Autoblog

Even though our lust for Japan's forbidden fruit has been sated by three generations of the Subaru STI and Mitsubishi EVO – and now, the Nissan GT-R – one guilty pleasure is still out of reach. The Subaru Forester STI has always held a special place in our hearts, combining a healthy dose of practicality with a dash of rally-bred performance, and that's carried over to the Forester XTI concept. Packing the WRX STI's turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder putting out 315 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, a cat-back exhaust, reworked suspension, STI wheels and a deep red/black paint job, the Forester XTI is begging to go into production. Here's hoping Subaru wises up and gives it the green light.



Joining the Forester on the show stand is a five-door 2009 WRX tweaked by Subaru Performance Tuning (left) with a cat-back exhaust, short-throw shifter, OZ Botticelli III 19-inch wheels, a lower chassis brace and strut tower brace. The 2.5-liter four has gotten a 10-hp boost in output (from 265 to 275 hp) and an additional seven lb-ft of torque, and sitting beside that guy is the STI that's making its big screen debut in the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise.

Click above for more high-res pics of the 2009 Subaru Forester

Subaru has released pricing on the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester introduced last mont in Detroit and it's a whopping $1,200 less than the price of the outgoing model. This means you can put a brand-new completely redesigned Forester 2.5X with standard all-wheel drive, curtain airbags and stability control in your driveway for $19,995 (plus destination and delivery, of course). At the other end of the spectrum, a 2.5XT Limited model starts at $28,195.

You have to salute Subaru's move. The new Forester is a very competent package in a competitive crossover SUV segment. Anyone shopping this category has good reason to take it for a spin, and the price drop is just icing on the cake. Check out Subaru's press release after the jump for a full breakdown of pricing by trim level.

[Source: Subaru]

click above image for more pics of the 2009 Subaru Forester

Though the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) 2009 Subaru Forester was revealed on Christmas Day, Subaru waited until today to reveal the US-spec version of its car-like CUV. We all know the shape of things to come for the Forester thanks to numerous leaks and spied test vehicles that popped up throughout the month of December, but Subaru reveals today that US customers will have their choice of naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions of the same 2.5L boxer four-cylinder engines offered before, though they've been worked over for more low-end torque. While no power figures have been released, we expect both motors to be virtually identical to those used in the Impreza, which means around 170 hp and 224 hp, respectively. It appears the same trim levels will be offered, which include the base 2.5X, Sports 2.5X, 2.5X L.L. Bean Edition paired with the NA engine and the 2.5XT, Sports 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited offered with the turbo. New features for the 2009 US-spec Forester include available satellite navigation, standard Vehicle Dynamics Control and traction control, and Incline Start Assist on models with the manual transmission. We'll get detailed information on Subaru's decidedly more butch little CUV at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but until then you can check out the US-spec 2009 Forester in our gallery below and read Subaru's press release after the jump.

[Source: Subaru]

click above image for 11 new pics of the 2009 Subaru Forester

We now have 22 unofficial images of the 2009 Subaru Forester in this gallery, which could be more pics than what Subaru plans to officially release on December 25th when the new CUV actually debuts. We found these on the Forester Owners Forum, page 104 of a long thread relating to 2009 Forester news and rumors. We don't know who took them or where they were taken and we don't want to know - we just want to look at them, as they are the clearest and largest images yet that have crossed our desks. The batch also includes a view of the new Forester's interior, which, well, isn't all that interesting or groundbreaking, kind of like the exterior. It may suit your needs just fine, though.

[Source: SubaruForester.org via Carscoop]

click above image to view more live shots of the 2009 Subaru Forester

Seriously, we're not that interested in the 2009 Subaru Forester that we actually think half a dozen posts on the little CUV is warranted, but Subie's so far been unable to keep a lid on its new design to such an extent that we just have to share each and every new pic that crosses our desk. These new ones appear to be the first live shots of the car, as opposed to the magazine scans and photoshopped official shots we've seen so far. In fact, these new images taken at what appears to be a shipping hub really bring to light how far the Forester has matured compared to the current model. While the current model always looked like nothing more than a tall station wagon with an extra smidge of ground clearance, the new Forester actually looks like a small CUV. The above shot even bears a resemblance to the Land Rover LR2 in some areas. We're sure you can find some more derivative styling on the new Forester as well, but all in all we think its positive progress in the right direction for Subaru.

