New Subaru Imprezza a matter of taste

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

It's easy to get silly over the Subaru WRX Impreza STi. How the turbocharged 2-litre engine doesn't pull as well in fifth gear at 60 km/h as it should. Or that the sixth gear ratio should be a touch taller.

Who cares? This is a performance car, at $69,990 the best hell-for-leather hustler in the business. Fifth gear at 60 km/h is for the birds, anyway. Second gear at 60 km/h is getting warmer. Third and fourth signal fun to come. Fifth and sixth are for the fast lane, where in-car conversation often stops.

Sales of the new STi haven't stopped, however. Subaru had sold 24 before the car even arrived in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago. The next shipment, due later in the year, is pretty much sold out too.

"The demand for the car has been fantastic," said Wallis Dumper, Subaru New Zealand general manager. "Orders have been made on the brand's reputation and the image the previous STi models have established."

New Zealand is the first export market to pick up the STi. It has been in short supply in Japan because of manufacturing delays. "We had to wait longer than expected for the car," said Dumper. "Initially, production of the new six-speed gearbox could not keep up with demand in Japan."

At a glance the STi doesn't look much different from the WRX. There is the boot badge, bigger wheels and tyres, a taller bonnet scoop and xenon headlights, twice as bright as conventional halogen units.

Inside, a rev limiter warning light and buzzer can be adjusted to suit driving styles. The sports seats can be adjusted for height. So too can the steering column and shoulder mounts for the front seatbelts.

Creature comforts include a CD sound system, climate control air-conditioning, electric windows and mirrors and a rear screen wiper. Safety equipment includes ABS anti-lock brakes and dual front airbags. Four exterior colours are available - white, black, silver and World Rally Championship blue.

The road-going version of Subaru's WRC car is a further development of the Impreza WRX. The STi delivers 206kW and 373Nm against the standard WRX's 160kW and 292Nm. The previous model STi had 360Nm of torque.

Subaru has made significant changes to the 2-litre engine to boost performance. It is stronger overall and the intercooler is 11 per cent larger - so is its water spray reservoir - to keep temperatures down.

The variable valve control and reworked engine management system provides better throttle response and more torque at lower revs.

The short-throw six-speed gearbox has also been strengthened to withstand the higher torque, which is fed through a larger clutchplate. A dedicated oil pump keeps the gearbox well lubricated.

A viscous centre differential distributes power equally to the front and rear axles under normal driving. But when pushed it sends power to the end which needs it. A Suretrac limited-slip differential backs up the system by sending torque to the rear wheel with the most grip.

The MacPherson front suspension has a 5mm wider front track than the latest WRX, due to the use of 225/45ZR17 tyres mounted on the 17-inch alloy wheels. The rear track is the same as the standard car.

The wider suspension is housed in the flared wheel arches of the sedan and hatch. The front suspension is strengthened by the use of a titanium tower brace in the engine bay, sourced from the aerospace division of Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries.

The front lower arms are forged from aluminium for lighter weight. Suspension geometry has been reworked for better handling. The rear differential has been raised to increase the car's roll centre height and improve cornering response.

The suspension on the STi is stiffer than the standard WRX but the ride doesn't suffer unduly. The long travel setup still soaks up the worst surfaces.

The rack and pinion steering system is quick and accurate and provides positive feedback. Understeer - running wide through corners, a characteristic of all-wheel-drive vehicles - is in the hands of the driver.

Comparisons with the Evo VII - $6000 more expensive at $75,900 - are inevitable. There is very little between the two except price.

You don't choose - you "favour" one over the other. The differences are not that clearcut. It might just boil down to looks. Both are enormously capable.

But the Impreza STi seems a smidgen more flexible on the throttle. Try to provoke the Evo VII into misbehaving through a corner and the electronic active centre differential linked to the yaw-control unit cuts in and largely overrides driver input.

The electronic gadgetry in the Impreza STi plays a similar role under stress through corners, but the car can be encouraged to powerdrift wide to open up a slingshot exit. It's fun and a marginally more involving drive.

When push comes to shove, the Evo VII is perhaps more civilised than the Impreza STi.

In another world it would dine on pasta and chardonnay. The Impreza would stick to steak and a bottle of red.