Automatic-equipped Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line available in Japan
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line
Fed up with your Triptronic Boxster? Need more space to haul the kids and their baseball gear? Live in Japan? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, Subaru has a STI they'd like to show you. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line is aimed at the discerning enthusiast looking for a more relaxed ride from their performance hatch, someone who isn't interested in messing with the manual gearbox that comes standard on the top-spec Impreza.
The 300-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer four remains the same, equipped with Dual Active Valve Control System (AVCS) to boost low- and mid-range torque and a Tumble Generation Valve (TGV) that supposedly controls the stream of air into the intake for optimal combustion. Subaru is offering the A-Spec exclusively with a five-speed automatic gearbox featuring "Downshifting Blipping Control" and steering wheel-mounted paddles. A new body color – "Satin White Pearl" – is included, along with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and optional leather trim and front seat heaters. While we're pretty sure Subaru Japan's PR team made a mistake on the brake specs – listing the front discs at a whopping 17-inches and the rear rotors at 16-inches – if not, the A-Spec has enough stopping power to halt the rotation of the earth.
Gallery: Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line
PRESS RELEASE
FHI to introduce a New Additional Model in the Subaru Impreza WRX STI: A-Line
Tokyo, February 24, 2009 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today launches "Subaru Impreza WRX A-Line" which is a new addition to the current WRX STI model. The model goes on sale nationwide through Subaru dealerships today in Japan.
Based on the Impreza WRX STI, the WRX STI A-Line model was developed to offer its distinctive driving performance to a wider range of customers by integrating 2.5-litre turbocharged Boxer engine and 5 Speed Automatic Transmission with SPORTSHIFT*.
In addition, the current WRX STI was given some refinements to enhance comfort and quality feel; 8 way power adjustable front seats and a new body color, "Satin White Pearl", is now available.
*SPORTSHIFT is a registered trademark of Prodrive Ltd.
The model features the exclusively developed 2.5-litre Subaru BOXER turbo engine with SPORTSHIFT* E-5AT, while retaining the basic component such as chassis and body of the WRX STI, Subaru's performance flagship.
Engine:
- The unique 2.5-litre BOXER engine comes with a single scroll turbocharger and produces a flat torque from the low and mid-rev range to high-rev range.
- Dual Active Valve Control System (AVCS) was adopted to control continuously valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves, which improves low and mid-range range torque, high-rev range output and environmental friendliness.
- Tumble Generation Valve (TGV) controls the intake air stream to generate high combustion efficiency.
Drive train:
- SI-DRIVE (SUBARU Intelligent Drive), that enables the drivers to choose three different engine mappings, is standard.
- Paddle shift is featured to allow manual shifting without requiring the driver to release the steering wheel.
- Downshifting Blipping Control system was adopted. When down-shifting, the automatic transmission control unit interacts with the engine management system and increases engine revolutions instantly and to the exact required setting.
- Changing gears with the paddle shift can also be done by a temporary operation that does not require the selection lever to be set to the manual position.
- VTD (Variable Torque Distribution)-AWD system was adopted to provide excellent stability of the vehicle, which controls the torque distribution ratio between the front and rear axles depending on driving conditions.
- 17-inches ventilated dual piston disk brakes for the front, and 16-inches ventilated disk brakes for the rear were fitted.
- VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) System is standard.
Interior:
- 8-way power adjustable driver's seat is standard. Leather seats are available as optional and include (front) seat heating. Soft leather door trim with silver stitch is featured.
Major specifications:
- Engine type: Horizontally-Opposed 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbocharged engine
- Displacement: 2457 cc
- Maximum output: 221kW (300 PS)/6200 rpm
- Maximum torque: 350 Nm (35.7 kgf·m)/2800～6000 rpm
- Turbo type: Single Scroll turbocharger
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ijellinek 4:01PM (2/24/2009)
a part of me just died inside
Reply
aii 4:03PM (2/24/2009)
+horrible, +rice, +horrible
Reply
Rev 4:17PM (2/24/2009)
Rice?
I can't find a single thing in the included images that say "rice". The hoodscoop? Foglights? Venting??? Let me guess: you drive a white trashmobile or a secretary car...
You'd be better off calling a mini or one of the ten thousand Mustang variations "rice".
aii 4:34PM (2/24/2009)
I was referring to the transmission. Regardless of the appearance, the automatic means that any buyer choosing this will be bringing more than enough rice to the table on their own.
Altho now that you mention it, it looks pretty freaking ricetacular from the outside. Like a cartoon video game. I would probably want one of these or an Evo (both MT of course) if I did not have to look like a 22 year old male Bestbuy employee living with mom and dad whenever I drove it.
