You can now save up to £49 a month on the Subaru Forester 4×4 when you lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts before 30th November.

Boasting excellent build quality and reliability, the new Subaru Forester is a mid-size four wheel drive that is hard to beat when it comes to innovative engineering, active safety features and intelligent handling.

The 2011 Forester also boasts a new generation Boxer engine delivering more power, better fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

Until 30th November, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has reduced the monthly leasing rates across the Subaru Forester range with savings of up to £49 a month on selected models.

One of our best deals is on the Subaru Forester 2.0 X, available to lease from just £306.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on this model include:

• Cruise control
• Steering wheel mounted cruise control
• Radio/CD with Aux Input
• Auto air conditioning with climate control
• Cloth upholstery
• Remote Thatcham Cat 1 alarm
• 16″ alloy wheels

To take advantage of these fantastic Subaru savings, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

The New 4^th generation Subaru Impreza debuted at the 2011 New York International Auto Show boasting a brand new overhauled design including a much roomier and comfortable interior showcasing an increase in infotainment technologies, special attention being paid to quality in areas such as the materials used throughout as well as technical enhancements as well.

Its technical changes include most importantly a new engine albeit a slightly smaller and less powerful one than in the old Impreza and this bring us to the main focal point for the new model; fuel economy. Like so many other car manufacturers before them, Subaru have based their new model on increasing the car’s economy to fit in with the green ethic. The new 2012 Subaru Impreza has been supplied with a brand spanking new 148-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine whilst last year’s base 2011 Subaru Impreza 2.5i is equipped with a 170-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, so quite a change there. The result of this new engine however is quite impressive with the 2012 Subaru Impreza being expected to return 27 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway. Compare this to the old more fuel guzzling 2011 model which returns 20 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway and you can already see the improvements. The 2012 model also gets stability and traction control and anti lock brakes and all wheel drive, as usual.

The design of the car itself is supposed to highlight the sporty nature of the model, emphasised by the all wheel drive system, with a bolder more confident design. Personally however, I feel it just looks a little bland and generic, too similar many of Subaru’s other models. The size of the Impreza remains pretty much the same on the outside but the interior has been given a complete refurbishment with space and comfort the key attributes focussed on being improved. Increased quality of materials have been used throughout with soft touch materials for the dashboard, higher seat backs improve comfort along with increased lumbar support and cushions to effectively distribute pressure across the seat. Increased space has been provided through the use of larger pockets in the doors and in the dashboard console to ensure that the passengers have plenty of space in which to store personal items.

The key phrase for the new Impreza will be fuel economy. If the expected mpg is truly achieved by the 2012 model it really will be one to look forward to.

LA is the place to be seen… at least this week it is!

Land Rover, Jaguar, Nissan and Porsche are just a few of the manufacturers making waves at this years 2010 LA Auto Show, showing off some of the hottest new cars around. From all-electric vehicles to gas-guzzling monsters, the LA Auto Show has seen it all!  

To celebrate the innovation, creativity and sheer genius of the automotive industry, we’ve put together a few of the hottest car to steal the limelight at this years Los Angeles Motor Show. Jealous? You should be…

Range Rover Evoque 5-Door

Following in the trackmarks of the 3-door model which debuted at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, the Range Rover Evoque 5-door was certainly causing a stir at the LA Auto Show this week. Land Rover’s new baby is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built, boasting a 2.0-litre Si4 direct injection turbocharged capable of generating up to 240 bhp and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. Three design themes – all with a distinct interior and exterior package – are available on the new model. It’s also generously equipped boasting a high-end Meridian audio system with 17-speaker system, surround camera system, advanced navigation system, adaptive Xenon headlights and heated windscreen, seats and steering wheel.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

The stunning Jaguar C-X75 Concept made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show, making waves amongst hybrid/electric car fans. The clever C-X75 concept boasts four 195bhp electric motors – one in each wheel – producing an impressive 780bhp and a top speed of 205mph. The C-X75’s sleek aluminium and carbon fibre bodywork also means it’s relatively light, helping the supercar to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. And just incase you weren’t impressed enough… the new supercar emits CO2 emissions of just 28g/km! Genius!

Toyota RAV4 EV

The much anticipated Toyota RAV4 EV took center stage at the LA Auto Show as Toyota and Tesla showed off their production version of the all-electric car. Essentially, the new Toyota is just a RAV4 model kitted out with an all-electric powertrain and a few minor changes to its features and cosmetics. Little technical and performance details of the new RAV4 EV were actually revealed but Toyota did say the RAV4 hybrid is capable of a consistent 100 miles range and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph almost as good as the V6 version.

Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet

Nissan broke new ground this week when it unveiled the 2011 Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet – the first-ever crossover convertible.  The striking new Murano Cross Cabriolet is an all-wheel-drive, four-seat monster, powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine capable of producing an impressive 265hp. Nissan claims the new model offers the open-air exhilaration of a convertible while extending the versatility of the existing Murano model. With room for four adults, space for golf bags or luggage (even with the top down), and a premium level interior, the Murano Cross Cabriolet represents a breakthrough in concept and design. The new Nissan model is expected to go on sale in early 2011.

