What is it?
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
What's special about it?
For the first time the WRX STI will be offered in two body styles: five-door and four-door. Oh yeah, and the big wing is back on the sedan.
Once the signature appendage of the top-of the line STI, the big rear spoiler, which was first made famous on Subaru's World Rally racecars, once again will let the world know you're not driving just a WRX. The new wing design, according to Subaru, also contributes to an improved drag coefficient, and to stable high-speed handling and zero lift.
Subaru says the car has also gone through a thorough and painstakingly detailed chassis development process that has resulted in heavily revised suspension tuning and lighter 18-inch wheels. The carmaker also says that the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which will hit dealerships late this summer, is the best-handling STI ever thanks to many miles of testing on the Nürburgring.
There are also a few styling updates. In front, the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI models feature sharpened bumper corners and a wider, black foglamp. There's also a new lip spoiler with three-dimensional detailing, a new front grille with a black grille inset and blacked-out Subaru floating wing. The WRX STI four-door features its own version of the polished stainless-steel quad-tailpipe exhaust, with tailpipe diameter enlarged to 3 inches.
Major changes to suspension tuning for the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI include a lowered ride height and new pillow-ball bushings in front and stiffer bushings for the rear subframe that supports the double-wishbone suspension — these improve camber and toe stiffness. Both the front and rear suspension systems employ higher-rate springs and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars than the 2010 model: 21mm vs. 20mm in front and 19mm vs. 18mm in the rear. (The 2010 WRX STI Special Edition already had the thicker rear stabilizer.) Spring rates have increased by 15.6 percent in front and 53 percent in the rear. (The rear spring rate for the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is 18 percent over the already-higher-rate rear springs introduced in the 2010 WRX STI Special Edition.)
The new standard 18-inch aluminum wheels feature high-luster paint and weigh 17.6 fewer pounds than the previous standard wheels. The optional 18-by-8.5-inch BBS forged aluminum-alloy wheels are highlighted by silver high-luster paint for 2011. These wheels further reduce unsprung vehicle weight. Dunlop SP600 245/40R18 summer performance tires are used with the standard and optional wheels.
Power is provided by the same high-boost 305-horsepower turbocharged/intercooled boxer engine as last year, and it's still teamed with a six-speed manual transmission and Subaru's Multimode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) version of Symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Tweaks to the interior are slight, and include a new black-and-silver finish. Trim panels, the steering wheel airbag cover and steering wheel switches are now dark cast metallic.
Inside Line says: The fire roads are waiting. Let's get sideways. — Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief
Add A Comment »
1st2011wrxinfl says:
09:52 PM, 10/15/2010
Stop hatin'... Well I guess it's all you can due because you haven't been in one. Baby
labrat10 says:
01:26 PM, 09/15/2010
re-instituting the 4-door option is a major plus..the one thing that bugs me is the inflexibility in the "build your own" area....I am one who would actually appreciate the option of building an STI with all the superior performance parts, while including all the creature comforts along with it...give me an option to have an automatic tranny and a moonroof, all the sound system and nav. bells and whistles etc., choice of spoilers and trim, plus the better brakes, suspension and diff.s..and i will build a superior "drivers" car..fit for me, the buyer...for me the "build your own" options are the major limiting factor...if I could have a factory built STI with an auto-trans, moonroof, and superior electronics package, I could certainly live with the extra pounds when I aftermarket a hundred more HP/TQ and be a very happy daily driver, as long as I know that I have the highest level of performance available if I need it...personally im not so worried if another car is a fraction of a second faster around a mile and a half track, if im more happy/comfortable getting there, im just glad to know i have the best possible performance available if i need it without totally disregarding the comfort and opinion of my wife and kids...there should always be the option of compromise, even up to the highest levels of each path......c'mon, a totally stocked AND stacked STI?, i'll drop a few extra thousand in tuning gladly to make up for anything i find lacking on top of that...the VAST amount of buyers arent buying a "race/track" only car, and my wife and kids are more likely to support my choice if it appeals to their priorities as well..especially if she/they are capable of, want to, or will be able to drive it too...
evocat70 says:
05:03 PM, 06/30/2010
Looks like an Exo 10 to me... gross.
beachturbo127 says:
12:42 AM, 05/01/2010
New sedan version look awesome! But instead of focusing on just the exterior, I would have really liked to see Subaru take some initiative and focus on strengthening the EJ257 engine. Everyone including SOA knows the hypereutectic pistons on usdm EJ257 Subaru's are trash! Why not bring to the US the JDM 2.0L engine? It's stronger, better MPG, higher rpm band, and is way more desirable here in the US among car enthusiasts. If Mitsubishi can be successful selling their 2.0L 4G63 and 4B11, then Subaru should be able to outperform Mitsubishi in sales with their 2.0L.
mmman2 says:
11:34 AM, 04/19/2010
Subaru has finely came back to there sences. This one rules.
godofgambler says:
02:52 PM, 04/15/2010
Yes, agree. Big wing rules!
f1ipmode says:
04:19 PM, 04/12/2010
I'm liking the wagon version very much.
charlesb says:
10:13 PM, 04/09/2010
It's still too much money for what it is, four or five door doesn't really matter.
nightvzn says:
09:08 PM, 04/08/2010
alpine6speed:
Despite some lingering attempts to cling to outmoded ideas, there is no right or wrong when it comes to automatic versus manual; it's a matter of personal preference. Just because manuals are the "traditional" choice among enthusiasts doesn't mean that's the case for everybody. I have driven a number of cars in both automatic and manual trim, and I just happen to prefer automatic.
As I mentioned, I've been driving my own *manual* WRX for over three years now, and I'm perfectly good at it, but I just don't care for having to deal with the clutch. You can't say I'm "wrong" for that, or that it somehow makes me incapable of enjoying a car's overall sportiness. I appreciate power and handling, and one can certainly find both characteristics in a car with an automatic transmission -- especially one with a good manual mode -- even if slushboxes absorb a little of the power. You're free to prefer the stick & clutch, but that's a separate issue.
Again, if we were total traditionalists/purists, we wouldn't even accept the notion of a sports car with all-wheel drive and the comparatively poor low-end performance of a smaller turbocharged engine. But we do (fans of Imprezas and/or Lancers do, at least). The old definitions have changed. The same goes for transmissions. IMHO, manual + AWD in a powerful car isn't the best idea to begin with, because it's too easy to abuse the drivetrain with overly eager launches. (I don't clutch-dump, but in 3+ years, I've accidentally abused my clutch a few times by launching a bit too hard.)
Besides, my complaints about the differences between the WRX and Impreza GT are less about power, and more about suspension and handling characteristics. I already have that same basic engine as the GT in my '06 WRX, and I'm fine with it. But the GT also gets the narrower body and wheels coupled with a soft-n-squishy suspension. Even with all the optional SPT parts, you'd still be left with a somewhat inferior-handling, bland-looking car compared to the WRX (not to mention the peculiar non-availability of navigation in the GT, which really irks and puzzles me).
I honestly can't figure out who Subaru is even targeting with the Impreza GT. A compact sedan with no navigation option that's only fast in a straight line ... hmm. Granted, I can't think of many competitors, but nor can I picture much of a market for such a car -- especially without factory nav, in an era in which almost every other car has it available!
carlos2174 says:
12:53 AM, 04/06/2010
Finally a worthy rival fr the Evo X.