2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI announced

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By Alborz Fallah | April 02nd, 2010

The long awaited 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI has just been officially announced in its U.S. specifications. The New York International Auto Show was chosen to unveil the new WRX STI which is titled the fastest WRX STI ever.

Subaru says the new STI has undergone extensive testing at the Nurburgring and race tracks in Japan to fine tune its suspension (now lower by 5mm). Of course the biggest news for 2011 model year is the addition of a new variant: Impreza WRX STI in sedan form.

“We can confirm a four-door Impreza WRX STI will join our Australian line-up much later in the year and will be available from our exclusive STI retail network.” Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said:

Power is at 227kW (305 hp) and 392Nm of torque is delivered to all-wheels through a six-speed transmission. There is no official 0-100km/h time announced so far. Now that the new WRX Sedan features the aggressive wide body stance, the STI variant has to prove its value over its related siblings.

On top of the previous design the STI sedan has larger bumper corners with areas surrounding the fog lamps blacked out for that extra mean look. There is also a new-look front grill highlighted by its virile black tones.

If you look hard enough you’ll also notice a refined forward-surging shape for the lip spoiler at the bottom of the bumper. This addition is seen on both hatch and sedan models.

The front of the sedan variant will now look pretty much the same as the hatch version thanks to the adoption of external features such as the blister fender running from the front to the rear.

From the back we can see a different design emerge, the rear fender surface is further stretched beyond the outer side of the combination lamps. Subaru says the new look will emphasis “thickness of the rear end” and hence stability. To add some more aggression to the rear-design, the rear bumper now completely surrounds the muffler.

As you may have noticed from our previous articles, the well and truly missed oversized WRX STI spoiler is finally back with the introduction of the sedan variant.

Other external changes include:

The twin-dual stainless steel muffler cutters
Lightweight 18-inch aluminum wheels with a high luster finish.Additionally,
The optional BBS 18-inch wheels are also now avilable with a high luster finish.
A new colour called “Plasma Blue Silica” joins the range for both body shapes

Moving inside the most obvious upfront change is the instrument panel, door trim and steering decorative parts which have all changed colour to a dark metallic hue. Subaru says the change was made for better contrast and emphasis on creating a sportier cockpit.

A Bluetooth mobile phone handsfree kit has also found its way onboard, operated via new buttons on the steering wheel. Music lovers will be happy to know that Subaru has finally added a USB jack for USB input devices (iPods/iPhones etc).

More technical detailed changes include a new aluminum lower arm now in use for the front suspension. The rear arm bushes have also been modified to a pillow-ball type. Digging further in we can also note that the sub-frame bushing specifications for the rear suspension have been altered to improve toe and camber rigidity.

Subaru says that all technical changes (as invisible as they are) have greatly improved roll rigidity.

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Major Specifications (US. Specification models)

Overall Length × Width × Height (mm): 4,580 (4-door), 4,415 (5-door) × 1,795 × 1,470
Wheelbase (mm): 2,625
Track Front/Rear (mm): 1,530/1,540
Engine Type: Horizontally-Opposed 4-cylinder DOHC turbocharged engine
Displacement: 2,457 cc Max.
Output: 305 hp@6,000 rpm Max.
Torque: 290Ib-ft@4,000 rpm
Tires: 245/40 R18
Seating Capacity: 5

I like it.

Now this is a nice Subaru.

Tough choice ahead for me. This STI, the new R Golf or XR6 Turbo. Probably still go for the XR6T given the bang for my bucks.

I Must say this website is by far the best car site around. Thanks for your work guys and girls.
macca

sedan looks great with the new wing, expecially the profile shots (side-on, off centre). the wide-body sedan (wrx\sti) corrects the proportions of the ‘narrow’ elongated sedan with the previous wrx. two thumbs up for the spoiler.

not sure there is enough differentiation b/w the hatch wrx/sti visuals, but both good looking cars. well done subaru.
Able

I love it, especially the wing. My only problem is the bodykits look very tacked on, not designed with the car. I’ll wait to see it in person.

