Subaru's latest mad Impreza

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

This is the Japan-only Impreza WRX STi Spec C Type RA-R. Apart from a ridiculous name, it comes with white 18-inch alloys, lowered, stiffened suspension, a small roof spoiler and front lip spoiler. There's also an optional carbonfibre rear boot spoiler.

Under the bonnet is a heavily tuned version of Subaru's 2.0-litre flat-four engine (they don't get the 2.5 in Japan). Tweaks to the ECU, a larger turbo and a fat exhaust help it to pump out 320bhp and 318lb ft.

Only 300 Spec C Type RA-Rs will be available, in a choice of three colours – white, blue or, for 50 customers only, a rather vile yellow. It costs 4,284,000 Yen, which is around £20,000. Bargain.

 

[kikie]

What's so special about this Impreza??

 

[ND4SPD]

Under the bonnet is a heavily tuned version of Subaru's 2.0-litre flat-four engine (they don't get the 2.5 in Japan). Tweaks to the ECU, a larger turbo and a fat exhaust help it to pump out 320bhp and 318lb ft.

What's so special about this Impreza??

 

[Bram Turismo]

320 bhp? That's all?! Lame!

I don't like the Imprezas anymore since they've changed since '99, now that was a beautiful model 👍

 

[Pebb]

320 bhp? That's all?! Lame!

I don't like the Imprezas anymore since they've changed since '99, now that was a beautiful model 👍

I liked the one before the bug eyed one, however at least this looks better then the bug eyed one. Even if the bug eyed one was a long time ago in the car market.

 

[ND4SPD]

I miss the 2 door Impreza's....

 

[Dave A]

I liked the one before the bug eyed one, however at least this looks better then the bug eyed one. Even if the bug eyed one was a long time ago in the car market.

I liked them all upto now in a way I even liked the bug eyed one but it was my least fave.

320 bhp? That's all?! Lame!

In what world is a £20k, 320bhp, 4wd road car lame.

 

[kikie]

I know about the engine but I'm not impressed. I know that there are impreza's with 400 bhp, now that's impressive, not this one.

 

[usedHONDA]

WOW! £20,000? Thats like (20, 30, carry the two...) $38,242 in America! I'll pass.

 

[Dave A]

That's the same price as a VW Golf GTi here.

 

[ExigeEvan]

See people, this is why the UK gets some of the best performance models, it's because we're grateful.

I really like the look of the new Impreza (I hate the BMW Z8, but love the new Impreza, what a freak.). And it looks fantastic in these colours. The yellow would be interesting. An pics of that TVR+F fan?

 

[Bocha]

I know about the engine but I'm not impressed. I know that there are impreza's with 400 bhp, now that's impressive, not this one.

I think you say the Subaru Impreza type-25.

More info here:

http://www.type-25.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87aN0fB284Q

Beautiful car.

 

[exigeracer]

The yellow would be interesting. An pics of that TVR+F fan?

I'm presuming it's from the same barrel as previous Imprezas. I'm sure that they used it on the bugeyes, but I don't know if I've seen it anywhere else.

It's kind of like a Dijon mustard off-yellow. Fully gross.

 

[Dave A]

Theres this yellow as well...

 

[Poverty]

havent they had 320bhp inprezas already? I prefer the evo FQ's.

 

[Tornado]

havent they had 320bhp inprezas already? I prefer the evo FQ's.

They have, but I don't think they have been ever sold in Japan and ever been actually announced to have more than 276BHP. So it's still probably under-rated by 20-30 BHP like the Evo's are/were.

 

[a6m5]

It's kind of like a Dijon mustard off-yellow. Fully gross.

My kid brother had one just like that. Same wheels, same color. He drives a RX-8 now though.

 

[skip0110]

I'm presuming it's from the same barrel as previous Imprezas. I'm sure that they used it on the bugeyes, but I don't know if I've seen it anywhere else.

It's kind of like a Dijon mustard off-yellow. Fully gross.

That was a special color for 2001 WRXes. Blaze Yellow. They could be using it again though, I dunno.

Oh yeah and bugeyes rule!!

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

'02, actually, there was no '01 in the US. And it's a hideous color indeed.

 

[kikie]

Theres this yellow as well...

A yellow impreza, nice!!!
I don't know which one is best. Impreza or Evo...

