Subaru WRX STI Series.White launches in US

310hp limited-run special gets Bilstein damping and Cup 2 rubber in track-worthy upgrade

The Subaru WRX STI might be dead in Britain, but across the pond sales are strong enough to justify the launch of a faster, track-honed model. Just 500 examples of the full stop abusing Series.White are to be produced, each gaining Bilstein dampers, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 boots and stiffer steering rack mounts. Think of it as a mechanical reward for the American customers who’ve ensured Subaru’s performance four-door survives into the new decade, in the face of ever-growing hot hatch pressure.

Those chassis improvements aren’t joined by any engine modifications, meaning WRX STI the Series.White produces 310hp from the same turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer as the regular car. Although with the extra grip provided by the aforementioned changes adding to the Subaru’s armoury of Driver Controlled Centre Diff and Active Torque Vectoring tech, the Series.White is well placed to be amongst the quickest STI variants yet. A status which it signals with a Ceramic White paint job and matte bronze forged 19-inch wheels.

Joining that enhanced specification are six-piston brake calipers, a leather and suede interior and matte black exterior badges, as well as a raft of other high-spec features including powered sports seats and folding door mirrors. This finish, along with the low-volume production number, means the WRX STI Series.White starts at $42,695, about $10k more than the regular car. But that does only equate to £33,186, meaning you get a whole lot of performance and lineage for your money.

If that’s still too much, there is a cheaper step onto the Series.White ladder with a 286hp WRX version of the boosted four-pot, slightly less focussed Bilstein dampers and 18-inch matte bronze wheels. 500 of these will be made, each priced from $33,995 – about £26,420 – which seems like a pretty decent deal for a leftfield performance car as characterful as this.

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