Subaru’s New Forester E-Boxer

Subaru Ireland have released details of their All New Forester e-Boxer which is available now. The all-new Forester e-Boxer is the first Subaru to feature the e-Boxer power, which combines Motor Assist with two of Subaru's core technologies: Boxer engine and Symmetrical AWD. The Subaru e-Boxer features a customised Lineartronic transmission that integrates an electric motor, powered by a high-performance Lithium ion battery, DC/DC Converter and Electric Motor Inverter.

The 2020 Forester is priced at €45,545 for the XE model and is equipped as standard with:

• LED Headlights
• Keyless entry
• Electrically adjustable driver’s seat
• Driver monitoring system
• Eyesight and X-Mode 2 functions

The XE Premium edition is priced at €49,245 and includes additional equipment:

• 18” alloys
• Sunroof
• Leather Seats
• Satellite Navigation
• Power tailgate
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheel.

First launched in 1997, the Forester, this fifth-generation model continues Subaru’s lineage and heritage in all-new Forester e-Boxer, built on the Subaru Global Platform (SGP). The new model preserves the distinctive combination of Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive with the newly adopted e-Boxer powertrain including Active Torque Vectoring, and an improved X-Mode system which is now available with dual functions, suited for a variety of weather and road conditions.

Forester e-Boxer incorporates a direct-injection 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, featuring 80% new components, paired with an electric motor within the customized Lineartronic transmission. This achieves smoother, 30% more linear, responsive acceleration with highly reactive torque.

The Subaru e-Boxer system adjusts the power-split ratio between the engine and the electric motor to match the driving condition, offering 3 driving modes: Engine driving, EV driving, and Motor Assist driving. 

From standstill, or at low speed, the electric motor alone powers the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle and battery condition, it can drive on EV-Mode for distances ranging up to about 1.6km, and reach speeds up to 80km/h.

At medium speeds, power from both the motor and the engine combine to give a responsive, linear and fuel-efficient acceleration, while at high-speed the 2.0L Boxer powers the vehicle while recharging the battery.

The electric motor and the battery pack are aligned longitudinally. The heavy motor is placed near the vehicle's centre of gravity, while the battery and other components are arranged above the rear axle. This lower centre of gravity and better balance compliments Subaru’s famous 50/50 weight distribution enhancing Forester e-Boxer’s handling characteristics.

A standard feature is driver-selectable Si-Drive, a powertrain performance management system that allows the driver to tailor the vehicle’s throttle characteristics by choosing between “Intelligent” and “Sport” modes. With 220 millimetres of ground clearance, along with the widest possible approach and departure angles, the new Forester e-Boxer is well suited for off-road adventures. Towing capacity is 1,870kg.

The New Forester e-Boxer comes equipped with new Advanced Safety technologies as standard such as EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, and Driver Monitoring System, a new facial recognition technology that alerts the driver of fatigue or distraction while on the road, as well as automatically adjusting driver settings for seat position, door mirror angles, and air-conditioning preferences for added comfort.

This new model introduces Reverse Automatic Braking, to help avoiding collisions when reversing and reduces the damage in case of collision. The Forester features a premium interior, spacious passenger cabin and a versatile cargo compartment, where the compact battery minimizes impact on cabin and cargo space.