Tuesday 7th February 2006

Subaru pumps up the Impreza

320bhp should be enough for the moment

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2006 Impreza to be eclipsed?

Subaru could be set to import an even more powerful Impreza than the 281bhp STi Type-UK. According to Auto Express, the S204, which will arrive in the UK as a grey import, uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot boxer engine as the Type-UK, but tweaked to produce 320bhp and 319lb-ft of torque at 4,400rpm.

Better performance naturally results, shaving the time taken for the sprint to 60mph from five seconds to 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The car also has a stronger chassis, better roll rigidity and improved suspension. It also sports dampers fitted between the front and rear strut towers, which according to Auto Express' road test, gives a smoother turn-in, eliminates understeer and delivering more information to the driver's hands on the wheel.

It may well be brought in by Subaru UK dealers as a Performance Pack, as with the 2004 car.

[dinkel]

Subaru should make an S2000-ish AWD roadster with this specs to silence the Beemers.

Shouldn't be too hard should it?

[SJobson]

Doesn't the STI have a 2.5 engine now, anyway?

It also doesn't sound like the PPP which was available on the 2004/05 STI Type UK despite what the article says.

[annodomini2]

Article said:

It also sport dampers fitted between the front and rear strut towers

Shouldn't that be strut braces?

[hendry]

annodomini2 said:

Article said: It also sport dampers fitted between the front and rear strut towers Shouldn't that be strut braces?

Dampers between the front and rear strut towers? Dampers the length of the wheelbase? Where? In place of the seats?

[r988]

dinkel said:

Subaru should make an S2000-ish AWD roadster with this specs to silence the Beemers. Shouldn't be too hard should it?

like this ?
http://webmaster.beverleypaine.com/conceptsticonvert

[ARM]

the uk spec ones are 2.5 this is a "grey import"!


I dont understand the last comment, how can it be a performance pack, are they planning to pull apart the scooby and add bits to it?

[thanuk]

r988 said:

dinkel said: Subaru should make an S2000-ish AWD roadster with this specs to silence the Beemers. Shouldn't be too hard should it? like this ? http://webmaster.beverleypaine.com/conceptsticonvert

Wow - that looks even worse than the tin tops

[dinkel]

Is that S2000-ish?

[shadowninja]

r988 said:

dinkel said: Subaru should make an S2000-ish AWD roadster with this specs to silence the Beemers. Shouldn't be too hard should it? like this ? http://webmaster.beverleypaine.com/conceptsticonvert

www.delfino.co.uk/

edited so i look like i have a clue

>> Edited by shadowninja on Tuesday 7th February 16:33

[Mrs Biggles]

Got to get me one of these!!
Certainly give my hubby something to think about when comparing the TVR with my Scooby!

[dinkel]

Subaru B9SC roadster concept. Anastacia on wheels.

[macg]

Is it just me or does the Impreza story get a bit boring after a while. I'm no engineer but you can surely (within reason) tweak the same turbo-charged engine (2.0 or 2.5) to whatever output you like and attach any combination of Halfords body kits and yet Subaru try to convince us that each new variant is news-worthy!!?! Yawn, yawn. I was given a lift to a meeting in a WRX with a pro-drive upgrade today and, yes, it is very fast but otherwise a charmless car.

(Enter, stage left, angry hoard of Scooby lovers who will now try to convince me that these cars are all uniquely interesting. We were still left standing by a 997 Carrera 4S that didn't suffer from painful turbo-lag!)

"Price difference, blah, blah blah!"

Cat, meet pigeons.

[GravelBen]

Gazboy said:

macg said: Is it just me or does the Impreza story get a bit boring after a while. I'm no engineer but you can surely (within reason) tweak the same turbo-charged engine (2.0 or 2.5) to whatever output you like and attach any combination of Halfords body kits and yet Subaru try to convince us that each new variant is news-worthy!!?! You can say the same for the Golf too...

or the Evo, or the Skyline...

[RobDickinson]

Whatcha expect tho? you cant retool a factory for a new motor very often even if you wanted to.

Its easier to fidle with what you have and especialy with turbo's, so long as the engine and cooling can take it.

[macg]

Gazboy said:

macg said: Is it just me or does the Impreza story get a bit boring after a while. I'm no engineer but you can surely (within reason) tweak the same turbo-charged engine (2.0 or 2.5) to whatever output you like and attach any combination of Halfords body kits and yet Subaru try to convince us that each new variant is news-worthy!!?! You can say the same for the Golf too...

You could if they launched half a dozen performance variants every year and tried to suggest that they are materially 'different' to one another. But they don't.

[scoobiewrx]

macg said:

Is it just me or does the Impreza story get a bit boring after a while. I'm no engineer but you can surely (within reason) tweak the same turbo-charged engine (2.0 or 2.5) to whatever output you like and attach any combination of Halfords body kits and yet Subaru try to convince us that each new variant is news-worthy!!?! Yawn, yawn. I was given a lift to a meeting in a WRX with a pro-drive upgrade today and, yes, it is very fast but otherwise a charmless car. (Enter, stage left, angry hoard of Scooby lovers who will now try to convince me that these cars are all uniquely interesting. We were still left standing by a 997 Carrera 4S that didn't suffer from painful turbo-lag!) "Price difference, blah, blah blah!" Cat, meet pigeons.

Well thats all well and good but cost is a serious consideration and for the money you get a lot of bang for your buck, with a Scoobie. nuff said!!!

[Marki]

How ugly is that then