2016 Forester 2.0XT Touring
Ethan L :: Member #1824
Car Description:
This build is based on a USDM Subaru Forester XT — a platform that never received an official tS variant in this market.
The Forester tS was a limited STI-tuned model, developed with a focus on chassis refinement, balance, and subtle performance enhancements rather than aggressive styling. (Reference: https://www.sti.jp/en/roadcars/2014/forester-ts.html) The Forester tS was never about visual aggression, but about refinement — something this build intentionally preserves.
The idea behind this project is to explore what that version could have looked like if it had existed in the US: not through replication, but through a disciplined OEM+ approach grounded in STI and factory design language.
Throughout the process, this build became more than just parts and upgrades. It was a hands-on journey — learning through installation challenges, sourcing rare JDM components, making mistakes, and refining decisions over time.
What makes this project meaningful is the balance it tries to achieve: staying true to Subaru’s original engineering intent, while quietly creating something that feels distinct and personal.
Key Highlights:
* STI Front Under Spoiler (OEM)
* STI Performance Muffler
* STI Steering Wheel
* STI Flexible Front Tower Bar
* OEM Sport Grille (Gunmetal Gray)
* JDM Fog Light Covers with JW Optical Chameleon Fog Lights
* Prodrive 19” Forged Wheels
This is not a build focused on extremes, but on intention — where every modification is evaluated against whether it could have plausibly existed as part of a factory evolution.
If selected, I would love to share not just the car, but the small stories behind it — the challenges, the decisions, and the process of building something that sits between stock and imagination.