CA: The pic of the silver car in the article is a WRX, not STI.
Gambler88

hope subaru australia will price the car around 57k as the last sedan version. the current wrx is still $39990 so i don’t see why the upcoming sti can’t be around 57k.
Icecream

I just jizzed.
Baddass

I don’t see the styling differences over the WRX that justify the extra dough. I mean the performance obviously is more, but Rex owners are no strangers to performance chips. Massive front overhang in the hatch side-on photo looks stupid.
NickBoghaan

there’s the mature young at heart racers like the golf R that whilst the style says performance, it’s done with finesse and elegance, the package looks cohesive. This Subaru effort is still shouting 80s tack on after thought cheese… not unlike the HSV E2, say cheese.. Oh well, the doof doof brigade’s congregation around Lygon st in Carlton will lopve it.
zahmad

For everyone who is thinking the bodykit is exactly the same as the WRX (minus the spoiler), please be advised that Subaru have mentioned those or not the correct STI one as they couldn’t get their hands onto those in time for the show!
sammo

Should have kept the sheet on it.
Jester

What a POS car – are you all people blind, this car is disguisting. Really disappointing from a company that gave us 99′ 2-door and the 22B to drop their designs to such a low standard. Its a sad day when STI reminds enthusiasts of Kia.
UMWAHT

boy am i disappointed it looks like a bloody EVO X
George

it’s not too bad, at least it got manual and clutch, pretty rare to find these in newer cars.
bulldogs

Evo X is still better
fasthonda

A while back when the Mugen Civic Type R was shown a big issue was made about it’s large rear wing,now we have this STI sedan with a huge rear wing and and people find it acceptable?.
The STI sedan is fine but the rear wing looks tacked on and too big.It seems that it was a back yard job to “rice up” the car.?

smokin’r32

People like the wings on STIs and EVOs because of the link to their WRC counterparts. Plus adding additional downforce on the rear of a front wheel drive Civic is dumb

NickBoghaan

I would have thought any rear wing in this land of Oz is dumb… that’s before we talk about the aesthetics.

D

What’s with all the disgusting colours!? Where’s the WRC blue?
Kang Lee

Fantastic. It looks alot better than hatchback version.
Jester

Clearly all the STI fan boy are out singing high praises to this ugly car – if you all open your eyes you’d see what this car really is – a failure. Bring back the 22B – or bring back the designers and the engineers that worked on the 22B’s and 99 sti’s, these current guys should apply for a job at Tata.
Neo Utopia

People who buy these types of cars don’t care how pretentious they look. They may be the sort person you would meet who likes wearing that obsesive skin art on their arms to show to the public that they can do what they want, when they want and don’t care what other people think of them. But when a car has the ability to give more than 300 from a turbo small 4 cylinder, these people will want to get their money’s worth to show to the public how daft they really are. And why not, life should be interesting.
insomniac

It seems to be very reminiscent of the EVO 6. I’m not a huge fan of the current design… while they have managed to integrate the widebody nicely without it looking like an afterthought, it seems a little “heavy” at the back… The rear lights also have a very Hyundai Accent-ish look – ie. very conservative. I think the best way to describe it is lumpy – There is too much going on, and not in a good way. When you compare it to the likes of the Evo X and VW R(20) the Subaru design feels very dated.
RK

The “look at me, my road car has a big wing on the back!” style doesn’t interest me, but that’s OK. People who want that should be able to buy it.
908

still ugly
http://www.donthaveone.com sund00bie

Looks very lancer’ish
pcc

Being an owner of the STi main issues with this car was body roll mainly down to the softer suspension, something Subaru have tried to address in the MY11 version (so they say).

Bank for buck the STi leads in its class, but did note that the Dealers are now pushing these cars well above the $70k mark. I’m expecting the MY11 version to retail around $75!!!

Like any car you need to see it in the flesh – I remember when the hatch came out everyone slagged it. Even when I bought my MY09 version there were very few on the road. I quite like mine now, but would be interested in trying the sedan out.

I hope they’ve bulked it out as the current WRX is crap as.

What Subaru do need to sort out is the quality finish of the cars. My car is covered in chips in front of the rear wheelguard even though I’ve got mudflaps on (it’s apparently common in the States) and I do think the interior is quite tacky for a car that has to compete with those german cars.

Final point – I can’t see any appreciable difference in the hatch.
LBZ

congratulations to subaru, for bringing back the STI sedan and THE WING. anyone who worries about what cars look like as opposed to how they drive is actually a “ricer.” these cars are a weapon on the racetrack, and thats all that matters to me. I currently drive an 06 and i will be upgrading to this. best car for the money, hands down.
Abhi

can’t beat EVO X..

m3 fan

Noooo,,, evo can`t beat thissss…

pcc

I agree with LBZ – that’s why I’ve switched to an Evo X with 247kW chipped motor and 436nm of torque.

The STi cannot compete with the above and within $500 of the STi price (MY11 Evo X)

bmw m3

i dont think evo x can compete with sti,,, STI is bit better,,

N

The sedan doeas look better than the hatch, the problem is Subaru have lost the pedigree which they had and revolved around the rally world. Now it seems like they’re just making wesernised saloons.This car might as well be a kia with a wing on the back… Its not that classic subaru anymore..where are the gold rims for instance? people are supposed to be intrigued when you tell them you drive a Subaru… its too civilised for a Subaru.