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Subaru Legacy 2.5GT tS by STI – everything but the engine

June 14, 2010 at 6:14 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Subaru’s tuning arm STI has released a tuned version of the fifth generation Legacy in Japan. Called the Legacy 2.5GT tS (stands for tuned by STI) and available in both sedan and wagon bodystyles, it will be the performance flagship of the range with only a limited number produced. How many units is not mentioned.

On the outside, STI adds a front lip spoiler on both models. The sedan gets a boot lid spoiler whereas the estate gets a roof spoiler. All very discreet. The bonnet vent is already standard on turbo models. Perhaps the most desirable addition are those 18-inch multispoke STI alloys wrapped with 225/45 R18 tyres.


Inside, there’s a revised instrument panel, sports seats dressed in alcantara and leather with contrasting red seams, decorative carbon trim in a titanium finish, STI leather steering wheel and gearbox lever with red stitch along with STI-branded floor mats. Handling should be improved thanks to the Bilstein suspension along with strut tow bars. There’s also a new sports exhaust system.

However, the engine has remain unchanged from the 2.5GT, which means a flat-four with 261 bhp and 350 Nm of torque, good for 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. Top speed is 245 km/h.

Gallery after the jump.
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Cosworth extracts 395 hp from the Subaru WRX STI

May 25, 2010 at 5:06 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Cosworth has fettled with the Subaru WRX STI to produce promising results. The finely tuned machine designated the Subaru Cosworth STi CS400 has been improved in more ways than one. The selling point of this car is the fact that the power output has been increased from the usual 296 hp to a significantly higher 395 hp.

The 0 to 100 figures will be in the region of 3.7 seconds and will continue to a top speed of 250km/h. The increase in power output has done wonders for the maximum torque, with the production of an amazing 539Nm. This is equivalent to the acceleration of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4!

All this power is extracted from the 2.5-litre four cylinder turbo boxer engine along with the help of high performance pistons, connecting rods, head gasket, oil pumps and bearings. The standard turbocharger has been reworked with the addition of a new compressor design and wastegate actuators.

Handling on the car will probably be different as the chassis is a joint effort between Cosworth, Bilstein and Eibach. The list of changes include new coil springs that lower the car’s ride height by 10mm and the increase in the size of the front brakes, which are now 355mm AP Racing discs. This is hidden behind the 18 inch alloy wheels that widen the track of the car by 12mm.

You will get the addition of a new front bumper, foglights, mesh grilles and rear spoiler. Inside, the centre console is finished in a piano black theme while the Recaro bucket seats and tinted back mirrors maintain that sporting persona.

Colour options are limited to just silver, dark grey and red. Only 75 of these machines will be made, and will only be available in the UK.

Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
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Subaru Impreza WRX STI – sedan version is back!

April 2, 2010 at 1:05 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru


When the current five-door Impreza WRX STI came out, many Subaru fans couldn’t accept their icon’s departure from the four-door sedan bodystyle. It didn’t help that the Impreza hatchback wasn’t particularly good looking as a five-door either. Well, Subaru seems to have heard the calls and has rolled out the sedan version of the WRX STI at the New York Auto Show. This will be the first time two bodystyles of the STI are available.

Both hatch and sedan feature sharpened bumper corners and wider, blacked-out fog lamp housings for a wider and lower look. There’s also a jutting lip spoiler and larger front grille/air intakes. The grille area is now outlined in black. For the sedan, you can see neatly integrated wide rear fenders that match the front’s. Of course, the STI’s trademark big boot spoiler is here, as is a chunky rear bumper featuring quad exhausts (two on each side).

Is it just me or does the rear end look like the previous generation Toyota Vios? Personally, although all the ingredients are there, it just doesn’t quite look right – old is gold when it comes to the WRX STI.


Styling aside, the 2011 WRX STI features improvements to the chassis, leading Subaru to call this “the best-handling Impreza WRX STI”. Aluminum front lower L-arms reduce unsprung vehicle weight, while new pillow-ball bushings in front and stiffer bushings for the rear subframe improve camber and toe stiffness.

Both the front and rear suspension systems employ higher-rate springs and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars than the 2010 model: 21 mm vs 20 mm in front and 19 mm vs 18 mm at the back. Spring rates are up by 15.6% up front and 53% behind. Ride height has been lowered too. The standard 18-inch aluminum wheels are lighter too, but many will take the optional BBS forged aluminum-alloy wheels. But why not in gold?


The US model is powered by a 305 bhp turbo boxer paired to a 6-speed manual. The STI comes with Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) with three Auto modes, as well as a manual mode with six driver-selectable differential locking settings. Also, SI-DRIVE allows the driver to tailor the car’s driving characteristics by choosing from three modes – Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp.

Gallery is after the jump.
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Subaru Impreza Cosworth offers “supercar humbling pace”

March 31, 2010 at 5:07 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru


We have here a few detail shots of a car that packs “supercar humbling pace” and will “offer performance-car fans the thrill of a lifetime”. The car in question is the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400, which will go on sale in June in the UK.

All we know now is that this joint-effort by Subaru and Cosworth will boast 395 bhp at 5,750 rpm, sufficient to dispatch the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.7 seconds. If you need a barometer, the Audi R8 V10 is slower than this mad Scooby by 0.2 seconds, so supercar humbling pace is no empty boast. The standard UK-spec Impreza WRX STI does 296 bhp at 6,000rpm and complets the century sprint in 5.2 seconds, so we’re looking at a big jump in performance here.

