The 2006 Subaru Forester...
 

...was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in March.

From Car and Driver:

"In New York, Subaru unveiled a freshened version of its small SUV, the Forester, which will arrive in dealerships in June. While the basic look is unchanged, the 2006 Forester does receive an entirely new front fascia, which includes new four-lamp headlight clusters and a new bumper, grille, hood, and fenders. At the rear, the ’06 Forester is distinguished by new taillamp clusters and a body-color trim panel that displays the Subaru emblem. Under that redesigned hood resides one of two revised powerplants: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter boxer engine that, now with Subaru’s Active Valve Lift System (AVLS) variable valve lift technology, puts out 173 horsepower (up from 165 in the ‘05 models); and a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer that now pumps out an extra 20 horsepower (up to 230) as a result of a higher compression ratio and a redesigned intake manifold. For those who do intend to venture off-road in their Foresters, the ’06 model boasts increased ground clearance, which climbs from 7.5 inches to 8.1 inches (7.9 inches on 2.5XT). Other changes include a strengthened rear crossmember, a modified mounting point for the front lower L-arm, and retuned springs and shocks."

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...0521270133.jpg

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...0521270548.jpg

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...0521271449.jpg

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...0521271798.jpg

Most interesting tid bit, is the introduction of a variable valve lift system that'll raise engine output in the base 2.5L boxer-4 to 173hp. I imagine this will eventually spread to other models such as the Legacy and Impreza.

The increase in output on the already fast Forester XT will be awesome for enthusiasts. I can't wait to see the times the 5MT version will run in the 1/4!!! :eek: :cool:

-Chike

cant say I like it..even a little bit....it looks like it needs a hug..and then a mercy killing..u-g-l-y..the engine changes interest me of course :D

seen it before, but i like the "meaner" look of the last one, as opposed to the "i'm getting sleepy" look of this one.

Yah,

That's the car they should have given to Saab!

lol :D im so sleepy..wont you just put me in the garage and leave me there for awhile....

is it me, or does it have that "i just woke up" look about it. must be the eyebrow-like parking lights.

i have to agree with the "stoned" look of the new forester, but i think i like it. i see it as a transition to the look of the b9 tribeca. i'm going to the denver auto show in a few hours and i hope to get a close took at a b9. our show is small, so i doubt they'll have a new forester.

Insist on climbing in the rear seats (2nd or 3rd row). I think the SVX has bigger back seats.

can i asumme you're talking about the tribeca (gosh, i intensely dislike that name)? i would imagine it will be on the floor for fondling as as were the new legacy and outback models. :)

Tribeca = ugly and smaller than I though it was. They did have a really neat cutaway Tribeca at the auto show with moving parts and everything though. New Forester looks just as ugly in person as it does in the picture.

Jeeze, when did they introduce the current Forester? Seems like it just came out. :confused: What they needed to do was bring over the Forster STI and continue the current style a little longer.

I'm suprized, yet relived that it's not displaying the "NEW" Subaru grill. I would think that if Subaru was really pushing for the new stupid grill it would be on the new Forester too. Plus they just introduced the new really cool Legacy, are they gonna run that body style for 2 years and then kick it off for an Alfa grilled model? I hope not.

With all the new models comming out with out the "wing grill" it raises hope that the Tribeca feed back is urging them not to push forward with it. I hope the Tribeca runs for two years and then gets a better nose.

They must...
 

have paid attention to our rantings at www.subaruforester.com where I'm the administrator.

We don't like the new Forester (for the most part) and those tail lights scream "RICER"... :(

BTW, they haven't changed a damn thing on the XT. They're just now admitting the the HP that it's had all along. Cobb Tuning among several other tuners doing baselines rated the Forester right around 235-240 at the crank... :rolleyes:

Subaru just didn't want to piss of the WRX'ers with the news that the 'mommy-mobile' had more HP than they did.

My mom just bought a 2005 Forester... probably a good thing she didn't wait for the new style.....

BTW...... I hate GM..........

well the denver show did have two tribecas, but we couldn't go play with them and no new foresters. i do have to say i like the look the more i look at it. :cool: