After the introduction of the new WRX a few months ago, of course the next STI is bound to follow. The widebody, higher-performance model is a seemingly inevitable evolution of Subaru’s go-faster sports sedan, and Subaru took the wraps off at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The STI is always easy to spot, thanks to the massive wing on the decklid and its slablike fender flares. The STI’s front fenders are even more strongly flared now, looking like separate pieces. The large hood scoop is functional. The headlights have been narrowed, and the taillights are LEDs. Interior upgrades include Alcantara seats with red and black accents and a harman/kardon sound system.
A six-speed manual transmission and 305-horsepower 2.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine are the heart of the new STI, naturally. Getting the power to the road more efficiently is the task of a new active torque-vectoring system and of Subaru’s Multi-Mode Driver-Controlled Center Differential. Brembo brakes are also included. The chassis and springs have been stiffened compared to the WRX.
Subaru also unveiled a limited-production “Launch Edition,” featuring the blue paint and gold BBS-style wheels that became a symbol of Subaru performance thanks to the famed “555” rally cars of the early 1990s. Subaru will build just 1000 of the Launch Editions.
