Subaru Forester 2019 range sees XT, diesel axed – New cars



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Subaru Australia will divert its attention from performance and turn to efficiency with the 2019 Forester, having announced that there will be no turbocharged XT model this time around.

Instead, the brand should offer hybrid gasoline-electric versions of both the Forester and the XV – with both expected in the next 18 months.

The two hybrid models XV and Forester should use a lightweight hybrid system that equips a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with a lithium-ion battery, with a combined power of about 110 kW. Fuel consumption could be less than 5.0 liters per 100 km

Which also means the venerable Forester XT – with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo boxer engine based on the same powertrain used in the WRX – is dead, and there will not be an XT model in the Forester 2019 lineup.

"The XT was a halo product and a fantastic car – but the reality is that if we look at where the target market is, our new global platform is moving towards hybrid and electric, "said Colin Christie, general manager of Subaru Australia." Our goal is to provide the best car possible. "

According to Christie, the XT did not represent a number of sales – in fact, the 2.5-liter non-turbo model – which will be the only powertrain available for the launch of the new Forester – accounts for nearly 90% of Forester sales of the current generation in Austral ie.

The next-generation diesel transmission range has been abandoned as Subaru seeks to rationalize its powertrains to focus on petrol and gasoline-electric hybrids before finally jumping into the world of electric models. full-scale.

"With emissions in the air and lack of appetite for diesel in Australia and in other markets like Europe, we see the future of cars Hybrid SUVs and EVs, "said Christie. Diesel accounted for about 17% of sales in the Forester range, but this number has declined significantly over the past 12 months, according to the company.

Would you be interested in a hybrid Forester? Tell us what you think about it in the comments below.

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