We've scoured the Jalopnik archives for some of our best imagery to provide you with 22 high-resolution wallpapers that will work with both the Apple iPhone and the new Palm Pre. Both devices utilize a 320x480 format, so any of the wallpapers can be swapped between the two if you're a true Gizmodo-like gadget freak. We've even provided you with a handy guide for installing wallpapers on both at the end of the list, just in case you haven't figured out your newfangled touchscreen devices. If you find a wallpaper you like and absolutely must have; install it and take a picture to show us in the comments below.

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Sunglasses Guy
'Nuff said.

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2010 Shelby GT500: First Drive
With the 2010 Shelby GT500, SVT's engineers claim they've turned a 500 HP Mustang into a 540 HP super car. They've succeeded, but don't worry; it'll still do enormous burnouts. Read More

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Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R: First Drive
The Switzer P800 Nissan GT-R makes over 700 HP at the wheels, nearly double that of the comparatively plain-Jane GT-R. Luckily that's at all four wheels, because we drove it through both snow and ice. Read More

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Ford GT
Betcha didn't know the Ford GT had a 100th anniversary clue in its headlight. Read More

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2009 Subaru Forester: Unsupervised Off-Road Mayhem
The last 2009 Subaru Forester we drove blew a tire, forcing us into making clichéd gay jokes. This time we took it to an off-road park and beat it like a rented mule. Read More

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2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: First Drive
For too long the American market has lacked an affordable, accessible, fast, responsive, fun, communicative, good-looking rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is that car. Finally. Read More

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Jalopnik GEM-Powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center
Want to know what that mystery electric car was? Why it's our very own Jalopnik GEM-powered Detroit Auto Show Mobile Command Center, and it's why we've had the fastest coverage at this year's show! Read More

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AEV J8 MILSPEC: Offroading Jeep's Forbidden Fruit
Until now, civilians couldn't buy the AEV J8 MILSPEC - the militarized truck-bed-equipped Jeep Wrangler. Now you can. We hit the mud to uncover the government secret on Jeep's pickup truck. Read More

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AEV J8 MILSPEC: Offroading Jeep's Forbidden Fruit
Until now, civilians couldn't buy the AEV J8 MILSPEC - the militarized truck-bed-equipped Jeep Wrangler. Now you can. We hit the mud to uncover the government secret on Jeep's pickup truck. Read More

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Save The Enzos!
Would you like to see these glorious t-shirts make a return? Read More

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Muscle Car Wars: Camaro vs. Challenger vs. Mustang
Here's what you've been waiting for - the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and the 2010 Ford Mustang GT - reviewed by us, together at the same time and place. Time for the Muscle Car Wars! Read More

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Hoon Of The Day!
Are you the hoon of the day? Would you like to see this t-shirt make a comeback? Read More

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2009 Corvette ZR1: First Drive
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the best car ever made. It redefines what performance cars are capable of, not by its numbers (the 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds and a 205 MPH top speed figures are no longer noteworthy north of $100,000), but by how it makes those numbers so accessible. Simply put, the ZR1's most remarkable achievement is how easy and unintimidating the chassis makes exploiting the car's 638 HP. The only problem is I'm not good enough a driver to fully do so. Read More

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2010 ROUSH Mustang 427R
You'll have to wait for this bad boy. In the meantime check out the 2009 ROUSH Mustang Blackjack. Read More

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2010 Chevy Camaro: First Drive
After countless spy shots, speculation, Transformers tie-ins, leaked photos and numbers comparisons, we've finally driven the 2010 Chevy Camaro. Does the reality match the hype? Well, it's like Star Wars. Read More

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2009 Corvette ZR1: First Drive
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the best car ever made. It redefines what performance cars are capable of, not by its numbers (the 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds and a 205 MPH top speed figures are no longer noteworthy north of $100,000), but by how it makes those numbers so accessible. Simply put, the ZR1's most remarkable achievement is how easy and unintimidating the chassis makes exploiting the car's 638 HP. The only problem is I'm not good enough a driver to fully do so. Read More

