The all-new Subaru Forester e-Boxer hybrid has been unveiled at the Singapore Motorshow 2019.
The new hybrid offers customers “impressive efficiency and fuel economy” with its combination of petrol engine and electric motor, while retaining the “trademark comfort, handling and safety that the Forester is known and loved for,” said Glenn Tan, Tan Chong International’s deputy chairman and managing director.
Torque briefly drove the Forester e-Boxer at Changi Exhibition Centre at a dynamic course which showcased the car’s handling alongside some of its rivals.
Aside from the “e-Boxer” badges on the flanks, nothing else differentiates the Forester e-Boxer from its standard gas-powered sibling.
Central to the Forester e-Boxer is its eponymous drivetrain.
A 12hp electric motor – powered by a lithium-ion battery pack – kicks in when driving at lower speeds to conserve fuel, while a two-litre boxer petrol engine fires up at higher speeds.
As a result, the hybrid Forester has a combined power output of 156hp and 188Nm of torque, and fuel efficiency of 18.5 km/litre.
There are no dedicated drive modes – the system will automatically decide what combination of engine and motor to use.
Helping drivers visualise the power transfer is a hybrid energy flow screen, which forms part of the 8-inch touchscreen Multi-Function Display.
An 8-inch touchscreen shows the flow of energy in the Forester e-Boxer.
The hybrid Forester e-Boxer is built on the Subaru Global Platform, which can accommodate conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
Subaru says the hybrid Forester still offers up over 500 litres of cargo space despite the battery for the e-Boxer system being boot-mounted.
Subaru is also offering the Forester e-Boxer with its EyeSight driver assist technology.
Using two stereo cameras mounted high up on the windshield, EyeSight offers automatic pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning as part of its range of features.
Subaru’s EyeSight technology uses two stereo cameras mounted high up on the windshield.
No date has been given for the launch of the hybrid Forester.
Subaru Forester STI e-Boxer concept unveiled ahead of Tokyo Auto Salon 2019
