A heavily revised version of the iconic WRX STI is now on sale at Subaru dealerships in Southern Africa. It is the fastest WRX STI ever, benefiting from on-going suspension and chassis refinements to provide point-to-point ability which will be hard to match at twice the price.
The new model also marks the return to the body style traditionally associated with Subaru’s performance flagship, the 2011 WRX STI will be sold exclusively as a four-door with its trademark rear wing.
“There is no doubt that the STI sedan has a near-iconic place in the minds of performance aficionados and particularly in South Africa that is the case,” says Subaru Southern Africa.
“While the hatchback continues to be available overseas, we have taken the decision to switch exclusively to the four-door because of feedback from the marketplace.”
“At the same time, we have positioned WRX and WRX STI as a separate ‘extreme performance’ platform which is now distinct and separate from Impreza. This is in line with international Subaru policy and the word Impreza does not appear on the car at all.”
As well as the characteristic bonnet scoop to feed air to the intercooler of the turbocharged, 2,5-litre powerplant, what sets the new models aside visually is the wider body – 55 mm wider at the front. Both the WRX and WRX STI get a more aggressive front design: the bumper is new and juts both further forwards, and outwards; the lower air intake has also been enlarged. Air ducts just ahead of the front wheels ensure that the air pressure under the nose remains low by helping to prevent the build-up of air inside the wheel arches. The wing at the other end of the WRX is a subtle one, creating a lip on the trailing edge of the bootlid and complimenting the diffuser under the bumper.
The range-topping WRX STI gets a tall, strut-mounted spoiler, which stands 250 mm clear of the bootlid at its highest point. One of the most significant aerodynamic updates can’t be seen however: the underbody is smoothed to channel the air rapidly to the diffuser and thus aid wind-cheating ability, and the greater overall length of the sedan helps in this regard. The finishing touches are a quartet of 80 mm diameter polished stainless steel exhaust tips, as well as a set of 18-inch wheels with 245/40 profile rubber.
As usual the starting point for a Subaru is the combination of Symmetrical All Wheel Drive and a horizontally-opposed Boxer Engine. Both WRX and WRX STI feature the award winning 2,5 litre DOHC version of the H4 engine, carried over – along with their transmissions – largely unchanged from the 2010 models. In the case of the WRX that means outputs of 195 kW/343 Nm mated to a five-speed gearbox. The STI outputs of 221 kW and 407 Nm will be familiar to brand aficionados, as will the six-speed, heavy-duty gearbox.
What is new is the option of the five-speed Sportshift automatic, which promises a more luxurious driving experience with uncompromised performance. Engineers developed the gearbox to make the best possible use of the available torque. From 3 000 r/min to 6 000 r/min the engine and gearbox work to deliver a constant 350 Nm of torque, meaning the WRX can leap into action at the slightest prod of the accelerator pedal at almost any point in the rev range. Paddles mounted either side of the steering column, or a sequential mode via the gear selector, allow the driver to take full control of the drivetrain at any point. The ‘Sportshift’ transmission regulates torque between the front and rear axles at a ratio of 45:55. This ratio will change seamlessly and instantly depending on acceleration, braking or cornering influences.
In contrast, the six-speed manual transmission WRX STI provides the ultimate in hands-on involvement by combining Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD) with Si-Drive. The former gives the driver the option of letting the electromagnetically-controlled multi-plate clutch and a mechanical limited slip centre differential apportion torque from the 41:59 static setting, or manipulate the five-position switch between the seats to progressively send up to 65 percent of the torque rearward.
For the new model year, the suspension has been almost completely revised too. Front and rear anti-roll bars have been increased in diameter and now measure 21 and 19 millimetre respectively. The springs rates are now significantly stiffened to the point where the force required to compress those at the rear is now higher than those at the front. The result is a far ‘flatter’ cornering stance and a shift away from a chassis which had been tuned to primarily understeer when driven hard.
Adding to the overall stability and offering a more immediate steering response are harder rear subframe bushes, as well as a change to competition-style spherical bearings where the lower control arm pivots in the front subframe. This results in very precise wheel behaviour in high-load situations (such as rapid and sudden transitions from left to right). The lower control arms are now cast from aluminium, reducing unsprung mass by about 1.2 kgs at each corner, which along with the lightweight seven-spoke BBS forged aluminium wheels contribute to handling precision and quick steering response.
The WRX features wheels that are each 900 grams lighter than before. Add in track widths which have grown by 35 mm in front and 40 mm in the rear and you have the best-handling, hardest-gripping WRX yet.
Inside, the focus remains on driving and so the thick-rimmed steering wheel, ergonomically shaped gear knob, supportive leather Recaro seats (WRX STI only) and aluminium pedals are all still part of the package – in fact, the man/machine interfaces are unchanged. Some subtle colour changes have been made to the dashboard and door panels, which are now a dark metallic colour, creating a more sporty ambiance. Finally, the two WRX STI models boast keyless Start and Smart access function, with a touch sensor system behind the handle.
“It is almost 10 years since the WRX STI was first introduced to South Africa and in that time it has developed a cult following which is possibly even more enthusiastic and diehard than similar groups found overseas,” says Subaru. “We owe it to them to maintain the iconic status of our turbocharged, All-Wheel-Drive offerings while at the same time broadening their appeal so that a wider audience can appreciate the car.”
| Prices (incl. CO2 tax) | |
| Subaru WRX (M/T) | R379 000 |
| Subaru WRX STI Sportshift (A/T) | R489 000 |
| Subaru WRX STI (M/T) | R499 000 |
Prices include a 3-year/75 000 km maintenance plan.
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October 24th, 2010 at 12:15 am
i love the new subaru but sales are poor!att Subaru wake up!!and get ur sales an marketing in order!!3year 100000kms every 1 else offering 5 year 100000km??