After Nissan, Subaru has come out with a list of vehicles that will adorn its motor show booth in Tokyo next month and which includes a variety of concepts, production and racing cars.
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I had mixed feelings about how that transmission would work with the turbo, but I guess that the fact that Subaru's new third generation Lineartronic is going to be used with its new range of European market turbodiesels in both the Outback and Forester later in the year means that it will take the torque.
I noticed no disconcerting flare - often a bugbear with CVTs and more powerful engines - and loved the way the car stepped smoothly off the line, settling into low-revving cruise mode for town and around work, and open-road driving very decorously.
Well-chosen gearing allows the Forester to surf along on its low to mid-revolution biased torque curve, which will allow pretty useful economy in normal running, while the surge of energy on tap when you mash the throttle is very pleasing. With a rise in engine pitch, the Forester XT quickly catches up with itself in that distinctive CVT way, and dispatched overtaking maneuvers with great aplomb.
Subaru said that as a result, it broke its initial monthly sales target of 2,000 units for the SUV in Japan by more than four times.
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With one exception, the new Dacia Lodgy minivan that Euro NCAP said "budgets on safety" as it was rated with a mediocre three stars out of five, all other cars tested were awarded five stars.
Euro NCAP criticized the Renault Group's decision to not offer the electronic stability control (ESC) as standard equipment on the Lodgy, while also noting that the Dacia model scored poorly for pedestrian and child protection.
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The new Forester is an inoffensive evolution of its predecessor that debuts with a roomier interior, improved performance and better fuel economy.
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While the new crossover model went on sale in its home market of Japan on Tuesday, right after Subaru showed the car to the press, its world premiere will take place at the end of November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
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The cosmetic differences between the JDM Forester and the international market model will be limited to some minor details, so what you see here, is what you will get when the crossover hits showrooms towards the end of the year or early 2013, depending on the country.
The gallery includes the first official photos of the interior with the dashboard being an almost exact copy of that found in the latest Impreza and XV models, minus some trim upgrades such as the aluminum finishes on the lower part of the center console.
But it's not over just yet, as the new Forester, which will likely be sold as a 2014 model in North America, has been spotted again in its home market on three different occasions, providing us a fresh look on the car.
Now, you may have noticed that these three Foresters (two examples in white and the other in silver), look slightly different from the one featured in the opening image of our previous article posted earlier this month.
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It’s not hard to see that Subaru didn't want to alienate buyers of one of its most popular global models when it came to design, as the new Forester looks like a more modern, or evolutionary, if you prefer, interpretation of the current model.
Besides the more forceful face incorporating Subaru's latest grille design, the high-riding, station wagon gains some new styling cues, the most notable of which concern the more prominent wheel arches and heavily sculpted door sills, the addition of a small quarter window up front and new door mounted mirrors.
These pictures are sourced from the new Forester's Japanese market brochure, but most of what you see here sans the engine range can be applied to the global model.
The new Forester, which will go on sale in Japan in mid-November before it reaches both North American (as a 2014 model) and European shores as a 2013 model) next year, is likely based on a revised version of the latest Impreza's platform.
Compared to the current Forester, Subaru's best-seller has grown all around and now measures 4,595mm or 180.9 inches long (+35mm), 1,795mm or 70.7 inches tall (+15mm) and 1,695mm or 66.7 inches wide (+20mm). The wheelbase is also longer at 2,640mm or 103.9 inches (+25mm) to improve space for passengers.
The recording shows a white crossover identified as a "Subaru Wagon" (likely a Forester) entering the inner lane of the road and slowing down behind a trolley car that had stopped for a red light when a MUNI bus came crashing from behind literally sandwiching the Japanese model.
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Apparently, Subaru's marketing folks in Japan believe that healthy doses of drama can create some sort of emotional connection between buyers and its cars. As you can see in the videos after the break, Subaru has whipped up similar ads for its Forester and Legacy models.
And oh, don't forget to blow your nose and while your tears away after you're done watching the three spots.
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