Autoblog

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We love it when the Japanese auto manufacturers take the box of Alpha-Bits, empty it onto the floor, and then make a car name out of the resulting clutter. Subaru is the current world champion in this regard, having produced the tongue-twistingly wonderfully named WRX STi Spec-C Type RA-R last year. This week, the automaker got busy again, releasing an update to its home-market kei car: the Stella Custom RS S-Edition.

No, it's not compatible with Google Reader. It's really just a new dress-up trim level for the Stella Custom RS. The tall microwagon gets a shot of color inside and some STI-sourced appearance upgrades. It ends there, since upping the performance would take it out of kei car specification. The RS S-Edition is limited to 500 units and includes the following:

• STI chin and roof spoilers
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• STI logo on shifter
• Sport pedals
• Carbon fiber interior trim
• HID low-beam headlamps
• 14" gunmetal aluminum wheels

We have no doubt whatsoever that this will sell out in limited-edition-obsessed Japan. And truthfully, it's kinda cool anyway.

[Source: Subaru]

Last week, when we brought you news about the release of the Subaru Stella in Japan, we told you that the company had a sales goal of 5,000 units per month.

This morning, Subaru issued a release stating that the Stella surpassed that goal in its first week on the market, with 5,438 orders as of June 20. 50.7 percent of the cars sold are in Stella Custom trim. 80 percent of those are Stella Custom R models, which feature the normally aspirated engine. The rest are Stella Custom RSes (above) with the supercharged 4-banger.

The remaining 49.3% of vehicles sold are the two grades of the friendly-faced standard Stella. Customers are touting the car's design, interior flexibility and comfort, fuel economy, and excellent visibility as reasons behind their purchases.

Time will tell if the torrid sales pace continures, but for now, the Subaru Stella looks like a bona fide hit in Japan.

[Source: Subaru Japan]