2014 Subaru Forester takes on Australia and wins

Subaru wanted to test the all-new 2014 Subaru Forester, so they took it on a one year treck over 5 continents and 60,000 miles. They started in Southern Australia where there is some of the most rugged terrain and beautiful scenery on the planet. Driver Morio Fukui and team leader Koya Nitta took the new crossover to prove its all-round performance, from everything from narrow dirt roads to sand dunes in Southern Australia. The pair is filmed as they take the new SUV over the year long journey.

The journey starts in the Australian Finders Range

The first video takes the team into the Australian Finders Range where they test the Forester’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive and X-Mode. They take the new SUV up a narrow rocky path with a 52 percent grade to prove the performance of the X-Mode. As they ascend the rocky ridge, they switch on X-Mode and it makes a big difference in climbing the steep grade.

The X-Mode is a new feature on the 2014 Forester. It's designed to be used in extreme off-road use and further enhances the rough road drivability. Many Subaru buyers are looking for outdoor adventures and live in mountainous regions of Colorado, Oregon and the Northeast where they will take the vehicle camping, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and back-country fishing. This is where they will encounter the same terrain as the team experienced in Southern Australia. The new Forester will run with confidence through some difficult and extreme terrain. As the tires begin to slip on the rocky slopes. the X-Mode enabled the Forester to climb the mountain roads with ease. By integrating the engine and transmission control with AWD and VDC, adequate control is maintained to all four wheels and the vehicle achieved a smooth escape.

The great ocean road in Victoria Australia

The second video takes the Forester to the great ocean road in Victoria Australia. Fukui and Nitta drive along the windy coastal road and test the crossovers Symmetrical AWD and CVT transmission. Their new Forester was equipped with the new 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 lb ft of torque. It comes with a new intercooler for increased performance. The Forester takes the twisty turns along the coast and keeps all four wheels firmly planted on the road.

Tasmania in the southeast of Australia

The third video takes the team to Tasmania is in the southeast of the Australian mainland. It is a treasure house of nature, with one-third of the island designated as a national park or a World Heritage Site. On the ever-changing course of grasslands, gravel roads and rain forests, the Forester's overall performance is put to the test. The team takes the vehicle through dirt roads dotted with large mud puddles and narrow steep forested roads. At one point they get stuck on a sand dune and when the X-Mode was switched on, it went ride up the sandy dune.

The next test will take the 2014 Subaru Forester to the continent of Europe and the freezing fields of Norway. Stay tuned for more adventure.