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Ahhh, Japan -- where ever-more-muscular special editions pop into the marketplace with no advance warning whatsoever. On November 15, Subaru drops its latest rally-inspired performance bomber into showrooms. The Impreza WRX STi spec C TYPE RA-R (I don't know about you, but I love the Japanese penchant for giving their sports models these impressively long monikers) will be limited to 300 units, and offers the same power levels last seen in the limited-but-not-as-limited-as-this Impreza S204.
That means this latest Subie dishes out 320 horsepower and around 318 lb-ft of torque. The extra juice comes thanks to a larger-diameter turbine and ECU reprogramming combined with improved breathing up front and a freer-flowing exhaust. The upgraded and retuned suspension gets dropped 15mm compared to the base car. White-painted 18" STi wheels are wrapped in 40-series Bridgestone rubber, and a peek through the spokes reveals the car's 6-piston brakes. The body is essentially left alone, save for a black front lip spoiler and roof vane. A vivid yellow paint color will be offered, but is limited to 50 of the 300 cars. The other colors are Pure White and WR Rally Blue Mica, and all three finishes get a cherry red accent line that encompasses the center grille's inner surround. An optional carbon fiber rear wing and a different BBS wheel style are also available. We prefer the white rally-look standard rims, though. Inside, the standard sport seats can be upgraded to optional Recaro buckets, and a new knob adorns the shifter. Of course, the driver's favorite feature may simply be the right pedal, which stands ready and waiting to unleash the hounds underhood.
To answer the question you're surely thinking: no, you can't get it here. Sorry. If you're in Japan, however, one will set you back ¥4,284,000.
[Source: Subaru Japan]
SUBARU WRX STi spec C TYPE RA-R
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Scott @ Nov 8th 2006 12:07PM
So... they called it the Type RAR!
RAWR!
I'd still buy it.
eric @ Nov 8th 2006 12:17PM
Where is the coupe? Bring back the 22B or the SVX. The hopped up sedan thing is getting old. Subie (and Mitsu too) need real sports cars in their line up. Maybe Subie can borrow some of that Toyota money to buy the rights to the awesome Prodrive P2 concept. Import that to the U.S. as a limited edition halo model and I'd be the first to drop 40k on it.
Doc Lucas @ Nov 8th 2006 12:18PM
At todays exchange rate 4,284,000 yen translates to $36,376. Of course, you could never get one over here for that, but does anybody else think that this car would be the ultimate rural mail vehicle? :)
Kent @ Nov 8th 2006 12:39PM
Doesn't it look great without any of those ridiculous rear wings. And I love the fact it has four doors.
Accordsforall @ Nov 8th 2006 12:40PM
To #2, Coupes DO NOT SELL. There are a dozen coupes from Honda and Toyota that have bit the dust, simply because they do not sell. That same package can be gained in a sedan... with the seats dropped back.
Mitsu's only claim to fame is that bloated SOB Eclispe.. and without that.. it wouldnt make any money. Thats basically the only car they sell and in low numbers.
I can literally.. go down a list of 100 coupes that have failed in the market place. Not to mention the SVX that Subbie had in about 92. It wasnt styled right, and didnt sell. Put the 2dr Impreza that they used to have... vs the 4dr.. and the 4 will fly off of shelves.
Only company to effectively have 2 coupes of varing size is the Civic and Accord Coupe. They keep the styling fresh every coupla years and save money by using the Accord / Civic platforms.
Look what happened to the Supra, RSX, Integra And the Z isnt doing so well either. Heck, look at the SC and the current version from Lexus. Very limited market.
And thats one thing they cant do right.. PRICE THEM PROPERLY. You might pay 40g but the market wont. On top of all that.. you might be the only one to buy one, so good luck on ya finding parts and a 1/2 decent resale.
Every car is better as a 4dr, and they sell more too.
Jones @ Nov 8th 2006 12:56PM
sign me up for 2 of these, pure white and rally blue. i wonder what would happen if JUN racing and Signal Auto got their hands on these...
Corey @ Nov 8th 2006 1:22PM
If I modded an Impreza STi to mirror this, would that make my pirated version Type ARGGGGGGG???
