Subaru of America dominated the Chicago Auto Show’s media day Thursday, hosting the only new vehicle debuts at the event.

The unveiling of the first-ever U.S. Subaru Forester Hybrid and Subaru Forester Wilderness was live-streamed on the brand’s website. 

Alan Bethke, Subaru senior vice president of marketing, talked about the Forester’s storied history before the sheets were pulled off of the new models. The vehicle was unveiled as a Streega concept vehicle at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1995. It would combine the best attributes of an SUV and a car, without any of the downside.

“At the time Subaru called the idea ‘SUV tough, car easy,’” Bethke says. 

The first Forester was unveiled in 1997. The ’98 model immediately begun winning awards, including Best Compact SUV by Car and Driver. 

“Since its introduction, Forester has become synonymous with a special set of DNA that truly make it unique,” including its “unwavering commitment to safety,” Bethe says. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded Forester its top safety pick 17 different times, which is more than Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V or any other small SUV, he says. 

“The Subaru Forester has always been something special and now there’s every more to love,” Bethke says. 

During a video introduction of the hybrid version, a voiceover used the catchphrase “love goes the extra mile,” playing off the brand’s longtime Subaru “love” promise. 

“A love of nature and a love for adventure. This combination is part of the Subaru Forester DNA,” according to the voiceover. “From this long-trusted model comes two new versions of the Subaru Forester, providing a new level of fuel efficiency and technology.”  

Meanwhile, the newly redesigned. Forester Wilderness is “adventure elevated,” offering a more rugged design, a new interior and all of the off-road capability that adventure seekers love. 

Before the presentation, Tia Leslie, a Subaru product specialist, appeared with Chelsea Bear, a self-described disabled content creator for Subaru, who has cerebral palsy, which impacts the way she walks. Bear, who has 354,000 followers on Instagram, said she saw a Subaru commercial that showed someone with a disability driving one of their vehicles. 

“I could see myself in one of them” she says. “So I’ve been driving the Forester Wilderness for the past year. I love it. I feel so empowered to do everything I want to do. I have independence, and I love the brand.”