Wednesday 27th August 2014

JDM Subaru range expands

Good news - WRX and STI get a boost; bad news - not to be seen outside of Japan

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In news guaranteed to trigger nostalgia in anyone who lusted after rare-groove acronym-covered Imprezas in the 1990s, Subaru has just launched two funkily named variants in Japan - the WRX S4 and the WRX STI Type S.

Was sounding promising until the CVT

The S4 has the best name, although Audi's lawyers might disagree if it ever leaves Japan. Apparently it stands for 'Sports Performance, Safety Performance, Smart Driving and Sophisticated Feel.' Yes, really. It gets a boosted version of Subaru's newer 2.0-litre 'FA' turbocharged boxer engine (the one we don't get in Europe) with power rising to 300hp from the existing 268hp. Sadly it only comes with one transmission choice - Subaru's hateful Lineartronic CVT, although it does get standard torque vectoring.

The Type S is being pitched as the most focused iteration of the current STI yet. It comes with the 2.0-litre engine that Subaru still uses in Japan but with power and torque boosted to 308hp and 311lb ft over the 300hp and 300lb ft of the export spec 2.5-litre STI we get in Europe. It also gets LED headlights and unique 18-inch gold alloys.

Makes you want to fire up Gran Turismo, doesn't it...

 

 

[rtz62]

Should be offered with a free ball in the boot;
to remind the proud new owner of what Subaru have dropped....

[rtz62]

Ved said:

rtz62 said:

Should be offered with a free ball in the boot;
to remind the proud new owner of what Subaru have dropped....

Not seeing your logic here. It's JDM, what have they done wrong here exactly?

Exactly. It's JDM, nothing there to reignite interest in the UK market.
Also, I've owned a 'Classic' Turbo, a WR1 and (although different maker) a Misusushi Evo RS Sprint; these are cars that actually made me 'want' one, whereas this.... sorry, it leaves me cold.
Good job we don't all like the same things, as the saying goes......