2011 Subaru Forester Update Revealed Ahead Of Australian Debut

Following the unveiling last month of its all-new third-generation boxer engine, Subaru has today revealed the updated-for-2011 Forester for overseas markets.

Externally, the Forester update is a 'blink and miss it' affair, with only a subtly updated grille and new wheel designs setting the 2011 model apart from its predecessor.

The story is much the same inside, and while Australian specifications may vary, the US-market Forester adds a new XT Touring trim to sit alongside the existing top-shelf XT Premium offering.

The big change of course is beneath the skin, with the Forester set to be the first model to gain Subaru's new boxer engine. 

Output and torque figures remain unchanged from the current 2.0 litre boxer, specified for the Japanese market at 109kW and 196Nm, suggesting that the new engine design is more about cleaner operation and greater efficiency.

• Click to read TMR's review of the Subaru Forester
  

Subaru also revealed a new concept at this year's Australian International Motor Show, dubbed the Forester S-Edition.

While no firm production plans have been announced for this performance-oriented model, Subaru Australia MD Nick Senior confirmed that the concept points to an "exciting development" for the Forester range in 2011.

Powered by the same turbocharged 2.5 litre boxer engine featuring in the automatic-equipped 2011 WRX, the Forester S-Edition offers 193kW and 347Nm of torque (up 24kW and 27Nm on the Forester XT).

Australia

Subaru Australia has confirmed that the updated Forester - along with the new boxer engine - will arrive in local showrooms in early 2011, although specific details and pricing have yet to be revealed.

The Forester continues to be the best-selling compact SUV in Australia, its 11,456 year-to-date sales beating out Toyota's RAV4 10,597.