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Subaru to expand STI range?

11/07/2006, 2:26 PM

By admin

Subaru is considering building STI versions of more vehicles in its model lineup, according to Tomohiro Ishitobi, Subaru vice president of product planning. In an interview with AutoWeek, Ishitobi said “We are discussing it internally” and “We feel the market is ready.”

At the SEMA car customization expo, Subaru unveiled the Forester Sports 2.5 XT concept, which could eventually lead to a production STI-spec Forester. The automaker is also believed to be considering offering a STI edition Legacy in various markets. Currently, and STI package is available for the Legacy in Japan only, but it is limited production and quite pricey. Ishitobi said enthusiasts often express an interested in a Legacy STI. He said it’s on the company’s “wish list.”

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11/07, 2:46 PM

posted by:

bepsf

Hope they’re available in more colors than blue w/ gold wheels…
…and have the option to delete the silly rear-wings.

11/07, 2:47 PM

posted by:

quiksilver180

Awesome!

11/07, 2:59 PM

posted by:

LamborghiniZ

This would be GREAT for subaru, the Impreza WRX STI is an incredible car, the Legacy is personally my very favorite midsize family-esque sedan, and an STI package would really increase its desirability. I’ve always loved the Legacy because it’s not your average family sedan, it looks great inside and out , has a sporty feel to it and interesting powertrain options like the boxer 4’s. Please do this Subaru

11/07, 3:06 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

Actually the rear wing on the STI is completely functional. I also think the Legacy is a great car, they just need to make the seats a lil bit more comfortable. I sat in a few at the showroom and those seats are hard as a rock.

11/07, 3:29 PM

posted by:

nowei

I believe there is already a Forester STI in Japan. And if memory serves me correctly, it was quicker in a straight line than the Impreza STI.

/no

11/07, 3:32 PM

posted by:

A4

umm its about time they bring more STi’s to america
why should the japs get all the fun

11/07, 3:47 PM

posted by:

Hyperion

It’s about time they did this. If the “other” STi models are a little more expensive, that’s okay. Subaru needs to offer these models in their other product categories to compete with other performance offerings that don’t necessarily translate to “racecar”.

I like high performance Legacy’s :)

11/07, 4:08 PM

posted by:

bepsf

“Actually the rear wing on the STI is completely functional.”

I’m sure it is if you’re Speed Racer or a WRX Rally-Driver hauling ass up Pike’s Peak…
…but it’s utter nonsense in the real world of stop & go traffic, commuting to the office and US speed limits. 

11/07, 4:16 PM

posted by:

A4

Im a fan of the WRX STi Limited that they had with the subdued rear wing, and more plush and mature accoutriments with all the balls of the regular STi. more stealthy.

11/07, 4:24 PM

posted by:

LamborghiniZ

A4 i finally agree with you on something, the Limited is a good addition to the Impreza/WRX range, nice and classy and not as outlandish

11/07, 4:57 PM

posted by:

moogleii

“I’m sure it is if you’re Speed Racer or a WRX Rally-Driver hauling ass up Pike’s Peak…
…but it’s utter nonsense in the real world of stop & go traffic, commuting to the office and US speed limits. ”

Probably, but you could make a similar argument for many of the vehicles out there today if your metric is stop & go traffic. Many of the vehicles out there on the road are overpowered or over-engineered relative to the needs of stop & go, commuting, and speed limits.

11/07, 5:26 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

It was made for the Rally enthusiast, If I owned an STI I’d use it at the track and at the dunes as well. Its not uncommon to see an STI with mudflaps, the people that own them arent as boy racer as you think.

Anyway the STI Limited is definitely one of my favorites, with the exception of the S204

11/07, 5:50 PM

posted by:

InvisibleEcho

More STI’s? Diversified STI lineups? Where the hell do I sign? An STI Legacy would blow the crap out of a comparable MazdaSpeed6. Oooooo, that’s good news for me and bad news for my wallet.

11/07, 7:22 PM

posted by:

sampson

how about a legacy COUPE sti

11/07, 8:35 PM

posted by:

nowei

It’s not really fair to compare an alleged STI Legacy with a Mazdaspeed6. Although the Mazdaspeed6 is the performance variant of the Mazda6, it’s pretty much designed to compete with the regular old Legacy GT, which it does. That being said, the Mazdaspeed6 already has a slight price advantage over the Legacy GT, so it would have a considerable price advantage over a Legacy STI.

It would also be nice to see some more bare bones STI models. I know in Japan they had (and maybe still do have) a WRX STI Spec-C that was pretty stripped out and came with the whaletail style spoiler on the regular WRX. Not sure why, but it did. Anyway, that model could compete directly with the Evolution RS (assuming they’re still making it, I’m a bit out of the loop).

/no

11/07, 9:17 PM

posted by:

Veda

All fine and dandy but they need to fix the interior quality of the materials and creaks. Nice toys though…

11/07, 10:19 PM

posted by:

amanda

“Actually the rear wing on the STI is completely functional. ”

Very true. Still, wouldn’t a large decal on the back fender saying “Yes, my ignorance of what makes cars cool is absolute” be cheaper and equally functional?

11/08, 1:06 AM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

Haha, maybe, Subaru has never been about beauty, they value function before form which is actually working for them :)

11/08, 9:16 AM

posted by:

Eric Z

I have an Evo so I won’t say anything about how the STi’s wing, but the big wings do help once you are above around 90-100. I’ve been in an Evo RS at it was definately not as stable at higher speeds as mine.

11/08, 11:28 AM

posted by:

Renton

The STI wing is a very effective design. It lets cops know you have a ton of juice in that thing and are probably the one that causing their radar to read VIOLATION.

STIs are great and that new Limited is erally a nice piece. Very Stealth. If BMW did not invent the 335i I would probably have one in my driveway right now. The driveway looks really good now BTW.

If they come out with an STI Forester for the US, it would be great.

11/08, 12:49 PM

posted by:

driver54

Some of us would rather buy an STI Limited and with the $15-$20K left over, turn it into a car that hunts down 911 Turbos. Have fun with the BMW (no sarcasm). I respect all well performing machines.

11/08, 7:22 PM

posted by:

A4

it sucks they only had what, like 800 of those limited STI’s though…

 
 
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