The Philippine Star

SUBARU FORESTER

- TAICHUNG, Taiwan — It may look uncannily like its predecesso­r, but Subaru officials go on detail how different — and new — the 2019 Forester is compared to the outgoing model.

Motor Image, the exclusive distributo­r of Subaru vehicles across eight countries in Asia, has launched the all-new Forester in this Taiwanese resort city. It will reach Philippine shores in January 2019.

Familiar looks aside, the Forester has been reengineer­ed, reimagined and redesigned to include a host of enhanced features, resulting in a balance of easy, confident handling and a spacious, comfortabl­e interior.

Safety continues to be a priority with the inclusion of a strong suite of active safety features, as part of the Subaru Core Technologi­es, namely: Subaru Global Platform, Symmetrica­l All-Wheel Drive, Boxer Engine, and the very new EyeSight Driver Assist technology.

“The all-new Forester is now bigger and better with an all-round enhancemen­t to its technology, interior and exterior to create an SUV that boasts performanc­e, comfort and maximum safety,” said Glenn Tan, managing director, Tan Chong Internatio­nal Ltd. “We are thrilled to launch the new fifth-generation Forester and are confident that the model will excite drivers and create amazing experience­s with their loved ones.”

The new Forester will be available in four models, the Forester 2.0 i-S and the 2.0 i-L without EyeSight, and those two models with EyeSight.

OUTSTANDIN­G DRIVABILIT­Y AND TECHNOLOGY

The brand’s iconic Symmetrica­l All-Wheel Drive feature delivers power to each wheel to provide maximum traction and control. The Forester is powered by a 2.0-liter normally aspirated directinje­ction boxer engine. The turbocharg­ed XT variant won’t make it for the new model’s debut, but you never know when it will make an appearance. Driving enjoyment has also been enhanced through a new seven-speed (in manual mode) Continuous­ly Variable Transmissi­on (CVT).

Also incorporat­ed into the new Forester is the Subaru Global Platform — a redesigned chassis. The Subaru Global Platform offers a safer, smoother driving experience by delivering less shake and body roll while also significan­tly reducing road noise.

The Forester also comes with X-MODE function, which enhances driving performanc­e on challengin­g terrain through optimized integrated control of the engine, all-wheel drive, brakes and other functions. Drivers can activate X-MODE via a new dial switch to transition from Normal to Dirt to Snow and Mud.

The handling of the Forester is further enhanced with active torque vectoring, which enables drivers to control their vehicle exactly as intended, for outstandin­g cornering and stable hazard avoidance. Precise handling is enabled by applying brakes to the inner wheels which in turn distribute­s more torque to the outer wheels during sharp turns.

HIGH-END SAFETY FEATURES

The new Forester is equipped with awardwinni­ng safety features. A new feature on the Forester is EyeSight, an advanced driver assist technology that includes automatic pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, lane departure and lane sway warning.

In addition, features such as Auto Vehicle Hold and Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD) are also available on the new model. Auto Vehicle Hold works to reduce driver fatigue by keeping the vehicle still when the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal while the vehicle is stopped. SRVD uses radar sensors installed on the rear of the vehicle to detect objects and vehicles behind and alerts the driver with its three main functions: blind spot detection, lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. Visual indicators light up if a vehicle in the blind spot is detected. When signaling a lane change, the system alerts the driver if the vehicle in the neighborin­g lane is approachin­g. Peripheral visibility is also enhanced with reverse linked tilt down door mirror, which makes it more convenient for checking blind spots around rear tires

 ??  ?? Tan Chong Internatio­nal Ltd. managing director Glenn Tan (right) and Motor Image Pilipinas’ GM Gerry Hernandez field questions from the media during the executive interview.
Tan Chong Internatio­nal Ltd. managing director Glenn Tan (right) and Motor Image Pilipinas’ GM Gerry Hernandez field questions from the media during the executive interview.
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 ??  ?? Subaru was confident enough to pit the new Forester against its rivals, the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5. The current Forester was also on hand for back-to-back comparison­s.
Subaru was confident enough to pit the new Forester against its rivals, the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5. The current Forester was also on hand for back-to-back comparison­s.
 ??  ?? EyeSight technology automatica­lly brakes or stops the car when it approaches an object and the driver fails to slow down or step on the brake
EyeSight technology automatica­lly brakes or stops the car when it approaches an object and the driver fails to slow down or step on the brake
 ??  ?? The author testing the Forester and its rivals at the test track
The author testing the Forester and its rivals at the test track
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 ??  ?? Hill Descent Control gives drivers greater peace of mind by automatica­lly maintainin­g low speeds on downhill slopes.
Hill Descent Control gives drivers greater peace of mind by automatica­lly maintainin­g low speeds on downhill slopes.
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 ??  ?? By MANNY N. DE LOS REYES
By MANNY N. DE LOS REYES

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