Subaru announces WRX STi Spec C

By David Twomey | July 23rd, 2009

Subaru has launched an uprated model of its iconic WRX STi for the Japan market, the Spec C, which is certain the get the hearts of fans racing, although currently there are no plans for the model to come to Australia.

Subaru said the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C, a new addition to the current WRX STI line-up would go on sale today through Subaru dealerships in Japan.

The WRX STI Spec C model features enhanced engine and chassis performance as well as a lighter body on the premise of driving in motor sports.

Power is up to 227kW at 6400rpm and torque is increased to 422Nm at 4400rpm. The standard STi produces 221kW and 407Nm.

Subaru Japan says the model further strengthens the WRX STi’s presence in the high performance car arena by offering sheer excitement and unique driving sensations as a distinctive road sport model, in line with the performance level originally delivered by the Impreza WRX STI.

Among the enhancements are a ball-bearing mount for the twin-scroll turbocharger axle and exclusive retuning of the ECU to give the engine of the spec C model quicker response and improved accelerating performance.

Thanks to its specially designed front & rear suspensions and improved body rigidity, the chassis offers stable and linear driving control even in marginal driving conditions.

The adoption of an aluminium bonnet, laminar window glasses and a downsized battery resulted in a lighter overall weight, which further polishes the model’s driving performance.

As a result of changes to the ECU programming, the engine offers smoother and quicker response to the accelerator pedal.

Subaru has also made changes to the fuel pump to provide stable fuel delivery even on high-load driving.

It probably won’t make any difference to the performance but gold coloured “Brembo” brake callipers are standard.

The front bucket seats (fabric with red stitch) are standard on models with 18-inches alloy wheels, while Recaro seats (Alcantara and leather combination with red stitch) are optional.

There are two exclusive exterior colors, Sunrise Yellow and Pure White, and production is limited to 900 units.

Big Oil

The standard seats look like they wouldn’t be out of place in a nana-spec Camry. You’d hope for the Recaros to be standard across the entire WRX STi lineup.
Alan

Any idea how much it weighs? Past Spec C models were known to be light weight editions, wonder how much weight they stripped off it this time.
NacaYoda

The stud pattern and offset of this model WRX always ensures (like so many Subarus) that decent (deep) wheel designs won’t fit (unless you fit some kind of uber aftermarket widebody kit). I find the Rex so underwhelming as a result. The range, even at the pointy and exciting Spec C end, don’t have the road presence I’d want for the money.

Of course… I’d enjoy the performance… I’d just like some cred in the looks department to go with it (see, GT-R, RX8, RX7, Silvia, Soarer…)
Alex

It can be whatever spec it wants, it’s still ugly, dated looking and largely bought by the sort of people that you wouldn’t want the same car as.
Beef

The last thing we need in this economy is the latest edition of an ugly sports car.
Flying High

Subaru should just make the STi to this specification as standard – The Spec C version is purely a $ gathering exercise for what should be standard kit. And Recaro should be standard at the prices they charge for this car.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Beef, I thought the last thing we need in this economy is for businesses to stop offering products for people to buy. People will buy this so Subaru has offered it.
http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

To be honest, I don’t really care about this car at all. I mean, the power is only up 6 kilowatts, the seats are plain and it is probably not coming to Oz anyhow. However it does look quite good in that yellow. If you are that serious about this car, a racing chip, new wheels and a weight loss program on a standard STi is probably a better bet.
Bavarain Missile®™

Its a desperate attempt by Subaru to try and retain som e of their customers who are looking more closely at buying an EVO-X Lancer.. particularly as the Impreza range has lost the boy racer image on which the WRX is built on

Funny thing is Subaru have said that they want to make the Impreza appeal to a wider demographic not just those interested in motorsport etc. which is why when ompared to previous models the current Impreza looks so sedate

Yet if you wanted a car with all the features of an Impreza but without the “Boy Racer” image.. you would buy a Liberty..as it was aimed more at families and executives

However; going by images of the upcoming Liberty it appears that it has the flared guards etc that used to be on the Impreza – which just looks wrong………. Give me an EVO-X
http://Antilag.com Joe

I love all the comments here from the uninformed.

Bavarian Missile.. “Its a desperate attempt by Subaru to try and retain som e of their customers who are looking more closely at buying an EVO-X Lancer..”

Flying High.. “Subaru should just make the STi to this specification as standard – The Spec C version is purely a $ gathering exercise for what should be standard kit.”

The FACT is, the Spec C is the hi-po model in the range, normally built for Group N homologation purposes and never sold in Australia. They have been building it for the past 10 years, so why would the current one be a desperate attempt to retain customers?

Plus, what they outline in the press release is never the limit of what is done to the vehicle… its a fact that when you start looking under the skin, there are a multitude of tiny differences. Previous model Spec C Impreza’s have had extra body and chassis bracing, extra seams welded into the body, and many many other tiny changes which really make them stand out from the lesser specified WRX STi model, not to mention the engine differences (cross drilled cranks, forged pistons, oil coolers, bigger intercoolers), which you don’t know about until someone tears one down for a look.

I don’t think Subaru or anyone who likes Subaru’s for that matter, would care what the Car Advice arm-chair experts think about it. Those in the know (race teams and Subaru enthusiasts, which are the target market for this vehicle), know that the Spec C is a good thing.
http://Antilag.com Joe

P.S. for more info on the changes between the STi and the STI Spec C, see here..

http://www.worldcarfans.com/109072320626/mini21/subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-spec-c-launched-in-japan
NacaYoda

Well put, Joe. Be great fun in rally, to be sure.
I still think it lacks toughness
Flying High

Joe. Anyone who is going to fork out 65K+ for an upgraded Impreza is by definition a fan of Subaru. The STi is supposed to be the hero car in their range. So the Spec C is the Hero’s Hero then? Subaru already charge like a wounded bull for it. There is no reason that all features of the Spec C could not be part of a singular STi for the same price. You then do away with the need for yet another version of the STi and truely have the best car Subaru can produce for the road. It IS marketing by Subaru – no two ways about it. Irrelevant anyway as we will unlikely see these things in Oz at any rate – save for the grey imports
http://Antilag.com Joe

Flying High – The Spec C is not the hero car of the range, its the purpose built homologation special of the range.

Hardcore enthusiasts and race teams purchase the Spec C. Why do they limit the production? Because there is no way they could sell 10,000 of them or more per year worldwide, there is no market for that many Spec C’s.

There is also no way that Subaru can merge the features of a Spec C into a normal STi and make it saleable to the general public. For example, notice it has no radio? That’s because it saves weight. A lot of other compromises are also present, and people who buy it don’t care for features that hamper performance, such as radios and sound deadening. The omission of such features would be suicide in the open market.

I wouldn’t call it Subaru marketing at all, I’ve never seen a marketing campaign for a Spec C.
Flying High

Joe granted that lack of sound deadening and a sound system would not appeal to a wider market. But a better tuned and more polished engine and an aluminium bonnet certainly would. It certainly could only enhance the sale of the ‘standard’ STi. At any rate you are right about the target market for this Spec C car and good luck to Subaru with selling it anyway. I am sure it would not dissapoint.
KJ

Flying High,

You are clearly anti-Subaru. I don’t think STi is as overpriced as you suggest it to be (charge like a wounded bull?). Why don’t you name a car that matches or comes close to STi’s performance in the similar price range? Sure it doesn’t have classy interior, but you can’t deny its performance credentials.
Flying High

KJ – You have no idea how wrong you are about being anti Subaru. Exactly the opposite. I would not have bought one otherwise.