Subaru UK has confirmed On-The-Road prices for the all new Forester when it goes on sale in May. Prices will start at £24,995 for the 2.0D X, rising to £30,995 for the range topping 2.0i XT.

The new, fourth-generation Forester will build upon the model’s reputation as a go-anywhere, user-friendly SUV with improved performance, safety and efficiency and a more spacious and better appointed cabin. Subaru’s unique Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system remains at the heart of the Forester, while a low centre of gravity and improved body rigidity contribute to improved refinement and a typically engaging drive on the road.

The engine line-up will include 2.0-litre Boxer diesel and petrol units, while Subaru will return to its Forester roots with the introduction of a new 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engine, producing 240ps. All the engines have significantly improved CO₂ and economy figures over the outgoing model.

Isuzu pick-up sales have increased by 13.6 per cent over the same period in 2011 – the best half-year sales performance in the company’s UK history. Indeed, Isuzu sold 2028 units of D-Max models in the second half of 2012, which is a massive 89.7 per cent increase in sales over the same period in 2011.

Jaguar Land Rover has reported pre-tax profits of £404m for the three months to the end of December 2012. For fiscal year to date, Jaguar Land Rover reported pre-tax profits of £1.2bn, up 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. Can it get much better?

A NEW UPMARKET version of the Touareg has been launched by Volkswagen. The Touareg R-Line adds extra equipment and R-Line styling cues, which together are apparently worth over £4000, but this is all available for £750 over the on the road price of the Touareg Altitude model. The Touareg R-Line has 20-inch ‘Tarragona’ alloy wheels with 275/45 R20 tyres, with new look front and rear bumpers and side skirts and R-Line badges on the front wings. Standard bi-xenon headlights with dynamic curve lighting are standard on the R-Line. The Touareg R-Line is available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox paired to a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with either 200bhp, for £44,025, or 242bhp, for £45,645. Both prices are on the road. We have a Buyers Guide on the Volkswagen Touareg is on page 98 of this issue.

FORMER ENGLAND rugby captain Lewis ‘mad dog’ Moody recently competed in the Yukon Arctic Ultra, claimed to be the toughest Ultra Marathon in the world. Moody was supported by Land Rover who provided a Freelander 2 to help with the training. Polar adventurer Alan Chambers MBE and Phil Wall, founder of HopeHIV, were also in the team, which raised money for the HopeHIV charity. The Marathon covered a 300+ mile trek across the Yukon in Canada, for eight days with temperatures dropping to minus 50degC, not so bad if they were doing it ‘in’ a Freelander, but Moody and his team had to pull their equipment and food on sledges. Unfortunately, Moody got frostbite in a little finger, and the rules of the competition meant he had to retire. All that macho stuff and let down by your little finger! Moody was gutted to have to retire, but has resolved to return next year. Mad dog, indeed.

FANCY DRIVING a Hummer for 1000 miles over the Atlas Mountains and through the sand dunes of the Sahara? If that’s the case (and who wouldn’t?) then it makes sense to enter the 2013 Conti 4×4 Trophy, and it makes sense to enter pretty sharpish. We ran a feature on the event last year from reader Josh Rice who was one of the lucky UK winners – well, it wasn’t all luck, it took some skill to win the driving and navigation qualifier event. The Conti 4×4 Trophy is surprisingly less known in the UK, last year saw entries being four times the number needed for the qualifier event which, as with last year, will take place at Land Rover Experience at Gaydon. Some 200 teams at Gaydon will be fighting for the 28-team places for the event itself. The event is a cleverly designed promotional campaign for both Continental customers and retail outlets.