Subaru has launched the ultimate example of its legendary Impreza WRX, the rally-bred STi, which is set to become the best-value high performance car on the Australian market.

At $55,130, the Impreza WRX STi features a comprehensive specification list combined with scintillating performance that is unmatched at the price.

The sophisticated technology package draws directly on engineering skills gained in Subaru's All-Wheel Drive World Rally Championship programme, producing a car with outstanding sports handling and ride.

With a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.45 seconds, the Impreza WRX STi's engine is a technological marvel already drawing huge interest among performance car enthusiasts.

While the Impreza WRX STi is only available in limited numbers, it is now a permanent part of the Subaru range.

The impressive engineering credentials include:

• Dual overhead cam 2.0 litre turbocharged horizontally opposed Boxer engine with Active Valve Control System

• Six speed All-Wheel Drive close ratio manual transmission

• Front and rear Suretrac Limited Slip Differentials

• High performance sports suspension

• Brembo brakes

Mr Nick Senior, General Manager, Subaru Australia, said: "Impreza WRX STi is the essence of Subaru's high performance engineering.

"It's not only quick, it's got a tremendous specification list and possesses the intrinsic engineering quality and active and passive safety that has made the entire Impreza range the benchmark in its class.

"This is a delightful car to drive, with great balance, poise, performance and safety. It is further proof that Subaru is a performance car specialist."

Mr Senior said the Impreza WRX STi offers performance previously only available on cars costing many thousands of dollars more, while it is also user-friendly, including features such as cruise control.

Mr Senior said Subaru anticipates 50 Impreza WRX STi sales a month.

Standard features at a glance

• All-Wheel Drive
• Aluminium bonnet
• Aluminium pedals
• AM/FM radio with six-CD in-dash stacker, cassette and six speakers
• Active Valve Control System
• Brembo brakes 326mm 4-pot front, 316mm 2-pot rear, vacuum assisted
• Clear free-form quad headlights integrated with indicators
• Comprehensive keypad alarm security system
• Cruise control
• Dual front airbags
• Dual trip meters
• Grille unique to Sti
• Instrument panel with large centre STi tachometer – driver adjustable rpm warning
• Intercooler waterspray
• Larger bonnet scoop (than Impreza WRX)
• Metallic-finish centre console control panel with dial controls
• Momo leather steering wheel
• Outside temperature display
• Rear centre three-point lap-sash seat belt. All rear seat belts A/ELR
• Rear spoiler
• Red stitching on leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever
• Remote central locking, integrated with hazard lights for visual recognition
• Semi automatic air conditioning
• Six-speed close ratio manual transmission
• Space saver spare wheel
• Sports ABS with EBD
• Sports bodykit
• Sports interior, including bucket seats with STi logo and blue inserts
• STi badging on grille, front doors, boot and front bumper
• STi gearshift surround
• STi large diameter exhaust
• STi logo on intercooler
• Suretrac front and rear Limited Slip Differentials
• Variable intermittent windscreen wiper control
• Window integrated radio antenna
• 2.0 litre turbocharged horizontally opposed Boxer engine
• 17-inch five-spoke gold-finish alloy wheels unique to Sti

Colours

The Impreza WRX STi is available in:

• WR Blue mica
• Blue Black mica
• Pure White
• Premium Silver metallic

Engine

Impreza WRX STi's amazing performance comes from a DOHC 2.0 litre turbocharged horizontally opposed quad-cam 16-valve Boxer engine.

It produces 195kW of power at 6,000rpm and 343Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

The Active Valve Control System electronically adjusts the intake valve timing through a range of 35 crankshaft degrees. This produces optimum power and torque while minimizing fuel consumption and emissions.

The high strength engine block features:

• Semi closed deck design, providing reinforcement around cylinder tops, while maintaining the cooling advantage of a full open deck design.
• Forged pistons, for heightened durability and strength under high thermal loads.
• Connecting rod construction draws on new design and manufacturing processes introduced in Subaru's highly successful H6-3.0 engine, used in the Outback H6.
• Hollow inlet valves reduce valve train inertia, enabling the valves to follow the camshaft profile even at high engine speeds.
• Sodium-filled exhaust valves dissipate heat from the exhaust valve head.
• An engine oil cooler is located between the oil filter and engine block.

A large diameter STi exhaust system completes the powerful engine package.

Turbocharger and intercooler

The IHI turbocharger features an A/R ratio of 15 which, in conjunction with the Active Valve Control System, provides the optimum in volumetric efficiency. (The A/R ratio of the turbocharger determines the characteristics of exhaust gas pressure production. 'A' represents the smallest area of the inlet of the turbine housing and 'R' represents the distance from the centre of the turbine shaft to the centre of the turbine-housing inlet).

A 15mm-taller bonnet scoop feeds air into the intercooler, which is 39 per cent larger than standard Impreza WRX.

This reduces any restriction in the airflow. A driver-controlled water spray can be used to further lower intake air temperature under extreme conditions, for example when accelerating from low speed, when airflow through the intercooler is at a minimum.

Clutch

The high performance hydraulically operated clutch has 930 kilograms of clamping force, providing positive power to the six-speed close ratio transmission.

Transmission

The six-speed constant mesh close ratio transmission features double synchronizer mechanisms on first, third and reverse gears, while second gear is equipped with a triple synchronizer mechanism.

The synchronizers provide consistent gear-shift performance.