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2010 Ford Transit Connect: First Drive
After the Ford Fiesta, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is the second most lust-worthy European Ford to make it Stateside. Can a small, practical cargo van appeal to big, burly American workers? Read More

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2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
But this week I'm back in Detroit for one reason, and one reason alone - an entire week of driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. It's a car imbued with so much positive energy there's only thing I can think of to do it justice. I plan on running Dodge's muscular old-school revival up and down Woodward Avenue, stoplight-to-stoplight, from downtown Detroit to Pontiac until I pass out from exhaustion or the gas station declines my credit card. Read More

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2010 Ford Taurus SHO: First Drive
Normally, when we review an exciting new performance car, we like to use a dramatic burnout shot. Unfortunately, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO barely chirps its front wheels on its 5.2-second trip to 60 MPH.
Read More

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2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
But this week I'm back in Detroit for one reason, and one reason alone - an entire week of driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. It's a car imbued with so much positive energy there's only thing I can think of to do it justice. I plan on running Dodge's muscular old-school revival up and down Woodward Avenue, stoplight-to-stoplight, from downtown Detroit to Pontiac until I pass out from exhaustion or the gas station declines my credit card. Read More

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Down On The Street
Those of you who have been Jalopnik regulars for a while most likely have a pretty solid grasp of the concept behind the Down On The Street series, but what about newcomers to the site? We don't want DOTS to feel like some sort of in-crowd-only deal, so here's the Down On The Street FAQ. Read More

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Jalopnik: Obsessed With The Cult Of Cars
Because you read the internet for the car articles.

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iPhone-Wallpapers provides a simple step-by-step guide to installing wallpapers on your Apple iPhone, although if you already own one shouldn't you already know how to do this?

1. Right-click or control-click on the image you want to use.
2. Select "Save as…" and save the image to your hard drive.
* Mac users can either save the image to a folder or add it to their iPhoto library.
* PC users will want to save the wallpaper into their "My Pictures" folder.

You can then sync the iPhone with photos in iPhoto 4.0.3 or later on a Mac, or Photoshop Album 2.0 or later or Photoshop Elements 3.0 or later on a PC. Or you can sync with any folder on your computer that contains images. Connect the iPhone to your computer and do the following:

1. Launch iTunes then click the Photos tab and select "Sync photos from:"
2. From the pop-up menu, do one of the following:
o If your using a Mac, choose iPhoto or your Pictures folder.
o If you're using a PC, choose Photoshop Album, Photoshop Elements, or your My Pictures folder.
3. Choose Folder, then choose any folder on your computer that has images.
4. Choose "All photos," or choose "Selected folders" or "Selected albums" and choose the folders or albums you want to sync.

Finally on your iPhone:
1. Goto the Photos section of your camera. Browse through the albums or camera roll until you find the picture you wish to use.
2. Select the picture so it is displayed full screen.
3. Tap the icon in the lower left corner of the screen. If you don't see the icon, single tap the picture to display the menus.
4. Here you can select if you want to email the picture, save the picture as a wallpaper, or assign to a contact.
5. If you want to assign to a contact, press that button. The contact list will open and you can select the contact you wish to link to the picture.
6. Select Done to complete the process.

[via iPhone-Wallpapers]
The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Here's a quick and dirty method to getting wallpapers on your brand-spankin-new Palm Pre thanks to PreThinking.

Adding wallpaper(s) to your Palm Pre:

1. Have your image as the new wallpaper ready on your computer. It must be in 320 x 480pixels. (Check out our wallpapers optimized for the Pre here.)
2. Connect your Palm Pre to the computer using the Micro-USB cable that came with the Pre.
3. Your Pre will ask to Media Sync, USB Drive or Just Charge. Choose USB Drive.Your Pre will now show up as an External Hard Drive on your computer. For Macs, you'll find 'Palm Pre' on your desktop and for windows, it's in 'My Computer'.
4. Click on 'Palm Pre' and you'll find yourself looking at several folders. One of which is labeled 'Wallpapers'.
5. Drag and Drop your preferred wallpaper(s) in the "Wallpapers" folder and you're done!

