2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
February 6, 2008 by George Skentzos
The controversial styling of the new Impreza has meant the former icon has been largely relegated to hot hatch status, however Subaru Australia has today launched the flagship WRX STi – and its hotter than ever.
This generation of the potent STi is now more accessible than ever as well, with buyers given the option of an entry level STi, or Spec.R variant.
Both models offer identical naught to one hundred performance at 5.2 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor. Although not at the cost of fuel consumption, posting a remarkable 11.2 percent improvement with a 10.3L/100km combined cycle.
The Australian-spec 2.5-litre engine surpasses the 206kW limit of the previous model, now up to 221kW with torque up to 407Nm from an enthusiastic 4000rpm.
Pricing for the Impreza WRX STi starts from $59,990 whilst the spec.R variant is $64,990 which includes 18-inch lightweight BBS alloy wheels and Recaro seats with leather and alcantara.
WRX STI is a technological tour de force including:
- Multi-mode Driver Control Centre Differential
- Subaru Intelligent Drive
- Multi-mode Vehicle Dynamics Control
- STI close ratio six-speed manual gearbox
Other features unique to WRX STI include:
- Aerodynamic flared front and rear guards – zero lift design
- Wider car – 55 mm greater than WRX
- Quad exhaust system – airflow resistance reduced 38 per cent
- Rear wing and diffuser to optimize road holding
- STI front and rear bumper and grille
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- STI front door sill panels
- STI instruments
- STI-branded 4-pot front, 2-pot rear Brembo brakes
- Xenon low beam headlights with pop-up power jet washers
- Colour-coded electronically folding wing-mirrors with integrated indicators
- Dunlop SP 600 tyres
- Body stiffened at strategic points to aid performance car rigidity
- Lighter front suspension – improved steering response and cornering, reduced NVH
The WRX STi represents the debut of Subaru’s Intelligent Drive system, featuring three different engine settings – Intelligent (I) mode, Sport (S) and Sport sharp (S#).
Multi-mode Driver Control Centre Differential (DCCD) controls the torque distribution ratio between front and rear axles, through the STi’s front and rear LSDs which minimize torque loss and maximize driving pleasure.
“Third generation Impreza WRX STI is by far the most sophisticated and technologically advanced. It is radically different to the superseded car and achieves a new benchmark that competitors will find difficult to match with such comprehensive specification, combining performance, style and sophistication.”
Sharing only the bonnet, roof and front doors with the standard WRX, the STi adds flared guards, vented bumpers, quad exhausts, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear diffuser and aerodynamic rear wing.
The wheelbase has increased by 85mm despite a 50mm overall reduction in length, whilst width has increased by 55mm as a result of wider front and rear track.
The roof spoiler incorporates an LED brake light whilst additional indicators can be found in the colour-coded wing mirrors, which can be electronically folded.
Fog lights have been integrated into the unique zero-lift aerodynamic front bumper, plus Xenon self-levelling headlights with pop out power jet washers.
In additional to the trademark WR Blue mica, the WRX STi is also available in Obsidian black pearl, Pure white, Spark silver metallic, Lightning red and Dark gray metallic.
The interior carries a darker, low sheen finish emblazoned with trademark hot pink STi badging. The instrument cluster is unique to the STi and coloured illumination is added to the glovebox, driver and passenger foot wells and open centre console tray, improving low light visibility.
The entry-level model includes STI embroidered sports bucket seats with leather and alcantara trim. WRX STI spec.R variants get leather and alcantara bucket seats jointly developed with Recaro. Refined side and shoulder support as well as air filled lumbar support offers a comfortable position for spirited driving.
The engine in the STi sits 22mm lower than the standard WRX, producing a lower centre of gravity. The quad exhaust system reduces airflow resistance by 38 per cent for increased power output and revives the boxer-burble exhaust tone.
