Click image for hi-res gallery
The wait is finally over. Subaru has released official photos and initial info on the new JDM-spec Impreza WRX STI. Details remain scant, however, as Subaru only tells us that the new STI is powered by a 16v 2.0L boxer with a twin-scroll turbo mated to a 6-speed manual. SI-DRIVE, multi-mode Drivers Control Center Differential (DCCD) and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) are also standard. All of these things have been widely speculated on and/or reported already. Specific power numbers are conspicuously absent, so we'll have to wait for the rest of it when the car bows in Tokyo in a couple of weeks. Based on what's already been leaked, look for 304 horses and 311 lb-ft of torque in the Japanese-market model. What's no longer a mystery is the car's appearance, which is muscular and aggressive -- a huge improvement over the base WRX. Head to the gallery below to see the car unmasked at last.
[Source: Subaru]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Kaptain75329 @ Oct 9th 2007 1:26AM
Considering what the STI people got stuck having to work with, it coulda been a whole helluva lot worse.
tribal @ Oct 9th 2007 1:32AM
I like the silver one better, because that ugly front fender is less noticeable, although the back of the car looks much better than the regular impreza.
but if i was looking for a car in that segment, i'd definetly get evo over impreza. it just looks to plain
TEM @ Oct 9th 2007 1:36AM
Looks like a fugly Mazdaspeed3.
rv @ Oct 9th 2007 12:29PM
The Mazda3 looks like a Protoge - whoopie doo - this looks like a Soob. I want one. Drool...
zamafir @ Oct 9th 2007 1:38AM
turned out a lot better then i had feared.
Carletti @ Oct 9th 2007 1:39AM
If this, indeed, is the next WRX STI, then Subaru has done a great job, in my opinion. This WRX variant, quite simply, fits. I love the rear end of this car. It's purposeful, wide, and looks ready to unapologetically leave competitors behind. The front end is the biggest surprise, however, and it has been transformed from a mundane economy car front to a wide, borderline intimidating, look...without all of the unnecessary obnoxiousness. Bottomline, this car is pleasantly toned down while still remaining appropriately aggressive. This Subaru will sell, in my opinion.
SuperSkyline89 @ Oct 9th 2007 7:07AM
The whole point of redesigning the Impreza was to appeal to more of the mass market. The previous Impreza was a pure sports car which is why it had a cult following and very little mass appeal. They improved the overall comfort and changed the exterior so it could drive by you and you wouldn't even notice. That is what sells in high volumes. The mass market doesn't care about performance, they want cars don't stand out and get good gas mileage. Subaru knew all along that they would sell way more of these, that should come as no surprise.
Steve @ Oct 9th 2007 1:57AM
Wow. I was really expecting much worse after the earlier disaster Impreza variants. Not exactly a looker (or even really close to one) but the WRX/Sti has never really looked hot.
Will @ Oct 9th 2007 2:10AM
While it's certainly better than the base model, that almost has to be a given, and I think Mitsubishi still crapped their collective pants with glee.
frank @ Oct 9th 2007 2:17AM
Ford Aspire on steroids!
Dustin @ Oct 9th 2007 2:17AM
With increasingly elegant design becoming the norm in current automotive offerings, it's surprising that this can be such a cacophony of hapless lines and useless bulges. Hopefully they will be making up for the look in the performance sector.
2004m3driver @ Oct 9th 2007 12:13PM
hapless lines useless bulges blah blah blah
I am glad you can tell from some pictures that all of the bulges are useless, you should go work for Pininfarina that way you can make elegant purposeful designs.
Aki @ Oct 9th 2007 2:34AM
That is the hottest looking Corolla. Or is it an ugly Mazda3?
rv @ Oct 9th 2007 12:33PM
Nice Ford Probe for your avatar. Or is that a torqueless wedge of cheese? Hmmm....
Aki @ Oct 9th 2007 2:54PM
A torqueless wedge of cheese that rocks your faceless tach.
Mike @ Oct 9th 2007 2:42AM
This makes the Evo look boring! EVO... has adolescent fender flares... This STI screams performance car... not an Acura TL with a pissed off front end like the Evo. Great job Subaru... I need a tissue!
Maestro1 @ Oct 9th 2007 2:55AM
Who's looking forward to the mid-cycle touch-up? :P
djSyndrome @ Oct 9th 2007 10:31AM
Which one? The last Impreza had two.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 9th 2007 3:01AM
fugly fugger. Oh, Subaru, what went wrong?
dap7298 @ Oct 9th 2007 6:42AM
Let this be a lesson to Subaru. This is what happens when you forgo on focus groups. All they needed to do was to take a few wrx owners and show them this car when it was just a concept and it definitely would not have come out like this. To be positive when looking from the front or the back and also the top left shot the car looks decent. But they mangled the fenders so the side looks half hazard at best. But if it really hauls ass I still might consider it in silver.