Released in 1997, this Subaru SUV is sold as a compact crossover. Half way between the Impreza and Legacy, the Forester featured AWD as standard. The Forester initially featured a 2.5 liter 165 hp engine, providing up to 220 N/m of torque. The center of gravity was lowered low enough to meet the US safety standards for Passenger Vehicles. Foresters clever AT transmission automatically shifts power between the front and rear wheels, when climbing hills, or in slippery situations, from 10-90 up to 50-50.

2003 saw a Turbo edition of the Forester, the XT. Featuring a new 2.5l DOHC engine. The turbo was the same as the one used on the Impreza WRX, so STI upgrade parts for the XT Forester were readily available for the tuning crowd. 2003 also featured sporty upgrades such as aluminum hood, perforated rails and a hydro-formed front sub-frame.

The newest edition of the Forester was released in 2008, and feature a slightly larger design.

Having the same engine and 4WD system like the Impreza, it may be a good to think of the Forester as an Impreza with more space and practicality. Popularity of the Forester as a tuning base is not as high as the smaller Impreza, but there are many tuned Foresters showcasing it performance potential. Suspension, Aero Parts, Interior, Handling, Exhaust. You name it, there is something available for the Forester.

The Suzuki Swift+ is a Canada-only collaboration with the Daewoo, sold since 2004, as a captive import of the Daewoo Kalos, sold under the Swift banner. In 2009 it was updated with the Opel ECOTEC 106 hp 1.6 l engine.

With gas prices on the rise, Japan has seen the trend of mini's becoming the tuning base for today's tuners. Both Supercharger and Turbocharger kits have been developed for a variety of minis, as well as selections of aero, exhaust, and suspension parts by many major and minor brands in the JDM tuning industry. The Suzuki Swift has a variety of parts available for it to be a faster, sharper handling city cruiser and track racer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester