DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Subaru STI at NAIAS
New WRX STI will debut this month, but don't expect it in local showrooms before next yearSubaru has confirmed that it will unveil a production version of its 2015 WRX STI at this month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The high-performance Impreza-based STI is a step-up from the recently unveiled WRX – the fourth-generation all-wheel drive turbocharged sedan was released late last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
STI, or Subaru Technica International, is the Japanese manufacturer’s performance division, and like past examples, the new WRX STI is expected to bolster the aesthetic, performance, braking and handling credentials of its donor model by a more than a few degrees.
It is expected that the new WRX STI will boast a power output north of its donor’s 221kW and 407Nm, and will thus be quicker to 100km/h than the WRX, which claims a time of 4.9 seconds.
Like its derivative the new STI is tipped to arrive in sedan-only format and be powered by a 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer engine. Though we suspect the enhanced 221kW and 400Nm 2.0-litre Boxer shown in the Levorg wagon concept at this year’s Tokyo motor show could also be a starter.
Whatever the case the WRX STI will almost certainly be mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and of course run all-wheel drive. As to whether the WRX’s continuously variable transmission will be an option remains to be seen.
Subaru will officially unveil the new WRX STI at the Detroit motor show on January 14.
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