News: Subaru shows off new Forester

Subaru has released the first official photos of the all-new Forester SUV, which will go on sale in Ireland next summer. Subaru claims that it will come with competitive pricing, and improved fuel economy.

The fourth-generation Forester builds upon the outgoing model’s credentials as a go-anywhere, user-friendly SUV, with improved performance, safety and efficiency and a larger, more practical cabin. Subaru’s unique Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system remains at the heart of the vehicle, while a low centre of gravity and improved body rigidity contribute to improved refinement and a typically engaging drive on the road.

Confirming the of the Forester, Subaru has also announced outline details of the engine line-up, which will include the existing 150bhp 2.0-litre Boxer diesel and petrol units, as well as a new high-performance 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, producing 280bhp. That model is rather unlikely to reach Irish shores, sadly.

All engines will feature a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while Subaru’s Lineartronic (CVT) transmission is available as an option on petrol models.  The Lineartronic transmission has been modified to manage the increased power while also providing improved fuel efficiency, and ensures that both CVT-equipped petrol engines achieve the 2015 Japanese fuel economy standard.

News: New Subaru Forester caught undisguised

Subaru's all-new Forester has been caught by spy photographers undisguised and out in the open.

Featured on US site Carscoop, the new Forester looks largely familiar, but gains a new front end with a bolder, more chrome-filled grille and lights that wrap further around the corners than the current model, taking clear inspiration from the new XV crossover, launched earlier this year.

The new Forester grows a little, being 35mm longer and 20mm wider, while the boot expands to a whopping 505-litres. It's expected that the existing 2.0-litre flat-four Boxer Diesel with 150bhp will be carried over more or less unchanged. It's unclear yet though whether or not Subaru will offer a fornt-drive Forester to gain a lower Co2 rating. All-wheel-drive and serious off-road ability have always been a central part of the Forester's DNA, but with a front-drive version of the XV available, Subaru may well consider the lower Co2 rating and tax band a worthwhile trade-off.

The new Forester goes on sale in November in Japan and will arrive in Europe in the middle of next year.