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By Brian Afuang
CRICKETS chirped, leaves rustled and music
wafted through the muggy night air as Motor Image, the distributor
of Subaru vehicles in eight Asian countries, on May 16 unveiled the
new Forester amid the woodlands of the far, far away kingdom of
Singapore.
With fairy tales of slain dragons and guests in
fairy costumes, the princely bedecked Group Chief Executive of Motor
Image, Glenn Tan, announced the official entry of the
third-generation Forester into the city-state’s competitive
compact sport-ute market. The arrival of the Forester in Singapore
heralds its impending introduction to the other countries where
Motor Image operates in.
Besides Singapore and the Philippines, Motor
Image also sells the Subaru brand in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.
In the Philippines, the Forester slots in as a
“mainstream” model for Subaru, or what Motor Image Pilipinas
(MIP) General Manager Nicandro Mariano refers to as a “money
car.” That simply means the Forester—both its 2.0-liter and
2.5-liter variants—is the company’s bestselling product, with
local sales that top even that of Subaru’s poster-boy model
Impreza.
Mariano revealed the new Forester will be
launched in the country in July. Only last week, MIP introduced
Subaru’s flagship Tribeca sport-ute, with the Philippines being
the first Asian market to get the model from the US, where it is
built.
Evolution of the species
In the latest Forester, Subaru is apparently
cautious not to lose the qualities previous models of the nameplate
had. The first- and second-generation Foresters had built a
reputation of being versatile, durable and practical vehicles,
serving their purpose well as tough workhorses or week-end-toys
haulers while retaining the sporting and handling characteristics of
a sedan (The Forester platform sprung forth from the Impreza).
And, well, the Forester is a Subaru. Which means
none other but the carmaker’s signature horizontally opposed
engine and symmetrical all-wheel-drive running gear are built into
it.
“When Subaru launched the Forester 11 years
ago, it redefined the industry. Here was a vehicle that defied all
labels and definition, enhancing the comfort and safety of cars with
greater function and capability,” said Tan.
Of course, as a rather tall wagon that sits
higher off the ground than its ilk, the first Forester is now called
a crossover vehicle—a term not widely used at the time. The second
one, for its part, grew more compact sport-ute than wagon. In either
model, though, styling was not exactly a strong suit.
Skin deep
Subaru addresses that issue in building the new
Forester. As most new models, the latest Forester grew in every
dimension, making its cabin roomier. It obviously received more
attention from the carmaker’s styling department, too. Becoming
even more compact sport-ute looking than before, the latest model
has a more adventurous styling, with a body made buffer and details
that project an edgier, outdoorsy image that befits its name.
Yet the new Forester remains a Forester in the
sense that it pulls no big surprises. Yes, it’s styling was
freshened up, but compared with the other compact sport-utes the
Forester appears like the box its sleek rivals came wrapped in. The
one thing going for the Forester in this regard is that careful,
evolutionary designs often become easier on the eyes over time,
their subtlety and restraint making more sense than initial,
outright flamboyance that quickly loses novelty.
What’s unarguable, on the other hand, is that
the new Forester is as mechanically competent as ever, endowed with
the proven technologies that Subaru has become famous for—or at
least known to its enlightened consumers.
“The new Forester builds on the many features
that made Foresters a worldwide hit. With greater luxurious comfort
and practical convenience—without compromising on safety and
quality—it boasts an irresistible charm. Its streamlined design
makes it a stylish companion,” Tan said.
“How to improve upon an icon? Come try the new
Forester and find out,” he added.
Whether people take up Tan on his invitation
remains to be seen. If they do, then the Forester will not only have
a fairy tale ending of a success story but continue to be
Mariano’s “money car.”
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