Subaru WRX STI revealed
The Subaru WRX STI has just become the most powerful production car in the history of the Japanese manufacturer, with claims that it is stiffer, more agile as well as more luxurious than before.
This is the fourth-generation Subaru WRX STI and just like its predecessor it is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ petrol engine, which retains a half-litre advantage over the regular WRX. The engine is capable of producing 227kW at 6000rpm and 392Nm at 4000rpm, with the power rising by 6kW but the torque falling by 15Nm when compared with the outgoing model’s motor.
The company hasn’t made any performance claims for the new model yet, but it will most likely be better than the 4.9 seconds 0-100km/h that the third gen is capable of.
The fourth-model’s engine is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, which includes an STI short-throw shifter in the special WRX STI Launch Edition specification – these will be limited to 1000 units and thus will also feature WE Blue paint, gold BBS forged alloy wheels and unique interior trim.
The STI-tuned suspension will also work in tandem with 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 245/40-aspect performance tyres.
The powertrain management system will allow the driver to customize the car’s driving characteristics by selecting between three modes – Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp.
Something exclusive to the Subaru WRX STI is that is features a multi-mode driver-controlled centre differential version of Subaru’s famous symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.
Another feature of the model will be active torque vectoring, which is an update of the car’s electronic stability and traction control system, applying the brakes to the inside front wheel for more neutral cornering. In this situation as well the driver can select from three settings: Normal, Traction and Off.
