystery at this point, but look for the XLR to carry a base MSRP in the $120,000 range.

Photo by Nat Shirley

A mis-aligned steering system tie-rod assembly has prompted Detroit automaker Chrysler to recall more than 1 million examples of its heavy duty pickup truck range.

The affected vehicles are 2003 through 2012 Dodge Ram trucks, around 453,000 of which it says will likely need to be repaired. The remaining roughly 726,000 won’t need to be fixed, the automaker said in a release issued to members of the media.

Technically, three separate recalls are being issued: 

• One, which covers 842,400 2003 through 2008 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks will involve inspection and, if necessary, replacement of mis-aligned tie-road assemblies.
• A second covering 294,000 2008-2012 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks and 2008 Ram 1500 4×4 Mega Cab trucks, will address the same concern. Chrysler says it is related to an earlier recall.
• Finally, a third recall will bring back 43,500 2008-2012 Ram 4500 and 5500 4×4 Chassis Cabs for a similar inspection. Notably, Chrysler says that parts for this particular recall may not be available until early next year.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles by mail next month. The inspections – and, if necessarily, the part replacements – will be handled by dealers at no cost to owners.

The vast majority of the trucks are believed to be in the United States and Canada, although about 55,000 are in Mexico or elsewhere across the globe.