Subaru's next Forester revealed

Subaru has revealed its fourth-generation Forester ahead of its world debut in Japan on November 13 and its US-spec unveiling at the Los Angeles motor show on November 28.

Motoring.com.au will bring you the first Australian drive of naturally aspirated petrol and turbo-diesel versions of the new Forester on December 1, before their official local launch next January, with a new top-shelf turbo-petrol model to follow next year.

Images of the replacement for one of Australia’s top-selling SUVs – and Subaru Australia’s most popular model – were revealed simultaneously by Subaru in Japan and North America today, with both models featuring the same new Impreza-style headlights but separated by a different grille treatment.

As you can see from these first official images, the new Forester will retain its predecessor’s five-door, five-seat wagon body style, which continues to wear matte-black lower appendages and roof-rails, but now features bolder surfacing including a prominent full-length shoulder crease.

Other new design elements include wing mirrors mounted further back on the doors, protruding clear-lens tail-lights, more subtle wheel-arch flares, new alloy wheels and a clamshell bonnet design with deeper longitudinal sculpting.

No mechanical information has been released in Japan, where Australia’s version will continue to be produced, but Subaru North America has announced that its 2014 Forester (pictured in red here) will ride on virtually the same footprint as before.

It also revealed the US Forester will be powered by the same naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol boxer as the outgoing model, plus a new 2.0-litre direct-injection intercooled turbo-petrol flat four that develops 250hp (187kW) at 5800rpm on premium unleaded fuel.

It said both engines will bring fuel-efficiency gains, thanks to new six-speed manual and Lineartronic continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmissions. North America’s 2.0-litre turbo Forester will be be available with a “high-torque CVT with six-speed and eight-speed manual modes” and Hill Descent Control.

It is unclear at this stage which engines will be offered in Australia, where the current Forester is powered by 126kW/235Nm 2.5 atmo-petrol, 169kW/320Nm 2.5 turbo-petrol and 108kW/350Nm 2.0 turbo-diesel boxer engines.

With the exception of the six-speed manual-only Forester diesel and the top-shelf S-Edition, which comes with a 193kW/347Nm turbo-petrol engine matched to a five-speed automatic transmission, Australia’s current Forester is available with only outmoded five-speed manual and four-speed automatic gearboxes.

Subaru’s US press release also states the new Forester will feature “refined (or new) suspension” with 220mm of ground clearance, as well as increased rear legroom, more cargo space and new infotainment systems, including smartphone integration, navigation, a reversing camera and premium harman/kardon sound system.

Expect the new Forester also to be at least available with Subaru’s clever EyeSight safety package, which includes collision mitigation, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control systems.

Naturally, all Foresters will come standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive, while wheel/tyre sizes in the US will be 7.0x17-inch with 225/60s for 2.5-litre models and 7.0x18-inch with 225/55s for the 2.0-litre turbo. America’s 2014 Forester measures 4595mm long, 1795mm wide and 1732mm high and rides on a 2639mm wheelbase, making it about 35mm longer, the same width and about 30mm lower than Australia’s existing model, as well as about 25mm longer in wheelbase.

The Forester has been a super-seller for Subaru in Australia since its launch here in 1997, with the outgoing model dominating the compact SUV segment for four consecutive years until 2011 and more than 169,000 examples sold in total. So far this year it has been outsold in its class by Nissan’s top-selling X-Trail, Mazda’s new CX-5 and Toyota’s RAV4, a redesigned version of which will also be launched next year.

“This fourth-generation Forester is the most significant we will have launched since the original back in 1997,” said Subaru Australia Managing Director Nick Senior.

“There is more change – substantial technical change – and innovation, than ever before. But above all, new Forester is an SUV that won’t be confined to the suburbs.

“It’s a vehicle that could have been designed specifically for the Australian lifestyle – it’s all-road, all-conditions, all-seasons and this new one will go further than any previous Forester.”

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…