There is no pseudo paddle shift imitation manual in the STi, instead rightfully sits a six-speed close-ratio transmission with a triple cone system is added to first gear, in addition to the carbon synchros on fourth and sixth gears, producing a smoother gear change and shorter throw.
The addition of a groove within the shift keys of the 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 speed sleeves reduces vibration and improves the overall shift feeling.
The rally-derived Multi-mode Driver Control Centre Differential (DCCD) technology offers three modes.
AUTO- is ideal for agile, sporty driving on good grip surfaces – Limited Slip Differential strength is decreased.
AUTO+ helps optimise safety on lower grip, slippery surfaces – LSD strength is increased.
AUTO is the default mode. It enables the electronic system to optimise differential strength – suitable in most conditions.
MANU (manual) allows the driver to increase or decrease front: rear torque split to suit individual needs and driving style. Torque split is normally 41:59.
Similarly, the Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system offers three modes.
Intelligent offers very gentle, smooth power output – best suited in congested conditions at low speed, or for smooth freeway cruising. Activated by pushing the dial down.
Sport is the default mode. It optimizes performance on city and highway drives and is ideal for routine, day-to-day driving. Activated by turning the dial left.
Sport # boosts engine revolutions for sharp, sporty driving. Provides dynamic performance for true driving enthusiasts through highly responsive engine and throttle control. Activated by turning the dial right.
A blinking indicator light located in the tachometer advises the driver when is the optimum time to change gear.
A new double wishbone rear suspension set-up teamed with WRX STI’s wider tread offers exceptional performance and sharper handling. The front strut suspension offers high lateral rigidity, improving steering response and cornering stability. Lighter than the previous system, it reduces cabin shock levels over bumps and contributes to the significant NVH reduction.
As with all new generation Imprezas, the STi achieves the maximum five-star rating for occupant protection in crashworthiness testing and the highest possible four-star pedestrian rating.
Dual front, side and curtain airbags protect occupants during a collision, whilst four-pot ventilated front Brembo brakes and 2-pot rear ensure the driver has every chance to avoid one occurring in the first place.
Every Impreza has Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) as standard, offering Off, Traction and Normal settings.
Normal uses the full system, controlling power and braking in emergency situations via ABS, EBD, TCS and VDC. It is ideal for daily driving.
Traction controls only braking and torque delivery. It cancels the engine’s torque reduction control.
Off enables driving without VDC and TCS and is ideal for experienced drivers.
Previous generations of the Impreza were notorious targets for thieves, the STi features the latest advanced engine immobilisers and DataDot theft protection and includes a double-locking barrel lock, located in the driver’s door.
The entertainment package incorporates a premium 10-speaker six-stack in-dash CD system that adds tweeter speakers installed in each door gusset, with an auxiliary terminal is installed in the centre console. Steering wheel audio controls are standard.
The optional navigation system features an intuitive seven-inch touch screen display within easy reach of the driver.