Changing your Wallpaper on your Palm Pre:

1. Open the 'Photos' App
2. Choose Wallpapers or any other photo album which your new Wallpaper is located at.
3. Scroll down to your new wallpaper and open it
4. Hit the upper left icon for the drop down menu
5. Hit 'Set Wallpaper'
6. It'll ask to Set Wallpaper again, hit it.

[via PreThinking]

Subaru is many things to many different kinds of people, but they've always stayed true to the cause of all-wheel-drive in sensible automobiles. Subie sells every one of their cars with it, and they get a lot of credibility because of that fact, but we decided to put that tradition to the test and take it to the brand spankin' new Rocks And Valleys off-road park in Harrison, Michigan even before its grand opening on May 16th. We gathered up a group of hardcore off-roaders from the Great Lakes 4x4 forums (let's call them vehicle extraction support) and headed out to take on all the challenges park manager Ron Price could throw at us.

Rocks and Valleys is a 200-acre park in the middle of Michigan's mitten carved out of a wild, forested area of dramatic elevation changes. It's been tailored to different types of rigs from your basic Wrangler all the way up to custom built rock crawlers. This is the point where you should be questioning our sanity. The Forester isn't exactly known as a berm-jumping, rock-crushing, all-terrain-vehicle. For all intents and purposes its just another tall wagon with all-wheel-drive. Yes, that's true, but for a tall wagon this thing kicks some major trail.

The Forester we had was a 2.5X, a mid-range model with a non-turbo four cylinder, but even on the steepest grades we were not for want of more power. In fact, we almost want to toss on some real off-road tires and see what it can really do, the thing was damn impressive. Out on the lumpy, bumpy trails the Forester soaked everything up and had us outpacing the bouncier Jeeps, lending us our first few points of credibility. Then we hit the technical stuff out in the forests, we had to fold in the mirrors at some points things were so tight, and again, the decent turning radius, torquey engine and well programmed all-wheel-drive kept us going.

Of course, what's off-roading if there isn't some mud involved, right? Rocks & Valleys happens to have a very nice mud hole way out back and we couldn't help but play in it. This was the part which had Subaru calling us later and asking what the heck we'd gotten up to with their car. The fun part of the mud hole was only having a vague notion of exactly where the deep end started. By deep end we mean five feet of muddy water. We'd be lying if we said this wasn't the best part of the whole day. There's something incredibly satisfying about completely covering a family wagon in powerfully stinky mud. Then we got stuck.

It was more a problem of not enough tire and not enough momentum than the fault of the car. It happens to the best. So we called in our tow vehicle, a Hemi-powered, externally-caged, Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ with top-loading axles and all-wheel steering. Yes, it's a beast, and it pulled us out just fine.

After that little snafu we were back at it, hitting the sandy hills after a couple more runs through the muck, just to show it who's boss. When we say hills we mean two-track trails running a hundred feet tall with 30 degree plus inclines over loose sand. Here's where some Dick Cepek's would have made things a lot more fun, as we ran out of tire before we ran out of power. It was pretty frustrating getting almost to the top, but not quite. Backing up when all you see is the flat earth looming in your rear window is weird.

Truthfully, we didn't expect the Subie to be as good as it was. We thought we'd be funny guys and go get the thing stuck and have it hang up on steep hills and then point and laugh at the wimpy soft-roader. We came out with a certain degree of respect, so did all the Jeep guys who were with us. We're thinking Subaru should offer "Mud Patina" as a delivery option.

As an aside, we'd like to give a big thanks to the folks at Rocks and Valleys for being so accommodating. Their grand opening is tomorrow and if you're an off-roader with a hankerin' for some new ground to tackle, check out the details at Rocks and Valleys.

Photo Credit: Alex Conley

SUBARU BOXER DIESEL: Features & Benefits

Low vibrations and noise
- The movements of the horizontally-opposed pistons work in unison to effectively cancel out the second harmonic vibration (vibration at double the frequency of the engine’s revolution) that causes discomfort in drivers. Thanks to this structural advantage, the SUBARU BOXER DIESEL does not need balancer shafts which are commonly used in conventional in-line and V-type engines. The compactly designed crankshaft sandwiched by the highly rigid cylinder blocks helps minimizing an uncomfortable noise and vibration up to high rpm’s.

