Unveiled at October’s Tokyo motor show, the STI has morphed from a bellicose little four-door into a five-door hatchback. A new variable-valve-timing system and new IHI turbos give the output of the STI’s turbocharged and intercooled flat-four engines.
Subaru sources declined to reveal just how big the bump will be but were willing to admit to “less than 310 horsepower” and a “little less than 300 pound-feet”. The flat-four propels a hatchback that’s slightly bigger than its predecessor.
Expanded dimensions, plus comprehensive body-shell stiffening and extensive work in the area of sound deadening, yield higher curb weights. The new car won’t likely accelerate any quicker than the previous STI (0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds, the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds).
The other part of the ride-and-quality equation is suspension tuning that’s distinctly softer. As before, the front is supported by struts, but there’s a new subframe-mounted multilink arrangement at the rear. The STI’s resistance to turn-in can be mitigated by the car’s sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, with a driver-programmable center differential and limited-slip diffs at both ends. New to the STI is Subaru’s gimmicky SI-Drive, which includes three different throttle-mapping modes.The car has a six-speed manual transmission. Braking, with the same big-disc Brembo package is beyond reproach. For 2008, the WRX STi adds an engine immobilizer, a power-steering cooler and a new underbody cover. The newly installed dash board, center console, panel and an array of other features give an appealing look to the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
In addition to a security system with engine immobilizer and high-friction seat, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi receives the same updates as the regular WRX.If your criterion when choosing a car is impressive performance, safety or comfort, the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi fits the bill.
