2021 Subaru Forester STI for Japan only; Why not import for Malaysians?

KUALA LUMPUR: Subaru Japan and its tuning partner ‘Subaru Tecnica International’ worked together to bring a special edition 2022 model Forester STI, but Malaysians will not see this performance model in Motor Image showrooms.

The reason is simple, as this refreshed and rather special 2022 model Subaru Forester is a performance SUV with a turbocharged engine that is only being offered in Japan.

Performance enthusiasts in Malaysia would jump at the chance to get their hands on this 2022 Forester with a turbocharged engine and suspension upgrades. This means the used reconditioned dealers will be smiling and getting ready to buy used units in Japan in the next 13 months and import them into Malaysia for enthusiasts to buy.

With a registered docket price already in place for localized ‘pedestrian’ versions of the Subaru Forester, the recon AP importers will only be paying a small import duty when their stock arrives in Malaysia and then they will be putting a high selling price on each Forester STI they sell.

The Japan-specification model comes after the success of its older sibling, the 2014 model Forester tS. Yes, the tS was in fact a full STI-developed sports wagon.

Now, this latest version will be powered with a Subaru Levorg-sourced 1.8-litre turbocharged direct-injection (TDI) four-cylinder, lean combustion Boxer engine. There are already a few units of the Levorg STI running around Klang Valley which were imported in by AP Holders this past year.

Equipped with some well-engineered STI gear, like an STI shift knob; STI front spoiler; STI side spoiler; STI rear spoiler; STI rear side under spoiler; STI 18-inch black alloy wheels; STI front tower bar; STI red push-button start; and an STI roof end spoiler. This special edition sports wagon rides on 18-inch wheels with wide and low 225/45 tyres.

So, why is this or any Subaru ‘STI’ model so much in demand here and also regionally?

Well, STI’s mission within Subaru was to develop and manage the brand’s growing motorsport activities alongside the development of its road cars. The very first STI event was a world high-speed endurance record attempt in 1989 and the STI-equipped Subaru broke the record over an 18-day, 62,000-mile run which was completed at an average speed of 138.78 mph.

STI is Subaru’s in-house motorsports tuning company just like how Mercedes-Benz has AMG, BMW has the M division, Toyota has Gazoo Racing and so Subaru has STI to produce performance models.

Subaru started up STI in 1988 together with ‘Prodrive’ (which is a British-based motorsports company) to take on the World Rally Championship and since then it has been responsible for more than just WRC wins. The STI, Subaru relationship has helped Subaru achieve 30 plus years of motorsport success.

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