by Subaru has invited fans to create AI renders of future Forester models
Despite the current generation Subaru Forester being only two years old, the brand is already thinking about its future. Instead of keeping the design development process a secret, the company turned to its fans and artificial intelligence to imagine where the model could go.
This initiative was part of the Subaru School Festival 2025, which took place in Japan on November 23. Participants were invited to create their own futuristic Forester concepts using AI tools. From dozens of submitted works, Subaru selected the ten most popular and opened voting within the community.
Wild and unrestrained ideas from fans
The concepts were most likely created using simple text prompts, meaning the only limitation was the participant’s imagination, not their drawing skills. This explains both the strange names of the concepts and some inconsistencies with Subaru’s current style.
This, naturally, led to a collection of designs ranging from nostalgic to almost unrestrained.
Some renders resemble early generations of the Forester, others look as if they crawled out of a forgotten bin of 2012 concept cars, and a few are so detached from reality that they might require explanatory notes.
Overview of the most interesting concept cars
One of the few that resembles a real car is “Strength is Power” (#10). It is relatively restrained and perhaps even looks better than current models in showrooms.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is “Jungle Caveman” (#8), a concept with wooden tusks on the grille, an axe on the roof rack, and body panels seemingly carved from granite.
Among other interesting works are “Chocolate Banana” (#5), which resembles a cake enlarged to SUV size, and “Cucumber House” (#7) with a plant-like grille and a leaf on the hood.
For those obsessed with speed, “Black Thunder” (#3) and Subalist (#6) are the closest to sporty versions of the Forester. The “Sky Tree” (#4) concept seems inspired by Cadillac’s angular phase.
“Time Machine” (#1) has perhaps the most hypnotic headlights one can see on a car, raising certain concerns about what happens when cars start making decisions. “Drill” (#2) looks ready to break through rush hour thanks to an aggressively pointed grille, and “Safe Money” (#9) resembles a hybrid of the Subaru Ascent and a high-security safe.
How the voting takes place
Subaru deserves praise for letting its fan base play designer. Voting is open only to registered members of the Subaru online community. If you have a Subaru ID and your own opinion, you can log in via the Suba Studies Office and vote for the concept that best conveys your mix of chaos and creativity.
Such initiatives demonstrate how traditional approaches to design and marketing are changing in the automotive industry. Engaging the community through AI not only generates incredible content for social media but can also inspire real designers to unexpected solutions. While most of these renders will remain a digital fantasy, they clearly show the emotions and associations that the Forester model evokes in its fans—from nostalgia and reliability to a desire for freedom and experimentation. This project has become a kind of sociological study conducted in the form of a game.
