In the late 1980s, a little Japanese manufacture previously known only for unorthodox economy cars did something even more unorthodox. It was then when Subaru teamed up with its newly formed Techinca International (STI) in-house tuning outfit and Britain’s Prodrive to create the Subaru World Rally Team. Little did they know that the following decades would cause not only a major ruckus among car nerds, but a massive rivalry headed by numerous icons. Many STI (formerly STi) tuned cars have come and gone in order to keep the company’s dirt flinging, mound jumping and overall sideways antics alive but its the Impreza based cars that have changed so many people’s lives. For 2011, the Impreza WRX STI looks to do just that by putting a smile on its driver’s face with not much regard for anything else.
The 2008 model year marked a generation change for the Impreza compact, for which the STI is based on. Weeding through the different varieties of Impreza cars is almost as tasking as trying to figure out which Porsche 911 is which, especially when taking the Japanese-spec cars into consideration. Inflecting some ease are the number of U.S.-spec cars due to the name STI only being here since 2004. Leaving the Japanese and European cars aside, the American STIs have been the top performing Subaru from the start of their debut. Just like the current third generation car, all STIs build on the less expensive but still quick WRX and add power, stiffness and massive aero. For 2011, a new widebody with bulging fenders, huge but functional rear wing and sticky tires and suspension have been added so the car can hold true to the blood line that created it.
2011 brought the STI back to its roots as a wildly outlandish four door sedan. When the third generation was released as a hatchback only, the Subaru community raised an eyebrow in confusion and uproar. For years, the ultimate hot rod Impreza has always had a trunk, so after a while, the company finally got the hint and produced the new widebody car we tested. Finally satisfying the fan boys, the 2011 car takes the word subtle and punches it in the face. The front fenders mesh with the stretched and lowered bumper with deep cuts and quintessential fog lamps. The indented profile works so well with the bulbous rear wheel wells that swoop up to meet the sculpted rear tail lights. The big dual exhaust rides low to add even more aggression and no one will mistake the gargantuan rear wing for anything other than what it is: wild. Drapped in its World Rally Blue paint, the 2011 STI doesn’t fly under the radar but instead, runs right up to the gun and slaps it. It may look crazy, but that is what the these cars are all about. It is that radical personality that builds flocks of enthusiasts and the new body lines of the 2011 finally due the letters STI justice.
Admittedly, Subaru did make an attempt to “up-scale” the STI for its new generation. For this, added to our tester’s base MSRP of $37,345 is the $1,800 touch screen GPS navigation system. Integrated into the standard LCD center media screen is the same Nav that was on the lower priced WRX we tested early in the year. Also included in our car’s final price of $39,870 is automatic climate control, a stereo, some leather seats and a power moonroof. In all honesty, the STI’s dynamics list is longer than its interior specs as this car has one true prerogative: going fast. Try as they might, the “up-scale” stuff such as the touch screen and navigation seem out-of-place. The stereo lacks the quality that should go hand-in-hand with a car costing nearly $40 grand. STIs of yore didn’t even have stereo systems and maybe it should stay that way as most owners of these cars will add big, 3 inch exhaust systems that would make any radio moot. Placing a navigation and upgraded audio in the softer WRX makes sense, but in the STI, it seems a tad bit silly.
Subaru engineers are have always been a clever group and have found a way to make what was once an inexpensive economy car a hard-edged, sports car embarrassing razor-sharp knife. Producing 305 horsepower from its DOHC turbocharged 2.5 liter flat four cylinder, the STI is flat-out fast. With help from 300 lb-ft of torque, a bullet proof six speed manual transmission, Subaru’s symmetrical all wheel drive, three limited slip differentials with DCCD torque controller and SI-Drive, 60 mph will show its face from a stand still in 4.9 seconds. The car will continue on to cover 1,320 feet in under 14 seconds all accompanied by one of the most unique and recognizable sounds known in the automotive world. Mounted right below the perfectly placed gear shifter is the relatively new Subaru Intelligent-Drive (SI-Drive) that controls the engines behavior. The three settings: Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp, allow the STI to get from decent fuel mileage to standard hot rod figures. The EPA’s average puts the car at 17 mpg in the city, but if placed in Sport Sharp mode and driven accordingly, the all wheel drive rocket will dip below 15 mpg. In Intelligent mode, the STI might even pass off as being efficient as it can average around 25 mpg on the highway. Emphasis is placed on might and can as the car begs to be driven hard. The engine may rev stronger and faster in “race car” mode, but it never hinders street driving. The stiffer tuning compared to the standard WRX means corners can be taken much faster and everything feels much more rigid. Equipped with massive Brembo supplied brakes, the 2011 can stop on a dime ever single time and never once show any signs of fade. These brakes are so powerful that most track-prepped STIs still use the factory rotors and calipers.
The STI is almost a truly multi purpose, do-it-all vehicle. It is relatively efficient, has room for multiple people, can handle any type of weather not to mention it can destroy twisty roads, blast down a freeway and then make it to work without a fuss. There is just something about the car’s asking price that makes us scratch our heads. Compared to other performance cars in the $35-$40 grand price range, the STI lacks the interior features found on cars like Audi’s A4 and Volvo’s S60. Even so, the STI has something that those cars will never have: Subaru charm. Not a major selling point on paper, but the personality that comes with any Subaru purchase is almost priceless. The feel and connection between man and machine is very hard to match while behind the wheel of an STI. When the company released the early third generation car with claims of increased refinement, enthusiasts actually became upset. The thought of driving entirely too fast in a flawed car that started life as a compact sedan has been a dream of so many fans that when the time is right, there will always be a buyer for a STI. Subaru listened and brought back that lunacy with an outlandish body and stiffer suspension for 2011. It may make little practical sense, but this car has one real purpose in the automotive world: to supply ear-to-ear smiles for years on end.
Photos: © Copyright 2011 Ossamah Shabbir
