RE: Detroit reveal for 346hp Subaru STI S209

RE: Detroit reveal for 346hp Subaru STI S209

Monday 14th January 2019

Detroit reveal for 346hp Subaru STI S209

Previous super special Subarus were JDM only - now they're only for the US. Here's what you need to know



Watch the livestream for Subaru's latest STI and its hard not to get a bit emotional about the Impreza's heritage - we've done so already with a farewell drive, but it's happened again. The stream featured WRC clips, N24 footage, Burns, McRae and some wild special editions - the 22B, the S201, RA-R and so on.

This new S209, teased over the last few weeks in the lead up to Detroit, continues the lineage of the iconic STI 'S' models seen since the turn of the millennium. They've always represented the most extreme Subaru saloons of the period, and that looks like continuing with the new car. Perhaps most notably, this S209 is the first to be offered in the US, after years of Japanese-only sales.


So what's new? Well, this S209 is the most powerful production STI ever, the EJ25 2.5-litre turbo now producing 346hp thanks to a revised intake system, bespoke turbo and a freer flowing exhaust. Forged pistons and con-rods should alleviate some of the longevity concerns with this engine, and an intercooler water spray is a nice nod back to the 22B.

To substantiate the claim of this S209 also being the best handling STI ever, it comes with unique, STI-tuned Bilstein dampers, uprated springs and stronger bushings. In addition, and said to be influenced directly by the N24 class-winning cars, this STI receives "a flexible front-strut tower bar and flexible front and rear draw stiffeners" - if you know then we'd love to as well. Complementing those changes are a carbon roof, Brembo discs with upgraded STI pads, forged BBS wheels (in gold, of course), a chunky rear wing (again carbon) and a new performance clutch.


Inside the S209 is treated to Recaro front seats, enough logos to ensure nobody ever forgets what it is and a red "decorative instrument panel". We're waiting earnestly and eagerly for those pics.

As mentioned, this is the first time in nearly 20 years that an 'S' model Subaru has been offered exclusively to US customers; testament to brand's popularity Stateside. Buyers will get a choice of either the white with gold wheels seen here, or WR Blue Pearl with dark grey wheels - which will immediately be painted gold, surely. Subaru says this is the best STI it's ever made, embracing all that's been learned in rally, rallycross, circuit racing, time attacks and hillclimbs over the years. If it really can deliver that, the S209 promises to be something spectacular for a limited number of fortunate Americans. Deliveries commence later this year.




Author
Discussion

Zed Ed

Original Poster:

1,103 posts

182 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

bashful

171 posts

229 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
Wouldn't the entire point of a strut brace be that it *not* be flexible?

carl_w

9,154 posts

257 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
bashful said:
Wouldn't the entire point of a strut brace be that it *not* be flexible?
I suspect it means "adjustable"

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
2.5 is the sh*te engine though, no 2.0 litre?!

TX.

C7 JFW

1,205 posts

218 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
I think the bumpers, roof and brakes might make it over to my 2016 STI.

I can't say I blame Subaru for only making it for the US market - they'll sell out.

rossub

4,400 posts

189 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
2.5 is the sh*te engine though, no 2.0 litre?!

TX.
For emissions reasons no doubt.

How many are being made? Hopefully the numbers aren’t being inflated for the US market.... too many and the magic will be lost. Even 600 of the S203 and 204 felt a bit too many....

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
I’d buy one if it was released here. Really very bored with under stated Euro performance cars now.

shantybeater

1,192 posts

168 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
Ali_T said:
I’d buy one if it was released here. Really very bored with under stated Euro performance cars now.
Couldn't agree more. Numb straight line warriors have become the popular thing now, this would interest me. (minus BGW)

Jim on the hill

5,072 posts

189 months

Monday 14th January 2019
quotequote all
Zed Ed said:
346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.
Not sure anyone said that about the FQ 340 or any tuned Impreza or Evo. People get so caught up with BHP but if this has a good 4wd system and lots of grip which I expect it does I don't think it will be underwhelming.

cib24

1,115 posts

152 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
2.5 is the sh*te engine though, no 2.0 litre?!

TX.
This one has forged rods and such on the EJ25 though which surely makes the motor less susceptible to issues of the non-forged EJ25?

jakesmith

9,461 posts

170 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Every version of this car since the first one gets more bland looking

BlackPrince

1,271 posts

168 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
jakesmith said:
Every version of this car since the first one gets more bland looking
same really as the Evo, Golf R/R32 and Focus RS (though I liked the 2nd gen RS the best)

BrassMan

1,482 posts

188 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Jim on the hill said:
Zed Ed said:
346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.
Not sure anyone said that about the FQ 340 or any tuned Impreza or Evo. People get so caught up with BHP but if this has a good 4wd system and lots of grip which I expect it does I don't think it will be underwhelming.
Like it or not, the game has moved on. These days, on Planet PH, you need 300bhp to pop to the shops and 400bhp to sit in a queue.

GravelBen

15,655 posts

229 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Zed Ed said:
346bhp; bit underwhelming
Might depend if you're more interested in driving a car or telling people how much power it has.

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 15th January 10:46

JerryF

282 posts

173 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Love it Subaru - can we have it in the UK?

Baileyk

193 posts

63 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Stuck on arches are not helping the look of this car.

ReaperCushions

5,951 posts

183 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
The magic of the Impreza came and went with the first two iterations (Classic and the second one, whatever its called). The rest are rather a bit 'try hard' and this seems to continue the trend.

Much like the Civic Type R, you are highly likely to look like a bit of a throbber driving one of these around anywhere but a track.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
ReaperCushions said:
The magic of the Impreza came and went with the first two iterations (Classic and the second one, whatever its called). The rest are rather a bit 'try hard' and this seems to continue the trend.

Much like the Civic Type R, you are highly likely to look like a bit of a throbber driving one of these around anywhere but a track.
The bugeye, they called it. I had one - divisive looks if ever I saw them! I'm sure the blobeye and Hawkeye can be corralled into the same group too.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
I rather like that I must say, great to cross country I would imagine.

NITO

1,077 posts

205 months

Tuesday 15th January 2019
quotequote all
Yawn,

Bring back the EJ20! Mercedes are getting 400bhp out of their 2.0 and tuners were getting more than that from Subaru's 15+ years ago.

I lament the way Subaru has gone, they had such superbly 'engineered' products and a hardcore following.