Yes, the title is correct. This is the new Subaru WRX STI – the old ‘Impreza’ moniker gone, destined to be used on less powerful and more standard variants of the cars in the range. This new version has gone back to the roots of old, being a properly powerful – and sorted – sports saloon capable of massive speeds point to point.
The hatchback variant will sit alongside the saloon, and this will consequently mark the first time that four- and five-door versions of the car have been sold together in the UK.
The new WRX STI benefits from a stiffened bodyshell and an extensively reworked suspension system – based upon the marque’s widely praised ‘spec. C’ set-up. Lower ride height and wider tyres also contribute to more direct and accurate control of the car and greater feedback for the driver.
The widely praised 2.5-litre Subaru boxer 16-valve turbo engine with Dual Active Valve Control produces 300ps at 6,000rpm and massive torque – with a peak of 407Nm at 4,000rpm – even from low-revs. While these outputs are unchanged from the outgoing STI, improved torque delivery throughout the rev range translates into better response and more linear acceleration. The zero-to-62mph sprint is achieved in just 5.2 seconds.
This is a car that is best suited to ‘B’ road blats – capable in a wide variety of circumstances and likely to be as bomb proof as the Impreza saloons of old. My question is though, just who is it going to appeal to? Gone is the massive wing and it’s not even that lary. The hatchback, whilst looking ugly at first, has grown on me in style terms. It’s a strange one this. Will it still be worth a look? I should imagine so, but I just get the feeling that many have moved on – especially as Subaru have moved on from the rallying that made the brand so famous in the first place.
Ultimately, I’ll leave my judgement to a test drive, but it may be that this new ‘Scooby’ is priced just a little too high, coming with a tag of £32,995 on-the-road for both the four-and five-door variants. Available from October 2010 from your local Subaru dealer.
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