As usual, Motor Image Pilipinas is keeping much of the details surrounding the all-new Forester under wraps save for one: the powertrain.

Appearing on the post itself are the words, “e-Boxer Hybrid” which clearly indicates that the compact SUV will arrive sporting an electrified powertrain. In addition, the main caption, “Something Strong is Coming” indicates that the Subaru Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle or SHEV will be used by the all-new Forester.

This ties in nicely with its homologation documents that appeared in the Department of Energy’s officially recognized list of Hybrid Electric Vehicles last April.

Per its documentation then, the Forester e-Boxer Hybrid will sport an Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter normally aspirated flat-4 with 160 horsepower and 209 Nm with two three-phrase AC synchronous electric motors (one providing traction, the other a generator) developing 120 horsepower and 270 Nm. Together, it makes 197 horsepower making the Forester e-Boxer Hybrid the most powerful Forester ever save for the turbocharged Forester XT.

Together with a large tank, jokes about the Forester’s fuel economy, or lack thereof, will be a thing of the past as the Forester Hybrid is touted to deliver up to 40 percent better fuel efficiency enabling it to hit close to 1,000 kilometers on a single tank of gas.

Plus, unlike most other hybrid all-wheel drive setups, Subaru has stuck to its roots by maintaining a mechanically coupled front and rear axles using a propeller shaft. The Symmetric All-Wheel Drive system continues with X-Mode with Dual Mode, Hill Descent Control, and Active Torque Vectoring. The Forester Hybrid also keeps the traditional model’s impressive 220 mm ground clearance and 500 mm water wading capability.

A gander at Motor Image Taiwan’s specifications, which the Philippines will most likely emulate, shows that the all-new Forester may still be offered with a traditional combustion engine configuration. Here, the FB25 produces 180 horsepower and 241 Nm of torque.

As for possible specs, the Taiwan market offers two non-hybrid variants—the 2.5i-L and the 2.5i-S. The base 2.5i-L runs on 18-inch alloy wheels and counts LED headlights/taillights, fabric seats, 10-way power driver’s seat, a portrait-style 11.6-inch center screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual zone climate control as standard equipment. Moving up to the 2.5i-S gains a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, a wireless charger, and leather seats. Finally, the solitary hybrid, Forester e-Boxer Hybrid, has 19-inch wheels and a Harman Kardon audio system.

Pricing? Well, in Taiwan, the base Forester is priced at 1,298,000 New Taiwan Dollars (around P 2.444 million) and goes up to NTD 1,498,000 (P 2.821 million). While it looks expensive, it’s worth noting that the outgoing Forester is priced between NTD 1,188,000 to NTD 1,298,000. This likely points to a minimal price increase for the all-new Forester when it launches for the Philippine market.