Superior engine response and good fuel economy
- No need for balancer shafts leads to low rotational inertia and friction within the engine itself. The result is exceptional accelerator response and good fuel economy.

Contribution to the handling performance
- The bore pitch has been shortened and the left and right blocks holding the crankshaft provide a highly rigid design compared to the conventional in-line engines, which has also allowed use of an aluminium alloy cylinder block for weight savings.
- In addition to the low centre of gravity provided by the structure of the Horizontally-Opposed Engine, the placement of the turbocharger unit at the lower part of the engine functions to maintain a low centre of gravity for the diesel engine, which tends to be quite heavy in weight.
- These engine features contribute to excellent handling performance.

SUBARU BOXER DIESEL: Mechanisms

1. Cylinder block
- Cylinder block
An aluminium alloy cylinder block has been used to maximise the potential of the highly rigid Horizontally-Opposed Engine layout. To obtain ideal diesel combustion, the stroke was extended by 11 mm and the bore was shortened by 6 mm compared to the SUBARU BOXER four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine (EJ20). The bore pitch has been shortened to 98.4 mm, which is similar to that of SUBARU BOXER 6-cylinder petrol engine (EZ30), while the petrol engine (EJ20) has 113.0 mm. This has led to a 61.3 mm reduction in engine block length for even more compact design.

Semi-closed deck: The block design uses the semi-closed deck type that has proven its durability in the turbocharged petrol models. This increases rigidity around the head gasket mating areas.
Metal matrix composite journal: All 5 main bearings (journals) in the cylinder block incorporate metal matrix composite journals (which are inserted during the casting process), resulting in superior levels of quietness due to high rigidity and similarity in thermal expansion ratio to that of crankshaft.

Extra cooling channels: Cooling slits have been given between the cylinder bores to operate as water cooling channels, thus improving cooling performance.
- Pistons
High strength materials have been used to withstand the high combustion pressures of the diesel engine. Cooling channels within the pistons have been incorporated, with engine oil squirted via oil jets, which enhances piston cooling.

- Connecting rods
The large ends of the connecting rods feature an asymmetrical profile, which increases precision during assembly and in roundness of the surface connecting the crankpin for reduced friction. It has also contributed to minimizing the rotational path, thus allowing an extended piston stroke inside the compact cylinder block.

- Crankshaft
The high strength crankshafts have undergone surface treatment to withstand the high combustion pressures that are found in a diesel engine. Since the Horizontally-Opposed engine layout allows for shorter journal pitch, high rigidity is maintained in a diesel engine that is dramatically lighter in weight than conventional in-line engines.

2. Valve system / intake and exhaust system
- Cylinder head
High strength cylinder heads have been used to withstand the high combustion pressures.
Roller rocker arms: compact and low friction end pivot type roller rocker arms have been used in combination with the double overhead cam (DOHC) system.
Valve System: The diameter of the intake valves have been optimised for enhanced breathing performance and swirl ratios, resulting in improved combustion efficiency.
- Intake ports
The combination of an intake swirl pot system and optimised intake valve diameter results in ample swirl performance.
- Cam Drive System
A highly durable chain system has been used to drive the camshaft to handle the variations in torque produced by the diesel engine.

3. Common rail system
A common rail system has been used for fuel delivery for better performance. The fuel is pressurised to 180 MPa before being fed into the common rail.
- Solenoid injectors
Specially designed injectors have been used. A shorter overall length of the injector has contributed to maintain overall engine width as that of the regular petrol engine despite the longer piston stroke.
4. Turbocharger
A variable nozzle type turbocharger has been specially designed to deliver ample turbocharged performance across the entire engine range. The turbocharger itself has been positioned under the engine and mounted directly to the catalytic converters for increased environmental friendliness. Response has been improved while also helping to lower the centre of gravity.

