Keeping Up Appearances: Subaru launches JDM Impreza WRX STI A-Line Type S

Another day, another new special-edition Subaru Impreza. There are worse things, after all. This one, however, doesn't quite have the substance of the recently unveiled WRX STI R205. Whereas the R205 is a real fire-breathing monster of a hatch, the long-winded Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line Type S (try saying that three times fast) is mostly a trim package.

That package includes 18-inch gunmetal rims, gold Brembo brake calipers and Recaro buckets in a cockpit decked out with contrasting red top-stitch and a 10-speaker audio system. It definitely looks sharp, but the Japanese consumers that are able to buy it shouldn't expect much in the way of heightened performance over the already stonking STI. The Type S commands a 3,255,000 yen (circa $35k USD) sticker price in its domestic market, so if you want to have a look and you don't live in the Land of the Rising Sun, you had better check it out in our high-res image gallery below.

[Sources: Nihon Car and Le Blog Auto]