AutoExpress reviews the new Subaru Impreza diesel.
“A hefty 350Nm of torque makes for exciting acceleration, but it is the smooth power delivery which steals the show. Plus, superb flexibility means the Impreza is just as happy being pushed hard on a B-road as it is cruising around town.
However, while the permanent all-wheel drive is predictably foolproof, the chassis isn’t as adjustable as the STI’s more complicated and sporty set-up. And it shows when you take a corner – the car understeers rather than tucking in its nose.”
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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”.
