Hire Him: Next-gen Subaru WRX STI is privately rendered awesomeness

Lars Martensson’s Subaru Impreza WRX STI concept - click above for a high-res gallery

It’s fair to say that Subaru has enjoyed a run of strong product in recent years, as well as an exponential credibility increase in enthusiast’s eyes, essentially ever since the automaker began shipping over the Impreza WRX back in 2001. Those considerable achievements aside, it’s likewise fair to say that Subaru has yet to well-and-truly crack the aesthetics portion of the modern carbuilding equation, having produced some daring (if ungainly) entries like the origina B9 Tribeca and a series of aggressive yet unpretty Impreza variants. And while we applaud originality, we think the folks at Fuji Heavy Industries could use a consistent design force, a man (or woman) with a mission that’s out in the public eye as something of a known quantity. Think: General Motors’ Ed Welburn, former Mazda-turned-Tesla wunderkind Franz von Holzhausen, former BMW lightning rod Chris Bangle, etc.

All of this is not to say that the man behind the WRX STI rally car renderings shown here has the answers, and these images come courtesy of one Lars Martensson (apparently better known on the interwebs by his handle ‘GRID)’, a man who spends his days crafting 3D renderings for videogames (Rallisport Challenge 2 for xBox, Battlefield 2 for PC). To us, this Swede has a handle on what the STI needs to be: Squat, mean, and purposeful. Okay, so perhaps the cut-down greenhouse wouldn’t leave much room for taller folks (much less a helmet), but if one of these were parked in our driveway, well… we’d happily squat a little.

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Subaru campaigning Impreza STI at Nurburgring 24-hour race

Subaru has announced its participation in the 37th ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race (AKA the 24-Hours of Nurburgring) with a Subaru Technica International-modified Impreza STI. The WRX will be campaigning in the SP3T class (comprised of turbo’d cars with a displacement of 2.0 liters), with Kazuo Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshida, Naoki Hattori and Koji Matsuda manning the helm during the enduro.

According to Subaru, the team’s objective is to “collect data and verify technical know-how” and use the knowledge it gleans from the race to improve the STI’s development. The modifications are standard race-car fare, with a stripped interior and safety equipment, along with a number of body stiffening components and a “Flexible Tower Bar.”

Subaru’s set up a micro-site to track the team’s progress and will supposedly have live timing and results when the event gets underway in May. Press release in the forums.

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VIDEO: Ken Block’s newest creation leaks out

The Rebel Alliance vehicle seen above was apparently spotted at Guardsman Pass in Utah: a Subaru Impreza WRX rolling on a mighty set of treads wearing Ken Block’s number and sponsorship paintjob. We have no idea how, why, or where he acquired such a vehicle, but we do know this much: Ken Block gets to have a lot more fun than the rest of us.

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Prodrive Reveals Gronholm’s Subaru Impreza WRC

The car pictured above is the Prodrive Impreza WRC2008 with which former World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm will return to the WRC for a one-off race at the Rally of Portugal. Gronholm will test the Impreza in Wales this week, before undertaking a full two day pre-event test in Spain next week. This means the two-time World Rally Champion will have three days to familiarize himself with the race car before starting his first World Rally Championship event in nearly 16 months.

According to Prodrive, the Impreza WRC2008 is virtually identical to the car used by the Subaru World Rally Team at last season’s WRC. “We have only been able to make minor changes to the car because of homologation restrictions, with the most significant difference being the Ohlins dampers,” said Prodrive technical director, David Lapworth. “In a perfect world, Marcus would have had far more time behind the wheel, however, with his years of experience, I am absolutely confident he will very quickly find a rhythm in the Impreza,” he concluded.

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First Subaru Impreza World Rally Car up for Sale by Prodrive

The very first Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (WRC), a 1997 model with chassis number PRO-WRC-97-001 has been put up for sale by the Japanese firm’s official partner in the WRC (before its decision to withdraw from the sport late last year, that is), Prodrive. The two-door Impreza WRC was the very first car built under the new WRC regulations introduced in 1997 and during that season, the chassis was used by the late Colin McRae, Pierro Liatti and Kenneth Erikkson before being rebuilt and sold to a Prodrive customer in 1998.

The rally-prepped Impreza has been fully restored to its original condition by McKinstry Motorsport in Ireland and liveried as it was at the Rally of Finland in 1997. And now the answer to the question we’re sure that all you Subie fans are dying to know; how much? Well, the car carries a price tag of £85,000 which come to around $123,000 U.S. or €96,500 with today’s exchange rates.

And if the ‘97 Impreza isn’t your cup of coffee, Prodrive has also put up for grabs another seven former works Impreza World Rally Cars and 17 Prodrive Impreza Group Ns via its new site. Prices range from £50,000 ($72,000 U.S. or €56,700) for a 2005 Prodrive Impreza Group N to nearly £350,000 ($504,00 U.S. or € 397,000) for an early 2008 specification Impreza WRC.

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Toyota/Subaru FR sports car code-named 086A, will include direct injection

Over the past few months, rumors have circulated that the joint venture between Toyota and Subaru to develop an affordable, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe has been delayed. ToMoCo president, Akio Toyoda, sought to address those concerns at last month’s Tokyo Auto Salon, and according to Toyota’s new overlord, development is still underway.

