Whenever I read foreign car magazines, especially those from
UK and USA, I always feel a sense of envy because of the beautiful landscapes
that are available to them for photoshoots. There are always nice rolling mountains,
stunning sea fronts or some random street that looks like it came out of a
postcard.
Singapore is only this big and more often than not, Adrian
(regular photographer for Wheels Asia) and I find ourselves scratching our
heads to find new places to shoot cars.
From time to time we do recce randomly in search of new
places to shoot cars but it doesn’t help that Singapore has a lot of tight
security regulations. The urban landscape in Singapore also means that we have
more high-rise buildings than rushing rivers or scenic roads.
The Forester now
dons a more edgy facet and bespectacled headlamps - giving it a more serious
and grown up feel
There are times where we have to end up using the same place
for different test drive cars, but utilising a different corner. Places to
shoot cars in Singapore can get so limited to the extent that when we flip
through other local car magazines, we can instantly recognise where the photos
were taken at.
When we were given the Subaru Forester for a test drive,
intuitively one would think of finding a forest to shoot the car at (making a
play on the name). However, there are only so many forest-y areas in Singapore
and it’s not possible to bring a car in to every one of them.
We did think of bringing the Forester to somewhere that has
lots of greenery and trees, but that would have been way too cliché.
Eventually, we ended up ditching the idea of shooting the Forester in the
forest – simply because it would be too predictable.
Grade of material
used here is a notch higher than in its fore-bearers
I tried searching for the meaning behind the name Forester
and why Subaru named it as such, but I couldn’t find it. I can’t help but
wonder if it had anything to do with being a car that can conquer the forests.
I guess it is rather appropriate for an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) to be
associated with forests, which is off-road. Also, you have to admit that
Forester sounds better than say, Jungler.
The latest Forester in town is into its fourth generation
and is taller, wider and longer than its predecessor. Wheelbase has been
increased as well, hence the new Forester is looking meatier and stronger, with
a more practical cabin.
This Japanese compact SUV now comes with a two-litre
turbocharged Boxer engine that puts out 240bhp and 350Nm at its maximum – more
than what its 2.5-litre turbo predecessor had. The Forester gives a pretty
perky drive, accelerating well upon pedal push.
The 2.0-litre
turbocharged Boxer engine puts out an engaging 240bhp and 350Nm of torque that's
good for a 7.5 seconds century sprint
There are three driving modes and in the Sharp Sport mode
you can even go up to an eighth gear ratio. The continuously variable
transmission, along with its responsive steering, enhances the drive, making it
smoother and easier to control.
Tech goodies in the Forester include cruise control, climate
control and a power tailgate, amongst others. There is also the hill descent
control and X-mode for rough terrain – basically the X-mode will enhance the
symmetrical all-wheel drive of the Forester for engine optimisation, better
power distribution and brake control so as to help the car manage slippery or
steep roads. I didn’t really get to use them because Singapore doesn’t really
have that kind of land.
Cabin space is generous and most importantly, storage space
is more than sufficient too. While the Forester may not appeal to be at first
glance – for pure aesthetic reasons – you are likely to change your mind after
getting behind the wheel and driving it.
