Subaru Impreza STI revealed? Possibly. Nope.
Click images for photo gallery
If Japan's Best Car isn't BSing everyone, the car you see in the magazine scans above is the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. And while it's still a mortal lock to polarize people as much as the Impreza it's based on, we'll go out and say that this looks pretty killer. Sporting the expected high-mount wing, bulging fenders, quad exhaust tips, a substantial front spoiler, and a great-looking set of wheels, this is worlds better-looking than the regular WRX. From the looks of things, the car is also equipped with vented Brembos all around, which is not surprising. Where the WRX looks almost friendly, this thing's menacing, particularly in that dark gray finish.
According to the little chart shown on one of the scans, here's some of the key info you''ll want to know. All numbers pertain to the JDM model, obviously.- Engine/Transmission: EJ20 / 6MT
- 300PS (295 hp) @ 6500 RPM
- 45 kgm (325 lb-ft) @ 4400 RPM
- 10.5 km/l (24.7 US MPG) in the Japanese 10-15 mode test cycle
UPDATE: Drat. We have now spoken to our Japan-based contributor, Justin Gardiner. Justin tells us that these are renderings (sigh) done by Best Car that show what the mag believes the new STI will look like. We can only hope it looks this good.
[Source: AVOturboworld via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alex Nunez 10:39PM (9/12/2007)
Be advised, I'm the one who photoshopped the two pages together to make the lead photo. I am NOT good w/ Photoshop (read: I suck at it), and that's the best I could do on short notice. If you are a PS Ninja, feel free to redo it better than I did and shoot us the pic at abresearch -at- gmail -dot- com. The source pics are all in the gallery.
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Kayd 3:53AM (9/13/2007)
huh? I did it. I can't believe you are taking credit.
Alex Nunez 7:02AM (9/13/2007)
Uh, no you didn't. Or perhaps you did one for NASIOC, but that photo up top where the car's crappily merged together from the two bigger scans? I did that last night.
Kayd 8:44PM (9/13/2007)
You stole it from Nasioc :(
Alex Nunez 9:59PM (9/13/2007)
Genius: I didn't f**king steal it from NASIOC. I took the two pages in the gallery and shopped them together. You are not the only person in the world who owns software.
speedball3 11:45AM (9/14/2007)
I think these posts are the funniest posts I've seen on autoblog for a while. Kayd just sounds so whiney... it was entertaining with the first 3 posts, then comes this:
"You stole it from Nasioc :("
hahahaha. I can't tell if Kayd is just trying to annoy Alex or seriously believes he stole it....Especially since he doesn't leave a link to allow others to compare and help verify his claim. At any rate, it's entertaining! =)
btw, I believe Alex.
AZ 10:55PM (9/12/2007)
It does look pretty good.
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iOrange 10:55PM (9/12/2007)
Four exhaust pipes for four cylinders? I love Subies.. but seriously tacky!
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geo.stewart 11:21PM (9/12/2007)
oh please, at best its two pipes with a Y on each side. As long as its not the nineties trick of just sticking the dual ends on the opposite side, attached to naught.
Will 11:00PM (9/12/2007)
I love it.
And I hope like hell the 2.5L USDM version has even more power!
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Kristovar 11:01PM (9/12/2007)
Wow, that is one ugly Mazdaspeed3.
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rv 4:11PM (9/13/2007)
As much as I love a glorified Protoge, I don't think the STI is going to out-ugly or out-bore the Proto, I mean Mazdaspeed3. From the front, sides and rear; Protoge. Just a simple commuter wagon.
Richard 11:02PM (9/12/2007)
Yes!!!
And in the colour I have wished for!
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Matt 11:04PM (9/12/2007)
It's so ugly that it makes me want to punch a baby.
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Maestro1 11:04PM (9/12/2007)
Its unfortunate that this isn't the WRX, or that the WRX doesn't look aggressive at all.
I must say though that this STI looks way better than the original Impreza, so at least Subaru will probably keep all its STI fans and consumers, while the WRX customers take up Mitsubishi's Lancer Ralliart...
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Richard 11:05PM (9/12/2007)
And If I can remove those air dam vents and hang some giant old world style Hellas w/o interrupting the Brembos' breathing it'll be even beautifuller!
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Tom F 11:14PM (9/12/2007)
Why does one picture show 4 exhaust pipes while the power train picture shows the old (at least the same at my STi) single pipe exhaust?
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Will 11:35PM (9/12/2007)
That's an old stock photo from Subaru that shows the layout of the AWD system on the outgoing model. It should be essentially the same as the new layout, since the full-time AWD with DCCD and mechanical diffs will be retained.
ryan 12:39PM (9/13/2007)
i think everybody knows deep down inside that it won't look this good when it reaches stateside. perhaps if subaru had better designers for their rally cars...
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Will 12:14AM (9/13/2007)
Another rendering? And my hopes were so high that this was the real deal. Words fail me.
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