AIMS: Subaru debuts Forester S-Edition concept

Subaru has today revealed an exciting step-up in the SUV performance market, its Forester S-Edition bringing an additional 24kW/27Nm (now 193kW/347Nm) to the turbocharged 2.5-litre engine from the Forester XT on which it is based.

The Subaru Forester S-Edition is poised to join the model line-up in January next year adding significant additions to the specification sheet.

Included in the list, a paddleshift five-speed automatic transmission, revised sports suspension, variable torque distribution all-wheel drive system and 17-inch STI high-lustre alloy wheels join the mechanical package while inside, exclusive styling accents, Alcantara seat trim with S-Edition logos, drilled alloy pedals and luminescent instrumentation round out the extras.

Like every vehicle in the Subaru range, Forester S-Edition scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is protected by DataDot security.

"We're delighted and honoured that Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) have chosen Sydney for the worldwide unveil of this Forester concept," exclaimed Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior.

"It points towards an exciting development in our Forester range early next year.

"Forester is firmly established as Australia's best selling compact sports utility vehicle, with the most recent addition to the range being the diesel variants that are proving a sales winner for our All-Wheel Drive brand.

"There's no denying Forester's appeal to Australians in both urban and rural environments, so we think this concept will only add to the huge interest."

Senior stated that the Forester S-Edition's Japanese launch won't take place for another month and the world debut in Sydney is recognition of the Forester's strong market appeal in Australia. 

"This is a strong Forester market; we have at times outsold the Japanese market with Forester," he said. Senior told the Carsales Network that the demand for the S-Edition Forester chiefly came from buyers who were considering the purchas the Forester XT Premium, but were interested in a car positioned slightly above the naturally-aspirated variant.

"We've always done very well with the Forester XT -- at around 150 units per month. the customers were asking for something a little bit special, with the Forester. The XT still has its place and we don't expect XT volume to drop dramatically. I think this will probably be about a hundred units a month, incremental..."

Pricing will be announced closer to launch, although Senior informed the Carsales Network after the unveiling at the show that the new variant would be less than $4000 above the price of the Forester XT Premium auto. The vehicle on display at the show was built to Japanese specification, with a wing mirror on the near-side front quarter panel. According to Senior, the Australian version will feature a sunroof as standard.

Today's unveiling comes after FHI's recent announcement of its first all-new new engine in 21 years, which will debut on normally aspirated Foresters in Australia in early 2011.

The third-generation four-cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer engine will launch as a 2.5 litre in Australia and features a longer stroke, compact combustion chamber and lighter moving parts.

-- with staff

For our full coverage of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney visit our minisite at carsales.com.au/aims

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