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Well, with Subaru’s WRX STI, it’s just not what it used to be. Although there is still an Impreza on sale in Europe, and although there is also a WRX in the USA and Japan, a new STI (S210) was recently introduced for the Japanese market: 2.4-litre boxer engine, 300 hp, 375 Nm maximum torque, also limited to 500 units. But it’s just not the same as it used to be; this new STI has a CVT transmission, which is probably not exactly what fans want right now. It’s unlikely that another WRX STI will come to Europe.
And that’s why we’re not going back that far to 2019. At least in the US, there was one last really rough WRX STI, called the S209. The cracker produced 345 hp from the aging EJ25 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo boxer. To achieve this, the turbo was replaced by an HKS unit with a larger turbine and compressor; in addition, the boost pressure was increased to 1.24 bar. Forged pistons and connecting rods were used internally, the intake was revised, a high-performance fuel pump and larger injectors were installed, and polished exhaust manifolds provided a show under the bonnet. There was also a new exhaust system with 17 per cent less exhaust back pressure. And then there were the two buttons on the steering wheel that could be used to spray water onto the intercooler to improve performance. The only transmission option available was a manual six-speed, with power distributed as usual by Subaru’s famous all-wheel-drive system.
The S209 also clearly displayed its performance boost on the outside. The new body kit came with impressive wing attachments that added 4.3 centimetres to the width of the car compared to the normal WRX STI; the track grew by 1.5 centimetres at the front and rear. All the spoilers, the monumental rear wing and the carbon fibre roof came directly from the 24-hour race car. The specially developed 265/35 Dunlop GT600A tyres, which were fitted on fine 19-inch BBS forged wheels, provided more grip for the S209. Behind them were Brembo stoppers with six-piston callipers at the front and two-piston callipers at the rear. The Subi also received special Bilstein dampers and firmer springs, while struts at the front and rear made it more rigid.
This particular example was sold through LBI Limited with just 37 miles on the clock. One can assume that it wasn’t really cheap, as there were only three of the S209, and I’ll give you three guesses as to how many. There are more interesting Japanese cars under ‘Sayonara’. And otherwise there is the archive.
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