Car Moon

Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Tan Chong Group for the local production of an unnamed compact SUV in Malaysia.

The only compact SUV in Subaru’s current range is the Forester, though the vehicle in question may be the upcoming Impreza-based crossover that was previewed by the XV Concept (pictured above) at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show in China this past April.

First unveiled in the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October, the Subaru Forester S-Edition has now gone on sale in Australia, alongside the revised lineup of the Japanese compact SUV. Boasting a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine delivering 259HP (193kW) and 347 Nm (256 lb-ft) of torque, the new range-topping model is the most powerful Forester ever to be sold down-under.

It might not be for "U.S.", or any other market outside of Japan, for that matter, but the new JDM Subaru Forester tS deserves our attention. Based on the Forester S-Edition, the tS has been upgraded with a raft of STi parts including a modified suspension that sits 15 mm lower than usual, 17-inch alloys, a front spoiler and the customary tS logos.

Last month we told you about the revised for the 2011 model year, Subaru Forester SUV, which benefits from an all new naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter boxer engine with a chain driven double overhead cam and an output of 170HP and 174 lb-ft. of torque.

As you may remember from our previous post, we didn't have any photos of the 2011MY, but now, the Japanese automaker has released a gallery giving us the chance to see the new grille and alloy wheel designs -but oddly enough, not the revised instrument panel- of the updated Forester models. Follow the jump to check out all the pictures.

At the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Subaru unveiled the Forester S-Edition, a concept study that points to a new Forester variant for 2011. Built on the existing turbocharged Forester XT, the S-Edition produces an additional 32 hp and 20 lb ft (24 kw and 27 Nm) over the Australian market XT's 227 hp and 236 lb ft (169 kw and 320 Nm) lifting the 2.5-liter boxer engine's output to 259-horsepower.

While pics of the 2011 Forester have yet to make it out the gates (the car pictured above is a 2010MY) , here is a run-through of the new lineup for the U.S. market. Other than some minor styling updates such as the new grille design and a revised instrument panel with softer materials, the big news is Subaru's brand-spanking new boxer engine we first told you about earlier today.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), Subaru's parent company, has released details on its third-generation four-cylinder boxer engine that will be available in 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter displacements. This is the first overall renewal since the second generation was introduced in 1989. The horizontally opposed flat 4 has been a mainstay of Subaru's Impreza, Forrester and Legacy models for some time.

Besides adding its upcoming unnamed coupe to the lineup, Subaru will be working to get a little pep back in its step by bringing out some new designs over the next few years. What can we expect from the all-wheel drive anti-SUV brand? Autoweek had an interesting article charting the upcoming changes in Subaru's lineup.

Starting with the chunky-monkey Legacy and Outback models that are relatively new, the only update to be expected is a mild refresh/facelift coming in the next three or four years.

Hopefully Subaru will decide on a corporate face that doesn't look like 'meh' and throw it on those two, because right now they're as beige as a Camry. I mean, if Volvo and Audi could make their crossover cars (the Cross Country and Allroad) look cool, why can't Subaru?

This is what happens when you have a Toyota Prius with rear end damage, a Subaru Baja (pickup truck version of the Outback) with front end damage, a lot of free time, and a very weird sense of aesthetics - or a sick sense of humor. This freak-o-mobile is the creation of a salvage Prius cars and parts company called "Auto Be Yours" located in Scottsburg, Indiana. And yes, the name given to the Baja-tized Prius is Pruck. If by any sheer ridiculous chance you're interested, the Pruck is up for sale for somewhere around "mid $20k". Skip the jump for more photos.

Even though Kia and Hyundai are present in most countries around the world, you'll be surprised of the number of automakers that are absent from the South Korean market for one reason (import taxes) or another (legislation).

Subaru is one of them, but that's going to change soon as the Japanese automaker announced today that it is joining Toyota in South Korea's recovering market for imported cars. The company said that that sales of Subaru-brand vehicles will start from April in the country working through its local distributor, Subaru Korea Co., Ltd.

A new special-edition model has been added to the UK range of the Subaru Forester. Based on the XC variant with the 147HP 2.0-liter boxer diesel engine and limited to 150 units, the Forester SureTrak gets a bevy of extra equipment including rear privacy glass, full leather interior, parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors, front and rear underguards, a foldable, protective cargo tray, a re-designed instrument cluster as well as suspension upgrades.

You probably think that we're pulling your leg, but the vehicle pictured above is not a second-generation Subaru Forester, it's actually Yema Auto's all-new SQJ6451 CUV. The awkwardly named five-door cloneover crossover will make a cameo appearance at this month's Shanghai Auto Show with sales scheduled to begin in China in May with a base price of around 60,000 Yuan or about $8,800 or €6,500 with the current exchange rates.

