Singapore 2019: Subaru Previews Forester e-Boxer

At the ongoing 2019 Singapore Motorshow, Motor Image, the official distributor of Subaru vehicles in Singapore previewed the new Forester e-Boxer.

Based on the all-new fifth generation model, the e-Boxer variant of the Forester features a 2.0-litre FB20 naturally-aspirated flat-four petrol engine that outputs 145 PS and 188 Nm, supplemented by an electric motor that does 13.6 PS and 65 Nm. The sole transmission option is a Lineartronic CVT-type automatic.

Subaru engineers placed the lithium-ion battery pack in the luggage area of the Forester. As such, there will be a slight reduction in boot space, with the e-Boxer's variant measuring 509-litre, which is 11 litres less than a regular Forester. The Forester e-Boxer is not a plug-in hybrid, so the batteries are recharged either via the engine or regenerative braking.

Safety equipment include Subaru’s famed EyeSight advanced driver assistance system. In addition to that, this particular Japanese-market Forester e-Boxer features the new DriverFocus system that utilizes a camera which runs facial recognition to identify drivers and store their personal preferences, which can be set to save up to five people for seating position, mirror position, air-conditioning, and infotainment preferences.

The Forester e-Boxer won’t be arriving in Malaysia any time soon, but the regular non-hybrid variant is expected to be introduced within the second quarter of the year.