8 February 2011
When they launched the latest Impreza last September, Subaru, keen to embrace a broader market, introduced a more family-friendly hatchback configuration and dulled the macho looks.
The new softer direction has now been applied to the high performance STI (Subaru Technica International) model.
Subaru performance purists - particularly the loyal kiwi ones - will be worried. Luckily though, as we discovered at the vehicle's launch last week, there's plenty about the new STi to get excited about.
Annoyingly, photos mute the latest STI's surface language. But rest assured, visually it's as aggressive in the flesh, if not more so than the STI's of old. According to Subaru, the front doors and roof are the only body panels that remain from the stock Impreza.
That's no surprise given the blatancy of those massive wheel arches, which envelop a 35mm front and 40mm rear track increase and two possible styles of 18x8.5" rims, depending on standard or 'R' specification.
More subtle exterior changes that differentiate the STI from the rest of the range are euro-style wing mirrors that incorporate the indicator, a more prominent roof spoiler, ventilation ducting in the front bumper, Xenon headlamps and four exhaust tips.
The full complement of creature comforts and safety features include hill start assist, tilt/telescoping steering column, 6-disc, 10 speaker MP3/WMA CD player, auxiliary audio jack, a three-mode stability control (VDC), six airbags, and a 5-star occupant / 4-star pedestrian safety rating (EuroNCAP).
In order to justify their additional $5000 expenditure, expect purchasers of the pricier spec R version to wax lyrical about weight advantages and the like over the standard STI. In truth though, the R spec differences are primarily aesthetic, offering cool 18 spoke BBS alloys and plush Recaro front seats.
For the $59,990 (spec R $64,990) asking price all STI drivers are cosseted snugly by beautiful Alcantera/leather upholstery and grasp an STI specific steering wheel and six-speed manual gear lever.
Unlike the STI's mortal enemy the latest Mitsubishi Evolution X, which is available with a DSG style transmission, no self-shifter is planned.
Subaru have definitely de-burred the STI of the rough edges that once defined it as an out an out performance car, that's not intended as a put down however. Comparatively the latest version makes driving its predecessors feel like losing a punch-up.
The delivery of what can only be described as a massive amount of power and torque - 221kW @ 5600rpm and 407Nm @ 2000rpm for those playing at home - is more linear than ever before. It's faster too; although only driving the car around Taupo's race track, we never got the true impression of speed, partially due to the lack of reference points but also thanks to the car's more refined manner.
You don't miss the gruffness of the previous STI's, there's less exhaust resonance in the cabin and the supple suspension will be a welcome comfort on a rutted country road, or clipping the ripple strips at Taupo as in our first encounter.
The all-wheel drive system features a Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD). In the automatic mode you can select between a bias toward a 59:41 rear torque split to suit tarmac driving, or a bias toward a 50:50 front/rear split, which is preferred for extra traction on gravel or snow. Alternatively a manual override allows the driver to lock the torque split at 50:50 or fine tune their preferred setting up to the 59:41 rear bias.
In auto-mode we found the car slightly reluctant to turn in, not until the front wheels gripped mid corner did the STI tuck its nose toward the apex.
When pushing hard on smooth surfaces locking the bias proved the preferred setting and understeer was greatly reduced.
With four people in the vehicle, NZ Rally ace Sam Murray best demonstrated the Impreza's tenacious grip, by wildly throwing the car into Taupo's tricky corners.
Just when you thought the STI couldn't possibly break traction, he unsettled the rear end under brakes and chucked it into a Scandinavian flick. A shoe full of throttle saw the engine's torque bog momentarily before power sliding the car into a lengthy drift onto the main straightaway, and three motoring writers universally scrambling for the overhead handle grips.
So yes, while Subaru have sent the STI to charm school, you need only scratch the surface to find the spirit of its forbears.