MIAS 2022: All-new Subaru BRZ and refreshed Forester land in PH

Motor Image Pilipinas, the official distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines has gone all out at the 2022 Manila International Auto Show by not only showcasing its entire line-up, but also introducing the all-new Subaru BRZ and refreshed Forester.

“The 2022 Forester comes equipped with EyeSight 4.0, so owners of this new Forester can live larger and go on larger adventures with their families, thanks to its largest improvements to date. We are also excited to introduce the all-new BRZ which levels up the driving game with greater power and performance than its predecessor. Driving enthusiasts can experience pure driving pleasure in this second-generation Japanese sports coupe, with safety and style,” said Mr. Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Tan Chong International Limited, the parent company of Motor Image Pilipinas.

All-new Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is now in its second generation, still co-developed with Toyota as a twin of the GR86 (formerly known as GT86 or simply 86). It was first unveiled back in late 2020 and has finally reached our shores. 

While the BRZ is all-new inside and out, Subaru went with an evolutionary redesign resulting with the new generation having slight similarities with the model it replaces. It gets a more simple front fascia but with larger and more aggressive air ducts. It also gets side sill spoilers, small vortex-generating fins at the edges of the taillamps, and a boot lid shaped like a ducktail to reduce drag. Finally, 18-inch gunmetal gray alloy wheels give it a sportier appearance.

Inside, the all-new Subaru BRZ’s interior remains simple but with improved technology. The front seats are wrapped in genuine leather with Ultrasuede upholstery. It also gets red double-stitching on the seats, gearshift boot, handbrake, door panels, steering wheel, gear knob, and handbrake.

Meanwhile, infotainment is provided by an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen, which offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and USB ports in the console box. Sound is sent out through a 6-speaker audio system.

Now the most important part of the all-new BRZ is of course under the hood. It is powered by a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated Inline 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed Boxer engine that produces 237 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Safety has also been much improved with the inclusion of Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technology on the automatic transmission equipped version. This gives the BRZ A/T Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Sway Warning, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

The all-new Subaru BRZ is now available at all Subaru dealerships nationwide with a starting price of Php 2,399,000 for the 2.4 M/T variant and a price of Php 2,499,000 for the 2.4 A/T EyeSight variant.

2022 Subaru Forester

Meanwhile, despite already having been displayed in Subaru showrooms more than a month before, Motor Image Pilipinas also took the opportunity of MIAS 2022 to introduce the refreshed Subaru Forester.

Initially revealed for the North American market in September last year, the refreshed Subaru Forester gets a new and more aggressive front fascia with a new grille, headlights, and bumper. It also gets a new set of 18-inch alloy wheels on the now lone 2.0i-S EyeSight variant. The rear bumper has also been updated slightly.

The interior on the other hand remains pretty much the same with the pre-refresh version except for a new gray-colored accent on the dashboard. It still gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather seats, and two-person memory function for the powered driver’s seat. 

Under the hood also remains the same powertrain as the pre-refresh Forester. It’s still powered by a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated Boxer engine that produces 156 horsepower and 196 Nm of torque, paired to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Safety has also been upgraded on the 2022 Subaru Forester with EyeSight 4.0, the latest version of the brand’s suite of safety technology. This gives the Forester pre-collision braking, lane sway and departure warning, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start assist, and pre-collision throttle management. New for EyeSight 4.0 are automatic lane centering function and emergency steering assist. It also gets automatic high beams, blindspot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. 

The 2022 Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight is now available at all Subaru dealerships nationwide with a suggested retail price of Php 2,068,000.