| Subaru launched its next generation Forester | | | | characteristic hood scoop disappears on the |
| sport utility at the North American International | | | | high-volume, nonturbo version of the Forester, |
| Auto Show. But some buffs said that the | | | | which also loses some of its endearing |
| nonconformist CUV has turned into something | | | | characteristic looks, wrote the New York Times. |
| generic. | | | | "All hood scoops in the future will be strictly |
| But the automaker claims otherwise. "Forester | | | | functional, and only offered on turbocharged |
| has grown up, without losing its character," said | | | | vehicles that need the extra air," said a Subaru |
| Tom Doll, the executive vice president of Subaru | | | | spokesman. |
| of America. Eleven years ago, he said, "We called | | | | All 2009 Forester models feature standard |
| it a hybrid. Today, we call it a crossover." | | | | side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor. |
| The 2009 Forester is engineered to correct the | | | | Additionally, Vehicle Dynamics Control stability and |
| weaknesses in the previous versions such as | | | | traction control system have been made standard |
| cramped rear seat and rear doors that do not | | | | on all models for the first time. With the Subaru |
| open adequately. These flaws made it harder for | | | | Dynamic Chassis Control Concept (Subaru DC3), |
| the engineers to deal with. Compared with the | | | | the automaker optimized all elements of the |
| 2008 version of the CUV, the newly launched | | | | CUV's chassis to offer a better balance of ride, |
| Forester looks generic. The automaker has made | | | | handling response, quietness and overall traction |
| it chunkier and taller like the CUVs seen on the | | | | performance. |
| road these days. | | | | The maker of the Subaru valve cover gasket did |
| The new Forester is a total redesign of the | | | | not announce the prices for the 2009 model. But |
| award-winning crossover utility vehicle that has | | | | the CUV is expected to bear higher sticker price |
| inked a good reputation as an icon of reliability, | | | | than the present model. The automaker added it |
| safety and versatility. The CUV, which is | | | | plans to sell significantly more of the '09 Foresters |
| scheduled to arrive in dealerships this spring, builds | | | | than the 44,600 it moved in the previous year. |
| upon that reputation while sporting a bolder, more | | | | According to BusinessWeek, more than 500,000 |
| SUV-like design and making a major leap in safety | | | | Foresters have been sold since the model was |
| technology, ergonomics, handling, driving dynamics, | | | | introduced to the U.S. market 11 years ago. Earlier |
| and comfort. | | | | this month, the automaker reported U.S. sales |
| The all-new Forester is equipped with a 2.5-liter | | | | dropped nine percent in December due to in large |
| boxer engine that produces 170 horsepower plus | | | | part to a 24 percent dive in Forester sales. |
| a 224-horsepower turbocharged version. The | | | | |