Cars we can’t have: Subaru launches STI-enhanced Forester in Japan

As promised, Subaru has launched its STI-enhanced Forester SUV. Our hopes are dashed though, as the new SUV does not get the fire-breathing 305-hp turbocharged engine of the WRX STI. Instead, the new SUV gets several suspension and cosmetic upgrades under the tS (tuned by STI) badge.

Subaru says that the new SUV will feature improved handling and driving feel, courtesy of revised suspension, bigger BBS wheels and Brembo brakes. The inverted strut suspension configuration featured in the Legacy tS makes its first apprearance on the new Forester, resulting in 15mm lower ride height.

Engine is still the 2.0-liter turbocharged four with enhanced tuning when switched to the S# (Sport Sharp) mode via the SI-DRIVE knob. The only available transmission is a CVT.

Exterior enhacements include STI badge, cherry red pinstripe on front grille and rear bumper, 19-inch BBS-designed forged aluminum alloy wheels, and STI-designed front and rear under spoilers, and roof spoiler.

Subaru Forester tS includes the collision prevention system EyeSight, adjusted for the car’s lower ride height and the force of its Brembo brakes. This is probably not the wild animal we were hoping for, as Subaru is touting its “careful attention to noise reduction.

Price is the very enticing equivalent of P1.660 million. Unfortunately, the Forester tS is a Japan-only model, and is limited to 300 units.

Here’s a list of the upgrades in the Forester tS:

■Mechanism

• 245/45 R19 tires (TURANZA ER33)
• BBS-designed 19-inch forged aluminum wheels
• Brembo front 17-inch opposed 4-pot ventilated disc brake with STI logo
• Brembo rear 17-inch opposed 2-pot ventilated disc brake with STI logo
• STI-tuned suspension (15 mm-lower, inverted-strut front suspension)
• STI-designed flexible tower bar
• STI-designed flexible draw stiffener, front and rear
• STI-designed flexible support subframe, rear
• Exclusively-tuned ECU (Engine Control Unit)
• Exclusively-tuned TCU (Transmission Control Unit)
• CVT oil cooler

■Exterior

• Exclusively-made black front grille (with “STI” ornament and cherry red pin stripe)
• STI-designed front spoiler/STI-designed rear under spoiler
• Black roof spoiler
• Exclusively-made large-diameter muffler cutter
• Fog light bezels (metallic silver)
• Black door mirrors
• Black side window moldings
• Exclusively-made side cladding moldings (metallic silver)
• Cherry red pin stripe on rear bumper
• Exclusively-made “STI” ornament, front and rear
• Exclusively-made “tS” ornament, side and rear

■Interior

• Exclusively-made luminescent speedometer (up to 260 km/h) with STI logo
• Exclusively-made multifunction display
• Exclusively-made leather lapped steering wheel (quality-feel leather with “STI” ornament and red stitching)
• STI-designed push button ignition (red) with STI logo
• STI-designed leather lapped gear knob with STI logo
• Exclusively-made seats (black leather/black punching Ultrasuede® combination seats [red stitching and red accents])
• Door trims (black punching Ultrasuede®/black Ultrasuede® with red stitching)
• Carbon-toned instrument panel
• AC controls comprising silver dials and piano black-toned switches with red bezel
• Black interior (trims on pillars, roof, and window sills)
• Exclusively-made side sill plate with STI logo

■Safety Equipment

• Exclusively-tuned EyeSight
• Exclusively-tuned VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control)