What’s It Like Driving a 2011 Subaru WRX STI
The 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan is the closest production car, available at local dealerships, that you’ll be able to find resembling anything to the famous rally car. We at Subarupedia did not get to test drive the enhanced wanna-be rally car – Luckily Jalopnik covered our butts on this one.
The 2011 Impreza WRX and WRX STI – Both models have undergone a significant amount of evolution in the past decade, changing for reasons both obvious and subtle. The process is fairly simple: If Subaru releases a model that its customers like, it stays the same. If people don’t, the company’s engineers screw with it until they do. This is not the time or place to chart the WRX’s changes, but suffice it to say that they are both numerous and market-specific.
On that note, three main things are changed for 2011: The WRX now sports STI-like fender flares and a wider track; the STI boasts sharper, re-tuned suspension; and we are once again gifted with a four-door STI sedan.
Here’s the upgrades to 2011′s Impreza & Impreza STI: 2011 Impreza WRX: The aforementioned fat-fendered four-door body, which is now cosmetically similar to that of the STI. (The five-door sedan continues and also shares the STI’s looks.) A 1.5-inch track increase front and rear. Stiffer rear subframe bushings. An increase in wheel (17 x 8 inches versus last year’s 17 x 7) and tire width (235/45 versus 225/45) and a 1.5-pound reduction in wheel weight. Minor trim changes. An updated stereo with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.
2011 Impreza WRX STI: The four-door body mentioned above, along with a big, fat, have-a-picnic-on-the-sucker rear wing. (Again, the five-door is still offered, albeit without the funky wing.) Updated suspension tuning, which includes new front balljoints — more on that in a moment — and stiffer springs, dampers, rear subframe bushings, and anti-roll bars. New polished 18-inch wheels. Minor trim changes, and the same stereo as the WRX.
Pricing: Four-door/five-door WRX: $25,495. Four-door STI: $33,995. Five-door STI: $35,995.
Jul 19th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
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