GoAutoNews

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
One for all
GUARANTEED ONE HOUR ANSWER
Got a complex deal? We eat them for lunch. So let us show you.
Call us to get your first 25 applications answered in just one hour. That’s the Liberty experience.
So why wait the standard 48 hours... Call us now on 1300 888 311
Liberty Financial Pty Ltd ABN 55 077 248 983 Australian Credit Licence 286596.
SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com
Jan 30, 2013 Page 10
More powerful, sophisticated XT turbo fronts Subaru’s all-new Forester range
By RON HAMMERTON
SUBARU has smoothed over its feisty
Forester XT to broaden the appeal
of the turbocharged fl agship of its
new-generation SUV range that hits
showrooms this month.
While power and performance have
been increased, overt “boy racer”
features such as the pronounced bonnet
scoop have been deleted in favour of
family-friendly design elements, a more
refi ned ride and better fuel economy.
The company also has elected to dump
the manual gearbox that comprised 15
per cent of XT sales in the previous
generation, instead employing the latest
continuously variable transmission
(CVT) in place of the fi ve-speed manual
and dated four-speed auto, bringing
the top petrol Forester into line with
other newer Subaru models such as the
Outback.
The CVT and smaller engine contribute
to a 19 per cent improvement in fuel
economy, even though the Forester XT
is 40kg heavier than before, at 1629kg.
Standard features have
also been ramped up
with a resultant impact
on price. The Forester
XT now starts at $43,490
(plus on-road costs),
an increase of $1500
or 3.5 per cent on the
previous-generation XT
auto (or $3500 over the
discontinued manual).
The range-topping XT
Premium has been hiked $3000 or 6.3
per cent per cent to $50,490 compared
with the old-generation auto (or $5000
over the old manual).
The XT sits on top of the Forester
line-up that now starts with the 2.0-litre
PRICING:
2.0i $30,990
2.5i (a) $32,990
2.0i-L $33,490
2.5i-L (a) $35,990
2.5i-S (a) $43,990
2.0D $35,490
2.0D-L $37,490
2.0D-S $43,990
2.0XT (a) $43,490
2.0XT Premium (a) $50,490
2.0i manual at $30,990 – the same price
as the previous 2.5-litre entry model.
The Forester XT’s new-generation
boxer engine has been downsized from
2.5 litres to 2.0 litres, but
thanks to direct injection
and other refi nements, has
slightly more power – up
from 169kW to 177kW
at 5600rpm – and 9.4
per cent more torque, to
350Nm at 2400-3600rpm.
Acceleration from
zero to 100km/h has
been cut by 0.4 seconds,
to 7.5 seconds.
The smaller engine is also more
effi cient, helping the Forester XT to
achieve a 19 per cent fuel consumption
improvement, down from 10.5 litres per
100km to 8.5L/100km.
Continued next page