Subaru launches 6th-gen Forester with 197 hp e-Boxer hybrid system in PH

Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIP) has launched the sixth-generation Subaru Forester in the Philippines, featuring its first-ever full hybrid system, the second-generation e-Boxer.

This new hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-liter Boxer engine producing 164 horsepower and 209 Nm of torque with electric motors that add up to 122 hp and 270 Nm, resulting in a peak output of 197 hp.

A 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery enables pure electric driving in certain conditions, and the vehicle boasts a range of up to 1,000 km with its 63-liter fuel tank.

The Forester retains Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD) and a Lineartronic CVT, with the system remaining mechanically engaged.

It also includes off-road features such as Dual X-Mode, Hill Descent Control, and Active Torque Vectoring.

The new model is built on a 10 percent stiffer Subaru Global Platform and features a dual-pinion steering system borrowed from the WRX for enhanced control.