New Impreza WRX STI model specifications at a glance:
Safety
- ABS anti-lock brakes with four-wheel discs and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist
- Child seat anchor points including ISO FIX
- Constant All-Wheel Drive
- Curtain airbags – full length front and rear
- Dual front airbags
- Dual side airbags
- Four wheel disc brakes (ventilated)
- Front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. Double pretensioners on driver’s seatbelt
- Front adjustable seatbelt anchorage
- Hill Start Assist
- Rear door child lock
- Seatbelt indicator lights – front seats
- Shock absorbing brake and clutch pedals
- Side intrusion bars
- Three-point A/ELR rear centre seatbelt
- Vehicle Dynamics Control – multi-mode
Interior
- Alloy pedals
- AM/FM radio, six-stack in-dash CD, MP3/WMA compatible, 10-speakers
- Auxiliary jack
- Bottle holders in each door + two cup holders in centre console
- Cargo area light
- Cargo hooks
- Cargo security blind
- Central locking – remote. Two keys supplied
- Climate control air conditioning
- Cruise control – steering wheel buttons
- Driver’s footrest
- Electroluminescent gauges – multi-information display
- Height and reach adjustable steering column
- Height adjustable driver’s seat
- Immobiliser security system
- Leather sports steering wheel with audio controls; leather gearshift
- Map lights (2)
- Power steering, mirrors and windows
- Privacy glass
- Rear illumination instrument display
- Rear under seat air ducts
- Remote fuel lid release – tethered fuel cap
- Sports bucket seats
- Sports body kit
- STI badging
- Vanity mirror
- 60/40 split/fold rear seat
- 12V/120W power jacks
Exterior
- 18-inch five-spoke wheels with STI logo – spacesaver spare
- Colour-coded mirrors and door handles – mirrors with integrated indicators and electronic folding
- Double locking system
- Front fog lights
- Grille unique to model
- Headlights auto off
- Quad exhaust – airflow resistance reduced 38 per cent
- Rear diffuser
- Rear roof spoiler with LED brake light
- Rear roof mounted radio antenna
- Rear wiper
- Self-levelling Xenon headlights with pop-up washers
- STI badging
Engineering
- Dual Active Valve Control System (AVCS)
- Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)
- Front and rear Limited Slip Differentials
- 2.5 litre four cylinder DOHC horizontally opposed turbocharged boxer engine.
- 221 kW/6000 rpm, 407 Nm/4000 rpm
Other features
- Alarm security system
- Auto hatch unlock on key
- DataDot security technology
- Three-year unlimited kilometre warranty
Impreza WRX STI spec.R adds:
- 18-inch lightweight BBS alloy wheels (8.95 kg v 12.18 kg in entry-level model)
- Recaro seats with leather and alcantara
Impreza WRX STI MY08 pricing
These are retail recommended prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.
Impreza WRX STI $59,990
Impreza WRX STI spec.R $64,990
Options
DVD satellite navigation $2990
I drove the new STi about a month ago, here is a ‘little’ bit of what I wrote back then.
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It wasn’t the standard STi, it was the Impreza WRX STi Spec-R, which comes with the highly sought after Recaro seats and 18″ BBS forged alloy wheels.
With all the hype about the new Nissan GT-R being able to bend the space-time continuum to go from 0-100km/h in 0.23 nanoseconds while making you a babycino at the same time, many have forgotten about Subaru’s latest rally machine, but we haven’t.
It’s hard to look at this as an STi, firstly it’s not even blue, it’s dark grey and so much for STi’s trademark gold wheels. Secondly, it looks far too relaxed and cool to be an STi. This is the sort of car cops will look at once then look away and by the time they figure out it’s the new STi, you’d already be home.
So it’s like the Volkswagen Golf R32, lots of power, lots of omph, but not much aggression as far as style goes. Interestingly, Subaru are training their STi staff on a skid-pan with a Golf R32 as comparison, they obviously feel this is the market they need to compete against and that alone should tell you the whole story, but it doesn’t.
You see the problem with all the media speculation about this car is that, well, they are all wrong. Yes this is a Golf R32 challenger, but it is a Mitsubishi Evo X challenger too.
Subaru hasn’t gone soft, it hasn’t thrown in the towel and aimed for the 50+ and most importantly, it hasn’t disowned its loyal fans. Think of Subaru as a teenager all grown up, it spent the last 14 years angry at the world, designing STis that look like they want to bite you on the face, and now, after all that time, they have learnt to channel their energy into a small subdued package.
Look at the front of the new STi and it no longer resembles Hugh Jackman in yellow spandex, instead it looks more like Clark Kent in superman, it knows it can go around that 45 degree corner at 120km/h, but it doesn’t need a meter-long rear-wing to prove it.
That’s what you have to realize, this is no longer a “look how big my bonnet scoop is” type of car (although, if that’s your thing, the bonnet scoop is still gigantic), it’s like Yoda in his prime, calm and collected, but ready to explode into a fierce fighting machine at any instant.
