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Subaru Crew - Future Models II

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Comments

  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    2003 Forester pix up at http://www.media.subaru.com/ . Click on Forester and scroll down to 2 high rez photos.
  • jimmyp1jimmyp1 Member Posts: 640
    No hood scoop. :( I wonder what that 2.5xs means?

    Jim
  • bblachabblacha Member Posts: 160
    Nice car. Clean design, inconspicuous cladding, no hood scoop (my preference.) Doesn't seem any larger or with a bigger engine, unfortunately. But a very, very nice car.

    Can anyone tell, from the pic, if the rear suspension is changed? All I can see is a lower link, but I can't tell if it's different.

    --Bart
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    Thanks but the catch was by cgphil1, posting on the Forester board. I just copied it here for the convenience of those checking here.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I can :(

    The Headlights are very very similar to the Trailblazer's as far as looks. Not a good sign IMHO.

    -mike
  • bblachabblacha Member Posts: 160
    Yeah, maybe a little of that "angry kitchen appliance" look of the latest GM trucks. And the fog lights are Pontiac-like.

    It could have been *much* worse though, like that alternative design presented in that German magazine. But it's not too bad. Nice, even.

    --Bart
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    A few comments:

    • So far so good, need to know what's under the skin. There, frankly, I don't think it will change a whole lot. It's still got the 2.5 engine.

    • "XS" I'm sure replaces the "S Premium" model. The pixs show a moonroof, leather and monochromatic paint.

    • Tires appear(?) to be the same size, but a different version of the current tire. I'm hoping they'll be the same size found on the Outback, but it looks doubtful.

    • No hood scoop means no turbo, which we all knew. That's coming in '04.

    • Mag X sketches really did capture the "essence" of the new model, even if the details were not quite right.

    • I really like the rear styling. It looks like there is no keyhole for the rear hatch; at least I can't find one.

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I still think the hood has lines of the Outback on it. Also the Keyhole could have been missing on the pre-production model.

    I don't think we'll see a turbo here, we'll likely get the H6 when the time comes for more power.

    -mike
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    I thought I saw the resemblence to the Legacy/Outback in that new Forester pic.

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    a bit of the older VW Fox wagon in the rear hatch treatment.

    Bob
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    mike- It's already been reported somewhere (by at least a semi-official source) that the 04 Forester would get a turbo.

    -Frank P.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I'll believe it when I see it. :) It doesn't make much sense to put a turbo in an SUV IMHO.

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    low-pressure turbo would make sense, but if the peak torque is below the 3.0 H6's output that's stupid in my book. even though the engine is about 100lb heavier, do you think that the downpipe, uppipe and turbo are weightless? a turbo EJ series is 50-75lb heavier than a normal aspirated one.

    -Colin
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Looks like the front bumper on the bottom looks a lot like a legacy. could this be legacy based? Can anyone see how big the rear pillars are for the struts? Hmm deeper looking...

    o Rear is much more tapered than the current one :( that is bad, means its more wagon like, less boxy, and less usable storage

    o Rear doors appear to be smaller than the last ones as well as the rear windows on the sides.

    o Definitely appears to have more ground clearance than previous model

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Looks good. Overall I say they basically updated the old, conservative model, and spiced it up a bit, without overdoing it. I think the rear looks better than the front. The headlights do remind you of an Elantra, a little, at least until you get up close. The rear hatch reminds me of the Suzuki Aerio SX (and Subaru uses XS to remind you).

    Details I noticed from the front:

    * foglights are recessed, a bit overdone
    * grille looks more modern
    * headlights are flared, more aggressive
    * profile is almost unchanged
    * gas cover must be remote-operated - no notch for fingers
    * front flare looks more built in, nice
    * rear flare flows back like the Baja's, looks better without cladding
    * more space in the wheel wells
    * more integrated roof rack

    And from the rear:

    * nice how the front fender flare flows into the door, very nice
    * D-pillar has a kink in it, a la Lexus GX470, nice
    * roof line does taper down, like the Matrix
    * I don't care for the wheels much
    * hatch looks much better, gives the whole look its biggest "face lift"
    * nice blacked out trim
    * nice triangular tail lights
    * looks 2" higher off the ground (good catch, paisan)

    Bottom line? Thumbs up. Looks familiar, but updated, taller and less "wagony". I does not look bigger, but we'll see how it is inside.

    I'm much happier with the 2003 Forester than I am with the Baja, in a big way.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I wonder if we will see this on upcoming Imprezas and Legacys/Outbacks too?

    Bob
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Looks nice! Those fogs look very vulnerable though.

    So will the NY auto show get the Baja, redesigned Legacy and the new Forester?

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I disagree. I think the fogs, because they are so deeply shrouded, are reasonably well protected.

    Bob
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I had another look at them. You can see how deep they are on the driver's side.

    -Dennis
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Looks like the rear glass is tinted... I wonder if factory tint will be offered.

    All in all, the more I look at it, the more I like it. Clean modern look, yet I can see familiar "foresterish" lines. Good job, Subaru!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think Ed took the plastic covers off his fogs, and had that clear plastic coating put on. That would be easy enough.

    Good catch, Kate, noone had mentioned the tint.

    I'll add the angle of departure, which now looks really good. The approach angle is about the same, maybe a little better.

