Subaru Forester 50th Anniversary, Exalted With 2023 Forester XT Edition

Subaru is commemorating 50 years of manufacturing all-wheel-drive vehicles with a unique Forester accessible only in Japan – 2023 XT Edition.

The XT-Edition is based on the JDM-spec Forester Sport and features a turbocharged 1.8-liter gasoline engine with 174 horsepower (130 kilowatts) at 5,200 rpm and 300 Newton-metres (221 pound-feet) of torque at 1,600 rpm.

Rides on 18-inch wheels, the jubilee vehicle is based on the local Sport trim level and includes a slew of cosmetic upgrades, such as 18-inch wheels with a dark metallic finish and all-season tires. 

More than that, the output is routed to both the front and rear axles using a continuously variable gearbox (CVT), sometimes known as Lineartronic.

Before we go further into details, the Subaru Forester XT-Edition is already on the market in Japan, with prices starting at RM 112,002.23 (3,355,000 yen). The electronic tailgate is the lone option, which adds RM1,836.10 (55,000 yen) to the price of the SUV.

On the outside, the 2023 Forester XT-Edition is differentiated by a number of black features, including the frame of the front grille, roof rails, and side mirror caps.

More of that black effect can be found around the fog lights and on the roof spoiler, as well as on specific portions of the bumpers. Subaru has fitted a water-repellent cargo floor with rails and fabric seat coverings to emphasise the SUV's outdoorsy appeal.

The XT-Edition is painted in Geyser Blue, making it the first JDM vehicle to use this colour, which was initially seen in North America. 

Notably, there’s an added silver stitching to the seats, dashboard, and door cards, as well as a metallic finish to the door cards and air vents, to brighten up the cabin.

The internal lighting has been changed to LEDs, and the cargo area has a suitable water-repellent floor cover to allow transporting items such as snowboards, mountain boots, or skis without leaving a mess.

Surprisingly, the XT-Edition lacks an infotainment system, instead opting for a black plastic cover and a small storage shelf in place of the centre touchscreen available in more expensive trims like the STI Sport. 

Safety aspects, the Forester in the XT-Edition flavour equipped as standard with the EyeSight Safety Plus, which includes a digital rearview camera, and is based on the facelifted model debuted in the Land of the Rising Sun in mid-2021.

However, readers must know that the fifth-generation Subaru Forester was released in 2018 and received a makeover in 2021, implying that it will be available for a few more years before the following model arrives.

We'll have to wait and see if the XT-Edition will be offered outside of Japan. Keep an eye out!