2019 Subaru Forester spied testing in Japan

Expected to go on sale next year.

The current, fourth-generation Subaru Forester arrived in 2012 and is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Subaru is now working on the fifth generation Subaru Forester, which was recently spied testing in Japan.

Subaru is initially testing the next-gen Subaru Forester in the current model's body, and so, the exterior design changes in the works remain a mystery. The interior does look new, though, possibly bearing the same layout as that of the new generation Subaru Impreza. The fifth-gen Subaru Forester was previewed by the Subaru Viziv Future Concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

The all-new Subaru Forester will likely ride on the Subaru Global Platform that currently underpins the Subaru Impreza. Subaru says that the new platform increases rigidity throughout the body and chassis, reduces noise and vibration and increases the comfort level of the vehicle due to better absorption of the suspension. Moreover, it's adaptable to electrification.

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Subaru has said that it will start offering new downsized turbocharged engines in 2019, and the next-gen Forester could get one of these new units. To comply with US zero emission vehicle (ZEV) regulations, the company plans to launch a plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2018, possibly a variant of the Forester or the Outback.

[Image Source: Twitter]