Subaru has revealed a sneak preview of a new Impreza STI developed in collaboration with performance tuning specialists Cosworth.

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And like all modern Subarus the WRX Limited features full-time all-wheel-drive. The 2010 Subaru WRX Limited is now available at dealers.

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CHERRY HILL, New Jersey – Subaru has priced the new 2010 Impreza WRX Limited at $28,495 for the four-door and $28,995 for the five-door.

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The world-class automotive engineering giant, Cosworth has collaborated with Subaru to build the highly anticipated Cosworth-Subaru WRX STI, scheduled to be revealed at Geneva Motor Show this year. The legendary English engine tuner, founded in 1958, has had a reputable stint in the Formula One arena, and is planning to rejoin the F1 grid as an engine manufacturer. Cosworth has joined hands with the Japanese stalwart Subaru in a special one-off project to create a staggering result.

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Inside Line was lucky enough to receive a Subaru WRX STI Spec C for a test drive.

“Plans for the Spec C were nearly scrubbed late last year when Subaru ended its 20-year involvement in the World Rally Championship after the recent, massive decline in worldwide sales caused the bosses to radically rethink the company’s motorsports program.”

“The upgrades from STI (the high-performance division of Subaru, which both sells aftermarket hardware and prepares specialty cars like this one) reads like a pre-race checklist for a one-off supercar: specially tuned ball-bearing turbo; spray-type water cooling for the intercooler; high-capacity fuel pump; high-capacity hydraulic pump for power-assisted steering; recalibrated suspension with unique dampers, coil springs and bushings; mechanical limited-slip differential; four-piston Brembo brake calipers; and Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires.”

“[The] Spec C feels faster than the STI, even though the engine’s output is no different — 304 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.”

“Unlike the last generation of the Spec C, which did without all of its acoustic insulation in the process of reducing overall weight by 200 pounds, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C is far more usable on the road. It is definitely noisier in terms of road and engine noise, but it has not sacrificed ride comfort, so long trips should be bearable.”

Source: Inside Line

Motor Trend has a first drive review of the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C up on their site. Sadly, although priced at only $38K, the STI Spec C is only available in Japan. It comes with a bunch of upgrades from the standard STI making handling and endurance better.

“[...] the Spec C is the best-handling Impreza STI the company has ever made.”

“Subaru might have pulled out of the World Rally Championships due to poor showroom sales, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost its rallying spirit. The very fact that it built the limited-edition Spec C, which stands for Competition, is proof of that. STI took the stock Impreza STI and tweaked the bejeezus out of it to create a car that was race-ready for Group N rallying in Europe.”

“A newly fitted ball-bearing design reduces friction inside the turbocharger to improve throttle response, and a clever intercooler water-spray device allows the car to be driven harder for longer at maximum power.”

“The Spec C has a rear mechanical limited-slip differential, replacing the Torsen variety, uniquely fitted STI dampers and springs, a thicker rear stabilizer, and grippier Potenza RE070 tires”.

It takes just 5 seconds to get from 0-60mph and the top speed is a very precise, 158.4mph. But that is just numbers on a screen and can’t possibly portray the sensation from the driver’s seat. For instance, on the test route is a long slow hill, although not too steep. Just to see what the car would do, I put my foot down at 30mph in 3rd gear. At first, there was a gentle increase in forward momentum and then the turbo came in and heralded a ‘Wow!’ followed by an ‘Oh, my goodness’, which preceded an expletive and a huge grin. Hush my mouth.

Prodrive says its version of the 2.5-litre, turbocharged boxer engine delivers 185kW and 360Nm, the standard engine 169kW and 320Nm. Subaru SA says the car will sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.7sec and top out at an electronically limited 210km/h.

The Financial Times has a column on the Subaru WRX STI and Spec. D, in which the WRX STI is compared to the automotive equivalent of skinheads.

There’s no other way to say it: our Imprezas were black, bling and brutal – aggressive snouts, huge bonnet-mounted air scoops capable of sucking up small animals and children, and vast rear spoilers. In terms of looks Imprezas are, along with Mitsubishi’s even more thuggish-looking Evo, the automotive equivalent of skinheads.

But Kinnaird [Peter Kinnaird, managing director of Subaru] was convinced that Subaru might be missing out on a lot of potential customers, who would love to have that performance but cannot live with the boy racer image and so opt for the “safe” choice of a BMW instead. So he persuaded the factory to come up with the Impreza “Spec D”, which is just going on sale.

The 2007 WRX STI Limited delivers all the power and performance of the standard model. This new limited-edition version adds a layer of refinement and design detail enhancements targeted at a new group of driving enthusiasts looking for supercar performance but with an understated demeanor.

The first thing everyone will notice is the car no longer has the trademark STI spoiler or the roof vane spoiler. They have both been replaced by a subtle body-colored rear lip spoiler. In the front we see the addition of the previously-JDM-only V-Limited front lip. Other exterior updates are the new Enkei 17×8″ 10-spoke wheels, while tires are unchanged. The brakes are the same Brembro units as before but now feature black calipers with white lettering.

The 2007 Impreza WRX STI Limited will only be available in 800 units in the USA. 400 will be painted in Satin White, and 400 will be in Urban Gray Metallic.

