Subaru Impreza S201 | Spotted
Yes, it came out the factory looking like that
What a wild time the '90s were for performance cars. The decade will go down as a golden era for all sorts of reasons, whether it be the Bugatti EB110, Jaguar XJ220 and McLaren F1 vying it out for the production car top speed record, or the titanic battle both on and off the rally stage between the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The '90s also gave rise to the Max Power era, when spending out tens of thousands on dressing up a Vauxhall Nova in an elaborate bodykit and respraying it in a vibrant, heavily metal flake metallic colour was considered cooler (to some at least) than putting said money towards a Ferrari 355 or Porsche 911.
Like all major trends, everybody wanted in on the Max Power wave, even if they didn’t want to admit it. It was nigh on impossible to find a hatchback in the '90s that didn’t have a grenade launcher exhaust and a set of clear lights at the back, and more often than not there’d be a towering, drag-hungry wing precariously fastened to the boot lid. Tuning became so popular that even manufactures got involved. The best offerings naturally came from the JDM, the epicentre of the tuning world, with the various iterations of Nissan Skyline GT-R, the Mk4 Toyota Supra and Mitsubishi GTO all went after the Max Power crowd here in Britain. But none quite captured the era’s spirit quite like the car we have here.
Not that the Subaru Impreza S201 STI graced our shores at launch, but had it done so it doubtlessly would have been a smash hit with the yoofs. Whereas the 22B was a specially-built Impreza coupe with a bespoke 2.2-litre engine, the S201 was a four-door Version VI with the full gamut of the STI parts catalogue bolted to it. If you’ve ever seen an old STI options list, you’ll know just how much pricey hardware went into the S201. Think height-adjustable reinforced suspension, tougher rear pillow links and a front helical limited-slip diff on the chassis side, while the engine benefited from a specially-developed ECU, reworked intake and a sportier exhaust. Subaru claims that brought the Impreza’s 2.0-litre boxer engine up to a conveniently round 300hp, though Japanese carmakers were known to downplay power numbers to not stay too far from the agreed 280hp cap.
Have I missed anything? Er, yes actually. The S201 came with a set of 16-inch forged aluminium wheels developed in conjunction with Rays, streamlined wing mirrors and an ever larger air scoop. Oh, and one of the most outlandish factory-fitted bodykits of all time. Not what you’d call a shrinking violet, is it? To state the obvious, the front was completely redesigned with a snow plough-like air dam, the skirts beefed up, a rear diffuser that’d give the new Ferrari F80 a run for its money, and a humungous double-decker rear wing. And if that wasn’t enough, the kit was painted in a different colour to the rest of the body to help it stand out.
The rate at which Subaru fires out special editions means they tend to all blur into one, but there’s no mistaking the S201 for anything else. And while its looks are sure to divide opinion (to put it lightly), the S201 would serve as the starting point for STI’s hardcore S-series, including the far tamer S202, the Petter Solberg-developed S204 and the GT3 RS-style S209. None were officially released in the UK, but such is our appetite for super Scoobies that a handful have found their way to our damp and gloomy Isles, just as this S201 has done.
All S-series cars were built in limited numbers, but a production run of just 300 cars makes the S201 the rarest of the lot. The seller hasn’t disclosed a price for this example, but as it’s only recently arrived from Japan (meaning it hasn’t seen a salted British road yet) and is a grade 4B import (which is very much on the high side) does suggest it’ll be on the collector-end. And what an addition to a collection it’ll make, just please don’t keep it cooped up at the back of your garage. Take it out, get a feel for all those snazzy STI upgrades and give people sight they’ll never forget - whether they want to or not.
SPECIFICATION | SUBARU IMPREZA S201
Engine: 1,994cc four-cylinder boxer, turbocharged
Transmission: five-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 300@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2000
Recorded mileage: 90,000
Price new: N/A (Japan)
Yours for: POA
I’m guessing it’s POA because the vendor will be surprised if anyone actually rings up and offers more than £1k…
As an aside, do many PHers have much experience of ringing dealer whose stock is ‘POA’?
Do you ask about a specific car and they suggest that offers above a certain amount may be entertained, or do they outright ask you how much you think it’s worth?
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