Latest news with #Bethke
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested for hit-and-run involving East Haven fire engine in February
EAST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — An East Haven man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a hit-and-run involving a fire engine in February, police said. Joshua Bethke, 38, was charged with evading responsibility, resulting in property damage. According to police, the fire engine was struck around 6:30 p.m. on February 11 while responding to a structure fire in the Foxon area with the siren and lights on. The engine was traveling on Hemingway Avenue when a Scion TC turned directly into the truck. Vehicle involved in East Haven fire engine hit-and-run found The crash caused front-end damage to the engine, police said. The driver of the Scion fled the scene, continuing northbound on Hemingway Avenue before turning westbound onto Edward Street, authorities said. A vehicle was later found with damage consistent with what was reported by East Haven fire officials and eyewitnesses who remained at the scene, police said. A side mirror cover found at the scene was determined to belong to Bethke's car. At the time, Bethke denied involvement, and officials continued investigating, police said. Officers submitted an arrest warrant for Bethke, and he turned himself in. He was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in court on April 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Subaru introduces 2025 Forester and 2026 Crosstrek hybrids — and it's only getting started
Alisa Priddle MotorTrend Hear this story Subaru used the 2026 Chicago Auto Show to introduce the 2025 Forester hybrid, addressing a hole in the compact SUV's powertrain lineup. Later this year, the smaller 2026 Subaru Crosstrek will go on sale with the same hybrid system. And the Japanese brand is not expected to stop there. The current plan is to make the hybrid setup an option on the Premium and Limited trim levels of the Forester and make it standard on the Touring. It is not available on the base model, and notably is missing from the off-road-focused 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness that also made its global debut in Chicago. But wait, there's more! Subaru is considering offering a Forester Wilderness with a hybrid, says senior vice president of marketing Alan Bethke. 'I like the idea,' he tells MotorTrend. 'We think people would like that,' he says of adding the hybrid to the more rugged Wilderness. Low-price electrified power:The cheapest hybrid vehicles for 2025 Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. How soon could that happen? 'Pretty soon,' he says. 'It would be in the not-overly distant future if Subaru were to do that. I can't say exactly.' He would not say if it could be done in time for the launch of the 2026 Wilderness this fall. The 2026 Forester Wilderness does not go on sale until late summer, but that might be too soon. Bethke would not divulge if that is possible. The Forester Hybrid goes on sale in April or May with a starting price of $36,415 and the ability to travel 581 miles on a tank of gas, get 35 mpg, and drive in EV only up to 19 mph. The hybrid has unique features such as a new digital display and black roof. The digital display will migrate to the 2026 Crosstrek coming this fall. The hybrid in the Forester is different from the plug-in hybrid system with a larger battery that debuted in the Crosstrek but was dropped with the 2024 model. Bethke would not talk about the possibility of bringing back a plug-in hybrid. Like the rest of the industry, Subaru wants more clarity on regulations under the new administration in the U.S. Are EVs cheaper to maintain?:Why did our first Kia EV9 service cost $322? Hybrids for the Subaru Outback and Ascent? The larger Ascent and Outback do not have hybrids yet 'so we're working on plans for that,' Bethke says. The larger vehicles would need a different hybrid powertrain to couple with their larger engines and to ensure enough power for the bigger and heavier vehicles. It will be a busy year for Subaru. A new Outback is expected to debut at the New York auto show this spring, as well as a pair of electric vehicles — including a new nameplate. Photos by MotorTrend and manufacturer
