Subaru fans have waited patiently (or not) for an all-new Forester, and their wait is over at last — well, almost. Ahead of the official unveiling at January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the company has released the first photos of its '09 Forester: larger, burlier, and more luxury-laden than its perennially strong-selling predecessor. Aside from entirely new sheet metal and a 3.6-inch-longer wheelbase, the new Forester rolls with a load of long-in-coming safety and luxury features, including standard stability control and side curtain air bags, and an available navigation system, bringing it more in line with its chief rivals, the recently remodeled Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The original Forester occupied the subtle niche between short sport-utility vehicle and tall wagon, but Subaru seems to have veered deeper into SUV territory with the new model, which sports a taller, tougher look and 8.9 inches of ground clearance (a tenth of an inch more than a Jeep Wrangler). As in the current Forester, power comes from horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines, normally aspirated or turbocharged, matched to manual or automatic transmissions. All-wheel-drive is, needless to say, standard. The 2009 Forester reaches Subaru dealerships in the spring.
Japanese-market Forester shown.
Via Autoblog.
More photos after the break, courtesy of Subaru.
