Adding a touch of aggressiveness to the Forester, Subaru had just revealed the tS version in Japan with more than just looks to complement its new appearance. Done by the guys at Subaru Tecnica International or better known as STI, they also had not neglected in putting tweaks into the engine and suspension.
The Forester tS now features front and rear spoilers, an STI branded grille and a set of 19-inch forged aluminium wheels. Also getting a tailgate-mounted spoiler, the sport-tuned suspension further lowers the Forester tS’ ride height by 15mm.
On the inside, the leather/Ultrasuede sports seats with red contrasting stitching and embossed STI logos gives out that performance feel. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, in addition to the carbon fiber trim and piano black accents. The tS also gets an STI-branded speedometer, a push-start ignition and additional sound deadening material.
Underneath the hood, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is now equipped with an optimized ECU, enabling the engine to produce 280PS and 258 lb-ft of torque. It is connected to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission which has a revised TCU (Transmission Control Unit) and a new oil cooler.
As for the handling, the Forester tS features a tweaked suspension, a strut tower brace, a flexible rear subframe support, flexible front/rear draw stiffeners, new ventilated Brembo brakes with STI-branded calipers.
Only 300 of such examples will be produced by Subaru and each of them will come with a price tag of USD 36,875 (RM 126,379).