5. Exhaust
The exhaust system has been fine tuned for use with the diesel engine.

6. Exhaust Emission Control System
A closed-type of diesel particulate filter (DPF) has been adopted for the exhaust emission control system of the Impreza in order to further enhance environmental friendliness.
The DPF has been positioned together with the turbo charger at the lower part of the engine. This not only improves exhaust gas purification performance, but also helps keeping the centre of gravity low, thus further enhancing the superb handling performance of the symmetrical AWD. This system complies with European EURO 4 exhaust gas regulations.
- Oxidation catalytic converter
The catalytic converter separates un-burnt fuel into water and carbon dioxide. The unit has been made compact enough to be activated soon after the engine has been started. If the temperature rises to 300°C under certain driving conditions, the oxidation catalytic converter generates NO2, which oxidises collected diesel particulates inside the DPF.
- Closed Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
The adoption of a closed DPF functions to improve engine combustion efficiency and reduce particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust in order to further enhance environmental friendliness.
The closed DPF features a honeycomb shaped filter made of silicon carbide. The filter channels are blocked on alternating ends of each side and there are also microscopic pores on the inner filter wall, thereby functioning to effectively collect the PM as the exhaust gas passes through these microscopic pores.
The collected PM is combusted inside of the filter, which reaches 600°C and higher depending on operating conditions, and repeatedly regenerated, processed, and emitted as exhaust. Conversely, if the internal filter temperature is low with a continuous load operation, the temperature within the layers is controlled to cause combustion of the PM, which is then repeatedly generated, processed, and emitted as exhaust.
- EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system
An EGR system has been used to comply with European EURO 4 exhaust gas regulations. The cooled exhaust gas is fed back into the combustion chamber to lower the combustion temperature and reduce NOx emissions.

7. Engine mounting system
A liquid-filled engine mounting system has been employed for even less vibration and better handling performance.

BOXER DIESEL FORESTER AND IMPREZA UNVEILED AT PARIS MOTOR SHOW

Subaru’s highly-acclaimed new Boxer Diesel engine will appear for the first time in both the new Forester and Impreza at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (October 4-19).

Meanwhile, other highlights include a Subaru Impreza WRX2008 replica plus the Subaru R1e and G4e electric cars. There will also be a 50th Anniversary Display showcasing the original Subaru 360 minicar.

Subaru’s press conference takes place on the Subaru stand at 17.00 hours on Thursday, October 2, 2008.

New Boxer Diesel Forester And Impreza
Both the new Forester SUV and Impreza five-door will be unveiled featuring Subaru’s highly-acclaimed new 2.0 litre Boxer Diesel engine.

The world’s first horizontally-opposed diesel engine for a passenger car has won widespread praise for its refinement, smoothness, sharp throttle-response and outstanding fuel economy. It first appeared in the Legacy and Outback earlier this year.
Both the Forester and Impreza Boxer Diesels feature new six-speed manual gearboxes while the engine itself benefits from a new closed-type diesel particulate filter.

Such is the efficiency of the new engine that the Forester 2.0D boasts class-leading fuel economy and emissions.

No other SUV can better the 44.8 mpg Combined and 167 g/km of the Forester 2.0D X.

The Forester 2.0D produces 147 PS and 258 lb ft torque and the Impreza 150 PS and 258 lb ft – both at 3,600 rpm and 1,800 rpm respectively.

The engine’s benefits include exceptional compactness, light weight and a low centre-of-gravity which benefits handling agility and makes best use of the standard all-wheel drive system.

The new Forester Boxer Diesel goes on sale in the UK in late September and the Impreza Boxer Diesel in January 2009.

Unfortunately, being naïve young things, our idea of photoshoots didn't match up with reality when we finally got the chance to experience the real thing. Photographers are bitchy, models are dimwitted and freakish-looking and clients are fickle and ill-informed. Most of the magic in professional car photography takes place on a computer screen, retouching reflections so they're symmetrical, adding speed blur to 15mph motion shots and removing pimples and hair from model's faces. Unwittingly, in their attempt to mock, Subaru actually captures this world in a depressingly accurate fashion, especially in the derivative, poorly lit shots that result. Of course, what we failed to anticipate and what Subaru fails to acknowledge, is that real car magazines just use press shots. [Sexy Subaru]

