Tuesday 17th May 2005

SUV gets power-pack

Subaru boosts Forester's power

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Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

One of the quickest sports-utility vehicles – the Subaru Forester 2.5 XT – has just got faster thanks to a new 255 PS Prodrive Performance Pack.

It brings down the Forester’s 0-60 mph time from 6.0 to 5.5 seconds, with the 0-100 mph time slashed from 17.9 to 15.5 seconds.

Equally important is the boost to engine flexibility. Torque grows from 236lb-ft at 3,600rpm to 272.8lb-ft at 3,500rpm, while maximum power is at 5,500 instead of 5,600 rpm for the 211 PS version.

The result is a cut in the 30-50 mph time in fourth gear from 5.8 to 5.1 seconds and the 50-70 mph time coming down from 4.8 to 4.3 seconds.

Higher up the speed range the 70-90 mph times are reduced from 5.4 to 4.9 seconds in fourth and from 7.7 to 7.1 seconds in fifth.

And while the Prodrive Performance Pack-equipped Forester has not been tested for top speed, the standard 2.5 XT’s 140 mph is likely only to increase.

Costing £1,600 including VAT and dealer fitting, the PPP is available from early June and carries Subaru’s full three year/60,000 warranty. It comprises a reprogrammed Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and modified exhaust system.

[dinkus]

Oh dear oh dear. Why?!?

And I hope they've given that bugger some seriously larger brakes...

[Witchfinder]

Evo seem to rate their long-term XT very highly indeed. Impressive vehicle, but I just can't bring myself to love the looks. Why can't they do a super version of the Legacy for the UK?

>> Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 17th May 12:47

[cjbolter]

They do !!
See David Hendry in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Website dhcars.co.uk
VBR CJ : STI 2.5 Forester !!.

[gbw911]

Sub already do a quick Legacy, all official, the Legacy 3.0 R Spec B. Attractive car in most senses and makes a change from the usual German stuff.

[cnjohnson_uk]

I had a Spec B up until about 3 weeks ago. The car sadly was quite flawed (brakes and clutch) and it als depreciated at such a rate of knots it was frightening £27k - £17K in 3 months, with some bids even being as low as £13K

[lugs]

Why would it need bigger brakes? It's 50 kg lighter than a Spec 'B' Legacy Tourer and only 140 kg heavier than a 5 door Impreza!
Why do it? Because it's bl**dy good fun basically. I rag around in the standard 2 litre XT and apart from the looks I can't fault it. With decent tyres (the standard fit Yoko Geolanders are downright dangerous) it's pace on the B roads is astonishing.

They do need to sort out the looks though....