Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Southeast Asian region, has just launched the new MY16 Subaru Forester at the 37th Bangkok International Motor Show. With improved handling dynamics, innovative technologies, and aesthetic upgrades, the Forester is the ideal choice for an active family that wants to live life to the fullest.
With the new Subaru Forester, Motor Image welcomes a brand-new campaign “Is There Anything You Can’t Do?” This campaign is aligned with families and drivers who have an unstoppable attitude – There is nothing they can’t do in life. The New Subaru Forester is the car designed specially for their lifestyle. A car that represents the resilience and endless capacity to get what they desire.
“Together with the launch of the Forester, Subaru is excited to roll-out a brand-new campaign to highlight the traits of the Forester, an unstoppable vehicle that can turn any challenging terrain into an exciting adventure. The campaign name “Is There Anything You Can’t Do” reminds people that they can achieve anything they have their eyes set on, and the Subaru Forester will accompany them throughout their adventure”, said Mr Glenn Tan, Executive Director, Tan Chong International Ltd.
The new Subaru Forester features:
- X-Mode – For optimised control of the engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (S-AWD) and brakes to safely drive over almost any type of terrain
- Enhanced suspension for maximum comfort and handling performance
- Added safety features such as Steering Responsive Headlights
- Improved exterior features
- Brand new grille, taillights and rims
- Improved interior features
- Refreshed cabin design, a premium head-unit and a LCD Cluster display
The Subaru Forester will come in three options featuring a 4-Cylinder, 16-Valve Boxer Engine and S-AWD:
- 0i: FB20 Boxer Engine, Completely Knocked Down (CKD) selling at RM144,000 before insurance.
- 0i-P (Premium): FB20 Boxer Engine, CKD selling at RM154,000 before insurance.
- 0XT: FA20 Direct-Injection Turbocharged Boxer Engine, Complete Built Up (CBU) selling at RM199,000 before insurance.
Subaru created the Forester to be a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that can be safely driven through all types of terrain, anywhere, anytime. The development concept for the Forester has remained the same for nearly a decade, improving every year based on the requirements of adventure loving customers.
The 2.0i and 2.0i-P options will feature a 2.0L, 4-Cylinder, 16-Valve, FB20 Boxer Engine which produces 150PS at 6,200 rpm. Better fuel efficiency of 7.9L/100km (combined) is also achieved as a result of a long stroke engine coupled with a lightweight engine block. The 2.0XT variant produces 241 PS at 5,600 rpm as a result of a FA20 Direct-Injection Turbocharged Boxer Engine for higher power and decent fuel efficiency of 8.5 L/100km (combined).
When in X-Mode, the on-board computer coordinates the throttle, transmission and S-AWD to help anyone safely drive through any difficult terrain. X-Mode’s Hill Descent Control helps modulate speed when the vehicle is going down a steep hill in the city, or through gravel slopes in the outdoors. The combination of X-Mode with Subaru’s S-AWD can also help the Forester get out of muddy situations when one or more wheels get stuck.
Some functions for Subaru’s X-Mode are as follows:
- Hill Descent Control
- Enhanced All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
- Enhanced Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
Staying true to the roots of an all-terrain vehicle, the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) was chosen to complement the Forester’s performance. Subaru’s CVT allows power to be delivered consistently and smoothly at all times, regardless of terrain, making it ideal for adventurous customers who take their car off the beaten track.
The Forester’s suspension has also been enhanced for maximum comfort and handling performance. With a stiffer front cross member, enhanced coil and damper, drivers will experience a more comfortable ride quality with agile and nimble handling across all urban and off-road terrains.
All variants will have a brand new grille, taillights and rims. Interior features across the different variants have been enhanced with a refreshed cabin design to welcome the driver, alongside a premium head-unit and a LCD Cluster display. To maximise driver comfort and ride quality, noise from inside and outside the cabin has been reduced as a result of improved sound proofing materials and increased window thickness.
While enjoying adventurous sports like running, rock climbing or mountain biking, there might be a chance for the Key Fob to be misplaced or damage. The Forester i-P and XT will include a Personal Identification Number (PIN) code access which allows users to access their Subaru without the Key Fob, unlocking the vehicle’s doors by entering the pre-set PIN code, empowering users with a hassle-free adventure.
Safety continues to be a cornerstone for all Subaru vehicles with improvements in both the active and passive safety features. The MY16 Forester is constructed around a Ring Shaped Reinforcement Frame, protecting the passenger in the event of a rollover and withstanding the weight of the 1.5 ton Forester.
Steering Responsive Headlights have been fitted on the 2.0i-P and XT which will allow the headlight beam to move according to the direction of how the car is steered, maximising driver visibility and safety.
Additional active and passive safety features include:
Active Safety
- Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
- Hill Start Assist
- Brake Override
Passive Safety
- Side Door Reinforcement Beam
- Whiplash Reducing Seats
- Ring Shaped Reinforcement Frame
Tan Chong Motor Assemblies, which is part of Tan Chong Group, will assemble the CKD Subaru Forester at its Segambut plant in Malaysia. In partnership with Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru, a pre-production trial commenced at Segambut in January 2016 and the first production model rolled out in February 2016. With an estimated yearly production of 10,000 units, the Subaru Foresters assembled in Malaysia will be sold through Motor Image’s distribution network in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
The CKD Subaru Forester is the second model assembled at Segambut, the first being the Subaru XV which began assembly in December 2012. The new Subaru Forester 2.0i (CKD), 2.0i-P (CKD) and XT (CBU) are available for booking at all the Subaru Showrooms across Malaysia from 22 March 2016 onwards.
