The Subaru XV Crosstrek is essentially a raised and slightly bubbled version of the Subaru Impreza five-door hatchback. It initially debuted in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235 as the Subaru XV concept. Shortly after that, Subaru moved the XV concept into production. We didn’t see the XV Crosstrek->ke4049 in production form here in the U.S. until Subaru came to the New York Auto Show in 2012. The model quickly went on sale for the 2013 model year and has since become Subaru’s third-best selling model.

To celebrate the success of the Crosstrek, Subaru released the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition last year. It had minor modifications here and there to differentiate it from the rest of the pack and was limited to just 1,000 units. Now, just a few days before the Chicago Auto Show->ke225 kicks off, Subaru has announced that it will be bringing another special edition version of the Crosstrek to the windy city.

The 2016 Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition will be limited to 1,500 examples, and like last year’s special edition model, it will be based on the 2.0i Premium. Once the special edition->ke2041 officially debuts, expect to see it hit showrooms at the end of this spring. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, though, we’ve only got a few days before we see the Special Edition Crosstrek in the metal, so let’s dive on in and preview what we’ll be seeing in Chicago.

Updated 02/12/2016: We added a series of new images (and one video) of the new Crosstrek Special Edition taken during its official unveiling at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. Check them out in the "Pictures" tab.

Continue reading to learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek Special Edition.

What makes the Subaru Crosstrek Special Edition special

As I mentioned previously, the Special Edition Crosstrek is based on the 2.0i Premium trim, which means it comes standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive, 17-inch alloy wheels, and the standard 8.7 inches ground clearance. The Special Edition is painted in Pure Red and featured paint-matched folding mirrors that have integrated turn signals. There are no other changes or special additions to the exterior, so let’s move on to the inside.

This year the theme of the special edition is red, as Subaru used red stitching on the leather-wrapped shifter, steering wheel, and the door panels. The dash trim also has a red inlay with red mood lighting underneath. The lights below the climate control panel have also been replaced with red lights – offering a soft-red ambiance to the floorboards and center console. That is the extent of the styling unique to this special edition model, but Subaru did go as far as to equip the model with the all-weather package. That means the Special Edition Crosstrek has heated front seats, windshield wiper deicers, and heated exterior mirrors.

Other standard features include a power moonroof, keyless entry with push-button start, and a color LCD inside the instrument panel. Standard safety features include blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera, and lane change assist. For infotainment, Subaru equipped the SE Crosstrek with the Subaru Starlink 6.2-inch multimedia system. This system includes Bluetooth connectivity, a CD player, auxiliary input jack, USB Port, iPod control, and audio streaming. When integrated with a smartphone, the can connect with Aha and Pandora. Subaru’s Starlink Cloud Applications Stitcher brings iHeart Radio, SiriusXM, a standard music player, news app, and a calendar to the mix.

Under the hood, you’ll find Subaru’s 2.0-liter Boxer engine with a total output of 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. That power is routed to all four wheels via Subaru’s CVT transmission. There are no upgrades to speak of here, but the transmission does offer a six-speed manual mode that allows the driver to use paddle shifters.

Basically, when you break it all down, what you have here is a standard XV Crosstrek 2.0 Premium with an exclusive finish on the outside and some minor accenting on the inside. Outside of that, everything else included in the special edition is available on one trim or another throughout the Crosstrek lineup. Personally, I would have expected Subaru to up the ante a little more with the special edition this year, you know, make it a little more special. But, not everything is meant to amaze. I just hope Subaru doesn’t try to sell the special edition at too much of a premium. Pricing will be announced closer to the car's on-sale date.

Subaru Crosstrek

Read our full review on the Subaru Crosstrek here.