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: No
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: Yes
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: Yes
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: Yes
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: Yes
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
• Honda CR-V
• Toyota RAV4
• BMX X3

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Subaru
• Model tested: Forester 2.5XT
• Model year: 2009
• Base Price: $19,995
• Price as Tested: $26,195
• Engine type: 2.5-liter DOHC turbocharged Boxer four
• Horsepower: 224 @ 5,200 RPM
• Torque: 226 @ 2,800 RPM
• Red line: 6,500 RPM
• Transmission: 4-speed automatic / 5-speed manual
• Curb Weight: 3,440 lbs
• LxWxH: 179.5" x 70.1" x 66.9"
• Wheelbase: 103"
• Tires: 225/55 front, 225/55 rear
• Drive type: AWD
• 0 - 60 mph: 7.5 seconds [estimated]
• 1/4-mile: N/A
• Top speed: 130 MPH
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 19/24 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

Also see:

• 2009 Subaru Forester, Part One

• 2009 Subaru Forester, Part Two

Acceleration: ***
Here, the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer turbo, making 224HP with 226 lb.-ft. of torque, is the name 'o the game. You get it on the Forester 2.5XT, and it serves up pretty smooth speed on the freeway, while still providing a lot of dynamic versatility under less-than-ideal road conditions—like ripping up a steep grade composed mainly of lose rocks and dirt. Engine tone is a subdued buzz, an alto ...rrrRRRR!!! that reminds you of the car's power without rattling your ears. I didn't get a whole lot of turbo lag. Abundant torque is at your fingertips. Pretty much ideal for the honing soccer mom who likes a quiver in the loins or the randy suburban dad who still enjoys a little Metallica from time to time.

Braking: ****
Very assured, with 4-wheel ABS plus brake assist. In lousy road conditions, you really appreciate the orchestration of the braking tech with the AWD, because it actually allows you to drive the car without resorting to tentative techniques. Even on rough roads, if you can manage the Forester's speed, braking can be limited to gentles inputs. However, when you need to stop, Forester stops you. One of this vehicle's best systems.

Ride: **
This is not a minivan. This is not a luxury sedan. However, this is not an STI, either. Generally speaking, the ride is compliant, but you can still tell you're in some kind of utility vehicle. Subaru's new DC3 suspension layout definitely comes into its own when you get off the beaten path, however. Truth be told, this could be construed as a flaw—most owners will never experience not having their head banged into the roof as they traverse a small gully.

Handling: ****
Rally-esque on crappy roads, well-defined on regular roads and the freeway. If you're looking for a hauler that can carry a few kids and still deliver some thrills while dashing around old logging trails, the Forester is your baby. The combo of AWD, weight-distribution, center-of-gravity, and crisp steering (and a particularly well-designed steering wheel) yields a vehicle that can literally run circles around the competition. To get better, you'd have to go BMW.

Gearbox: ****
You have a choice between a 4-speed auto and a 5-speed manual. For this category, the vast majority of customers will go for the auto, which can be switched to sport mode. Shifts are smooth and unobtrusive under everyday driving conditions. When the going gets rougher, the 4-speed gets along very nicely with the turbo and the AWD, delivering a sense of great control. Yes, a 5-speed auto would be better. Probably. An extra star has been added for the availability of the manual gearbox, thank you Subaru for giving us the choice.

Audio: **
You can fly either XM or Sirius on the system, which is operated off a display screen in the center console. The upmarket option pumps 80 watts through six speakers and can accommodate six CDs in-dash as well as MP3/WAA. Sounded great to me, but take that with a grain of salt as I dig the Cool Jazz.

Toys: **
Not that many. If there's an Achilles Heel, this is it. Only the 2.5XT Limited and the L.L. Bean Edition have the optional in-dash nav system. So obviously, if you're like most folks in the Forester demo and you don't go for either of those trim levels, you'll be looking at aftermarket GPS.

Value: *****
Hell, you can get the base model for $1200 less than the $21,195 '08 version, according to Subaru. Once you move up to the 2.5XT, you're looking at something in the $26-27K range, depending on options. If you don't need luxury or a lot of gadgets and a 5-speed auto, you'll be hard pressed to do better.

