This Is What Happens When Subaru Lets Fans Redesign the Forester

Essentially, Subaru gave the digital community the green light and said, “Okay, what can the internet do?” They stepped aside, and instead of hinting at an upcoming Forester behind the closed doors of a design studio, the brand put that job in the hands of fans, some AI assistance, and quite a bit of creativity.

This all went down during the Subaru School Festival in Japan. People were invited to type a few ideas into AI generators and let them cook up what a future Forester could look like. No sketching skills needed. Just vibes, chaos, and whatever popped into their heads. Subaru then picked ten of the most popular designs and let the community vote on them.

Some feel like they were designed on autopilot. Others try so hard to look futuristic that they miss the mark. And a few are just plain confusing, leaving you wondering what the designers were even going for.

One design looks like it belongs on a work site and actually makes some sense. Another one, called Jungle Caveman, has wooden teeth on the grille and an axe strapped to the roof, like it is ready to fight traffic and a bear at the same time. There is one that looks like dessert on wheels. Another one has plants growing out of it and feels more greenhouse than SUV.

Fans of sportier styles have a pair that aims to look fast and earnest, even though speed is a moot point in a car that only exists in a digital world. One is angular and sci-fi, another threatens to bore through the freeway.

None of these are real, and none of them are coming to a dealership. Subaru let fans play, get weird, and speculate without boundaries for once. It feels honest, messy, and way more entertaining than another staged teaser image.

If you are part of Subaru’s online community, you can vote for your favorite. Whether you pick the one that looks cool, ridiculous, or slightly unhinged is up to you.