Subaru press release:

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. (FHI), a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products and the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the introduction of its new Subaru Forester models in Japan. The facelift Forester models went on sale through its Subaru dealerships nationwide today. [editor's note: in Japan]

In further advancing the basic concept of crossover SUV with the best of both worlds, Subaru engineers have made substantial improvements on the Forester and raised its product appeal. Not only were driving performance and utilities enhanced, but sophisticated design and quality looks have been significantly improved. While the exterior design expresses dynamism and power, the interior design focuses on convenience, improved utility and quality, and includes such features as water-resistant fabric and interior lining, a multifunctional center console, and greater functionality in the rear luggage space.

From its foundation of outstanding driving performance, the handling stability of the Forester has been further enhanced through strengthened rigidity in its chassis, as well as in improvements made in suspension tuning, giving the driver peace of mind and a stable grip on the road, particularly on highways and winding mountainous roads.

Major Improvements

Exterior

• Demonstrating the concept of dynamic and modern styling, the exterior design emphasizes the power of a crossover SUV while maintaining the established flowing form of the Forester.
• While retaining the elegant flow from the front hood to the bumper, the large-sized grille design accentuates the powerful SUV face. By eliminating unwanted projections of bumper parts, the front bumper unit has been packaged to give an elegant and simple, yet sporty silhouette.
• The rear gate has been redesigned for a sophisticated look with expanded garnish and a bright molding, stressing the car’s wide and stable presence.
• The lower part of the rear bumper is colored black, emphasizing the ample road clearance of an SUV.
• The front headlamp packaging features round-shaped, four-beam headlights, augmenting both design factors and functionality. Rear combination lamps stress sportiness, with round-shaped lights in triangular lamp lenses.
• Door handles are elegantly chrome-plated, bringing out quality looks.
• The 6-star Subaru automobile emblem is attached on the streamlined rear gate, adding a unified Subaru image to the car.
• A new body color, Garnet Red Pearl, has been added. Evergreen Metallic is also available as a body color with the L.L. Bean edition.

Interior

• Water-resistant seat fabric has been adopted. The floor mat in the luggage space and the rear seatback are now made from new heavy-duty fabrics that help resist scratching, tearing, and dirt. The sides of the luggage space are also covered with heavy-duty, water-resistant material. In addition, railings are laid out on the luggage space floor to prevent luggage from sliding during travel.
• A bar for hanging towels and outdoor equipment has been fitted on each side in the rear luggage space and can be used even when a luggage compartment cover is used.
• The multifunctional center console can be used as an armrest, while providing an electrical outlet (DC12V) and cup holders.
• The built-in HDD navigation system with a 30-GB hard disk drive combines the functions of a DVD player and a high-end audio system. The touch-panel keys on the 6.5-inch navigation screen and high performance navigation functions ensure convenience and ease of use. The HDD navigation system is optional.
• The Forester with the built-in HDD and navigation option can be also fitted with a multifunctional box with a light inside. By diverting the cool air from the air conditioner, it becomes a small beveraga cooler that accommodates two 350-mL bottles. When the cooling function is switched off, it can be simply a storage box.
• The L.L. Bean edition comes with a standard, driver’s 8-way power seat with lumber support, providing comfort and the ease of operations. This driver’s seat is optional on the 2.0XT and 2.0XS.
• Two choices of interior colors, beige and off-black, highlight quality and elegance.
• Leather seats in beige are standard on the L.L. Bean edition. Optional leather seats in beige or off-black are available on the 2.0XT and 2.0XS.
• A MOMO leather–wrapped steering wheel, genuine leather-wrapped AT selector lever/MT shift knob and hand brake lever are standard on the 2.0 XT and 2.0XS.
• A MOMO leather and wood steering wheel, genuine-leather and wood-surface-patterned resin AT select lever, genuine leather–wrapped MT shift knob and hand brake lever are standard on the L.L. Bean edition.
• The L.L. Bean edition comes with a travel bag and cooler bag that were specially designed by L.L. Bean.

Chassis

• By incorporating a rebound spring in the front damper, adopting front subframes, and modifying the geometry of the front suspension, any pitching or rolling movements of the vehicle are substantially minimized.
• Outstanding handling stability has been ensured by adjustments to the damper force.
• Vehicle cornering stability has been improved through an enhancement at the rear crossmember, thus fortifying rigidity in the mounting of the rear suspension.
• Newly developed 17-inch tires help improve driving stability on road. All models except for the 2.0X are fitted with these tires.
• A new AWD system monitors each tire’s rotations and governs precise control of optimal four-wheel movements, delivering a smooth ride and vehicle stability, even on slippery roads.
• Brake performance has been improved through the use of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with an electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) system, as well as the adoption of 14-inch solid disk rotors in the rear disk brakes on the naturally aspirated engine model, an upgrade from the drum brake system.

http://www.subdriven.com/news/publis...icle_330.shtml

Oh and keep in mind the engine choices are different in Japan, and the 2.0X and 2.0XS models refer to those Japanes engine choices. As far as I know the Forester's current 2.5 liter engine choices will remain mostly unchanged for the U.S. market.

 

Dmn it. Front looks like one of those GM minivan things.

 

Actually, I like the new Forester design--it's not woefully angular like the original model, and of course Subaru will likely offer improved versions of their 2.5-liter H-4 engine for the US market, with a H-6 possibily available for the top-line models.

 

dayum... these things are starting to look more like suv's

i remember hearing somthing from my roomate about an STi version of the forrester.... any word on that? :don't bee getting mad, i searched in the article and found nothing on sti:

i trust my roomate cause he is big into rubasu's

 

Well we do already have the Forester 2.5XT with a detuned version of the 2.5 liter turbo engine; it runs 13s in the 1/4. There have been rumors of a Forester STi for a while now (I think such a car exists in Japan?) I have no idea if we will be getting such a car here in the states.

 

i thought of infiniti right away from the front.

 

Front end looks like ass.

 

Subarus are good cars. But they will make them look progressively fuglier as time goes on, and everyone else is going to eventually have a lot of AWD offerings. The new Forester look isn't bad, but Subaru will change from looking decent to looking, well, controversial. Just wait for the B9 Tribeca design themes to spread like a virus.

 

Update on models for the US market:

Subaru's 2006 model year will bring a new Tribeca seven-seater SUV. But it also brings updated versions of the mainstay Forester wagon, which continues in the '06 model year in 2.5X, 2.5 XT turbocharged and L.L. Bean configurations. Revised styling with a more prominent front grille marks the new models, as do power bumps for both available engines. The non-turbo models now produce 173 horsepower, an increase of 5 percent, while the turbocharged XT models get 20 more horsepower for a total of 230 hp. Subaru sold 187,402 cars in 2004, and sees the potential for 200,000 sales this year with the introduction of the Tribeca.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=8338

 

I drive a '04 5-speed XT...

I think the facelift is stupid-looking, although I'm kinda envious of the chassis upgrades. I'm also curious about the power...The MY04 and MY05 Foresters have been shown to make about 235-240hp and about 260tq at the crank...So I wonder if there was any actual increase or if they brought the number up to actually reflect what the EJ255 has been making all along.

As far as the Forester STi, it's been around for years, even in the previous generation. Due to a wider track, it can actually outhandle the WRX STi. People who follow auto-X and the like in Japan say that the hot Foresters regularly surprise the competition.