The MY08 STi receives the Subaru-Intelligent (SI)-Drive system, the first appearance in the Impreza range. The system allows you to switch between Intelligent, Sports or Sports Sharp. Some say this is a gimmick and a useless one, but I disagree.
The test car was initially set to Intelligent mode, which is another way of saying ’slow, but good fuel economy’.
Flooring the car up a hill in intelligent mode was pretty lacklustre, useful when you lend the car to your partner (if you really had to) or when cruising, but for the sake of this quick review, it was switched to Sports Sharp (standard Sports mode wasn’t tested).
The weather has been rather atrocious here in QLD the last few days and the car was tested in very wet conditions, not that it matters, since the STi is at its best in the wet. Floor it up a hill in Sports Sharp mode and you will realize why there is nothing like an AWD turbo.
Unlike the older models, the new STi’s power delivery feels significantly more linear, sure you still have to hit at least 2,500rpm before something starts to happen, but just like a grown up teenager, it no longer happens all at once, it delivers all the way to the redline (just a tad over 6,500rpm).
As for power, here is a reason to buy the STi over the Evo X, you get an extra 12kW. Even so the official figures of 221kW and 407Nm of torque fail to give you an idea of just how explosive this car really is.
I know a lot people will complain that the new STi does not have launch control like the EVO and R32 (DSG), and that is a reasonable complaint, but official acceleration figures put the car’s 0-100km/h time at 5.2 seconds, and that’s a 0.2 second improvement over the old one.
Sit it at around 5,000rpm, let the clutch grip and time stops as the Subbie pushes you so far back in your seat it starts to hurt. Current STi owners will be pleased that despite the linear power delivery, the turbo-rush feeling is still there.
The quad-pipe exhausts are an excellent addition, but I still had a hard time hearing the traditional boxer burble.
The 2.5-litre engine is essentially unchanged, Subaru has added dual active valve control system, modified the turbo, changed the way the intercooler works for better efficiency and moved the engine lower in the engine bay – giving a better centre of gravity and hence better handling, but, it’s still the good old tried and proven 2.5-litre boxer.
The big question for the new STi isn’t how much power it has, or how it looks, but more so, how it drives. Subaru has shortened the overhangs, extended the wheelbase and given the car better aerodynamics – and it shows.
My biggest complaint with the STi range has always been the harsh ride, sure it goes around corners like it’s on rails, but the minute you come across a B-grade road (and we all know there are a few of those) you will need to make an appointment with a chiropractor.
Thankfully someone at Subaru decided to spend some money reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and although there is still noticeable interior noise, when it comes to ride quality, it’s a different beast.
From corner to corner the STi has not changed one bit, I can’t tell you that handling has improved till we do a full review, but first impressions left me wondering what all the technological gadgetry was doing.
The ESP, or Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) as Subaru like to call it, has an interesting feature, it has three settings: Off, Traction and Normal. Off is for the brave, Normal is like standard ESP, controlling power and braking when needed, but Traction is my pick, it will keep you alive by applying the brakes and playing with torque delivery but won’t interfere too much more.
As for the interior, there is no sugercoating this one, it’s disappointing – yet again. The interior of the Impreza RS was a let down, and the STi is no different.
Previously the bland STi interior was acceptable since the car was all about raw power and aggression, but now that Subaru are going for a slightly more classy package, they need to appoint the same interior designer from the Liberty GT to the STi.
The optional Recaro seats on the Spec-R are brilliant, but that’s really about it. As a whole, the interior feels a little underdone, given what you’re paying.
When it comes down to parting with your cash for one of these, you have to decide if you would rather:
* A German built AWD 3.2-litre Golf with a better interior and refinement, but lacking the power and fun-factor of the STi;
* The new Mitsubishi Evo X with its new dual-clutch SST transmission system (similar to the DSG in the Golf) – but still the boy racer image and a little less power
* or the new STi – lacking a little in attitude, but definitely not in performance.
