1 Aug 1998
Most of the changes occurred underneath the bonnet.
A more efficient, economical version of the 2.0-litre “boxer” motor saw power and torque rise to 92kW and 184Nm respectively, while an all-new four-speed automatic and a heavily revised five-speed manual gearbox also boasted improvements over their predecessors.
But the big news was the inclusion of the Forester GT, a turbocharged version of the Limited fitted with a 125kW/240Nm 2.0-litre version of the upgraded boxer engine.
A special edition version of the Limited arrived in early ’99, featuring new wheels, fog lights and a mesh grille.