Overall: ***
Not a perfect update to Subaru's most versatile vehicle—for many, the flagship of the brand—but a definite improvement that serves up outstanding value while coming off as more capable than the competition when the going gets rugged. Should expand the demo and appeal to a younger customer without sacrificing Subaru's legendary character.

Also see:

• 2009 Subaru Forester, Part One

Remember how I was bitching about the Pontiac G8 GT being too dang heavy? Well, with the '09 Forester, I got my wish—Subie's updated installment of its "small SUV" stalwart weighs in at about 600 lbs. less than Holden's Pontiac's RWD 4,000-lb. ass-hauler. Match up that solid-yet-still-slingable curb mass with dirt trails on a protected section of Catalina Island, just a quick flight off the coast of Orange County, and you get...well, you get some significant pleasure, in a vehicle so versatile it's just sick.

Subaru has all kinds of weird shit going on with their brand. That's why we love them—because they aren't Toyota or Honda. They're got the aforementioned hoon-mobile, the justly thrilling WRX STI. Then there's the lesbionic Outback, and the completely baffling Tribeca (Is it a Porsche Cayenne for people who aren't buttholes or a VW Touareg for people who hate Germany but just can't swing with Volvo no more?). I won't remark on the Legacy.

Finally, Forester, a rad ride upon its intro in 1997, when SUVs first began to grow to the size of small schoolbuses. Here was a vehicle that had an SUV look, yet wasn't a road-hog (citizens of Burlington rejoiced!) Here was a vehicle that had minivan capacity, yet wasn't a cojones-robbing mother!@#$%ing minivan (the American male rejoiced!). Yes, it was essentially an elevated station wagon that was given the good juice of AWD, but because it resided seductively between the detested SUV and the castrating minivan, it dodged the retro curse. Sweet Jesus! For a particular demo—Park Slope by way of Berkeley by way of Boulder—it was manna from Heaven.

And yet, ten years later, this Third Way ride—so butch, so flexible, so competent—had grown long in the tooth. In response, the great pulsing automotive brains at Subaru of America and Fuji Heavy Industries got together and served up the vehicle that I whipped around the rugged ranges of Catalina and the fairly docile roads surrounding Laguna. Slicked-up, revamped, somewhat re-tooled. The package is a blast. Under all manner of crappy road conditions—bring rockslides and potholes and gawdawful ruts, dirt, and general muddiness—the '09 Forester remained poised, agile, ready to negotiate the next dip, swerve, ditch, or, if called upon, to scale what looked like a 40-plus-degree grade.

Of course, this car wants a crummy road. It's not that it doesn't do more-or-less fine on smooth pavement. But I never felt that the Forester was truly happy in that environment. Regrettably, most of its owners will use it either in snow (test enough, but not the same as genuine offroad conditions) or on docile, domesticated thoroughfares, under benign conditions. The freeway. The urban boulevard. The two-lane jaunt from tract-home to schoolyard. Ho-hum. The Forester, particularly the turbocharged, 224HP 2.5-liter XT, handles the mundane shuffle of the commonplace with aplomb. But it feels...how can I put this? Like a girl who slapped at the bass strings until the bars closed down, then quit the band and got hitched. There's an appetite for the wilderness in this car that one merely glimpses on proper roads, even those with circumlocutions that taunt the Forester's surefoooted handling. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, plus the car's new DC3 suspension platform, contribute to a sense of serious control, whether you're tucking the Forester into a snug curve, accelerating to freeway cruising speeds, or—more importantly—humming along on rugged terrain.

The wasted tires on out test car are all the evidence you need. This is no namby-mobile. We lost the right front—just shredded it, punching several holes in the sidewalls—somewhere between the hill climb and the bouncy, crumbling negotiation of one of many of Catalina's completely underdeveloped roads. I immediately popped out of the fallen Forester and began to make short work of the tire-change operation until the Subaru tire-change guy was there a few minutes later. He made it clear we were doing his job ( we think maybe they, like any automaker, were concerned mostly about any potential lawsuits coming from me accidentally getting hit by the side of the road) and he took over, throwing on a new full-size replacement. His work wasn't done yet. The left rear developed a slow leak on the rally-esque straight-aways that followed. Tire guy promptly returned (you can't say Subaru wasn't prepared for a certain amount of ugliness).