The transmission has large gears and bearings for added strength, while a positive lubrication system, using a vehicle speed-driven oil pump, increases durability.

The transmission features Subaru's well-known centre differential with viscous coupling, used on all its manual transmission vehicles, to provide 50:50 front and rear torque split to the All-Wheel Drive system.

Front and rear Limited Slip Differentials

Impreza WRX STi features Suretrac torque sensing Limited Slip Differentials.

This self-contained gearless mechanical system works under engine load to transfer torque to the wheel with most traction.

It has a large R180 rear differential, compared to the R160 of the standard Impreza WRX.

Suspension

The inverted KYB suspension ensures outstanding sports handling and ride.

The set-up includes heavy-duty springs. The shock absorbers have damping rates matched to the spring rates, while inverted struts, being an integral part of the suspension system, provide high levels of lateral strength.

This means suspension geometry is maintained even during the hardest cornering, thus maintaining maximum tyre contact with the road.

Brakes

Internationally renowned Brembo brakes and large vented front and rear discs provide excellent stopping characteristics.

The 326mm 4-pot front and 316mm 2-pot rear brakes are linked to the Sports Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which features Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD).

EBD balances brake force electronically to better distribute it between front and rear wheels.

Normally, because of a car's weight distribution, rear brakes can more easily lock. While a proportioning valve linked to a conventional braking system reduces the possibility of rear brake lock-up, it under-utilizes rear braking capacity, especially in a loaded vehicle.

However, Subaru's EBD technology ensures optimum use of braking force at the front and rear wheels.

Also, when ABS operates on a rear wheel, it usually automatically regulates the braking force on the opposite rear wheel to the same low level. This is referred to as "select low."

However, increasing Impreza WRX STi's braking performance still further is Sports ABS.

This means that when cornering forces above a set level are detected and rear ABS activates, the brake force of each rear wheel is controlled independently, providing maximum braking force.

Other technical features

Impreza WRX STi has a power steering oil cooler to maintain viscosity of power steering fluid under extreme operating conditions.

Impreza WRX STi also has an adjustable revolution warning that can be set by the driver. This acts as an automatic reminder to inform the driver of a preferred gear change point, to suit their individual driving style.

Gear ratios:

Performance:

0-100km/h – 5.45 seconds
0-400 metres – 13.64 seconds
(Data independently verified using the NRMA correvit)

Safety

Like all Model Year 2002 Imprezas, the WRX STi's body shell has been strengthened further, in line with its status as the benchmark car in its class for safety.

The areas to have been strengthened include the front side frames, A-pillars, inner side sills, floor frames, B-pillars and front doors. These combined measures provide extra side protrusion protection.

The Impreza WRX STi has front dual airbags, front pre-tensioner seatbelts and three rear lap sash seatbelts with Automatic Emergency Locking Retractors (A/ELR).

Interior

The Impreza WRX STi features a sports interior including STi blue and black bucket seats with the STi logo and door trim inserts.

The distinctive STi-style instrument cluster includes a centre-mounted tachometer.

Cruise control is standard, plus dual trip meters and outside temperature display.

Adding to the distinctive STi "look" is red stitching on the Momo leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever. There's also an STi gearshift surround.

A window-integrated radio aerial is also standard.

Exterior

The grille design on Impreza WRX STi is unique to the model and includes the STi logo.

There's a weight-saving aluminium bonnet and a rear spoiler that forms part of the sports body kit.

Clear free form quad headlights integrated with indicators give Impreza WRX STi a unique appearance.

Gold-coloured 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels complete the high performance theme.

In-car entertainment

Impreza WRX STi has a six-CD in-dash stacker, AM/FM tuner, cassette and six speakers.

Security

For added security, a keypad immobilizer and alarm system are standard.

The remote central locking is integrated with hazard lights that flash once when the car is locked and twice when unlocked.

Sales background

Subaru Australia expects to retail 600 Impreza WRX STis over the next 12 months, equating to 50 cars a month.

Pricing

Impreza WRX STi will sell for $55,130, plus dealer and on-road costs.

Impreza WRX STi – the highlights

Engine:

• DOHC 2.0 litre turbocharged horizontally opposed quad-cam 16-valve Boxer engine with Active Valve Control System
• 195kW of power at 6,000rpm
• 343Nm of torque at 4,000rpm
• IHI turbocharger
• Intercooler 39 per cent larger than Impreza WRX – with water spray
• Large diameter STi exhaust
• Capable of 0-100km/h in 5.45 seconds
• Engine is speed restricted to 235 km/h

Engineering:

• All-Wheel Drive
• Weight-saving aluminium bonnet
• Six-speed close ratio manual gearbox
• High performance clutch
• Front and rear Suretrac Limited Slip Differentials
• KYB suspension - includes heavy-duty springs

Entertainment:

• In-dash six-stack CD with AM/FM tuner, cassette and six speakers

Security:

• Alarm and immobilizer keypad security system
• Remote central locking with visual recognition

Safety:

• Dual front SRS airbags and Brembo brakes with Sports ABS with EBD
• Lightweight, high-strength Impreza body shell – further strengthened for 2002
• Three-point rear lap-sash seat belts with A/ELR

Standard features:

• Clear free form quad headlights for unique appearance
• Cruise control
• Grille unique to Impreza WRX Sti
• Sports body kit
• Full STi interior including bucket seats
• Gold-coloured 17-inch alloy wheels

Technical specifications