We've been a little disappointed by the looks of Subaru's latest Impreza and WRX, but wanted to reserve judgment until the STi showed up. Could that homely hatch design really support the extra muscle that transforms the STi into a rally star? We really wanted to know. There have been tons of renderings and spy shots, but here we have what is possibly the first clear photo of the real deal. Captured by CARTOP, it was just posted by Nihon Car. It still looks touched up to us, if not completely cgi, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Not a lot of changes from WRX to STi are apparent, but the banana-colored Scubie snack looks even more like a Mazdaspeed3 to our eyes. OK, enough harping on the looks. It's not like it's terribly offensive, just a little bland. We're sure driving this 320-hp rocket will change our opinions pretty drastically.
Thanks for the tip, MB!
[Source: Nihon Car]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JT @ Jul 26th 2007 1:52PM
Definitely looks like a chop of the nurburging shots where the car is camo'd. I can see it being pretty close to the mark though.
Mike @ Jul 26th 2007 3:24PM
If that is close to the mark then keep it away from me. Someone, rendering or not, gave that car a heavy dose of ugly...
srivendel @ Jul 26th 2007 1:57PM
If that's close to right, then Evo FTW.
Hopefully it will be closer to the R&T renderings.
speedball3 @ Jul 26th 2007 6:44PM
Agreed, those R-T renderings were awesome looking! Not sure exactly what they did, but I found myself enjoying the renderings while not enjoying the real pics of the WRX 5-door.
NT @ Jul 26th 2007 2:04PM
If thats accurate then Toyota really has RUINED the Subaru line up. They have taken the style and absurd level of aggression out of the line and turned into another Buick wanna be brand like Toyota. I don't care how fast it is, no one wants a 30K rally car to look like a run of the mill Corolla.
STI FTL, EVO X FTW.
Ligor @ Jul 26th 2007 5:23PM
you really think that Toyota had anything to do with the STi group?
they take a $24k car adn add $5k worth of part adn accesories adn sell it for $35k
why whould they not want this - it's got profit writen all over it, why would Toyota make Subaru make the STi UGLIER that the base WRX?
Quentin @ Jul 26th 2007 6:37PM
Toyota has 8% stake in FHI. Then consider the fact that the STI design was already on paper by the time Toyota even purchased any stake in the company last year. You are completely clueless about how the automobile industry works and what kinds of lead times these vehicles face.
DamienDeeee @ Jul 26th 2007 2:06PM
With every new design, Subaru makes me love my '03 bugeye WRX more & more. I really don't like this new style, the grill reminds me of a chrysler or saturn, the lights mazda - it looks like they aped every other car style to achieve this.
most unfortunate...
Brooksie @ Jul 26th 2007 5:41PM
Agreed. 'o2 Bugeye here.
Jack @ Jul 26th 2007 10:06PM
THE BUGEYE VERSION WAS/ IS THE BEST ONE!
John R @ Jul 26th 2007 2:08PM
i concur. If this is even close to the actuall product, Evo for the win. The Mitsu looks like a Gundam robot coming to kick your butt compared to this jellybean. I was holding out hope...but it's fading.
Imp @ Jul 26th 2007 2:16PM
I don't care what this car can do, its looks haven't ruined it.
Peter Rockwell @ Jul 26th 2007 2:21PM
Do you mean comely (appealing) or homely (ugly)?
John P. @ Jul 26th 2007 2:23PM
When is the last time a subaru actually looked good? ok, the svx was kinda cool in the beginning, but other than that,.....
At this point, if they actually did start designing a cool looking car people will get confused, wondering if they took a wrong turn and ended up at a Mazda dealership or something.
I'm convinced the design team is a bunch of ex railroad car designers from when that fuji heavy industries division went belly up.
But damn, wrx's are still cool, ugly and all. It's part of their charm.
MrChips @ Jul 26th 2007 2:25PM
Gawd almighty that thing is UGLY! Glad I wasn't one of those looking forward to it.
Dave in MI @ Jul 26th 2007 2:29PM
The Legacy GT wagon looks good. Get them while they last....
rv @ Jul 26th 2007 2:33PM
I guess I'm crazy; I like it. I think the black/yellow looks pretty friggin' cool too. I like what they did to the foglamp area, I like the fender flares, I like that its a hatch. I still wonder if that pic is the real deal of what we'll see in the states...
vectorbug @ Jul 26th 2007 2:34PM
Its like the scene in Batman when Jack Nicholson sees himself after his accident (and turned into the joker) for the first time. Its just so terrible you have to laugh and kill the doctor. I think he killed the doctor. I dont remember, I haven't seen that movie since it came out.
biggins @ Jul 26th 2007 2:52PM
i'm sorry... that just isnt a cool looking car.
Aetius @ Jul 26th 2007 2:59PM
Frank...I'd say it's a copy of the Mazdaspeed Protege5. Well, without any of it's clean lines...