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The Subaru Forester is gearing up to launch in Japan next year with a ‘strong hybrid’ powertrain.
The new Forester was revealed in November 2023 with sales of US-produced models in North America already in full swing. There, it is equipped with a revised 2.5-litre flat-four engine with no hybrid boost.
According to Japanese publication Best Car which has strong industry sources, the Forester will launch in Q2 2025 with a Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain.
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The latest update comes off the back of Toyota, Subaru and Mazda’s announcement that development of the combustion engine is far from over.
A concept Crosstrek small SUV featuring a Subaru flat-four engine with a Toyota-sourced hybrid system was on display. This is what's expected to feature in Japan-built Foresters. A Crosstrek version is also coming but timing is unconfirmed.
Final details are yet to be announced but Subaru Chief Technical Officer Tetsuro Fujinuki told Best Car the Forester’s system will be series-parallel – just like Toyota’s – as opposed to the old e-Boxer parallel-only set-up.
The current Subaru Forester Hybrid features a mild-hybrid powertrain that drops fuel economy by 0.7L/100km in the ADR combined cycle. It is also 26kW less powerful than the 2.5-litre four-cylinder powertrain.
To rival the Toyota RAV4 (4.8L/100km), Nissan X-Trail (6.1L/100km) and Kia Sportage (4.9L/100km) hybrids, the new Forester’s system will need to be stronger.
The brand says the new hybrid system will maintain ‘Subaru character’, meaning the flat-four ‘boxer’ engine layout will continue. As for maintaining Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive, that could be a little more complex.
The all-wheel drive RAV4 would not rival a Forester in technical and muddy conditions. It sends drive to the rear wheels via a 40kW rear electric motor, not a mechanical connection to the combustion engine like the Forester.
Maintaining all-terrain capability in the new hybrid forester will be crucial for Subaru. It is understood a full-electric model of the Forester is also in development, though it will come later.
The mid-size SUV market has shown its appreciation for hybrids here, with Toyota committing to 100 per cent hybrid RAV4s sales after the mix naturally climbed beyond 90 per cent. Subaru will also need the hybrid to navigate Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) coming soon.
Announcement of the new Forester Hybrid from Subaru Japan is expected in Australian spring time, with sales starting in Japan by the second quarter of 2025.
Then Subaru Australia Managing Director Blair Read – who has since moved to another role within Subaru's importer Inchcape and been replaced by Scott Lawrence – spoke to CarsGuide about the hybrid Forester at the Solterra's local media launch.
"We're very excited about that - I've always said with next-gen Forester it's our number-one selling model in Australia, so we need to put our best foot forward - we believe that strong hybrid technology will be a big shot in the arm. Alongside some other things which we'll keep under wraps until the launch," Read said.
"Our plan at this stage is to launch with both petrol and hybrid - there will be a short period, a gap in deliveries, as we change over to the new model," added Read.
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