2015 Subaru STI
 

Subaru’s rally team was introduced in 1989 and since then they have showed consistent strength in the World Rally Championship (WRC). Rally racing is respected as one of the most demanding and variable series in all of motorsports making it very challenging to consistently have a strong presence among competition.

 

The WRX is a road car that celebrates Subarus rally heritage. Subaru gave the WRX name to the Impreza as an acronym for World Rally Experimental. The first WRX was introduced in 1992. It had a turbocharged flat-four boxer motor which produced 237hp. To put this in perspective, this was more powerful than a 5-litre mustang of that era, but most importantly, the WRX was a car designed for practicality. It had all-wheel-drive, four doors, and really excelled in poor road conditions.

 

Beginning in 1994, few WRXs were given the Subaru Tecnica International (STI) badge but none were brought to the North American market. For those in North America, STIs remained unattainable. The first STIs to come to North America were in 2004. Since then, there have been four generations of the STI. This 2015 is a fourth generation. It’s possible that the next STI from Subaru may have some sort of electric assistance which would drastically alter the traditional STI formula.

 

The formula for the STI has always been the same; an all-wheel-drive car with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat four producing 305hp. Although this has been the STI’s powerplant for a long time, the car doesn’t feel dated, it feels like tradition.

 

This car is a toy with a ton of character. Short gears with a short power band, firm suspension, stiff steering and a rumble from the boxer engine. The car is such a joy to drive and it simply makes you smile.