Filed under: Spy Photos, Sports/GTs, Tokyo Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Subaru
Spy Shots: Subaru Impreza WRX STi caught undisguised on 'Ring
click above image to view all of our Subaru Impreza WRX STi spy shots
Though Subaru engineers took careful measures to ensure their Impreza WRX STi tester wasn't spotted en route to the Nurburgring or at the track's staging area, eventually the car cover had to come off. It appears Subaru engineers were forced to unveil the production body of the new STi in order to test how the final form affects cooling. Though we just showed you this official teaser shot of the STi, these spy shots show the car outside in perfect light where every detail of the new design is cleary visible. Aside from some black tape, the blue STi underneath is practically naked. Note what appear to be air extractor vents or intake scoops on the sides of the front bumper, a design element we weren't entirely aware of before. We can also clearly see the rear wing now, which is less ostentatious than we were hoping. The STi has always been known for sporting an obnoxious rear wing, but it looks like that tradition will end with the 2008 model. KGP Photography took shots of the STi from nearly every angle, all of which can be viewed in our high-res gallery.
[Photos: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
evlmnky 1:25PM (9/20/2007)
It is growing on me but now, sadly, it pretty much looks like everything else in the market...
The rear end definitely needs some getting used to.
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2004m3driver 2:00PM (9/20/2007)
I don't see it resembling anything else on the market besides it being a hatchback. The lights are a bit mazday but the fender flares and the stance of the car are all its own.
Awesome looking tuner car though, only thing I would change would be the brakelights. They should have just stuck with plain red. I guess if I were to buy this I would smoke them out like everybody else will.
DJ 1:32PM (9/20/2007)
and by undisguised you mean disguised right? or is this a new auto-fashion trend that we can look forward to from the 'Fast & Furious' crowd?
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IPSECTL 1:37PM (9/20/2007)
Looks like a CUV- can we say ala Mazda CX7 and Acura RDX?
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Maestro1 1:37PM (9/20/2007)
Ok for some reason with the smaller spoiler the rear end has become disproportional to the front end again. The taillights and the grille also need to be changed.
With the previous rendering I was more hopeful, but i'm disappointed again....
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John R 1:40PM (9/20/2007)
Much better, but I'll still take that new Evo. But a 300 horse rally rocket in a 5 door guise is really tempting.
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Jason 1:53PM (9/20/2007)
Recaro seats!!! Finally Subaru, for the love of everything holy, finally you put real seats in the STI! Please oh please keep those Recaros in the production version. Do not make the same mistake of the previous STI's horrible, unsupportive, cheap, ugly seats. I am assuming the roll cage will not be there. For those complaining that the spoiler in the back is "too small", shut the hell up please. What do you want Subaru to do, put that horrendous park bench thats on current STIs on the back of their new beauty? I don't think so. Keep it all subtle Subaru and give us those damn Recaros!! Oh and semi-auto paddle shift as well please.
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Neil Schelly 2:22PM (9/20/2007)
My v5 STi seats feel great and are very supportive, but they aren't from the US market obviously. It's entirely possible that unsupportive seats in the US STis are because the US market isn't ready for a car with seats like that. I agree that the current STi doesn't come with very nice seats, but I haven't sat in a late-model non-US STi to compare.
I guess I'm saying that I wouldn't be surprised if that car, being right-hand-drive would have nicer seats than the ones we'll see here, but here's to hoping!
-N
Sparky Zivin 6:56PM (9/20/2007)
My guess is that the Recaros go the way of the roll cage pictured for the version you get at the dealership.
Josiah 2:05PM (9/20/2007)
I don't know about you guys but I see some Porsche Panamera in there.
Maybe it's just the 5 door/blue paint combination.
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AntBee 2:15PM (9/20/2007)
Subaru's been running commercials up here in Canada featuring this car for the past few weeks. Or perhaps it was the regular WRX version?
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mooj 2:23PM (9/20/2007)
that japanese magazine was right! you can see the ribbed portions on the front spoiler. they got the wheels right too.
awesome. i'm sold. the WRX can burn is design hell, and the sedan more so, but this just might do. look at the width on that thing. perfect...
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Pete 2:36PM (9/20/2007)
I prefer rides like this and the Mazdaspeed 3 to the new Lancer. These have more modern design elements...the new Lancer design looks dated to me, like a pissed off Volvo S60 with a poorly designed rear end.
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ender 2:37PM (9/20/2007)
Does anyone know if there is any pricing information available for this car? I'd be interested to compare the price to a Mazdaspeed3. I'm assuming that the MS3 is a hard deal to beat when it comes to performance wagons (from the "average consumer" perspective). If I think of it from that perspective I really can't justify buying a $30k+ performance wagon when I could easily get one for $25k.
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Richard 2:46PM (9/20/2007)
Huh?
This is not in the MazdaSpeed 3 market. This is going to have to end up above $35k in the US. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was nosing in on $40-large.
Josiah 2:47PM (9/20/2007)
AWD > FWD
Plus there's more to the STi package than just pure HP numbers; brakes, suspension, transmission, etc.
william 3:29PM (9/20/2007)
The sti has been growing on me, but I too am leaning towards an MS3 (with some upgrades). The base WRX has lost me--especially as it nears $30K. It looks like a Suzuki. I bet that the sti is likely going to be approaching $40K. I am disappointed with this car and just can't justify it. By the way, my '02 WRX Recaro seats were fantastic and part of the fun was the low price tag. Hopefully, I'll be surprised...
Richard 3:59PM (9/20/2007)
This car does not compete against the MS3.
This thing eats M3's and poops S4's and Caymen for a living.
This is not econobox with new induction and exhaust systems. This is a detuned World Rally Championship car with AWD, real brakes, real steering and real power.
On the performance front it would be a bargain at $40k, though the dealer may not have a latte' to hand you when you show up for an oil change.
The MazdaSpeed3 is a great car. It's a fun car. It is not in the same world performance-wise as the STi. Nor should it be in price.
ender 4:35PM (9/20/2007)
I see some of your points and I fully understand them but from your "average consumer's" point of view it may seem like a reasonable comparison.
Just trying to see it from another angle is all XP
Pete 4:49PM (9/20/2007)
I totally agree with ender...believe me many people cross shop those 2 cars along with a few others. Most people have a top end that they would be willing to pay, but will also look lower to see if there is an alternative that suits their needs for less money. I just bought an MS3 in fact...it is a fantastic ride. I was thinking about saving up for a down payment on the STi. I asked myself how often I would really take advantage of AWD (for the record I used to own a WRX), how much power I need, and how much more it would cost in my monthly payment. After driving the MS3 and an STi I couldn't justify the difference in price...some people can and that is understandable as well. For me, the MS3 is the best bargain I have ever seen in performance compacts.