Motor Image unveils all new 5th generation Forester; announces partnership with Motul

The All-New Subaru Forester is now available in the country.

Now bigger and better, both inside and out, the all-new Subaru Forester was officially unveiled last week at the grand ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino Hotel.

The fifth generation is the first Forester that incorporates all of Subaru’s four proprietary technologies—which means a safer, more comfortable and enjoyable driving experience for drivers and passengers.

“We are thrilled to bring the new Forester to the Philippines, as the previous generations of Forester have proven very popular here and is perfect for all the family. We are confident it will continue to be one of the most popular SUVs sold here,” said Glenn Tan, deputy chairman and managing director of Tan Chong International Ltd., parent company of local distributor Motor Image.

The all-new Forester now has the EyeSight driver assist technology, a feature that was first introduced in the all new XV and all new Impreza last year.

This option will now be available in two of the variants of the All-New Forester, the 2.0i-L EyeSight and 2.0i-S EyeSight.

These award-winning safety features give drivers added peace of mind and an extra margin of safety in every drive.

These EyeSight features include automatic pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, lane departure, and lane sway warning.

The all-new Forester now also uses the Subaru global platform (SGP), which was used in the XV and Impreza models. The new platform will soon be incorporated across all models in the Subaru vehicle range.

With just one press, the tailgate will close and lock up automatically at a height preset by the owner, thanks to its memory function.

The SGP is essentially a redesigned chassis that is engineered to offer a safer, smoother driving experience by delivering lesser shake and body roll, while significantly reducing road noise to improve cabin comfort at high speeds.

The local unveiling came the after regional launch in Taiwan where the Forester was tested under simulated road conditions, including racetrack and off-road, to gauge and compare the handling and performance with the previous generation Forester and two other brands of the same segment.

There was significant improvement noted on the new generation Forester as it also outperformed all the other vehicles during the test.

The new generation Forester also has a better high eye-level view than the previous, and compared to other vehicles in the same class.

This was done with a clever positioning of the pillars to reduce blind spots that can prove to be hazardous on real road conditions.

The all-new Forester also comes equipped with a new X-mode function, similar to the previous generation but with a “Deep Snow Mud Dirt” function that further enhances driving performance on challenging terrain like deep snow or very muddy surfaces.

The regular “Snow Mud” function is more suited for slippery surfaces like icy roads and over dusty riverbeds.

With the “Deep Snow Mud” function, this selected mode offers maximum traction and driveability, with the X-mode system applying integrated control of the engine, all-wheel drive, brakes and other functions.

The new X-mode comes with a “Deep Snow Mud” function.

Drivers can now conveniently activate X-mode via a new dial-switch, allowing for easy switching depending on road conditions.

One more noticeable feature is the extra legroom and couple distance inside the cabin.

The overall length was increased by 15 mm, while a generous 33 mm was added in the rear legroom. Couple (shoulder-to-shoulder) distance was also increased by 20 mm.

Cargo space likewise is made more accessible with a wider rear door opening that now features an inner lock switch, which means you don’t have to press the switch located at the tailgate and use a remote control to lock the door. With just one press, the tailgate will just close and lock itself up automatically.

According to Tan, the Forester will be available in three variants: two variants with the EyeSight feature, and one base model without.

A fourth and higher trim variant will also be introduced at the Manila International Auto Show this coming April.

Here’s a list of the prices :

Subaru Forester 2.0i-L – P1.598 million
Subaru Forester 2.0i-L EyeSight – P1.698 million
Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight – P1.798 million

During the launch, Tan also announced that Motor Image and French lubricant specialist Motul have partnered to develop and supply a line of exclusive lubricants for Subaru vehicles in the region.

This would be the first vehicle distributor that Motul is partnering globally, and the deal will cover its eight territories (Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines).

Motul will supply the specially developed and formulated oils for Motor Image distributorship and dealerships in the region. These oils, developed in Japan, will be used in all of its aftersales and service centers.

From left, Masaki Shimizu, chairman, Motul Japan KK; Glenn Tan, deputy chairman and managing director, Tan Chong International Ltd.; Carlos Gono, president, Motul Philippines; and Hideharu Tatsumi, general manager, Subaru STI

Customers will have access to competitively priced premium quality lubricants, such as 100 percent synthetic engine oils, giving customers a superior aftersales service available only at Motor Image’s facilities and dealerships.

“Subaru has been closely linked with Motul since its motorsports racing days, and Motul is closely associated with the STI brand. At Motor Image we have had an over 10-year relationship. Motul specially formulated lubricants for Subaru cars, taking into account the weather and other conditions, when we took part in the Asia Pacific Rally Championships. We are happy to partner Motul again, to re-establish a long-term relationship to provide the best quality products for our Subaru customers,” said Tan.

“Motorsports is part of Motul’s DNA, and Motul has been closely linked with Subaru and the STI brand since the Subaru World Rally Team competed in the World Rally Championship (WRC) back in the 1980s. Today, Motul is very pleased to be collaborating with Motor Image to provide an exclusive lineup of lubricant products and customer experience for its Subaru customers. We believe this regional collaboration will further strengthen its partnership with Subaru, beyond just Motorsports,” said Masaki Shimizu, chairman, Motul of Japan KK.