It's a testament to the Forester's overall positive attitude that both times, we barely noticed. Somehow, we suspect this was part of a master plan. Fate, if you will.

The 2009 Forester is a terrific update, but having said that—and having gushed over its abilities in what I'd have to say is its natural element—I must report that the vehicle ain't perfect. Check back tomorrow for Part Two to find out why.

NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW PREVIEW: SUBARU RELEASES FIRST PHOTOS OF ALL-NEW 2009 FORESTER CROSSOVER SUV

All-New Design with Improved Comfort, Space and Utility
All-New Platform With Sport-Sedan Dynamics
Standard Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)

CHERRY HILL, N.J — Subaru of America, Inc. today released the first official photos of the all-new, third-generation 2009 Forester, a total re-design of the award-winning crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that will debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January. The 2009 Forester, which arrives in Subaru dealerships this spring, builds upon its predecessor's reputation as an icon of safety, dependability and versatility. The new-generation 2009 model projects a bolder, more SUV-like design and making a major leap in safety technology, comfort, refinement and driving dynamics.

As with all Subaru models, the 2009 Forester comes equipped as standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. An all-new platform featuring a 3.6-inch longer wheelbase (now 103.0 inches) and double-wishbone rear suspension improves crash-worthiness and at the same time provides crisper handling, a quieter ride and increased interior space and cargo room. The 2009 Forester once again blends positive SUV attributes including a high seating point and interior versatility with passenger car comfort, handling and fuel efficiency.

All Forester models for 2009 feature standard side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, and the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction control system is standard on all models for the first time. With the Subaru Dynamic Chassis Control Concept (Subaru DC3), Subaru optimized all elements of the Forester's chassis to deliver a better balance of ride, handling response, quietness and overall traction performance than offered by competitive vehicles. A comprehensive array of elements contributes to that goal, including the new, high-strength body structure, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, VDC and four-wheel disc ABS brakes with the Brake Assist safety system.

Manual-transmission models also feature Incline Start Assist, which can momentarily prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when being driven away from a stop on an incline.

Even with its bolder exterior and roomier interior, the new 2009 Forester is only about three inches longer than its predecessor, thus retaining the trim exterior packaging cited by Forester owners as one of this model's most essential features. A robust body structure, heavy-duty raised four-wheel independent suspension system and up to 8.9 inches of ground clearance help make Forester equally adept at negotiating twisty roads and absorbing ruts and bumps.

IMPROVED PERFORMANCE WITH GREATER COMFORT AND VERSATILITY
The 2009 Forester offers naturally aspirated and turbocharged/intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines, both revised to provide better low-end and mid-range torque for more responsive everyday performance. New interior materials, including double-stitched fabrics and high-grade plastics, impart a feeling of higher quality. As before, Forester is offered in a wide array of models, with the 2009 Forester 2.5 X offering one of the best values in the crossover SUV segment and the range-topping Forester L.L.Bean Edition offering more luxury without compromising the vehicle's sporty nature.

The 2009 Forester offers a navigation system for the first time as well as advanced audio system upgrade options. The 2009 Forester comes pre-wired for XM® or SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. An auxiliary audio input jack enables connection of an iPod® or MP3 player.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics. For additional information visit HYPERLINK "http://www.subaru.com" www.subaru.com.
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When it finally bows, the Japanese version should come with either the normally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer fourbanger at 148 horsepower and 140 lb.-ft. of torque or the turbocharged version, which is good for 230 horsepower and 234 lb.-ft. of torque. So far there have been no pics of an STi version, though you'd have to expect one was in the works. We'll have more on the Forester after its Japanese debut and, of course, we'll take you their for its us reveal at the Detroit Auto Show. [Drom.ru]

The new Forester debuts in a month for the Japanese market, but will be coming to the Detroit Auto Show for an American debut not long after. If they ever turn this thing around we'll have a fairly decent preview of the front as well. [World Car Fans]