Hurtling down memory lane in the Subaru STi

By DAVID LINKLATER

You know how it goes: revisit that dream car of not so long ago and it doesn't seem quite so special in the face of five or six years of automotive progress.

But does the argument apply to the Subaru Tecnica International (STi) Imprezas?

The standard WRX has come along in leaps and bounds with each new generation, but time has done little to diminish the explosive performance and supercar-eating dynamics of even the early STi models.

Get behind the wheel of a five-year-old example in healthy condition and you'll still wonder what hit you. Then you'll do your best to get it to hit you again.

The just-launched 2001 Impreza STi illustrates the company's approach perfectly.

At $69,990 the newcomer costs $17,000 more than the standard WRX, yet it still stands as a superb value-for-money performance package.

The latest STi boasts 46kW more power and 81Nm more torque than the WRX, with peak outputs of 206kW at 6400rpm and 373Nm at 4000rpm.

The engine is strengthened and features molybinium pistons and new conrods. The larger turbocharger is unique to the STi and features a water spray system for additional cooling.

Like previous STi models, the new model has a special close-ratio gearbox designed to handle the high torque of the modified engine, though the 2001 version features a six-speed unit for the first time.

The stiff suspension of the WRX is further modified, including a wider front track, changes to the geometry and extensive use of aluminium construction.

Braces and strengthened crossmembers are used front and rear to improve handling - all part of the STi treatment.

STi was formed in 1988 by Fuji Heavy Industries to handle Subaru motorsport.

It created the legendary Legacy RS in 1989 and continued to develop the car through the early'90s. But STi really hit its stride when the Impreza was launched.

There have been a plethora of Impreza STi models and special editions in sedan, hatch and coupe body shapes.

However, the first-generation car's development can be traced through six basic models, called Versions in Subaru-speak.

The WRX RA of 1994 was the first official STi-modified Impreza road car. It produced 184kW and 318Nm, healthy improvements on the standard car's 155kW/270Nm and still impressive by today's standards.

Version II was launched in 1995 and upped the output to 202kW. By Version III, in 1996, the STi boxer four had hit the 206kW cap agreed to by all Japanese carmakers.

It's stayed there - at least officially - ever since, though STi has continued to extract extra torque out of the 2.0-litre boxer engine. The Version IV model of 1997 boasted 343Nm, rising to 353Nm for Versions V (1998) and VI (2000).

Subaru New Zealand only started importing the Impreza STi in 1998 and in very limited numbers.

It sold 148 Versions IV through VI and has already signed off another 24 examples of the latest model. Another shipment is expected later this year.

However, the Impreza's staggering popularity as a used import has boosted New Zealand's STi numbers dramatically, including large numbers of pre-1998 models.

The 2001 Impreza is likely to be the best STi package yet.

Limited-edition 22B the ultimate

The ultimate STi? The 22B coupe of 1998. It was based around the WRC car's wider bodyshell with power from a 2.2-litre 206kW/360Nm flat four. Equipment was sparse: no air conditioning, radio or anti-lock brakes. Just 424 individually numbered 22Bs were built - 399 for the Japanese market (there was no number 13) and 25 for export. A few reside in NZ, but expect to pay over $100,000