Going faster means stopping harder, and Subaru reveals that the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 will feature a bespoke AP Racing brake package with six-pot callipers and huge 355 mm discs at the front. A wide range of further upgrades have been made to the suspension, exhaust and to the donor Impreza’s exterior and interior styling. Only 75 units of the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 will be produced. Prices and further technical details will be announced closer to the launch date so stay tuned.

Detail shots of the ultimate Impreza after the jump.
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Subaru to launch “crossover Impreza” at Geneva

February 8, 2010 at 3:13 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Cars, Subaru

This Subaru Impreza hatchback with off-roader style body cladding is the Impreza XV, which will get its public airing at the Geneva show next month. Subaru describes the XV as having “new crossover styling” which consist of a new front grille and wheel arches, roof rails and a roof spoiler besides the contrasting coloured panels. It will be available with the firm’s famous boxer engines, both in petrol and diesel and Euro 5 compliant. This is the only image released, so we’ll have to wait for a look at the front design.

Subaru’s Geneva stand will also have the good looking Hybrid Tourer Concept (as seen in last year’s Tokyo show) and the kei-car sized Stella plug-in hybrid.

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Prodrive Impreza N2010 rally car – Super 2000 performance at half the price

January 21, 2010 at 2:25 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Motorsports, Subaru

Prodrive has launched the Impreza N2010, its latest FIA spec group N rally car. The N2010 uses a new 33mm air restrictor, introduced by FIA to help balance the performance of Group N and the unrestricted Super 2000 rally cars. Enlarging the restrictor diameter from 32 to 33mm, fitting high flow fuel injectors and recalibrating the ECU increases peak power by 20 bhp, but more significantly, improves torque and responsiveness throughout the rev range.

Performance upgrade to the 1,994cc boxer engine have been matched by enhancements to the car’s dynamics. The Ohlins dampers have been revised with extra travel, while the suspension bushes have been strengthened.

“On gravel the Impreza is certainly a match for any Super 2000, but it is on tarmac, that the additional engine performance will really come into its own and make the N2010 a competitive alternative to a Super 2000, but at about half the price and with significantly lower running costs,” said Graham Prew, Prodrive sales manager.

Prices start at £120,000 and for the first time Prodrive has introduced a financing option to enable the car to be leased over two years with an option to buy the car at the end of the term. The package includes insurance and system rebuilds.

More pictures after the jump.
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FHI adds range-topping Subaru Impreza R205

January 8, 2010 at 12:11 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

The new Subaru Impreza R205 follows up on the previous S203 and S204 models available from STI. The R in its name stands for ‘Road Sport’. It uses components from the WRX STI Spec C model and features STI-tuned dampers, coil springs, a strut tower bar, a flexible lower arm front suspension stiffener, and Bridgestone RE070 rubber. Under the hood is an engine that’s tuned to put out 320 PS at 6,400rpm and 431Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, mated to a 6-speed manual.

This is a JDM model but don’t be surprised if the grey importers bring them in!
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Subaru is back in rallying – signs up for the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge

December 8, 2009 at 2:07 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Motorsports, Subaru

subaru-rally

Subaru is finally back where it belongs – rallying on the world stage. For so many of us, the default mental image of Subaru is of a blue rally Impreza with the famous yellow stars on its side, probably with McRae or Solberg kicking up some dirt. It was sad news when Subaru announced in 2008 that it would be leaving the World Rally Championship, but they are now back, not in the WRC but in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Parent company Fuji Heavy Industries has announced that it will register as a manufacturer for the 2010 IRC season. There won’t be a works team, but Subaru will provide customer cars and is eligible to collect points.

Organised by sports channel Eurosport, IRC seems to be gaining momentum to unseat WRC as the premier rally series, and it already has eight automakers signed up to compete next year – the Group N Impreza will be joining rivals from Abarth (Fiat), Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Skoda, Volkswagen and our very own Proton to race in legendary events such as the Safari Rally and Rally Monte-Carlo, which is the season’s curtain raiser. Be sure to mark down 19 January 2010 on your calendar!

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Subaru’s Hybrid Tourer concept spreads its wings in Tokyo: Live pictures

October 22, 2009 at 1:21 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2009 Tokyo Motorshow, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Subaru

The Hybrid Tourer concept vehicle from Subaru with its twin gullwing doors is currently being presented at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new concept that is rumored to spawn a successor to the SVX mid-sized coupe is powered by a hybrid drivetrain that is made up by a 2.0 litre turbocharged boxer engine and two electric motors (one for each axle).

The rear motor can be used at start-up or at extremely low speeds. It will also kick in during acceleration. The front motor normally acts a power generator and it will also assist the entire drivetrain during uphill acceleration. The all wheel drive concept also features Subarus’s Lineartronic automatic transmission. Continue reading for more images.
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Tokyo2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Carbon

October 22, 2009 at 12:42 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2009 Tokyo Motorshow, Cars, Subaru

Apart from showcasing vehicles like the Hybrid Tourer Concept and the STI-prepped Exiga 2.0GT, Subaru also revealed a new version of the Impreza WRX STI. Called the Impreza WRX STI Carbon, the new variant is based on the A-Line model and is treated to a carbon fibre roof. Subaru claims that the weight has been significantly reduced and a lower center of gravity is achieved. With that, power to weight ratio and handling should improve.

The WRX STI Carbon comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission as well as a full-suede interior. The above mentioned A-Line comes with a 300 PS 2.5 litre boxer powerplant. Fitted with a single scroll turbocharger, the engine is also able to crank out 350Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. This limited edition model will only be available for the Japanese market. Look for more images after the jump.
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