Subaru Introduces Not-So-Special-Edition STI for US Market

Subaru enthusiasts in the US market have been getting the short end of the stick for the better part of 2 decades. The WRX debuted in Japan in 1992, and as the Impreza GT in Europe in the same year.  Despite the generally undeniable American propensity towards things that go fast, it would be another 9 years (2001) before we even got a taste of WRX on these shores.  And while we've continued to get WRX's (look at that, Subaru, Americans DO want cars that can go fast and do corners!) and hot-rod STi's, we've sorta been left out on the whole special-edition thing.

I mean Europe's gotten the RB5, 22b STi, Prodrive P1, RB320, S203... you get the picture.  But as for the US market, the closest we've gotten to a "special" STI or WRX was the STI Limited, a run-out model on the old chassis that deleted the obnoxious rear wing, and added leather/suede seating and some other niceties.  So, nothing to really write home about.

And now we're getting another limited-edition STI that no one is really going to care about.  Rather than importing something cool, like an STI with the fire-breathing JDM-market 330bhp 2.0L, 8000 rpm EJ20 motor, we're getting an STI Special Edition.  Sounds special, doesn't it?  Based on the US-market 2.5L STI hatchback, the Special Edition adds a set of gunmetal-grey 18" alloys from the JDM-market STI, as well as a suspension setup identical to the JDM-market STI's - of course the US chassis is dumbed down when it's shipped here!  That means 1mm more swaybar on the back end to kill some of that understeer, higher spring rates at all 4 corners, and stiffer rear subframe bushings for better tracking.

Sweet!  But wait, there's less!  Instead of the 10-speaker 6-CD changer, automatic climate control, and Xenon HID headlamps the Special Edition gets a single-CD 4-speaker unit, Halogen lights, and by-god regular knobs for adjusting the temperature.  So it's a special edition with less stuff?  Wow, nothing makes me feel special like equipment downgrades inside what's already a dismally cheap-feeling car.  Although if you're dash-stroking an STI, you're missing the point (and should probably see a psychiatrist!)

Hopefully this'll mean a reduction in two things the STI has too much of:  weight, and cost.  With optioned STI's able to break past 40 grand, the whole "it's the fastest thing in it's price range!" argument was getting a bit weak.  Without a fancy stereo, fancy headlights, and with stiffer suspension (and hopefully stickier rubber) this special edition might just be a step back towards the days when the STI was about going fast, not about impressing your rice-boy neighbors.  But it could just be a way for Subaru to draw some undeserved press attention to themselves...  Oops.

Anyway, production of this ultra-special Edition will be limited to 125 units, so if you've been hankering for a $35,000 hatchback with a bad stereo, you better hurry up!