Subaru has shown a teaser image of the upcoming car
This is the Subaru Viziv concept that previews the Forester
Subaru’s new Forester SUV will be unveiled at the end of March at the New York motor show. The long-awaited hybrid variant of the Forester will appear at the Beijing motor show on 25 April.
Like the new Impreza and XV crossover, the Forester, previewed in a single image (above), will be based on the new Subaru Global Platform, which has already excelled in official crash tests both in the US and the UK.
The styling of the new model was previewed in 2015 by the Viziv Future Concept (pictured below), although the production car will be a similar size to today’s Forester. Production models are expected before the end of this year.
Subaru’s new hybrid system is expected to either be an electric motor incorporated into the brand’s signature longitudinal transmission (a set-up used in the short-lived XV Hybrid), or a more radical system replacing the rear differential with an electric motor. Hybrid technology from Toyota - which owns 16% of Subaru - has been utilised for the new Forester.
A new-generation 2.5-litre flat-four developing around 180bhp is expected to be offered in US markets, but there’s no news on what the main UK engine will be, although diesel engine options will be dropped. Today’s 2.0-litre flat-four is regarded as anaemic, and the 1.6-litre petrol turbo fitted to the Levorg estate might be too thirsty in the heavier and less aerodynamic Forester.
The option of a manual gearbox could be dropped altogether if Subaru’s semi-autonomous driving system, EyeSight, which needs to be combined with an automatic transmission, is fitted as standard to UK-spec Foresters.
A successful launch for the new Forester in the UK is essential for the brand after a significant drop in sales in 2017. The Forester sells around 300,000 units globally, accounting for 25% of Subaru's overall production.
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