4wdOnline Manager (Admin)
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Post Number: 151
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 6:41 pm: |       |
The All-Wheel Drive Subaru Forester has achieved 80,000 sales in Australia in the same month that global production exceeded one million.
Second generation Forester was Australia’s best-selling Compact Sports Utility Vehicle in 2005 with 12,320 customers. It was Subaru’s first win in a VFACTS vehicle segment.
Forester is also one of the rare vehicles that has lifted sales every year since launch and has earned a wide variety of accolades over its eight and-a-half years in Australia.
Subaru Managing Director Nick Senior said: “There are some fundamental Forester characteristics that our customers tell us they can’t resist.
Compact size and easy manoeuvrability are listed as critical, at a time when some competitors have got bigger and bigger.
“Ease of entry and cargo loading are other factors. The seats and cargo area are designed to be hip-height making access easy.
“Rearward visibility isn’t constrained because the spare wheel is housed under the cargo floor and not hung on the back, which our feedback shows is a concern to many people who are worried about spare wheels being vandalised or stolen.”
Forester maintains Subaru’s rear view standard that a one-metre tall object, such as a child, can be seen from the rear-view mirror and through the u-shaped base of the rear screen.
Mr Senior added: “Safety is a top priority too and Forester’s five star ANCAP rating for occupant safety has convinced many customers of its credentials in this area.”
Customers also quote the choice of naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines, underpinned by Subaru’s reputation for rock solid engineering, as a key influence in the buying decision.
Forester is one of Australia’s most awarded vehicles, including multiple class awards in the Australia’s Best Cars programme, conducted annually by the nation’s motoring organizations.
Mr Senior said: “We introduce subtle refinements on Forester with the passing of each model year, which not only expands its appeal to a loyal existing customer base, but brings it to the attention of an ever-expanding group of Australians.
“In fact Forester has an incredibly broad appeal across both age range and buyer background, from young families wanting a compact wagon, to retirees yearning to travel around Australia.”
Forester has found a niche with emergency services, including use as a rapid response paramedic ambulance in metropolitan Victoria and NSW, and general ambulance duties in rural locations.
(Message edited by admin on March 07, 2006) |