No word yet if the STI Limited will be sold in Canada, and how much it would cost.

In Europe this vehicle is marketed as the WRX STI spec.D (as in discrete). What it is, is your basic STI street-brawler, but now dressed in a business suit. No more juvenile street-racer clothing here folks. This STI just graduated from charm school, and is ready to take on customers who loved the performance, but hated the looks. I sense this model will transition nicely into the all-new (and more upscale) ‘08 Impreza.

Subaru recognized that enthusiasts — whether those looking for a sport compact for the street or a modified car for autocrosses, rallies or track days — are likely to install their own aftermarket audio/entertainment/navigation systems as well as custom seats and event-specific tires, and that they also will go to the aftermarket for things such as aerodynamic body kits and wings, so the TR was created to make such conversion easier and less expensive.

On the road, the S204 is sensational. Inheriting a reworked 2.0-liter, turbo, four-cylinder boxer engine from its predecessor, the S203, the car pumps out 320 hp at 6,400 rpm, while torque is up slightly to 319 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm thanks to a remapped ECU and a more efficient intake system. The 0-to-62-mph sprint is expected to take around 4.5 seconds, with a sub-13-second quarter-mile and a top speed of 155 mph.

From 3,000 rpm, beefier midrange torque means the driver can make better use of 3rd gear, particularly in long corners, and still have plenty of revs for lightning exits. Push it beyond 6,000 rpm, however, and the retuned exhaust note invades the cabin as it takes on a primeval howl. The sound is purely addictive and before you realize, you find yourself plucking extra gears, just to “feel” that sound again. The six-speed manual gearbox makes life easy with precise gear changes, but could do with shorter throws.

However, there are no complaints about the handling. The newcomer has been dropped 2/3 inch and gets spring rates bolstered by 50 percent. Rear stabilizer bars have been reinforced and the chassis is stronger all around, with better roll rigidity and a revised suspension setup. But it’s the innovative step of fitting what STI calls “performance dampers” to the body structure between the front and rear suspension strut towers that makes the difference. Apart from their ability to absorb and dissipate vibrations and bumps, plus give a superb ride, they permit smoother initial turn-in, deliver more information to the driver and virtually eliminate understeer. Point the car where you want it to go and it goes there, boasting the most driver-friendly manners of any STI.

Inside, though, it’s a different story. The cabin might be noticeably quieter than the S203 thanks to the incorporation of some rather effective sound-deadening materials, but the design of the instrumentation and dashboard leaves much to be desired.

Subaru WRX STI

$33,000

Mpg: 18 city/24 highway

0 to 60: 5.0 seconds

Big wing, muscular hood scoop, and Brembo brakes. Sound familiar? With virtually the same parts, price and exhaust rumble as the Mitsu Evo, is Subaru’s WRX STI any different? Well, sort of.

The STI cranks out 300 hp, about 14 more than the Evo. Yet the Evo is 1.1 seconds faster when rocketing from 0 to 100 mph.

The tasteful Subaru interior features more comfortable seating and easier-to-read gauges, but the Evo gets better mileage and stops a bit more quickly.

Like choosing a partner, the choice really boils down to personal taste: the Evo is more rugged, the STI more refined.

Auto Express has a preview of the Subaru Impreza STI S204:

Set to arrive in the UK as a grey import, the S204 is said to have the power and the pedigree to make the company’s latest dream come true.

[...]

On the road, the S204 is sensational. Inheriting a reworked 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder boxer engine from its predecessor, the S203, the car puts out 320bhp at 6,400rpm, while torque is 432Nm at 4,400rpm. The 0-60mph sprint is expected to take around 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is 155mph.

[...]

The best-handling STi so far, this car devours corners, helped partly by the grippy Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, which combine effortlessly with chunky four-piston Brembo brake calipers.

Inside, though, it’s a different story. The cabin is based on a stock STi’s, but designers have only added two leather Recaro seats – which are too tight across the hips yet cost 2,700 – and a few extra yards of high-quality leather.

The modifications include a reprogrammed ECU, new pistons, crankshaft, exhaust and an upgraded turbocharger. This helps the S204′ 2-liter engine to 320 bhp and 319 lb-ft of torque.

A few more hps than the Subaru WRX STI…

For a few more specs, visit conceptcarz.

Unfortunately for WRX fans in North America, it appears that the spec.D will remain a U.K.-exclusive product for the time being. A Subaru of America spokesman on Thursday said: “We won’t get it. We may have some interesting stuff coming out later this year, but it’s too early to talk about it.”

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As of yesterday, the Subaru WRX STI S204, which is a special edition of the STI, is available in Japan. Only 600 units of this SE will be produced.

The S204 is the answer to enthusiasts’ desires for a sporty, performance sedan under the Subaru name. Handling is going to be the main selling point for this version of the WRX STi, but in addition to better handling there will be more power. This power will be produced by a large-sized twin scroll ball bearing turbo and Titanium muffler. The turbocharged motor is going to be specially tuned to reach the engines full torque capabilites.

It looks pretty good, the rear spoiler is bigger than the spoiler on the WRX but not as big as the one on the STI.

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