CHICAGO — Subaru has built a custom 2009 Impreza WRX STI for factory rally team driver Travis Pastrana in celebration of his third Rally America National Championship. You can see the car at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, with Pastrana himself expected to make an appearance February 14 and 15 to sign autographs.
Pastrana's new ride uses a combination of custom-made parts and accessories from both Subaru Performance Tuning and Subaru Tecnica International. To improve handling, Subaru has added an SPT front strut tower brace and SPT lower chassis brace. The stock 305-horsepower STI engine receives a performance boost from a tuned ECU and custom downpipe. An STI short-throw shifter is connected to the six-speed gearbox.
This special 2009 Subaru WRX STI also receives a custom carbon-fiber hood and rear spoiler along with a chin spoiler, mesh grille and exhaust finishers sold as STI accessories. Biggie-size BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S 275/35ZR18 tires are wrapped around 18-inch Work Evolution XD-9 wheels finished in custom satin black. PIAA high-intensity discharge headlights, mud flaps and decals complete the rally look.
The interior upholstery is done in blue Alcantara trimmed in yellow piping. Custom yellow stitching also adds accents to the steering wheel, shifter boot and brake lever boot. Carbon fiber-patterned trim adorns the dash, doors and console. The STI's very basic stock sound system has been replaced with Kicker speakers, amplifiers and a 10-inch subwoofer. Subaru has also tucked an Xbox 360 underneath the passenger seat and connected it to the Eclipse head unit.
Inside Line says: This STI has it all: performance, a custom look and a serious stereo. Too bad it's only for Travis Pastrana. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent
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