As always, we'll bring you official news on the new 2009 Subaru Forester as soon as it's released on Christmas Day, and probably some more unofficial news in the meantime.

[Source: Yahoo! blogs via Carscoop]

The crew at NASIOC came across more leaked shots of Subaru's forthcoming Forester, and this time, we get a closer look at the new sub-CUV's interior. Like most of the new products coming out of the Subie camp, the inside receives a significant restyling that takes its cues from the Tribeca's interior arrangement, with flowing brushed metal accents that dip down towards the HVAC controls. In addition to improvements both in style and materials, the Forester will also benefit from Subaru's Sportshift transmission.

Unlike the leaks we've seen previously, this new exterior pic provides a much better view of the front three-quarters of the new Forester. The hood scoop is much more subtle than previous iterations, similar to the one found on the redesigned Impreza, while the ride-height keeps the Forester true to its off-road nature. We're expecting more to follow soon, so, as always, watch this space.

Thanks for the tip Phil!

Click image for a gallery of more scans

As is always the case, there'll be little left to talk about regarding the new 2009 Forester when Subaru officially pulls the wraps off its overhauled compact SUV on Christmas day. Japan's scoop-crazed magazine culture has rewarded us with a slew of new scans showing the '09 Forester in a variety of trim levels. Bigger in every dimension, it's definitely got a more traditional SUV look to it, with a view from the front that's quite reminiscent of the current Mitsubishi Outlander. The two launch engines in Japan will be a NA 2.0 boxer with 148 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque and a turbocharged version generating 230 horsepower and 234 lb-ft. Also revealed is news that seven JDM trim levels will be offered -- four with normally-aspirated engines and three with the turbo mill (and none of them bearing the STi moniker). While we all watch the days count down to the new Forester, we're sure that many more photos and specifications will be leaked. We'll bring them to you, and we'll also have the "real" photos and info when it all becomes officially official later this month. Our first in-person look at the car will also come in mid-January at the Detroit Auto Show.

Thanks for the tip, Vlad!

[Source: Drom.ru]

While we'd like to think that the launch of the new Subaru Forester teaser site somehow corresponds to the leakage of images we saw yesterday, we're forced to assume that coincidences are just that. Regardless, Subaru still hasn't learned that displaying a darkened image of its newest product (ala STI) doesn't stop tech-savvychallenged bloggers from doing a screen capture and lightening up the shot to reveal the new Forester's rump.

You'd be forgiven for seeing a Honda Pilot upon first glance, but the lower ride height and bland bottom quickly eschews that comparison. According to Subaru, "It's comming [sic]", and despite the fact that the mini site is for the Japanese market, we doubt little will have changed when the Forester makes its debut in Detroit.

Thanks for the tip, Jake!

While there's no way to verify if this particular sketch foretells the future of the Subaru Forester, we think it's probably not too far off the mark. Considering Subaru's blandification of its lineup – from the Impreza to the Tribeca – the new nose seems entirely plausible, and the upkicked D-pillar seems to be all the rage nowadays.

As in the past, the Forester will be built atop the Impreza platform, so we can expect a slightly longer wheelbase that won't necessity Yoga-like poses for passengers entering and exiting the rear seats. More trunk space out back is also assured, while power will likely come from the same naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter found in the base Impreza. We're not going to hold our breath (again) for an STI variant, but we think it's simply a matter of time before Subaru throws in the turbo'd mill from the WRX to make another XT version of the Forester.

[Source: NASIOC via Straightline]

click above image for high-res gallery of the 2007 Subaru Forester Sports 2.5X

Subaru's Forester is well into its second generation, but the styling and driving experience isn't far removed from the unflappable friendly wagon that bowed in 1998. Why mess with a good thing?

The Forester Sports 2.5X is a handsome set of duds that sets you apart from the CUV crowd, even if you don't get the turbo motor. The black mesh grille and more monochromatic color scheme dresses up even the lightly optioned Forester we recently drove for a week. Lightly optioned doesn't mean stripped, there's plenty of equipment here and you'd only want for more if you wanted higher monthly payments. Even a basic Forester is comprehensively equipped. We're happy to report that while Subaru is all grown up from the days of the GL, the spirit of those funky rattlers remains infused in the Forester.



All photos ©2007 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.