Subaru has presented a brand new sporty version of the Impreza in Japan. This is the Impreza STI Sport, a version taken care of by the men and women of Subaru Technica International.
Since the beginning of this year, Subaru does not deliver the Impreza in the Netherlands and that is a shame. Especially when you consider that there is now an STI Sport version of that car in Japan. Incidentally, the Impreza STI Sport is not a rock-hard equivalent of cars like the Subaru WRX STi, the sporty taste of the Impreza simply lacks the letters WRX for that.
The new Subaru Impreza STI Sport does not have a 300 hp strong boxer engine under the hood, but just the 154 hp 2.0 that is also available in the less thickly dressed Impreza’s. That 2.0 has never been available in the Impreza in the Netherlands, in our country the Impreza was always equipped with the modest 114 hp 1.6. However, you can choose from front-wheel drive and permanent four-wheel drive. A manual gearbox is not available, the Impreza STI Sport is in all cases equipped with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission.
Subaru Technica International (STI) puts the Impreza STI Sport on special black 18-inch alloy wheels. In addition, the hatchback – the STI sauce is not available for the Impreza G4 (Sedan) – benefits from a set of sports dampers. The interior is decorated with black-red upholstery, aluminum pedals and a leather-covered steering wheel. From the outside, the car can be recognized by its relatively subtle and especially black finished lips and edges.
The starting price of the Subaru Impreza STI Sport in Japan is € 21,720. Then we are talking about the front-wheel drive version. Prefer four-wheel drive? Then you will have lost at least € 23,487 in Japan. In comparison: the Impreza 1.6 in basic trim was in the order books for just under 29 grand in the Netherlands.