Effortless Style: Subaru Forester GT Edition and XV GT Edition

The great majority believes that looking good entails a lot of effort. No, you cannot rush good results, but there are some who can pull off both style and substance without too much work.

Sprezzatura. Remember that term.

It means effortless style, in Italian. Think of it as wearing something basic, simple, but with a subtle accent piece that elevates it to a higher level. Special, but not fancy.

As far as automobiles go, a vehicle’s exterior is the easiest to modify. While some already look good straight out of the factory, there are some that get a few special pieces to make them look better, without having to resort to wild, overblown aesthetics.

In the automotive world, two great examples are well within reach: the Subaru Forester GT Edition and the Subaru XV GT Edition.

From the very start, both the Subaru Forester and XV went through a long design process. Five and two generations hence, respectively, and we can clearly see that both of these crossovers from Subaru exemplify a high level of design.

Do they look good as is? Yes, but Subaru isn’t about settling for the status quo. Good can always be made better, and so they brought famed Subaru designer Masahiko “Jack” Kobayashi back into the fold to make both the Forester and XV just a little bit more special.

Like the Levorg and the WRX STi, both Subaru crossovers got the Kobayashi makeover and the former Chief Designer brought us the Forester GT Edition and the XV GT Edition.

Being bold does not automatically equate to something huge or overdone. Take the Forester GT Edition, for example. Subaru’s high-riding crossover is not exempted from getting a nip and tuck, and this has been thought through quite well.

The Forester GT Edition gets a new front chin, a wrap-around skirt, and a rear diffuser. Compared to its stock counterpart, the dark panels accented by the brushed silver and chrome accents add a lot more presence to the Forester. Add a rear wing into the mix and you are bound to make people give a second, and even a third look.

While the exterior of the Forester GT Edition has all the extra bits to make it stand out, the makeover continues to the inside. Described by Subaru as a design inspired by fast performance cars, you’ll see the cabin draped in black and gray. It’s all about keeping it minimalist, but why use such a simple combination?

The magic is in the material. No simple threads here as Subaru made sure you get nothing but fine leather for the upholstery. From the materials to the colors, you just cannot go wrong with this combination.

The Forester was decked out all around, and with its set of wheels that are bespoke solely for the GT Edition, you get yourself a very personal touch that not just anyone else can share with you.

There are a lot of aftermarket alloys in the market, no doubt. But really, it’s about getting that which fits your motif perfectly. And that is what the Kobayashi-designed Forester GT Edition wheels are all about: bringing the style together in one, cohesive aesthetic theme.

If you’re about a simpler, subtler approach, then the Subaru XV GT Edition fits the bill perfectly. Granted it’s the smaller choice between the pair of GT Editions, but it definitely doesn’t lack any of the style and presence that everyone wants.

It’s not as imposing as the Forester at a quick glance, but it more than makes up for it with its inherent sleek and subtle lines. You don’t have much of the shiny accessories, but the XV GT Edition has the same wrap-around kit treatment: same style, but with a more subdued accent. After all, it’s the more suave choice between the two.

There is no shortage of the GT Edition touches in the XV’s interior, too. While quality leather remains to be the upholstery of choice, the XV GT Edition ups the ante with brighter contrast stitching in orange. If that’s not enough, you get added trim in carbon fiber finish in the cabin.

It’s all about simplicity with the XV, and it’s these subtle hints that make you appreciate that what you have is something that got a bit more thought as far as styling goes. Many may overlook it, but to the discerning eyes, it’s a good way to round up the XV GT Edition’s interior accents.

The same treatment is given to the wheels of the XV. Bespoke to the GT Edition, it is to be noted that they are totally different from their Forester namesake. A split-spoke star-form design is the XV GT Edition’s wheel design of choice, and its two-tone finish is a bit flashier compared to the on the Forester.

Overall, you get a fresher and younger look, but with materials and fit that is just as fine. Just because the XV GT Edition is geared towards a younger clientele doesn’t mean that any of the trim should be held back, right?

Alongside the many added touches to both crossovers, the same great Boxer heart powers both the Forester GT Edition and XV GT Edition. Underneath it all, both also have Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive drive that provides superior traction and balance in all conditions; a hallmark of Subaru engineering. There is no reason to compromise function or form over one another, but opting for a GT Edition gives you just that much more form but with just the same amount of performance you can enjoy anywhere you go.

Either can be the car for anyone, and everyone can lean more towards one of the two. Either way, they will be getting a vehicle that comes with the same performance and the same heritage that Subaru holds high.

Sprezzatura.

In a world where people aim to be more and look more, Subaru is the way to go, and drive. Whichever suit you choose to don, or whichever Subaru you choose to get be it the Forester GT Edition or the XV GT Edition, you will be getting a vehicle guaranteed to enhance your life and your style. Effortlessly.

Learn more about the Subaru Forester GT Edition or the Subaru XV GT Edition.