The brand new WRX STI performance sedan has only been on the market for a few months. However, the guys at Subaru appear to be already testing a more hardcore version at the Nurburgring track this week.
Looking like the racing cars that Subaru usually enters in endurance races, this STI has a taller wing, lightweight black alloys and a small chin spoiler added at the front. We may be dealing with another special edition car that's destined to hit the European market.
At the moment, it's kind of hard to know what is going on. While STI sold in Europe and America have a 2.5-liter boxer turbo carried over from the previous model, those in Japan get an all-new 2-liter mill with slightly more torque. That car with the Type S pack is currently the best equipped track car Subaru makes.
The six-speed manual gearbox is designed with better parts than the regular STI and delivers a more solid feel and precise gear changes. Subaru also installed its multi-mode Driver's Control Center Differential (DCCD) system as standard. It also comes with Bilstein dampers and lighter 18-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels from BBS.
That the combo we think this test prototype has for its Nurburgring lapping session. External reservoir dampers can make a world of difference on the track, but they can cost a small fortune.
The problem is that this generation of Impreza only has about a year and a half on sale. The next one will arrive in 2016 as a 2017 model, and it will be wider and lighter. Will those changes also be made for the WRX and STI? Let's wait and see.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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