Subaru may debut Forester sport model at SEMA
Click to enlarge (JDM version shown)
Interesting little tidbit over at the Straightline blog, where they're reporting that the US will (finally) be getting a Forester turbo sport model that draws inspiration from the automaker's home-market Forester Cross Sports model. Expect to see the a lowered suspension, JDM Forester Cross Sports front end, and hopefully the sharp-looking body color/aluminum roof rails as well.
The Forester Sport (or Cross Sports, should they decide to keep the JDM naming scheme) will be available with cloth seating only. Some other features like heated mirrors, window de-icer and a power driver's seat will also be dropped. The good stuff -- the 2.5 Turbo and 17" rims --stays, and best of all, pricing should undercut the Forester XT. Straightline says to look for the new Forester variant at SEMA later this month.
For an idea of what to expect, we've added a few pictures of the JDM Forester Cross Sports. We're surprised it's taken Subaru this long to get around to doing this.
(More photos after the jump)
[Source: Straightline]
FORESTER CROSS SPORTS (JDM):
Click images to enlarge
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DPC car videos 3:46PM (10/11/2006)
I can't wait to go to SEMA this year, have missed 3 years in a row. The Subaru looks nice and sporty.
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Allen Klosowski 3:37PM (10/11/2006)
That's pretty slick, it would have given me pause when purchasing my Outback for sure. I was under the impression that they were going to discontinue the Forester line in the near future, has anybody else heard that?
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aaron 3:43PM (10/11/2006)
I don't think this has much WOW factor. Same driveline as the existing FXT, lowered with 17s.
I love my FXT and probably would go for it again over this.
Were it a Forester STI, that would be a different story.
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Paqza 4:42PM (10/11/2006)
Alan, how could they possibly? The Forester is definitely a popular car...
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auto specifications 4:14PM (10/11/2006)
Many cool cars are announced for SEMA this year
http://www.auto-specifications.com/
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Allen Klosowski 7:25PM (10/11/2006)
It was rumored a year or so ago that the Forester was going to be dropped in favor of the B9 Tribeca. Glad to see it's hanging on, it's definitely in a popular segment right now.
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Jason 10:57PM (10/11/2006)
Those rims are a direct rip off of the Audi Q7 and VW Rabbit. What a joke!
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Ekow 7:28PM (10/11/2006)
wow...I like foresters...but that is wierd.
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WestTXRubi 7:54PM (10/11/2006)
If they send it here, I will almost certainly trade in my Prelude on it. I've been waiting for years for a car like this. My mom (not your typical grandma) has a Forester XT 5 speed manual. Probably one of the biggest sleepers on the market right now. Runs like a scalded dog, yet it's practical as hell and doesn't attract any attention from the cops. 70k miles and not one unscheduled service. My only complaint when I drive it is the somewhat soft suspension compared to my Prelude. With a lowered/tightened up suspension, it's just about the perfect car for anyone who adheres to the "run silent, run deep" submariner's theory of motoring. Sleepers rock.
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Dan W 9:26PM (10/11/2006)
When is Subaru going to wake up and smell the coffee and realize that if I live in the snow belt, I'm buying their car for the utility as well as the fun.
Ergo, where is the freaking cold weather package with my freaking heated seats?
5 time suby owner currently on the VW tip...
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verdegrrl 11:35AM (10/12/2006)
Ladies who enjoy....uuuhhhhhh...... ladies, will rejoice!
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DKB_SATX 10:45PM (10/11/2006)
I think Subaru knows that ppl in cold country buy their cars for practicality, since most of the newer Subies I see when I'm up there are NA cars, but most of the ones I see in TX are turbos. I'm looking, since I drive a turbo Legacy wagon. Hopefully they'll put out a lowered XT, I like leather seats but felt the XT was a little tippy compared to my Legacy and my partner's WRX.
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cheezedog420 12:23AM (10/12/2006)
I like it, and I can live without heated seats if only because I don't like my autos to spoil me too rotten. DKB_SATX has a good point though... The turbos are ending up in the south because cold weather performance is not going to sell in Texas. And if Texas gets all the Cross sports, that might leave more Forrester XTs for the cold north. (Are you happy now, all dirty rotten turbo greedy Texas bastards?)
As for the suspention problems... I think that is cause most of the Forester is slightly a reskinned Imprezza platforming, for the needs of SUV buyer. Subaru really could not do anything to deal with body roll problem since this was suppose to have alot of body clearnance, and widening it out would of not allowed it to use as many Imprezza parts as it does.
Intresting side note. Since this uses so many imprezza parts you probably can vary easily put a STI motor, Transmision, and all the other required STI goodies into forester, and make it work in short running order. (Provided you have a doner car to quickly strip parts off of as you see the need for it.)
Me personaly, I not want the motor though... It runs on premium unleaded, And I like to keep my expences down for something I drive on a daily bases.
In any case, its not a bad thing for subaru to be doing this. Motors, and transmission are supprizingly easy to make fast and cheap. Car bodys are not because they take more space to make, more people to assemble, and much less manuverable, (even if they can be driven when finaly assembled.)
But it makes me wonder how well the Imprezza Station wagon is selling if they can also offer the Forester that does just about the same thing. Is this really the best way to sell hatch backs, and station wagons in the United States? And if they Imprezza wagon, and foresters are almost the same product, why not offer a coupe or small convertable two instead of one of those products?
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Andy 1:30AM (10/12/2006)
The Tribeca is a joke. It ranks as ugliest vehicle since the Aztek. Subaru misfired completely with the B9. Subaru is my favorite Asian carmaker. Each vehicle is quality built with strong inline four motors and all-wheel-drive. The Forester is a terrific sport-ute.
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WRXsponge 1:28PM (10/12/2006)
Please, for the love of god, bring the forester sti over! Are you listening subaru? Otherwise, I will take my current impreza wagon and make due with STI parts. /rant
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