Two 2015 Subaru Forester tS features kept STI engineers awake at night

The all-new 2015 Subaru Forester tS has been launched for the Japan market and gets performance features not seen on the standard Forester. And it kept STI engineers awake at night trying to figure out how to make the safety feature work with the new performance SUV. Safety is a core value for Subaru and they had to figure out how to make it work, because there was no way they would leave it off the new Forester tS.

New Forester tS gets EyeSight

Subaru’s new-generation safety feature called EyeSight is a key feature on many new Subaru vehicles and STI had to figure out a way to make it work with the new Brembo high-performance brakes that come on the new 2015 Forester tS. The new Forster tS gets it’s own performance specs from STI. tS stands for tuned by STI and the performance division gave it some performance upgrades. This special Forester sits 15mm lower than the regular SUV and gets a special STI suspension setup and tuning for performance driving dynamics.

STI-developed performance

Underneath it features 19-in BBS aluminum wheels wrapped in 245/45R19 Turanza ER33 performance tires, 17-in ventilated Brembo disc brakes both front and rear with red STI logo, a track-tested STI-tuned suspension, flexible tower bar, draw stiffeners both front and rear, a flexible support sub-frame in the rear, dedicated ECU unit, dedicated TCU transmission control unit and a oil cooler for the 8-step CVT automatic.

MUST SEE: New Forester tS has Nurburgring roots, but don't look for it in the U.S.

Two features give STI fits

But it was the new Brembo performance brakes and lower ride height that gave STI engineers fits as they developed the new SUV. The Forester tS had to get Subaru's unique driver assist technology EyeSight safety system and STI had to come up with a way for it to work. The bigger Brembo brakes and lower ride height was not allowing the system to work properly. This safety system has earned global praise for its ability to prevent collisions in all Subaru-equipped vehicles. Forester tS also features a dedicated VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) system.

How did they do it?

Subaru and STI developed the new Forester STI at the same time they were testing the new 2015 Subaru WRX STI Nurburgring 24-hour race car. They also have tested the performance SUV on twisty roads in Europe and the autobahn to make sure this new Forester STI will hold up under normal driving conditions. They then tested the Forester on the Nurburgring 24-hour track under more severe conditions. STI extensively tested the Forester tS with the performance suspension and made it work with the new-generation EyeSight. It took months of testing and many sleepless nights.

The new 2015 Subaru Forester tS was developed for the Japan market and sadly we won’t see it in other global markets. But you can check out the new EyeSight-equipped Forester tS on the Japan website here and look and not touch.