Subaru celebrates 50 years of all-wheel-drive vehicle creation with a special Forester available exclusively for the Japanese market. The XT-Edition comes in Geyser Blue paint, making it the first JDM model to feature this color initially introduced in North America. It is based on the local Sport trim level and comes with an assortment of visual tweaks, including 18-inch wheels with dark metallic finish and all-season tires.
The 2023 Forester XT-Edition can be distinguished visually by an assortment of black accents, including the front grille frame, roof rails and side mirror caps. There’s more of a dark look around the fog lights and roof spoiler, while certain parts of the bumper have also been darkened. To accentuate the SUV’s outdoor nature, Subaru has fitted a waterproof cargo floor (with rails) and fabric seat upholstery.
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Based on the facelifted model introduced in the Land of the Rising Sun in mid-2021, the Forester in the XT-Edition variant is fitted as standard with EyeSight Safety Plus which includes a digital rearview camera. To beautify the cabin, Subie has added silver stitching on the seats, dashboard and door cards while the door cards and air vents have metallic finishes.
Based on the JDM-spec Forester Sport, the XT-Edition comes with a 1.8-liter turbocharged petrol engine developing 174 hp (130 kilowatts) of power from 5,200 rpm and 300 Newton-meters (221 pound-feet) of torque at 1,600 rpm. Output is routed to the front and rear axles via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) aka Lineartronic.
Including Japan’s 10 percent consumption tax, the special edition starts at 3,355,000 yen, which translates to around $25,400 or €24,000 at current exchange rates. The only option available is an electrically operated tailgate for $416 or €392.
