Subaru looking to contest the SUV crown

Despite the fact that all Subaru vehicles make use of horizontally opposed (aka boxer) engine configurations, shunning the oft-used inline or vee configuration, the marque also has a reputation for creating high quality products.

Many Subaru owners will regale you with stories of Euro-like handling and the inherent Japanese build quality and reliability.

But the Subaru Forester is facing tough times - just look at the competition. You've got the powerful Mazda/Ford Tribute/Escape duo, the Honda Civic, Toyota's Rav4, the Nissan X-Trail and keep an eye out for the one of the best yet - Kia's sexy new Sorento, which should be arriving as a 2003 model in late October.

As such, Subaru had to act. They could have easily stayed with the current model for another year, perhaps even 18 months. But no. Subaru wanted something new.

It is then, that we say a cheery good-afternoon to the new Forester, back in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms come the third quarter - let's say October for arguments sake.

Rather than going for something radical, something all-new, the design gurus at Fuji Heavy Industries dediced a rigorous face-lift would instead do, and talk about nipping and tucking - this looks good!

The front end is slightly angled now, with the front headlight clusters forming part of this. The quietly flared wheel arches are back, but it's the rear-end which is most different. With a fancy new rear-window and sculpted triangular tail-lights, there's far uglier behinds doing the rounds. The end result is a confident and determined-looking soft-roader, with just a hint of agression in those headlights.

The Subaru techno-boffins have done an impressive job with the new model: more interior room, revised suspension and smoother ride, stiffer body and sub-structure, more standard features and all while shedding some 40 kilograms.

As far as the new suspension setup go, providing for a more refined and better handling ride, it also reduces the issue of nose dive and rear-end squatting under forceful braking and acceleration.

Looking for much of the world like an Impreza on the inside, the new MY '03 Subaru Forester offers more supportive seating with more travel and increased height adjustment. This comes as no surprise, as much of the instrument cluster has been borrowed from the Impreza spare parts bin.

Under the bonnet is another story altogether, as Subaru is keeping tight-lipped about the engines on offer in Australia. In America, only the 4-cylinder 2.5-litre boxer engine will be offered in two variants - standard and a bit more luxury, thanks. This 2500cc powerplant kicks out a hardy 117kW and about 225Nm of torque. As with all Foresters, power from the engine is diverted to all four wheels, all the time, via either a four-speed auto or a five-speed manual gearbox. The latter comes with Subaru's special hill-holder clutch, which is -- and always was -- a great innovation.

However, in Japan there are three models offered for the MY '03 Forester - the same as we have had in the past. There is the standard, the Limited and the office favourite - the GT. The former two have just the 2.0-litre mill, where the GT comes with a turbocharger and intercooler for extra kicks - or about 162kW. So what does that leave us with?

A lot of speculation.

We reckon Australia will stick with the Japanese format of three 2.0-litre models, one of them turbocharged, as opposed to going the American 2.5-litre way. That said, we did get the Impreza RS with the 2.5-litre engine just recently, which was primarily for the US market. This makes the eqaution a little more complex.

As it stands, the new-look Subaru will give pretty much all other soft roaders out there a run for their money. Subaru Australia isn't talking when it comes to price, but you can expect prices similar the current models or around $30,000.

You may not know what is going to be under the bonnet of the 2003 Forester, but at least you'll know what it looks like. The new Forester will be on show soon when the 2002 Melbourne International Motor Show arrives, along with the Formula One circus, at the beginning of March.

The car should be ready just in time for the opening of Subaru's new Melbourne-based showroom-complex (pictured). This new Subaru venture will include dealship and showroom areas on two-levels, a state-of-the-art all-wheel drive track, a driver training centre and a theatre. This will cover some 22,000 square metres of space.

Located at 99 Lorimer Street in Port Melbourne, the addition of an all-wheel drive track and a driver training centre are huge boosts to Subaru.

General Manager for Subaru, Nick Senior, stated: "The driver training centre and AWD facility means we can really demonstrate the strengths of our products right at the point-of-sale."

The new Subaru centre will also form the headquarters for Subaru Technica International (STi) Australia and Mr Senior also mentioned this: "The STi Australia headquarters will have a separate identity and its own building, while still being part of the overall look and feel of the complex."