We need to talk about an epidemic gripping the globe. Plastic cladding is spreading everywhere from SUVs to compact cars, and it’s getting out of hand. It’s an easy crutch for visually slimming out the bulk of modern vehicles, but it’s easy to go overboard. Case in point:Â Subaru just unveiled a new cladding package for the Forester in Japan, and it’s absurdly excessive.
There is some precedent for this. Subaru previously released an accessory cladding package for the Crosstrek including tie-downs built into plastic flares and chunky door ding protectors, and it seemed over-the-top then. However, it has nothing on this specially specced Forester, which takes things to a new extreme.
Let’s start with the ridiculously aggressive rub strips on the doors, ribbed for strength like pieces of sports armor. They don’t seem to follow any natural contours, instead imposing themselves on clean sheetmetal like plastic monoliths in an open field. It’s the sort of thing that’s difficult to avert your eyes from, like an explosion or a high-speed police chase. Oh, and they leave a critical strip of metal uncovered, so someone could come along at the right angle and ding this Forester regardless.
Then there’s the grille, which looks like it was stolen off a half-ton pickup truck. There’s no actual Subaru badge on it, instead relying on a wordmark stamped into plastic for branding, and the contrast of two strong vertical elements against horizontal slats turns this Forester into a sabretoothed crossover.
Oh, and we can’t forget about the headlight and taillight protectors that only seem like they’d protect against hits from the side. I actually kinda like the graphic extensions they provide, although the almost snakeskin-like finish is a bit much for me. Still, it beats fake carbon fiber, and offers some contrast against matte plastic.
However, the flipside of this appearance package is that it comes with a sweet set of mountain-themed graphics that seem straight out of the ’90s. Extending down the lower doors and across the tailgate, this is the sort of fun we can get behind. While Ford’s been doing a great job with the Bronco Sport Free Wheeling, more cars need graphics, and Subaru seems ready to deliver.
In case you’re wondering what this full treatment is called, it’s named the Adventure Style package, and it’s certainly adventurous. Not everyone’s going to be a fan of the look, but for REI-ing to the max, this might be what you need. Unfortunately, it seems to only be sold in Japan. Sure, it’s no Forester Ultimate Customized Kit Special, but this Forester sure won’t be easy to misplace in a parking lot.
Top graphic image: Subaru
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
This Subaru Is What Everyone In Brooklyn Will Drive When Society Finally Collapses
-
Why The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Is The Only Forester You Should Even Consider
-
This Is The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Before You’re Supposed To See It
-
The 2025 Subaru WRX ‘tS’ Fixes The Worst Flaw Of Modern Subarus
-
Why The 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT Is Still The King Of The Midsize Crossovers
Please send tips about cool car things to tips@theautopian.com. You could even win a prize!
Ribbed for strength, or ribbed for her pleasure?
At first glance I thought someone was having fun with rendering.
Finally, a Forester that stands apart from my Forester in New England. If you decline your complementary Outback when you move here, you’re given a Forester and a stern look that says “drive this or else.”
Holy shit thats a lot of many things.
Snakeskin? That is obviously a Q*bert playing field.
Q*bert, Arcade | The King of Grabs
Ribbed for nobody’s pleasure.
Turning the cladding inside out won’t help either.
Who knew Subaru was a fan of cosplay? This season, the Forester is going as a 2008 Citroen C4 Cactus on a bad acid trip.
It’s ugly and bad…and I kind of dig it? It’s like the Borg partially assimilated a Forester. Probably stopped when they realized there was no useful technology for them to steal. 😉
Asian markets love revolting cars. That’s why we get them too.
They need them air filled like a Citroen Cactus
This had me counting the spokes on the wheels to see if it was AI-generated.
Shouldn’t this have been published April 1st?
For a moment I was having early-90’s Pontiac flashbacks…
I came here to say exactly that.
I suck at Photoshop, so could somebody else make this Forester, but completely covered in cladding, like some sort of dystopian 21st century woody?
Subarus were never noted much for refinement or good taste.
I’m glad that Subaru is looking to Temu shoes for inspiration
I just looked at that Crosstrek article… and now I kinda want one.
I’d take a hacksaw to those side steps though.
Not a fan of the grille or the ridiculous plastic floating midway up the doors, but the rest isn’t too bad.
Ngl, I kinda like it.
It would be better if the door cladding was removed or changed though.
Hideous. Which is too bad, because I don’t have a problem with the decals. Decals are fun! Though I’d prefer something more forest-y on a Forester, versus what appears to be the barren wasteland of the Aggro Crag.
Designed to be street-parked in France or Quebec.
Fewer door dents = winning.
im sure they will find a way to door ding this car.
Why not just make the door skins and body panels out of cladding plastic?
Then you could charge to paint it, and charge even more to leave the paint off for off-road vibes.
The “Autozone Accessories Edition”
I gotta hand it to Japan, they really do love embracing custom car culture.
This seems right in line with a car culture that gave us an OEM 86 for her, whatever crazy thing Mitsuoka’s cooked up this time, and the Bosozou movement.
I don’t care for it, but I’m happy it exists
Needs more cowbell?