Subaru Impreza Design Concept

Finally, previewing the automakers new ‘Confidence in Motion’ design and brand strategy, Subaru unleashed the Subaru Impreza Design Concept to audiences at the LA Auto Show. The sporty four-door coupe features a fresh exterior design, the latest infotainment and safety technology as well as Subaru’s next-generation 2.0-litre Boxer engine and CVT transmission. Subaru’s new active safety EyeSight system also made an appearance on the vehicle, which has been designed to help spots hazards around the car and displays images on the vehicles monitor.

All the above cars are on at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th – 28th November.

If you were in a race against time to get home for the birth of your child, chances are that you wouldn’t care in the slightest as to what car you used for your journey so long as it offered forwards propulsion even slightly faster than the use of your own two feet. Hell – how many fathers-to-be have made that mad dash with a dim-witted sidekick atop one of those mad pulley-powered rickety train carts as favoured by Laurel & Hardy?

In forthcoming comedy Due Date, Robert Downey Jnr.’s character opts for a Subaru Impreza. Whether or not the film features a montage scene in which his character tries and tests a series of vehicles (with hilarious consequences) before finally deciding that the Subaru offers all he needs remains to be seen. Most likely it’s probably the case that the Subaru was simply the only car available to him and, as such, he didn’t really have any say in the matter.

Still, the Subaru, along with its two bickering occupants, is apparently subjected to a “hilarious, incident filled road trip”. Tears rolling down the audience’s faces, aching sides etc.

Due Date seems to crib its plot from the cinematic masterpiece that is Planes Trains and Automobiles. It’s made from the same people as made last year’s The Hangover, shares one of said films stars (Zach Galifianakis) and, seeing as the plot of the Hangover can be summarised as a “hilarious, incident filled” series of events leading up to an important ushering in of new responsibilities (a wedding), it can even be said that there’s a lot of overlap in terms of plot here, too.

The only distinguishing feature, then, might well be the Subaru Impreza.

Due Date opens in the UK November 5.

For the latest in Nationwide’s Subaru Impreza leasing offers, click here.

Known as ‘quirky’ to its fans and ‘boxy’ to its critics, the brand advertised in the 1960s as ‘cheap and ugly’ is seeking to improve design across all its medals. Subaru is one of the few brands successfully negotiating the recession in the US, with sales up 35 per cent in June, but feedback from dealers says that sales could be even better with a few design changes.

The man given the task of making Subaru design more appealing, Osama Namba, joined Subaru in 2008. His mission is to unify the Subaru look across all the models and to win new fans for the brand.

The Subaru emphasis has always been on engineering features rather than design: loyal fans love the all-wheel drive, the horizontal boxer engine and the functional interior. The aligned pistons of the boxer engine give the car a low front profile, but their strength is that they create a lower centre of gravity for the car, making it more agile. The tall roofs give the driver plenty of cargo space.

Namba wants to keep this emphasis on function and utility, but to add a contemporary twist. His design aims include:

• A more pronounced, sculpted front fascia
• Broader, more defined bumpers
• A stronger side accent line, positioned lower on the body

Namba said in an interview with a US magazine that Subaru wanted to respond to market trends without slavishly copying them. He criticised some European brands for their design flourishes that perform no function.

Subaru took steps toward unifying the design across the models with their latest overhauls of the Legacy sedan and the Outback wagon. Namba’s task is to build on this. His Hybrid Tourer concept, designed for the 2009 Tokyo motor show, was a preview of the clean lines and new look he is seeking for the brand. His first production design will be the Impreza, which was overhauled last in 2007. He is considering making the Impreza larger, and changing its soft, rounded shape.

The challenge ahead for Subaru is to gain wider appeal without alienating the core market.

The latest version of the Subaru Forester is now available and is the first Forester to incorporate a diesel engine – a 2.0 litre diesel developing 147bhp and combined fuel economy of 44.8mpg. Better to drive than the majority of the mid size four wheel drive currently on the market and with excellent build quality and reliability the Forester is a recommended buy. For more details on the range and to view our latest leasing rates click on the link below:

Subaru ForesterContract Hire Offers

Take a look at the outstanding deals on the Subaru Tribeca four wheel drive. Priced at £30,000 pounds  customers can now lease a Subaru Tribeca from just £179.95 plus vat per month over 24 months with an initial deposit of £539.85 plus vat. For more details click on the link below to get a quote:

Subaru Tribeca Lease Offers

Take advantage of some excellent savings on the Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer with leasing rates starting from £269.95 plus vat per month on a 24 month contract for the 2.0 R Automatic or how about the 2.5 SE Automatic from only £279.95 plus vat. For more details and to get an instant quote ckick on the link below to view our latest subaru sale price list:

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer Lease Price List