/thank you thank you, i'll be here all week
//don't forget to tip your waitress
Erik @ Nov 8th 2006 1:39PM
Subaru Impreza WRX STi spec C TYPE RA-R
HAAAAA! Are you serious? Are they really going to call it that? That has to be a joke.
imlicknem @ Nov 8th 2006 2:18PM
I love that my 02 WRX has four doors. I have had a few cars that were 2 doors and 4 seats, and I can tell you that trying to put a semi-heavy box in the rear seating area (please save the "put it in the trunk" argument for those who don't care about weight distribution) will almost always result in a trip to the chiropractor. Besides, why make passengers have to crawl their way past a front seat to get into what amounts to a crawl space anyway in most compact and sub-compact cars? Completely impractical IMHO, and only having two doors could quite possibly sacrifice some of the WRX's (STI's) body rigidity.
Did anyone else notice that the wing pictured is almost identical to the Prodrive aftermarket wing?...
mk @ Nov 8th 2006 2:27PM
Yeah. Coupes are horrible. NOT.
That is why the 350Z is back. That is why the Cayman and Z4 coupes are out, and the G35. That is why the tC and Civic SI sells somewhat well. That is why Ford, Chrysler, and GM are racing to introduce muscle-bound V8 pony-car-war coupes.
The 90's coupe crash in favor of SUVs is no longer the automotive atmosphere, and coupes are coming back. Audi, Volvo, and a bunch of others are still on their way to market.
No one said delete the sedan option... but Subaru has NO coupes. NONE.
A three-door WRX and STI would be nice. Not a stuffed shirt, like the solara and eclipse. A GT Coupe based on the Legacy GT would also do fairly well, I think, if supported properly, where the Legacy hasn't been.
Options. Give people the option to choose the body-style they want. Especially with a performance car like the WRX STI. It has almost everything in it's favor. AWD, Power, nimble size, modest weight... but it looks like a card-board cutout. If that drivetrain and suspension competence were put in an actually attractive car... good luck keeping them in stock...
Justin @ Nov 8th 2006 2:53PM
number 5...
the rsx got killed because the civic si is an rsx that's cheaper and none of the flaws of the rsx. who would buy an rsx when you could get a civic si that rides better, handles better, gives you better steering feedback, has a lsd, better motor, revised tranny, and is cheaper. yea it doesn't look as good... but it's common sense.
Justin @ Nov 8th 2006 2:53PM
... and the supra is coming back relatively soon.
the rsx is the new integra, and the civic si is the new rsx. and they definitely had 4 door integras.
and the sc was a supra. in lexus sheetmetal, just like the first gen is's were 4 door n/a supras and they didn't even sell that well. and the supra 2jz motor was inferior and had oiling problems like whoa so why bother keep selling a dated motor. as for the sc's, they just plain sucked, even the v8 ones and were hideous.
cars specifications @ Nov 8th 2006 4:34PM
It looks nice, but try to add an rear wing, like Impreza WRC
doglet @ Nov 8th 2006 7:49PM
wow 3 Rs!
that thing must be off the hizzul fo realz yo
Pinvader @ Nov 9th 2006 4:47AM
I'm still in love with Impreza WRC
Bill @ Nov 11th 2006 4:34PM
Yeah Coupes don't sell.
That is why Ford killed that Mustang thing after the '66
model year.Shame it was a good looking car and a neat concept.
Pennywise @ Nov 12th 2006 10:58PM
Subaru is trying to kill me, I tell you! First they came out with the 'Flying Vagina'. The first 2005/06 WRX STi... Then, they released the limited edition 600 units worldwide S204.
For each units of S204 sold in Malaysia, the price will hike RM1,000 more. Now, they release like what the first post saw, Type-C-RA-R! RAWR!!!
One after another, they all look the same but slight improvements. I want it but I cant really afford it and everytime I try to break away from this 'curse of brainwash', it comes out with something new to tempt me! Damn it!!!
Japanparts @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:44AM
English language spec. is linked on our Site here:
http://www.japanvehicles.com/newcars/subaru/SpecC_RA-R/main.htm
Factual errors in the original posting:
4,368,000JPY on the Road in Japan
The S204 was limited to 600 Units, the Spec C Type RA-R is limited to 300 Units
This does not make the S204 *Rarer*
Graham Ware
Export Manager
www.japanparts.com
www.japanvehicles.com
S_chick @ Nov 25th 2006 11:55AM
i love it, perfect, slick, stylish, fast, brakes--wow-- colors..eh. wow
Dolf Jans @ Jan 12th 2007 7:54AM
simply the most desirable piece of motor on this planet. Everything seems to be spot on, from colours to wheels to specifications.
Why are these sort of limited specials only appearing at the end of a model's career like Renault's razorsharp Clio Trophy last year? DJ