    -juice
  • 1subydown1togo1subydown1togo Member Posts: 348
    I'm not usually into SUV like vehicles, but I'm impressed with the new Forester...a nice update, clean and smooth, but also aggressive, which is what the market seems to go for these days.
    Re: the tail lamps: I find them somewhat Mercedes ML-ish
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    The MY01 Forester brochure shows black mud flaps. Were body-color mud flaps available on MY02, or is this something new for 03?

    juice, I agree on the wheels -- I'll pass. But they look easy to clay.

    paisan, I agree with you on the rear slope; it looks nice but IMO not worth the sacrifice in interior room. Same with the Legacy (GT in particular); the rear looks sporty but I wish it was squared-off for functionality.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The wheel opening are nice and big, for good brake cooling, but there are too many edges to clean easily. The area around the lug nuts would be a mess.

    BTW, that looks like the US-spec model, because it has cross bars.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I think they're fine. In fact, as a rule, I think Subaru does very well designing wheels. Yes, there are a few dogs out there, but most of their wheels I find very attractive.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I glad to see Subaru is still offering them as standard—at least I hope they're still standard. I see more and more SUV brands just offering the roof rails, and making the cross bars optional. Jeep is the most recent to join this trend. I think this trend is a bad one...

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I like the current spoked wheel desigsn for the Forester, both 15" and 16". Even the styled steel are about the best looking non-alloys on the road today.

    The new wheels are more playful and stylish, so they do go with the overall look.

    Gotta have cross bars - I use mine often. No cost cutting, please, Subaru. I will definitely notice if you remove things like the carpets, mud guards, fog lights, and cross bars. This level of content is really the last major advantage that the current Forester holds over the RAV4 and CR-V. It is crucial to keep prices reasonable and content high.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    a full-size spare too.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    With tires that appear to be the same size, there is no reason not to.

    Ken's translation earlier mentioned 2" more length. I don't see it - unless the whole thing is scaled bigger, it does not look longer. The rear overhang actually appears shorter.

    -juice
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Bob,

    I have mixed emotions about stock cross bars, at least on the Legacy. Not having sufficiently researched cross bars, I bought the Legacy aerodynamic (not round) cross bar/carpet mat package (saving a whopping $10), which have fewer options than the round cross bars. The aerodynamic bars are quieter so I leave them on for impulse buys (which means I never use them). I use the round cross bars (Yakima) to carry bicycles.

    So I'd rather buy aftermarket round cross bars that are IMO more functional than be forced to buy the default Forester aerodynamic cross bars.

    I do understand your point, it's one more thing for the consumer to research and buy, and reduces functionality off the lot.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nah, you can get clamps that make any accessory carrier fit on the stock bars. No real need for round ones. New clamps are cheaper, I think Darlene said they were $7 a set.

    -juice
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    about the length too. Unless the pictures are very deceiving, the rear overhang is less, the front no worst than present. To me this suggests that either the wheelbase has increased or the overall length decreased.

    Ross
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I like the way Subaru handles the cross bar situation. "Utility-oriented" models. Forester, Outback Sport and Outbacks, have them standard. On all other Subarus, such as your Legacy GT, they're optional. That, IMO, gives the buyers more choice, which is good.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    IMO, Subarus historically look better in person than they do in photos. I'm betting that's the case here too.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Any one in Chicago? We need more Pix! I'd love to see the inside.

    The premiere was supposed to be at 10:45, right?

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I was making comparison between the photogs of both, and the 2003 does appear, or has the appearance of being longer. Does appear to look like it is wider too in and out. Noticed the front windshield angles (less upright) like the Legacy. Legacy base?

    -Dave
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    which, I believe is 11:45 here.

    Bob
  • jimmyp1jimmyp1 Member Posts: 640
    Autoweek says the 2.5 xs is an "uprated engine"!!! Very interesting!
    I can't wait to hear more on this.
    Jim

    edit: here's the link http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=autoshows&content_code=00145362
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Edmunds still says "coming soon".

    -juice
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    www.cars.com www.thecarconnection.com don't have anything up yet.

    ..Mike

  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    The Lycos Auto website in Japan mentioned that the overall length increased by 10mm, or about 0.5", not 2".

    I wonder what that "uprated" engine is -- could it be AVCS?

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I thought that the 10mm figure was the wheelbase increase?

    -juice
  • silfacesilface Member Posts: 14
    Subaru hasn't unveiled the new Forester yet according to the Chicago Auto Show live Cam. Gathering a huge crowd though...
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    The Forester XS gets the revised engine, but other Foresters will probably make due with the existing engine. I bet whatever changes they make with the XS model, the Legacy GT will also get.


    Bob


    http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=autoshows&content_code=00145362

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting, so the 165hp 2.5l is standard on the basic models, and the AVCS probably is offered on high-end models?

    I think that's great. That means when the turbo arrives, the AVCS may trickle down the lineup!

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    must mean "eXtra Sport."

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It'll probably stand for Generation X Sport utility, something goofy like that.

    I like Xtra Strength, though.

    -juice
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    eXtra Speedy

    Interesting that SOA would offer a new 2.5 here when SOJ no longer plans on the 2.5 engine in Japan.

    juice -- I just re-checked the article. It says that the overall body length increases only by 10mm but the interior cabin space increases 40mm in length and 20mm in width.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So it's more space efficient, and it sounds like the rear seat was moved back a bit. That sounds promising for fans of the rear multilink suspension (like me).

    -juice
  • silfacesilface Member Posts: 14
    I guess they are going with the 2 color tone for the S like the previous Forester... Monotone for the limited.

    Sil
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