NEW FORESTER AND BOXER DIESEL
February 9th, 2008 | by Ed |
Arguably the first of a new genre of crossover Sports Utility Vehicles, Subaru’s completely new third-generation Forester makes its European debut at the 78th Geneva Motor Show.
Based on the platform of the new Impreza, the Forester features more passenger and luggage space plus a smoother ride and even more agile handling thanks to a new multi-link double-wishbone rear suspension.
Now closer in size to its Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 competitors, the new Forester is 75 mm longer, 45 mm wider and gains 110 mm in height.
Rear legroom grows by 95 mm, the driver’s eye-line is 30 mm higher, while the load space is now 450 litres with the rear seat up – 63 litres more than the previous model.
Due to go on sale in the UK in April, the completely new Forester will be initially available as a 2.0 litre petrol only with the new 2.0 litre boxer diesel engine appearing in the autumn with manual transmission.
World’s First Boxer Diesel Passenger Car
Also on display are examples of the world’s first boxer diesel-engined passenger car in the form of the Legacy saloon and Sports Tourer and Outback crossover.
On sale in the UK this spring, Subaru’s first diesel is attracting rave reviews from the motoring press thanks to the engine’s smoothness, refinement, petrol-like throttle-response and torquey power delivery.
The new 2.0 litre horizontally-opposed turbo-diesel also has class-leading fuel economy and emissions, recording almost 50 mpg on the Combined Cycle with 151 g/km CO2 for the Sports Tourer.
The engine is extremely compact and light with a low centre-of-gravity which enhances Subaru’s already acclaimed symmetrical all-wheel drive handling.
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