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CORNER FREDERICK & MARGARET STREETS, LAUNCESTON 6331 6755 // gyearltn@bigpond.net.au
EASTERN SHORE
3 YEAR
NATIONWIDE RADIATOR WARRANTY REPAIRS AIR We offer the largest range of CONDITIONING radiators and
heater cores in Tasmania Same day service
6243 6000
Opposite Geilston Bay High School 312 East Derwent Hwy, Lindisfarne www.easternshoreradiators.com.au
• service • repairs • re-gas
Prop Tony Rogers After hours 6248 6647 All major credit cards accepted
FIRST LOOK: SUBARU HYBRID DARREN MOODY
S
ubaru believes the time is right for the release of its first hybrid drivetrain onto the Australian market. Forester and XV hybrid variants join the existing range, promising improved fuel economy and additional torque in lower speed environments. The e-Boxer system, as Subaru is calling it, adds a 12.3kW, 66Nm electric motor connected through the transmission, powered by a lithium ion battery to enhance low and mid-speed performance. The system operates in three modes: motor assist EV driving, which under the right conditions will operate the vehicle on electric only up to 40km/h; for mid-speed and acceleration the electric motor combines with the 2.0L boxer engine to produce a more responsive and fuel-efficient operation; and at high speed it runs only on the petrol engine. The battery is charged both by kinetic energy when decelerating or braking, and by the petrol engine spinning the drive motor. Claimed fuel consumption improvements are 7% for the XV (6.5L/100km), and 9% for the Forester (6.7L/100km) on the official combined cycle. The majority of the improvement comes from the around-town urban-type driving, where the electric motor does a lot of the work. All models come standard with Subaru’s very competent CVT auto transmission and all have Subaru X-Mode. The manufacturer claims the hybrid system further enhances off-road ability. As expected from Subaru, each gets the full safety suite, the standard five-year warranty and fixed-price servicing. The battery gets an eight-year 160,000km warranty for added peace of mind. The only question mark I see is the hybrid vehicles no longer have a spare tyre, as the battery pack has taken that space. Instead it has a gel repair kit, which likely wouldn’t work if you took the side out of a tyre – the most likely scenario if off-road. The XV is available in a single specification XV Hybrid AWD for a little over $39,500, while Forester offers Hybrid L AWD for $44,286 and Hybrid S AWD for $50,526 (drive away). FINANCE IT WITH US! RACT FINANCE OFFERS LOW-RATE LOANS, NO ONGOING FEES AND FAST APPROVAL. APPLY ONLINE AT RACT.COM.AU/CAR-LOANS
28 Journeys
JULY 2020
