New Subaru Forester Compact SUV

The brochure for the Japanese market Forester has surfaced showing the new Subaru Forester compact SUV. The compact is known for its attitude, off and on roads and will be up on sale in Japan by middle of November followed by Europe in 2013 and in North America in the year 2014. The new Forester is expected to be based on the Impreza platform.

In terms of exteriors the new Forester retains the basic station wagon shape but adds new styling details like a bulging curve on the lower part of the doors, new lights at the front as well at the rear, small quarter window at the base of the A-pillar along with door mounted mirrors. Further, the compact SUV has grown in size and will now be 4,595mm long, 1,795mm high and 1,695mm wide, as a result of which it now offers better space for the passengers.

The Japanese market is expected to get two boxer engines. The new Forester will get a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre, 146bhp engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) along with a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged mill which is capable of delivering 276bhp mated to a CVT. Not much is known about the US and the European model, however it is expected that the new Forester will be offered with the new 2.5-litre DOHC FB series boxer engine in the US.

This engine is capable of producing 173bhp of power. The European model is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre petrol powertrain, delivering a power of 146bhp. A diesel version is also expected in Europe. Forester was available in India under Chevrolet badging but since Chevrolet lost the ownership in Subaru, the vehicle sales ended in India. The vehicle was in India from 1997 – 2002.