Friday 2nd February 2018

The WRC legends: Pic of the Week

22B and TME; gobbledygook to many, catnip to people like us. Here's your new wallpaper!

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In the long and storied history of both the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza, two models continue to be held in the highest regard: the Tommi Makinen Edition, and the 22B.

The Mitsubishi celebrated Makinen's four consecutive WRC titles; the Subaru marked the 40th anniversary of the brand as well as three constructors' titles in a row. These cars not only represent the zenith of their respective manufacturers' rallying exploits, but also the peak of Japanese turbo nutter rally saloon popularity.

At the turn of the millennium no supercar was safe from an Evo or an Impreza on the loose; no handling day could be considered complete without the appearance of one, or both; young fans swooned over the very latest version in magazines, or discovered another JDM oddity on Gran Turismo. It was a whole new performance car obsession, and surely no two cars encapsulate that incredible fascination like the Tommi Makinen and the 22B.

Earlier this week we took a Final Edition WRX STI to this Subaru v. Mitsubishi grudge match. The classic shootout is one you can read in Autocar in a couple of weeks, with our Subaru sayonara coming this weekend. It's going to be a tough goodbye to write, that's for sure...

Static:
16:10
16:9
Quad HD
4K

Dynamic:
16:10
16:9
Quad HD
4K

[Photos: Malcolm Griffiths]

[Gandahar]

To be replaced by Golf R, Audi RS3 and AMG A45.

I'm having trouble looking past my rose tinted reactolite rapide sunglasses here to be honest.

Those crafty germans completely bypassing sport to give us a knob that feels good in your hand, both gear and infortainment wise.

[monthefish]

"the 22b.... not actually a homologation car at all and, other than the looks and inspiration, has no direct bloodline to those legendary rally cars."
https://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-features-h...

[Krikkit]

Just gorgeous, great photography as well guys.

Both of those would find a place in my lottery-win garage, fantastically mad machines.

[DooM_II]

wondeful cars and background, shame about the dirty sensor !

[Onehp]

Somebody know what these cars weighed for real? Full tank, real scales (no manufacturer figures!)

[West17]

Great cars and a nice picture.

Please bring back homologation, it gave us some fantastic cars!

[markcoznottz]

Gandahar said:

To be replaced by Golf R, Audi RS3 and AMG A45.

I'm having trouble looking past my rose tinted reactolite rapide sunglasses here to be honest.

Those crafty germans completely bypassing sport to give us a knob that feels good in your hand, both gear and infortainment wise.

Other than four wheels and a steering wheel, the modern stuff has nothing in common. Evos and Subarus feel a generation older, much more mechanical, and really small.

[Ares]

Onehp said:

Somebody know what these cars weighed for real? Full tank, real scales (no manufacturer figures!)

My MY99 Type R was just under 1250kg Given it was supposed to be 70kg of so lighter than the standard Sti, few hit the real figures..

I drove one a couple of months ago....still magic, but actually, the world has moved on a lot.

[andymac]

Iconic cars ,I am looking forward to Autocar article on the final edition v the 22B v the evolution.
I still wish that you could buy a road version of the current rally cars limited to 200 or whatever I loved those days .

[MDMA .]

Torque GT did a review last year.

https://youtu.be/fiYfmzNlZP4

[borat52]

Ares said:

Onehp said:

Somebody know what these cars weighed for real? Full tank, real scales (no manufacturer figures!)

My MY99 Type R was just under 1250kg Given it was supposed to be 70kg of so lighter than the standard Sti, few hit the real figures..

I drove one a couple of months ago....still magic, but actually, the world has moved on a lot.

Agree, I still own a 1999 Sti wagon and while it’s a real joy to drive and brings back memories of a unique era in motoring it’s very compromised compared to modern quick cars.

Also gone are the days when 300bhp is lightning quick, struggles to pull out much on a high spec diesel these days.

Nice to see them being elevated to classic status though over time. Hopefully people will take more care of them, nice ones are getting few and far between now which is a shame given how prolific they were in the late 90’s.

[leef44]

Ares said:

Onehp said:

Somebody know what these cars weighed for real? Full tank, real scales (no manufacturer figures!)

My MY99 Type R was just under 1250kg Given it was supposed to be 70kg of so lighter than the standard Sti, few hit the real figures..

I drove one a couple of months ago....still magic, but actually, the world has moved on a lot.

But this is the thing isn't it? Every motor journalist review of "old vs new" always says the new car is so effective and the old car cannot compete on effectiveness of getting from A to B. But the new car is so mundane in getting from A to B. With the old car, you get the mechanical feel, noise, metallic clanging and having to work harder to get the best out of it. Old school, we call it "magic", new generation call it "NVH".

I'm with you on this, I prefer the magic even if it gets me there more slowly. I will stick with the noise, harshness and vibration

[Ares]

leef44 said:

Ares said:

Onehp said:

Somebody know what these cars weighed for real? Full tank, real scales (no manufacturer figures!)

My MY99 Type R was just under 1250kg Given it was supposed to be 70kg of so lighter than the standard Sti, few hit the real figures..

I drove one a couple of months ago....still magic, but actually, the world has moved on a lot.

But this is the thing isn't it? Every motor journalist review of "old vs new" always says the new car is so effective and the old car cannot compete on effectiveness of getting from A to B. But the new car is so mundane in getting from A to B. With the old car, you get the mechanical feel, noise, metallic clanging and having to work harder to get the best out of it. Old school, we call it "magic", new generation call it "NVH".

I'm with you on this, I prefer the magic even if it gets me there more slowly. I will stick with the noise, harshness and vibration

It wasn't just that though. Feel/power delivery just felt dated. I expected to feel nostalgic and whimsical, I left feeling a little disappointed.

A bit like going back to the venue of your best ever holiday. Never quite as good, you become more away of the faults.