The good news is that the car with which Subaru is celebrating the WRX STI’s 20th birthday, seen in the gallery above, is appropriately boy-racer hot. The bad news—and we know most of you saw this one coming—is that the limited edition car will sell its mere 300 examples entirely in Japan. Sucks to the western world yet again.
The tantalizingly unavailable STI gets a firmer suspension package to go with a revised lip spoiler and rear wing, as well as having special badging and 18-inch alloys to finish the look. New look Recaro seats, red stitching, and an updated gear lever knob won’t let the driver forget what a special edition he’s in—same with the price tag, which will crest 4.2 million Yen ($42,000 or so).
For the upcoming 2008 Paris Motor Show in October, Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru vehicles, will show off its Forester and Impreza models equipped with a 2.0-liter Boxer Diesel.
The diesel engine, already used in the Legacy and Outback, is a horizontally-opposed turbocharged four-cylinder and features an aluminum alloy cylinder block. The diesel in the 2.0D Impreza cranks out 147.5 horsepower at 3600 rpm while the one in the 2.0D Forester only has 144.8 horsepower (according to Japanese figures). Both models develop 258 pound-feet of torque at 1800 to 2400rpm
Both the 2.0D Impreza and 2.0D Forester are essentially the same as their gasoline powered counterparts, and the Impreza's diesel power plant will be mated with a six-speed manual transmission.
Shown alongside the two diesels will be a replica of the Subaru Impreza WRC2008 (used in the World Rally Championship of 2008), and the Subaru R1e. Also to be displayed is the G4e Concept. With an estimated range of 124 miles (according to Japanese figures), Subaru hopes it will be the next-generation EV concept car. Scroll down below to read the official Subaru press release.
An official video was recently discovered by the fellows at the Nasioc forums, with raw footage of what may very well be the upcoming 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan and WRX STI hatchback. The video appears to have been shot in April and features both Subaru race drivers Travis Pastrana and Ken Block turning their tires into smoke by four-wheel powersliding around the Willow Springs raceway.
According to a leaked memo from Subaru, the new WRX models are said to have a 265 horsepower version of the turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine— 41 horses more than the 2008 Impreza WRX's 224. Addtionally, the 2009 WRX model will only be available with a manual transmission and feature upgraded suspension, gray alloy wheels, an STI front grill, and special red stitching throughout the interior.
On Tuesday, Subaru officially unveiled the 2009 Exiga, a seven-seat crossover. The new model will come with two different engines to choose from: a 2.0-liter flat-four with 146 horsepower, or a turbocharged version of the same engine that will churn out 222 horsepower.
The naturally aspirated model will use a four-speed automatic transmission, with either be front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive while the 2.0 GT Turbo on the other hand, will only come with all wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission.
The coupe depicted in the sketch above is said to come from a source inside of Subaru’s design department, and is meant to depict the upcoming rear-wheel-drive offering from the company.
America’s crossover market has exploded into life in recent years, gaining new and enthusiastic recruits almost by the hour. But for those paying attention, one of the earliest exponents on the U.S. crossover block came from Japan more than a decade ago. Drumroll, please, for the Subaru Forester.
Most savvy auto enthusiasts are long used to the fact that many of the world’s most interesting cars, especially the kind that burn diesel fuel, are only available outside of the U.S. That notion may be in need of a revision though, as the European Union is preparing to adopt emissions standards that are more similar to ours.