The fifth-generation Subaru Forester recently premiered at the New York Auto Show looking slightly more purposeful than the outgoing model but not quite as bold as we’d anticipated.
Fortunately, X-Tomi Design has spiced up the new Forester with an STI variant that encompasses all the bespoke parts you could ever expect from a performance-focused Subaru. It looks really good.
At the front, an entirely new fascia has been fitted, including a blacked-out grille, custom bumper, and modified air intakes. Moving along the sides of the SUV reveals black, multi-spoke wheels, red brake calipers, and extended side skirts. New suspension has also dropped the vehicle’s ride height down to an appropriate level.
WRX STI power would do nicely
If Subaru were to make an STI version of the latest Forester, it wouldn’t be too difficult. In all likelihood, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder of the WRX STI could easily slot into the SUV’s engine bay with over 300 hp. For performance enthusiasts with a family that need ample luggage space, this could be the perfect Subaru.
As it stands, the 2019 Subaru Forester is only available with a 2.5-liter boxer engine delivering 182 hp and 176 lb-ft, a slight bump over the 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque of the previous-generation model.
It isn’t the engine of the 2019 Forester which is the real selling point, however. Instead, the vehicle comes adorned with a plethora of impressive safety features, including the Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management as part of the EyeSight Driver Assist technology package.
