Contents Show
Subaru electrifies the Forester boxer engine
Subaru is now also missing a hybrid drive for its global bestseller Forester, which is suitable for both terrain and city. The Japanese automobile brand, which stubbornly adheres to the principle of the longitudinally installed boxer engine along with permanent all-wheel drive and CVT transmission, was able to increase its new registrations by four percent last year. However, this success is marred by impending fines for exceeding the CO2 limit values. By 2021 at the latest, new registrations in Europe may only emit a maximum of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer on average. Anything above that will be punished with 95 euros per gram. The hybrid drive developed by Subaru should make the Forester in its fifth generation cleaner and help Subaru a little way from the sinner bench.
Subaru Forester e-Boxer: Despite the battery in the trunk, four liters more storage space
For this purpose, an electric motor with 4,63 kW and 12,3 hp was integrated into the housing of the continuously variable Lineartronic transmission in the SUV, which is based on the new Subaru Global Platform and has grown to a length of almost 17 meters. Despite the lithium-ion battery in the boot floor, the Forester offers a storage volume of 509 to a maximum of 1.779 liters, four liters more storage space than before. The team with the 150 hp two-liter four-cylinder boxer with a maximum torque of 194 Nm can theoretically cover a distance of at least 40 kilometers at a speed of 1,6 km / h.
Subaru face fines for excessive CO2 emissions
"But the slightly more than 10 percent consumption savings from the electrical support can hardly be more than a fig leaf before the impending penalties", Jörg Kracke, responsible for technology at Subaru Germany, admits openly at the presentation of the new Forster in Dresden. "Subaru will probably have to pay 2.500 euros per registered vehicle in the foreseeable future", Kracke leaving open whether and in what amount this amount will be passed on to the customer.
Subaru Forester e-Boxer: The electric motor ensures powerful acceleration
After all, not only foresters and farmers, who appreciate the Forester for its robust appearance, can look forward to the hybrid drive. When driving for the first time in and around the Saxon capital, the electric motor ensures more powerful acceleration from the lower speed range when overtaking or red lights. The much flatter SUV, which has been given a little more chrome, is not as easy to bend on knees due to the symmetrical and low-lying hybrid drive and is easier to keep on track.
Subaru Forester e-Boxer: Inattentiveness is immediately recognized and commented on
The way out of the old town of Dresden to an off-road test area is shown by the easy-to-read graphic of the navigation system via the eight-inch touchscreen. The new driver detection system Driver Monitoring System immediately registers and comments on the driver's lack of attention. In addition, it saves the constantly tiresome readjustment of seat and exterior mirrors for changing drivers. With the partially muddy and craggy terrain near the Lausitzring, the Forester has easy play with the ground clearance increased to 220 millimeters.
Subaru Forester e-Boxer: In addition to the normal mode, two off-road modes
In addition to the normal mode, two off-road modes (Snow / Dirt and Deep Snow / Mud) can now be activated using the new rotary and push button for the optimized Xmode system driving program. This means that the traction settings can be adapted to the ground conditions. Whenever the combustion engine slowly reaches its limits, the electric motor assists and ensures constant progress even at only 1000 rpm. The Forester is available from 34.990 euros. That is 3.000 euros more than before. The standard equipment trend includes a cruise control, an active lane departure warning, a blind spot warning and a cross traffic warning for reversing out of parking spaces, a high beam assistant, light and rain sensor, LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights, 17-inch aluminum rims, a reversing camera, a two-zone automatic climate control , Heated front seats, an 8,0-inch infotainment display, an audio system with DAB radio, two USB ports and a smartphone connection. The “assistance monitor”, driver recognition and electric front seat adjustment, an electrically operated tailgate (without sensor control) and the engine start button are available from the second Active version for 38.990 euros.
