The all-new 2019 Subaru Forester has arrived here in Malaysia and it comes with some very interesting upgrades that makes it more dynamic and comfortable than ever before. The fifth generation Forester was launched earlier today at the revamped Subaru showroom in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. (more…)
Motor Image – the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles across nine territories in Asia – and French owned lubricant specialist Motul – have jointly announced their partnership to develop and supply a line of exclusive lubricant products for Subaru vehicles in the region. Motor Image will be the first vehicle distributor that Motul is partnering globally and the deal will currently over eight territories – Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Under the deal, 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 centres. Customers will have access to premium quality lubricants, such as 100 per cent synthetic engine oils, at competitive prices, giving customers a superior aftersales service, available only at Motor Image’s facilities and dealerships. The licensing and partnership deal, valued at USD5 million per annum to start, signifies both companies’ interest in the growing Asian region for the automotive sector. The two-year deal, with the option to extend, is expected to increase 10 per cent in value yearly.
“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 Mr Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Tan Chong International Limited.
“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 line-up 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 Mr Masaki Shimizu, Chairman, Motul of Japan KK.
The first of the exclusive Subaru lubricant product line-up to be launched, from January 2019, include Subaru Engine Oils by Motul – the 0W20 and the 5W30. These 100 per cent synthetic oils have been specially researched and developed in Japan, and licensed for retail exclusively at Subaru outlets. Both companies will also be working on marketing the lubricant products and merchandise from the partnership as part of Motor Image’s plans to enhance the customer experience journey for Subaru customers across the region. Plans include co-branded space and exclusive merchandise at Subaru outlets.
The Subaru Engine Oils by Motul are available across Subaru service centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan now, and subsequently in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam by March 2019.
Motor Image Group customers not affected by power steering defects
Singapore, 24 January 2019 – Motor Image Group (MIG), distributor of Subaru vehicles in nine markets across Asia, today announced that its customers are not affected by the power steering defect announced by Subaru Corporation. None of the affected production has been delivered to MIG customers.
The Japanese automaker said on Wednesday that it had suspended production at production facilities in Japan from 16 January 2019 and will likely resume production and shipments as early as 28 January 2019. This was due to defects affecting the power steering in three vehicle models, the Forester, the XV and the Impreza. The affected vehicles were manufactured between late December 2018 and 16 January 2019.
MIG puts customer safety and satisfaction as its utmost priority. Across all its operations, only 3 markets, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore have shipments due of affected vehicles. A total of only 120 cars from the affected batch are due in these markets and none of these have been delivered to customers.
During this interim period, as MIG continues to roll out the new 5th Generation Subaru Forester across the region, it will continue to take bookings from customers, though customers may have to wait for longer than usual for delivery. This is due to the temporary halt in production from Japan, whilst we wait further advice from Subaru Corporation of rectified shipments from them.
Motor Image is committed to the highest safety standards and quality driving experience for all its customers and is in constant contact with Subaru Corporation for any further updates.
Motor Image Malaysia can’t build the Subaru XV fast enough! Such is the demand for the XV that this new 2019 Subaru Forester will likely only see the light of day in Malaysia come the second quarter of 2019, and all of them will be in CKD (locally-assembled) form. Here’s the official launch video from Subaru @ Taiwan…
We however, managed to get a hands-on look and feel of the new Forester recently in Taiwan, and following this launch coverage, the next day we headed to an area where Motor Image (MI) had set up both an on-road and off-road course for us to have a go on with the new Forester. Here’s the on-road test drive video, shot hand-held so do forgive the shake…
Next was the off-road sector of the test drive, and here’s where the new Forester really came into its own. For an SUV destined to be used predominantly on-road, it’s quite amazing just how well it handled the rough terrain of this course…
The new Forester utilises a a ‘boxer’ direct-injection 2-litre, 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine, mated to a CVT, and I have to be honest, with 156bhp and 196Nm of torque, I thought the latter was a typo, but it isn’t. Where generally vehicles these days produce upwards of 200Nm, one-ninety-six seemed quite inadequate.
But as can be seen in the first video, and my commentary, it didn’t seem to bother the Forester much as it hurtled around the test course. Active Torque Vectoring – sensors constantly monitor each wheel to gauge traction, actively enhancing or retarding power to each wheel depending on the given driving scenario as well as terrain – ensured that the Forester remained composed despite our best efforts to send it into the bushes.
It was the off-road sector however that really impressed as far as testing the new Forester was concerned, for this is where the benefits of SGP or Subaru Global Platform really came to fore. I’ll give you and example why. Don’t you just hate it when you’ve reached an off-road campsite only to find regular cars and even small mopeds already there? I know I do, and it’s happened a lot in the past.
Well, it’s safe to say that with the new Forester, and given the kind of terrain we traversed during the test, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. There is no way a regular passenger car would be able to tackle the course we put the Forester through without serious damage to it, and its occupants too perhaps. As I said in the second video, my own car would be in pieces halfway through, and would have flipped three times toward the end. With Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and X-Mode, not to mention a Hill Hold and Hill Descent feature, the Forester revels the occasional off-road venture. You may never find the need for it, but it’s heartening to know it’s there if you need it.
Subaru is also boasting the use of ‘EyeSight‘ in the new Forester. So what exactly is EyeSight? Well, it’s an advanced driver assist technology that includes automatic pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, lane departure and lane sway warning.
It has been confirmed by Glenn Tan, Managing Director, Tan Chong International Ltd, (below, right) that EyeSight will be available in the new Forester when it gets here in Q2 2019, for selected variants, and there’ll likely be three variants in all. “The All-New Forester is now bigger and better with an all-round enhancement to its technology, interior and exterior to create an SUV that boasts performance, comfort and maximum safety” said Glenn. “We are thrilled to launch the new fifth generation Forester and are confident that the model will excite drivers and create amazing experiences with their loved ones.”