Along with the STI-prepped Forester XTI Concept that sports a modified 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine from the ’09 Impreza WRX STI, Subaru will also display a second concept version of its crossover model at SEMA called the “Mountain Rescue Forester”. Built in cooperation with Detroit-based Specialized Vehicles for the National Ski Patrol (NSP), the concept is based on the '09 Forester 2.5XT. The all-wheel-drive crossover has been modified to cope with rescues in difficult terrain and weather conditions delivering more than 14 in. of ground clearance (stock Forester: 8.9in.) through an Air Lift custom adjustable ride height air suspension system.

Added off-road and snow traction is provided by Yokohama Geolandar MTS 30 x 9.5-in. tires on special 15-in. Subaru custom-reversed, near-zero offset steel wheels. For protection, the Forester has been equipped with custom front and rear skid plates by DeeZee and custom trail armor by Bushwacker, including fender flares, lower door cladding, a rear gate guard and tail light guards.

Other modifications include an emergency light package an Ultimate Performance 9.5i Thermometric 9,500-lb. winch by WARN, remote rear door openers and external quick-access utility compartments.

Just as we we're starting to worry about the lack of any official Subaru proposals for the SEMA show the Japanese automaker revealed the Forester XTI Concept. Designed and built by the folks at Subaru of America, the concept features the engine and entire drivetrain from the Impreza WRX STI. Thanks to the addition of a custom stainless steel cat-back exhaust system, the 2.5-liter intercooled turbo engine develops an output of 315HP (+10HP) and 300 lb.-ft. of torque (from 290 lb.-ft. stock). With this engine, Subaru claims that the Forester XTI Concept can hit the 0 to 60mph (96km/h) mark in under 5,0 seconds - not bad at all for a crossover. -Continued

At next month’s Paris Show, Subaru will unveil the first-ever diesel-powered versions of the Impreza and Forester models. The Japanese automaker has very high hopes for the Forester 2.0D as it expects it to account for a massive 80 percent of sales and eventually turn the SUV into the company’s best-selling model in Europe. First introduced in the Legacy and Outback in the beginning of the year, the 2.0 litre, four-cylinder horizontally-opposed Boxer Diesel engine delivers in the Forester 147 PS at 3,600 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm. -Continued

Apart from the new engine, key improvements over the 2.0 litre petrol Forester include a new six-speed manual gearbox, uprated front suspension and firmer-feeling steering. Top speed and 0-60 mph (96 km/h) times are at 115.5 mph (185 km/h) and 10 seconds respectively while the extra engine torque over the petrol model allows a full 2,000 kg or 4,010 lbs braked towing limit.

Fuel economy in the Forester 2.0D is rated at 44.8 mpg UK (37.3 mpg US or 6.3lt/100 km) with average CO2 emissions of 167 g/km. Meanwhile, thanks to the diesel version’s enlarged fuel tank (from 60 to 64 litres compared to the petrol models), the compact crossover can theoretically cover a distance of more than 1,000 km or 620 miles before the need for refueling.

In the UK, the new Boxer Diesel Forester range will arrive later this month where it will be available in three specific trim levels – the 2.0D X priced at £20,295, the 2.0D XC at £22,495 and the 2.0D XSn at £25,495 (all on-the-road).

Standard features for the entry-level Forester 2.0D X include: symmetrical all-wheel drive; Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control; self-levelling rear suspension; fuel-saving electric power steering; front, side and curtain airbags and 16’’ alloy wheels with 215/65 tires.

Other features include four electric windows; 60/40-split rear seats with reclining back-rests; climate-control air-conditioning; radio/CD player; front fog lamps; vehicle information display; height and reach-adjustment steering wheel; leather-covered steering wheel, handbrake and gear-lever; heated front seats, mirrors and windscreen wipers plus cruise-control.

Expected to be the best-seller, the Forester 2.0D XC adds: roof-rails; larger, 17’’ alloys with 225/55 tires; premium audio system featuring a six-stacker CD-player and seven speakers; roof spoiler; HID headlamps and a large, electrically-powered sun-roof.

Finally, the top-of-the range Forester 2.0D XSn adds: satellite navigation with single disc CD/radio; leather seats; electrically-powered driver’s seat and Smart-entry with push-button start.

After being initially launched on the Legacy and Outback earlier this year, Subaru’s new boxer turbo diesel engine will make its first appearance in both the new Forester and Impreza models at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed diesel engine, which benefits from a new closed-type diesel particulate filter, produces 147 PS and 258 lb ft torque in the Forester 2.0D and 150 PS and 258 lb ft in the Impreza. Both the Forester and Impreza Boxer Diesels feature new six-speed manual gearboxes. -Continued

According to Subaru’s preliminary figures, the Forester 2.0D will return an average fuel consumption in the combined cycle of 44.8 mpg UK (37.3 mpg US or 6.3lt/100 km). The new Forester Boxer Diesel will go on sale in Europe in late September with the Impreza Boxer Diesel following towards the end of the year. As much as we’d like to see any the diesel-powered Subies coming to the States, we doubt that will happen any time soon.