Of course, they won’t let you under normal circumstances because it would just be too complicated, what with all the obstacles and challenges.
But this is how you bring out the best in a Subaru. Reason why Motor Image Pilipinas, the local distributors of Subaru, came up with the Subaru Ultimate Test Drive event. They had one just recently at the SM Mall of Asia, another in Davao, and on Aug. 30-Sept. 1 they will be in Cebu alongside the Russ Swift Stunt Show.
Subaru does these Ultimate Test Drives to show potential owners two key technologies they’ve equipped their cars: the Eyesight Technology, and their patent Symmetrical Symmetrical All Wheel Drive.
Let’s first see how the Eyesight works.
Imagine having tech actively scanning the road ahead and making sure you get the necessary heads up should anything escape your attention, that’s the Eyesight Driver Assist. Say, for example, you come dangerously close to a car up ahead—the vehicle would sound an alert to the driver via a buzzer and light on the dashboard. If you don’t brake or take evasive action, the system will automatically apply the brakes to reduce impact or prevent collision.
It also helps by applying more braking force if you do decide to take action. If the vehicle is stopped and the system senses an obstacle in front of the vehicle, and you still proceed to put the car in DRIVE, the vehicle will cut engine output to avert a collision.
At the Ultimate Test Drive, you can test Eyesight-equipped Subarus by driving towards a tarp representing an obstacle or vehicle ahead. The idea is for you to crash it, but you won’t.
There’s the Adaptive Cruise Control Demo where you will activate the cruise control equipped with the Eyesight sensors up front. You’ll be able to set a distance from the vehicle ahead and while cruising, the sensors will maintain the distance and speed of the vehicle ahead, adjusting the throttle and braking. In case the set speed is faster than the flow of traffic, the vehicle will speed up only when the road ahead is clear. One of the unique features of Subaru’s Adaptive Cruise Control is that it can slow down to a complete stop, and when Eyesight senses that the vehicle ahead starts to move, the cruise control will kick in and move at the pace of the vehicle in front of you.
The Symmetrical All Wheel Drive is pretty much a Subaru trademark.
The challenges laid out the Ultimate Test Drive are designed to highlight how Subarus react to different driving situations. X-Mode is demonstrated on the first ramp with rollers on ascending side. This synchronizes Vehicle Dynamics Control, engine management and the hill descent. X-Mode takes care of everything involved in getting through tough spots.
The Side Ramp demonstrates Subaru’s ability to stay balanced and stable even up on extreme angles. The vehicle’s systems allow it to continue to move forward even when a wheel is lifted and the vehicle is tilted. The Subaru also has minimal flex due to its rigid body, which allows the driver to have more accurate control even while each wheel is articulating up or down.
The Cross and Slip Rollers demonstrate the Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (SAWD) in the most slippery conditions. Vehicle Dynamics Control takes care of the amount of power going to wheels to move the vehicle on its way.
If the Subaru Ultimate Test Drive ever comes to your area, give it a go, you’ll see how their new technologies will give you an edge in your every day drive without taking the fun out of driving.