At launch, these are four variants of the new Subaru Forester:
– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S EyeSight
– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S
– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-L EyeSight
– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-L
Stay tuned to Piston.my as we keep you up to date on the impending launch of the new 2019 Subaru Forester, in the meantime, for more details, click the link below.
2019 Subaru Forester official press release (click to download): Subaru 2019 Forester Press Release
2019 Subaru Forester Photo Gallery…
TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, introduced the all-new Subaru Outback today. The all-new Subaru Outback offers customers an experience of responsive handling and luxurious comfort with rugged exterior and refined plush interiors. It now comes equipped with Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology*, delivering a more confident driving experience. The Outback is on display at the Carlist.my DRIVE: Auto Fair 2018, which is happening from 27th – 29th July. But what is Subaru Eye-Sight? Best let them explain it in this short video…
The New Subaru Outback:
Subaru Outback 2.5i-S EyeSight
The new Outback features:
The new Outback has a facelifted front bumper and hexagonal grille which will give it a high quality and rugged look. The turbine-shaped rims are dynamically designed and light-weight which will result in better aerodynamics.
New functionalities have been included such as USB ports in the back-centre console and additional microphones to improve voice recognition. The Outback will also have a new premium infotainment system with an eight-inch high-resolution screen, smartphone connectivity and access to today’s most popular apps with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Voice recognition capabilities will allow hands-free use, keeping everybody safe whilst reducing distractions when driving.
The Outback features an improved 2.5-Litre Boxer Engine with a new alternator which is made to improve fuel efficiency. In addition, an eight percent weight reduction was achieved due to the change of shape of the alternator.
The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) now has a 7-speed manual mode and the throttle response has been improved to create a sporty acceleration feel. Changing the CVT chain to a short pitch chain has reduced noises from inside the cabin and improved fuel efficiency by approximately three percent compared to the current model.
Safety continues to be a cornerstone in all Subaru models. In addition to EyeSight, the Outback have been fitted with Steering Responsive Headlights which allows the headlight beam to move according to the direction of how the car is steered, maximising dusk visibility and safety. Front blind spot visibility has also been enhanced as a result of cameras fitted on the lower part of the front grille and side mirror which will allow the drivers to check the surrounding areas when navigating though tight spaces.
In addition to the existing line-up of exterior colours, the Outback will feature brand new exterior colours to choose from:
OTR price starts from RM246,188.40** without insurance. For more information, please visit www.subaru.asia/my
*EyeSight is a driving support system which may not operate optimally under all driving conditions.
**The price shown above is based on simulated 10% Sales and Service Tax
Images from Subaru.com, (<- link) learn more about Eye-Sight at that link.
The age-old question or rather conundrum; do you need 4WD in an SUV? I recently got my hands on the new Subaru XV 2.0i, and during my time with it, the question popped into my mind again, so I decided to get it all down in a video…
[Erratum: The XV as tested has Hill-Hold, and not Hill-Descent Control as mentioned in the above video, sorry! – CW]
If you haven’t fallen asleep and you’re still with me, let’s delve a little deeper into the new XV. Premiered to the media sometime in the middle of 2017 in Taiwan, the new XV was officially launched here toward the end of last year, to a very enthusiastic target audience. Here’s the official launch video from Taiwan…
It’s in speaking about said target audience that got me thinking about that question posed earlier about the need for 4WD or AWD in a ‘family’ SUV. I’ve decided that there’s really no right or wrong in it, it’s all a matter of personal preference. And if you’re worried about the urban-myth about 4WD or AWD vehicles being ‘thirsty’, well, over the course of 4 days, and quite a bit of driving, I only managed to burn 2 ‘bars’ of fuel…
Speaking of the engine, the new XV is powered by a direct-injection, 4-cylinder, horizontally-opposed (boxer), DOHC, 16-valve naturally-aspirated engine, capable of 156Ps and 196Nm of torque. Earth-shattering figures these are not, however, do remember that nowhere on this SUV does it say STI…
It is perhaps that fireballs-out-the-flanks ‘performance’ association with the brand that will dampen the enthusiasm of anyone seeking ‘WRX-thrills’ in this Subaru, because that ain’t gonna happen with the XV, nor should it. And besides, gearbox wise, this new XV comes with a 7-speed continuously-variable transmission (CVT) or what Subaru calls a ‘Lineartronic CVT’, which is about as far from a performance oriented gearbox as one can possibly get…
Built on Subaru’s new SGP or Subaru Global Platform, the new XV feels taut and very well put-together. It has incredible levels of NVH suppression, resulting in one of the quietest cabins I’ve ever come across for a SUV in this mid-size segment.
Its party-trick of course, the thing that sets it apart from other SUVs in this segment, is its X-Mode function, that’s specifically tailored to take the guess work out of any light-off-road driving. Hitting that button on the centre console, this mode controls the engine output, transmission, all-wheel drive torque split, and even the braking system, to ensure the most optimum performance for off-road driving.
But you know what, if that was its only ace up its sleeve, the new XV would be a let-down; but thankfully it isn’t. Perhaps the most important aspect of a mid-size ‘family’ SUV is what it’s like on the inside, the one place that matters most when you’re hauling your most precious cargo, and in that respect, this new XV really shines.
As I mentioned earlier, the NVH of this XV based on the new SGP, is quite remarkable. This is the one thing that’s going to set it apart from the rest of the competition out there, really. Unfortunately, only an extended test-drive will bring forth this benefit, so please, don’t take my word for it, head over to TC Subaru and give it a go for yourself. With prices starting at RM118, 819 incl. GST, it’s definitely a worthy consideration. – Chris Wee.
Subaru XV 2.0i Photo Gallery…
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