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Forester set for March SA launch

The all-new Subaru Forester launched at the Tokyo auto show in November 2012 has been confirmed for launch in South Africa in March 2013.

We actually told you that on November 2 2012 but, as Subaru feels reassurance is necessary, we'll remind that the Japanese automaker says the car has "an all-new design, vast improvements to interior design and quality, enhancements to fuel efficiency and an increase in practicality".

SEVEN BAGS

"Practicality" include larger doors and lower sills for easier entry and exit but a higher driving position... doesn't that kind of negate things for the pilot? Whatever, the cars will also have a power tail hatch with remote-controlled release (cool to give other shoppers in the car park a Saturday-morning fright), SI-DRIVE and X-Mode - neither of which was explained in the media release - and start/stop fuel-saving.

Seven air bags (the odd one out for the driver’s knees) and Subaru’s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement™ - loops in the body frame to strengthen the whole hull in a collision or rollover - helped the car to five-star safety ratings in Australia and Europe.

Five models will be available in SA with the traditional flat-four petrol engines and all-wheel drive. There'll be an entry-level 2.0 X (six-speed manual) and 2.5 X (Lineartronic CVT/auto) followed by a mid-grade 2.5 XS, also available with the constantly variable auto transmission.

FIRST TO LAUNCH

The higher-grade 2.5 XS Premium will be topped by the Forester 2.0 XT Lineartronic with a 186kW turbocharged boxer engine.

Ashley Lazarus, marketing manager for Subaru Southern Africa, says the cars' introduction will be among the earliest world-wide. He added: “The all-new Forester is a great step forward for our brand and, with its confidence to go anywhere, we're sure the 2013 Forester will continue to find favour with South African buyers."

Whether they will take to the CVT transmission - not popular with other brands - remains to be seen. Some folk just have to whine...
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