Shardm 4:42PM (2/24/2009)
Compared to the GD with the ginormous wing? The hatch definitely looks more mature.
wseroyer 5:49PM (2/24/2009)
Subaru STi's can't be rice one they are actually fast from the factory, two they have a boxer motor so they don't sound like a I-4 with a "custom" exhaust on them, 3 they are driven manly by older people 25 - 40, and not 16 - 21 year olds which is the ricer crowd, four you can't drift them very easily.
masarak 4:05PM (2/24/2009)
Subaru is finally offering a 5 speed auto!?! Now I KNOW the apocalypse is near!
Reply
BigMcLargeHuge 4:13PM (2/24/2009)
Welcome to 2005.
While you're there, could you ask people not to flip houses? It'll make sense when you get here.
Much appreciated.
Seminole 4:26PM (2/24/2009)
BigMcLargeHuge,
Instead of making a snide comment, go learn something. All Subaru's, with the exception of the top level Tribeca, Outback, and Legacy models, use 4-speed automatics. Thanks for playing, come again.
zamafir 4:29PM (2/24/2009)
@Seminole :
Instead of being a fanboi try and understand the comments your replying to, all you did was reinforce his point to an even more pathetic degree.
Scubie should brign this over here, it'll sell with lethargic americans.
Seminole 4:40PM (2/24/2009)
zamafir,
Fanboi? I don't even like Subaru.
Also, making a snide comment to a person who doesn't know what they are talking about while they are trying to insult someone else is OK.
BigMcLargeHuge 4:46PM (2/24/2009)
"Subaru is finally offering a 5 speed auto!?!"
Seminole, what the hell is your problem you moron?
Read the comment I was responding to ^^^^
Its every Subaru over 240hp with an automatic for the past (going on)
5 years. This is perfectly in line with what they've been doing. You only served to reinforce that I made no incorrect statement.
I think zamafir meant to call you a troll.
Ain't learnin' phun?
Seminole 5:00PM (2/24/2009)
BigMcLargeHuge,
So what if they had 5 speeds back in 2005. The point is they don't offer them on any of the mainstream models. How many people buy the turbo engine top of the top of the line Outbacks or Legacys (the Tribeca has it standard). Not a lot, most sales are made up of the smaller engines. So a vast majority of Subarus still have 4 speed autos. Hell even the top of the line Turbo Forester only has a 4 speed. So the fact they are putting a 5 speed in an Impreza (albeit a STI) is still a shock, since it wouldn't have been a surprise if they put a 4 speed.
And you are wrong about 5 speeds in any of the models over 240hp. The Legacy 2.5GT Limited has a 243hp engine, and wait for it, a 4 speed auto! (Check if you don't believe me: http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/legacy/25gt-limited/features-specs.html)
BigMcLargeHuge 5:24PM (2/24/2009)
Furthermore,
What about masarak's post wasn't snide?
I'm the one "making a snide comment to a person who doesn't know what
they are talking about while they are trying to insult someone else"
(Subaru).
I realize that's the running joke about Subaru, so I made a joke back. I didn't mean for Mazarak's inbox to be filled with your stupidity.
You're a disinterested third party. Not sure why you think you have a horse in this race. Are you trying to prove you are stupid? Because you're doing a terrific job of it by backing up what I said and then saying its wrong. ???
You fail at thought.
BigMcLargeHuge 5:22PM (2/24/2009)
I'm not interested in sales figures.
THIS is a limited run car, the STI. It can therefore use the same
transmission as the other limited run Subarus. Legacy/Outback turbo, Legacy/Outback 3.0, Tribeca.
And yes, the Legacy/Outback turbo does use the... wait for it....
5EAT. I did check. Way to be both snide and dumb.
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/legacy/25gt-limited/performance-safety.html
You can also check other sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Subaru_transmissions#4EAT
Oooops!
Seminole 5:29PM (2/24/2009)
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/legacy/25gt-limited/features-specs.html
"Optional 4-speed auto"
Meanwhile the main page says 5 speed. So Subaru can't even get their transmissions right...
Brendan 5:42PM (2/24/2009)
I don't really have anything to add outside of a big thumbs up to the name "Big McLargeHuge"
BigMcLargeHuge 5:47PM (2/24/2009)
Masarak,
I made a joke back to your joke and we ended up dealing with
Seminole. I don't think you're stupid or anything it was just a
mistake you made and I corrected in a sarcastic manner. Sorry about
that.
Seminole,
How is it my problem that Subaru made a typo? Gee. Hmm. Looks like I knew what I was talking about.
Buty holy sith! You dragged us through an entire page of stupidity for that!?!
Was that really worth it to enter into this conversation? Are you bored or something?
BigMcLargeHuge 5:53PM (2/24/2009)
Brendan,
Thanks! I wanted something clever. Not many people seem to get my sense of humor though.
masarak 5:57PM (2/24/2009)
I know which models have what transmissions. I was talking about Imprezas, which is what this article is about. Trust me... if my wife's 05 had come with the 5-speed sportshift from the Legacy GT as an option, we would have bought that instead of the 4-speed SHIfTbox we have.