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NEVER
one to miss a spectacle—even if required by Motor
Image’s marketing honcho Ariel de Jesus to wear a
suit—this writer had to attend the launch of the new
Forester, Subaru’s version of the crossover SUV. And
Subaru, true to its form, celebrated this event with a
hoopla as grand as Rio’s carnivals.
The
all-new Forester has a fresh design, veering so far away
from its original box-shaped, low-ride design to a
bolder, sleeker look that still keeps all the features
that made it an international hit.
“It
combines passenger car comfort and safety with even
greater adaptability and functionality,” boasted Glenn
Tan, group chief executive of Motor Image Enterprises,
exclusive distributor of Subaru.
“This
Forester builds on the many features that made Foresters
such a worldwide hit. With greater luxurious comfort and
practical convenience, without compromising on safety
and quality, it boasts an irresistible charm,” added
Tan.
Subaru
has come out with two versions of the Forester in the
Philippines, the 2.0X and the 2.5XT, both available with
four-speed automatic transmission with Sportshift. The
2.0X runs on a Subaru boxer 2.0-liter DOHC engine, while
the 2.5XT has a Subaru boxer 2.5-liter turbocharged DOHC
powerhouse under its hood.
As
mentioned earlier, the new Forester has veered away from
the box design and is now trendier with curvatures
surrounding the entire exterior. Streamlined and sharply
defined lines run along the side of the car coming from
the headlights all the way to the taillights.
This is
complemented by boxed fenders and projected rear quarter
panels, giving it a “sculpted and well-accentuated
profile.” The headlamps, the eyes, of the Forester are
chrome plated on the inside, allowing an even projection
of light outwardly.
Inside,
decorative insets with brushed aluminum look flows from
the center panel of the dashboard to the door trim,
which adds a look of spaciousness and airiness to the
exterior, emphasizing a sporty feel in the cockpit.
Both
models feature an all-new platform that includes a
longer wheelbase and an enhanced double-wishbone rear
suspension. It is also taller by 110 mm and 45 mm wider,
while its wheelbase has been expanded by 90 mm, giving
it more interior space and cargo room without really
enlarging its body.
More sedan than SUV
Gone is the
boxy look of its predecessor. In place are streamlined
and sharply defined lines that run from the sides of the
headlights to the taillights, boxed front fenders and
projected rear quarter panels.
Of
course, the usual creature comforts like entertainment
system, climate control, navigational functions and blue
interior illumination give the Forester a plethora of
modern-day amenities.
As far
as safety is concerned, its Ring-Shaped Reinforcement
Frames give a high level of safety for the Forester in
terms of shock absorption and crash impact dispersion.
Standard interior safety includes three-point seat belts
with pre-tensioners, fitted SRS frontal, front side and
curtain airbags. It also has the full alphabet
complement of braking systems, from the ABS to the EBD.
There
you have all the initial information of the new Subaru
Forester. This writer will tell you how it really feels
when he has tried it out on the road personally. But in
the meantime, he leaves you this: The Forester has been
one of his favorite crossover SUVs and previous models
have never failed to impress. Surely this one will, too. |