Toyoda told the assembled masses that the new FR sports car is an essential part of the automaker’s “rejuvenation” efforts to bring younger people into the fold, and a large part of that is price. The coupe is still expected to cost around 2,000,000 yen (a little over $21,000 US) and is set to go on sale in 2012. According to Toyoda, the production postponement has nothing to do with the delay in construction of the Toyota/Subaru factory, where the two-door was due to be built next year. Instead, Toyoda claims that the hold up is due to the adaption of Toyota’s new D-4S direct injection system for the flat-four engine. Currently, the FR sports car is codenamed “086A,” and for those of you schooled in the world of Hachirokus, that spells good things to come.

[Source: 7Tune | Image: Holiday Auto (colored by AB)]

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Chicago 2009: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Travis Pastrana Edition

Click above for high-res gallery of the Subaru Travis Pastrana Impreza WRX STI

Tucked away in a corner of McCormick Place was this custom WRX STI built in as part of a cooperative effort between Subaru and Travis Pastrana’s race team, Vermont SportsCar. The car commemorates Pastrana’s third consecutive Rally America National Championship, and although a one-off, many of the parts on the car can be purchased through your local authorized Subaru dealer.

The exterior features custom yellow paint, a carbon fiber hood and rear spoiler, front chin spoiler, and a set of PIAA 2100 HID driving lights. Handling is improved thanks to an SPT strut tower brace, lower chassis brace, and BFGoodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S tires wrapped over satin black Work Evolution XD-9 wheels.

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter boxer engine gets an upgraded ECU and custom downpipe, while the interior now sports custom blue Alcantara seats with yellow piping, short-throw shifter, Kicker sound system and… an XBox 360.

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Forgan Bridge Replacement & Duplication Project - Mackay CBD Traffic Changes

The $128m Forgan Bridge Project is the most significant project for the Mackay region since the duplication of Ron Camm Bridge and includes the replacement of the existing bridge with a new four lane structure, replacement of Barnes Creek Bridge and upgrading of the Kooyong Intersection.

Proposed Traffic Changes

 The following changes will be made for the Mackay CBD Area:

 • Removal of traffic signals from the River Street/Sydney Street intersection

 • No access onto Forgan Bridge from Sydney Street (u-turn facility provided for local traffic)

 • Modification of various River Street intersections for safety and efficiency purposes including:

- Roundabout at Macalister Street intersection

- Protected right turn from Gregory Street

- Restricted left-in/left-out at Wood Street.

 • Closure of west bound lane on Victoria Street at Macalister Street intersection (u-turn facility

provided for local traffic)

 • Single lane exit from Forgan Bridge into Sydney Street and River Street Benefits

 • Continuous traffic flow on and off Forgan Bridge

 • Avoids the need for frequent traffic changes

 • Improves safety and efficiency for the travelling public and project construction

Head to the Forums for the traffic changes map.

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Meet & Greet: 22nd Feb, 12:00pm - Supercheap Nth Mackay

Monthly Meet N Greets are held so we can all meet up, have a chat, and even go for a cruise. The meeting place is at Supercheap North Mackay car park at 12:00pm on the last Sunday of the month.

The next meet is on the 22nd of February, if your keen to meet us or catch up feel free to come along.

Click here to download the flyer to hand out to other subarus you might feel want to come along.

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Subaru Up-Specs

Subaru has announced a second round of price reductions and added features, despite recent increases among several importers under exchange rate pressure.

Impreza RS recommended retail pricing (rrp) is reduced by $1000, while at no extra cost Subaru has now added:

• Alloy wheels to Impreza R
• Electric sunroof to Impreza RX, representing $2000 extra value

In addition, Subaru is now offering a leather trim with sunroof and Xenon headlight with pop-up washer package on Impreza RS, for $3000 – a package worth more than $5700 recommended retail price. 

Subaru recently announced a $1500 reduction in the price of Impreza R sedan and hatch, and a $2000 reduction on entry-level Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan, wagon and Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Our currency hedging strategy has again enabled us to offer customers more value at a time when many competitors are looking at price increases.

“Inevitably we will have to consider our pricing in the future, but for now we intend to pass on the benefit of our successful currency strategy to our customers.”  

Impreza MY09 pricing and specification updates:

These are recommended retail prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.

Impreza R manual, now with alloys $22,990 (-$1500)
Impreza R SPORTSHIFT automatic, now with alloys $24,990 (-$1500)
Impreza RX manual, now with electric sunroof $26,490
Impreza RX SPORTSHIFT automatic, now with electric sunroof $28,490
Impreza RS manual $28,490 (-$1000)
Impreza RS SPORTSHIFT automatic $30,490 (-$1000)

Impreza RS option package:
Leather trim, electric sunroof, Xenon headlights with pop-up washers $3000

Revised Liberty 2.5i pricing:

Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan   $32,990 (-$2000)
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon   $34,990 (-$2000)

Revised Outback 2.5i pricing:

Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic   $36,990 (-$2000)

Source: Subaru Australia

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