It’s a hard choice I know, but it’s one which over 200 Australians have already made in favour of the new STi.
In the STi pamphlet Subaru says “You’ve heard the saying: a wolf in sheep’s clothing, well forget the sheep, this is a wolf in wolf’s clothing”, that’s not really the case, it’s more like a husky, friendly and very lovable, but also ferocious when it needs to be – and if you’re after a car with unquestionable stealthy performance, the STi is what you want.
$5000 extra for lighter wheels and different front seats seems a bit steep to me… unless I’m missing something.
Well each one of those seats, if you buy them yourself, would cost you in excess of $2,000 – and the BBS rims are a good $4,500, so the $5000 isn’t that much for what u get if you break it down.
Thanks Alborz, I thought that might be the case but just needed clarification.
The STI would look great if it had a large butt (sedan boot). The front is very aggressive and stays true to the STI badge.
Notice the big flared wheel arches!
Damn I wish I could afford it…
When is yours on order Alborz. Ace value performance at $60K. Looking forward to seeing them in the flesh
No Name, sorry I think I am buying the EVO X this time around (or if things go well, the new GT-R). I can’t deal with the hatch look, maybe if the Sedan looks better.
Just added my driving impressions as the first comment.
Alborz,
If you want to see the Subaru Impreza Sedan got to http://www.netcarshow.com
When is the sedan coming out? – that’s if it is of course
Duck, where abouts on that site is the Impreza sedan?
Go to Subaru, then 2008 WRX 4-door. Back end looks awful anyway.. Hatch looks much better (its growing on me more each day).
Alborz said………
No Name, sorry I think I am buying the EVO X this time around (or if things go well, the new GT-R). I can’t deal with the hatch look, maybe if the Sedan looks better.
Just added my driving impressions as the first comment.
Geez babe first ya have to eat your hat on the GTR thingy over the Porsche and now your wanting a EVO……I guess you are too young still be driving something that subtle in a Subbie ……..leave them for us oldies then…hehehe
Yeah! Go to Subaru and click on Subaru 4-door Impreza WRX
It should be noted that for those awaiting the arrival of a Subaru WRX STi ‘Sedan’ in this series that there is unlikely to be one – at the very least it would be unprecedented for in Australia. This is because normally the STi is a version of the current rally car and there is no rally sedan for the present model. At best you may get a WRX sedan ‘Tuned by STi’ but it really is not the same thing.
btw – speaking of rally cars, anyone know where you can get the STi rally style double wing spoiler sitting beneath the back window instead of the standard roof jobbie?
Alborz…..Yoda in his prime was ALSO pretty ugly!!!
My gut feeling is its to expensive.
$60k for a Sub. is a bit much.
Maybe EVO can be cheaper and get them to tweak the price.
Still, NOTHING new at the price that goes better [Maybe the EVO?]
I would go 2nd hand Elise or 911
Cheers
F-0
Given the performance there is currently no comparison at that price and even at a much higher price. I suspect Subaru will be a bit more flexible re discounted pricing come April with the release of the Evo.
As far as interior and general features of the car is concerned – the Golf R32 (which I have driven) is MILES ahead of the STi at a similar price. If I wasn’t such a fan of serious seat suck, I would definitely go the R32, but as it is, I love the power of the STi which R32 simply cannot match
as nice as the BBS 18×7 wheels look..
I wouldnt pay the extra $5000 for them… even though you get the recaros as throw ins (worth around 1500-2000)
I’ve seen an STi with 18×9 fronts 18×10 rears, on thick tyres… and it looked much more aggressive, especially the back view… it looks “FAT”… like M3 “FAT”… which is good.
Apparently those wheels cost $5000-6000… so I would rather buy the “regular” STi then spend the extra 5k on better wheels….
still thinking hard about this car now… actually just sceptical if they will release a face lift… maybe a grill/front bumper change…