Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2008/2009 | Page 18

Subaru Impreza WRX STI
s
’
Dominant Feature:

generate maximum traction and stability. The net result is a true
sports car that responds to variations in grip in a heartbeat. All
four wheels in contact with the road + all four wheels creating
traction = a superior performance car under all conditions.
Not only do the WRX and WRX265 represent a step up in
performance, they also have the looks to match. The WRX features
multi-reflector halogen fog lamps, a black stainless steel and
mesh front grille, a rear spoiler with integrated brake light, an
aerodynamic body kit, and racy 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels.
The WRX265 gains all those touches as well as aluminum alloy
sport pedals, seats with exclusive red stitching, a power moonroof,
summer performance tires and a large roof-line rear spoiler for
the 5-door model.
If a mix of outright performance and everyday versatility
is what you have in mind, the Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX265
should be at the very top of your shopping list.
THE RALLY STAR
This is it: The Subaru Impreza WRX STI – the ultimate all-road
performance vehicle and the closest thing you can get to an
honest-to-goodness WRC car. Powered by a high-output version
of the award-winning, 2.5-litre turbocharged DOHC SUBARU
BOXER engine, the STI boasts an eye-opening 305 horsepower and
290 lb-ft of torque. The engine benefits from the Dual Active Valve
Control System, which generates smooth everyday driveability
combined with blistering acceleration, increased torque, and
improved combustion and exhaust performance.
All this excitement is controlled by genuinely innovative
thinking in the form of the rally-tested 6-speed manual transmission,
SI-DRIVE (Subaru Intelligent Drive), multi-mode Vehicle Dynamics
Control (VDC) system and multi-mode Driver Controlled Centre

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Differential (DCCD). These technologies place control over the car’s
performance in the hands of the driver – exactly where it should be.
SI-DRIVE allows the driver to select among three engine
management modes – Intelligent, Sport or Sport Sharp – that vary
from maximum efficiency around town to outright performance
when you hit those rally stages.
The multi-mode VDC system also offers three different
settings; the Normal mode ensures that the VDC, traction control
and Super Sport ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
are all standing guard, and offering maximum safety and security.
Traction mode allows the driver to test the limits of the STI a
bit more without intervening too soon. And the Off mode is for
extracting the complete virtues this vehicle has to offer; it cancels
all the electronic guardians apart from the ABS and the Hill
Holder system (to assist in driving the car away on an incline).
Of all the advanced technologies built into the WRX STI,
the multi-mode DCCD is probably the most sophisticated.
This system enables the driver to manually adjust the torque
split of the electromechanical centre differential – or to let the
computer automatically decide how much power to send to
front and rear axles.
Auto mode is the default setting and the best one for
all-around driving; the torque distribution varies between
41/59 and 50/50 (front/rear); [+] Auto delivers better traction on
slippery roads by targeting a 50/50 split at all times; and [-] Auto
enhances turning capability and handling by loosening the centre
differential and targeting a 41/59 torque split. The driver can also