Some people love the latest-generation Subaru WRX while others hate it and the curious crossover-inspired design but the carmaker hasn’t let that stop it from announcing a new limited-run variant for the Japanese market. The new model, dubbed the WRX S4 STI Sport will be capped at just 500 units and available via a lottery system running from January 12-28. A seemingly endless number of special edition Impreza, WRX, and WRX STI models have been launched over the years and like so many others, the WRX S4 STI Sport benefits from a handful of new parts but is not dramatically different than the regular version on which it is based. We doubt this fact, nor the 6,237,000 yen (US$ 43,000) asking price, will limit the appeal of the car.
Perhaps the most significant upgrade is
the fitment of 19-inch BBS forged wheels with a Super Black finish and clad in
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires. Complementing these sleek new wheels is a revised
black front grille, blacked-out badges, and a black lip spoiler on the decklid.
Subaru has also painted the wing mirrors and roof antenna in Crystal Black
Silica.
Each of the 500 examples also has a
customized interior. Key changes made include the fitment of a genuine
leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver stitching, shift boots with silver
stitching, and new Recaro seats up front clad in an ultra suede material and
also rocking the same contrast stitching. This same suede material extends
across part of the instrument panel, armrests, and center console.
Power comes from the standard 2.4-liter
horizontally-opposed turbocharged four-cylinder coupled to a continuously
variable transmission. This engine produces 271 hp and 375 Nm of
torque.