 

[YSSMAN]

An extra 20 BHP over the American model? Hooray? I'll take my torque-packed 2.5L Turbo model, and not weep for this. However I'm more apt to liking the Evolution anyway, so this isn't that big of a deal in my book.

...And even then, I'd still rather have the "dull" R32 to begin with...

 

[Bram Turismo]

I liked them all upto now in a way I even liked the bug eyed one but it was my least fave.

In what world is a £20k, 320bhp, 4wd road car lame.

The fact a completly normal and stock STI WRX has 320 HP, so why produce different version when the performance always is the same?

 

[Dave A]

Horsepower isn't everything you can do to a car to alter it's performance or spec. Anyway the fact that this car uses a tweaked engine and ECU from the normal WRX Sti means that this car should actually be more powerful and it is probably underrated much like the normal WRX STi. Either way, same power or not, 320bhp is in no way lame. It tickles me when I see people say stuff like that, 320bhp is plenty to have a good time with and more than enough to take you round a track very fast.

 

[Max_DC]

Yeah my car has about 300 hp and no more, but Audi S4, BMW M3 and even 911 4S ( the Porsche is a little faster over 200 km/h ) are about as fast as my car as I "raced" them, so 320 hp and a good setup is a lot. Also don't forget that stock cars are usually not that overpowered. A 400 hp Impreza with a 2 litre engine usually won't be a production car...

 

[Poverty]

The fact a completly normal and stock STI WRX has 320 HP, so why produce different version when the performance always is the same?

320hp? Not the UK spec. Once it has been PPP'ed it will have 320hp. Subaru make so many variations of the impreza that its hard to tell whats special about one version over another.

Id still love to have one though 👍

 

[Tornado]

The fact a completly normal and stock STI WRX has 320 HP, so why produce different version when the performance always is the same?

The MGF VVC had 143 BHP and 128 lb.ft. of torque. Using the same engine, the Lotus Elise 111S had the same. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the performance wasn't the same between the two.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

An extra 20 BHP over the American model? Hooray? I'll take my torque-packed 2.5L Turbo model, and not weep for this. However I'm more apt to liking the Evolution anyway, so this isn't that big of a deal in my book.

Seeing as how the previous-facelift JDM STi's had around 290lb-ft, they're hardly giving up a lot to the "torque-packed" 2.5L us North Americans get. I'd assume this one is nearer to 300, not to mention less weight up in the nose (and all over, iirc the RA's are under 1400kg).

The fact a completly normal and stock STI WRX has 320 HP, so why produce different version when the performance always is the same?

Toronado's example is a bit extreme because they are two different cars, but I've got another example; the Renaultsport Clios. The difference between a stripped-out, beefed-suspension Trophy or Cup and a regular 182 is (apparently) huge. I'm willing to bet this special edition is a far different drive than the stocker. Afterall, RA stands for "Record Attempt", as the older RA's are the models that got the WRX around the Nordschleife in under 8min.

I think that carbon rear spoiler looks badass, though I'm wondering how exactly this varies from the "regular" RA. And Bocha... 👍

 

[Swift]

WOW! £20,000? Thats like (20, 30, carry the two...) $38,242 in America! I'll pass.

Considering it's in Japan only you pretty much have to pass.

 

[GT Pro]

Regardless of Subaru's special efforts and changes, I still, and always will, would take the Evo MR specials over the Japan-only special WRX editions. It just has a lot more 'control' than the Impreza ever did.

It's always stuck closely to it's original design over the evolutions and still retains it's overall clean design.
Though, one thing about the Evo's appearance that has always been debated over is that it looks too 'boring' in comparison to the Impreza WRX. I, for one second, could not agree to that.

 

[Max_DC]

Regardless of Subaru's special efforts and changes, I still, and always will, would take the Evo MR specials over the Japan-only special WRX editions. It just has a lot more 'control' than the Impreza ever did.


It's always stuck closely to it's original design over the evolutions and still retains it's overall clean design.
Though, one thing about the Evo's appearance that has always been debated over is that it looks too 'boring' in comparison to the Impreza WRX. I, for one second, could not agree to that.

Well you are free to prefer whatever you want, but you are drawing a wrong picture here... In fact the Impreza and the Evo are very close, beating each other every time each car company brings out the latest special edition ( for example MR vs Spec C...) just get yourself a few BM DVD's from Japan or test magazines and you'll see what I mean.