Monday 15th February 2010

Impreza STI Cosworth Incoming

Two great rally names to share Scooby bootlid

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An STi boot with a Cosworth badge, yesterday

Subaru has got together with Cosworth to produce a special edition Impreza STI called, er, the STI Cosworth.

It certainly has enviable nomenclature, and the press guff seems to be placing the special edition as performance-orientated, which is certainly encouraging, but we'll have to wait until the STI Cosworth's March launch to learn of the car's full spec and pricing.

The modern incarnation of Cosworth was founded in 2004 after the brand was sold off by Ford the year before. The company is also involved in aerospace, defence and marine engineering.

[havoc]

What's happened to Prodrive? Or is Subaru so in-need of sales volume for its ugly-duckling that it'll go to every tuner out there???

[LukeBird]

^^ Was thinking the same...

[wab172uk]

The Cosworth badge can't hide just how Fugly the car is.

Subaru know why the new Impreza isn't selling. Why not do something about the way it looks?

Wonder if they (Subaru) like Lichfields Type25 and though "If only we'd done that"

Expect to see a stupid price for it though.

[Syndrome]

This is the third time we've seen this story now, it's like deja vu.

[Dangermouse78]

Should be interesting to see what Cosworth can get out of it... as for Prodrive, since they're not running in the WRC maybe they've got no interest in the new model? Or they may wait to see how popular the Cosworth version is before tuning one themselves

[Mr Fix It]

Ian Litchfield was using the 2.5 litre cosworth engine in the type25 subaru, replacing the 2 litre which was standard in the japanese cars. I think he no longer does this and so must just tweak the 2 litre which comes with the Japanese cars (STI, Spec C). I assume Subaru UK has taken note of this and the general praise which was given to the Type25 and seen an oppertunity to make some ££.

I think anything that Subaru UK can do to boost sales would be good. The lastest car must be the worst looking they have made for many years.

[ZesPak]

wab172uk said:

The Cosworth badge can't hide just how Fugly the car is.

Subaru know why the new Impreza isn't selling. Why not do something about the way it looks?

Wonder if they (Subaru) like Lichfields Type25 and though "If only we'd done that"

Expect to see a stupid price for it though.

Imho the previous Impreza's weren't lookers either. The only reason we think they look good is because we know what they are capable of.

This car looks purposeful, but other than that, it is a proper minger:

[10 Pence Short]

I would imagine the current CO2 rules make the Impreza about as popular as Hitler in a Saddam Hussein outfit riding Jade Goody to a Brake meeting.

[Mr Fix It]

The Type 25 was making over 400 bhp and 400 ftlb torque. It cost over 40k though, so god knows what Subaru may charge. Unless its not the full fat engine conversion and a mild tweak to the power.

[thehardman07]

havoc said:

What's happened to Prodrive? Or is Subaru so in-need of sales volume for its ugly-duckling that it'll go to every tuner out there???

Maybe because Prodrive are so sinomonous with Subaru, that calling their new edition 'prodrive xyz' just doesn't excite anymore. I don't know if Cosworth are better tuners than Prodrive, but the name alone adds something.

[BOBBY G]

Maybe Cosworth have been brought in because the Prodrive 330 pack keeps blowing engines up.

Brother has an STI with 330 pack and is on 4th engine......no end of problems with it.

Bob

[nickphuket]

I'll have one with a tea tray rear spoiler please!!!!!

[Dr G]

thehardman07 said:

havoc said:

What's happened to Prodrive? Or is Subaru so in-need of sales volume for its ugly-duckling that it'll go to every tuner out there???

Maybe because Prodrive are so sinomonous with Subaru, that calling their new edition 'prodrive xyz' just doesn't excite anymore. I don't know if Cosworth are better tuners than Prodrive, but the name alone adds something.

I don't really know what/who Cosworth is anymore - what bits did Audi keep/split/sell? Is there anything Costin/Duckworth left? I realise Duckworth passed a few years back.

[soxboy]

Weren't Cosworth linked with Kahn'ed up Range Rovers recently? I wonder if it's another badge exercise like this?

[ptopman]

ZesPak said:

Imho the previous Impreza's weren't lookers either. The only reason we think they look good is because we know what they are capable of.

This car looks purposeful, but other than that, it is a proper minger:

Yes, but that the latest one is uglier speaks volumes. And the one you've posted was quite an improvement on the original bug-eyed look.

Edited by ptopman on Monday 15th February 14:13

[PascalBuyens]

ptopman said:

ZesPak said:

Imho the previous Impreza's weren't lookers either. The only reason we think they look good is because we know what they are capable of.

This car looks purposeful, but other than that, it is a proper minger:

Yes, but that the latest one is uglier speaks volumes. And the one you've posted was quite an improvement on the original bug-eyed look.

Edited by ptopman on Monday 15th February 14:13

The "original" bug-eyed look?

The original ones didn't look that bug eyed to me...

Edited by PascalBuyens on Monday 15th February 14:31

[leon9191]

BOBBY G said:

Maybe Cosworth have been brought in because the Prodrive 330 pack keeps blowing engines up.

Brother has an STI with 330 pack and is on 4th engine......no end of problems with it.

Bob

I hadn’t heard they were having problems with the new ones is it a common thing?

I had a few Prodrive kitted cars (bug eye and a blob eye) and they were bullet proof (ish) as long as the fueling was ok and you kept an eye on the oil levels.

What has been letting go on your brothers?

I was thinking about getting a new one but that doesn’t sound good.

[soad]

The only decent looking Impreza's of old are the P1 and 22B imho.

Although i do like the RB320 and Litchfield Type 25 too.

[MarJay]

Its just not cos-worth it.

[Dover Nige]

Whale tail on the new Impreza anyone...?

Subaru have pretty much lost their fan/buyer base when they started doing spectacularly badly in the WRC and culminated with the manufacturer withdrawal from the sport.

They rested on their laurels for as long as they could. Now they need to either get those laurels back or start making the impossible - a car to please everyone.