Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2011/2012 | Page 24

WRX STI

2012 SUBARU WRX STI:
CREATURE MEETS COMFORT
But the objective behind the most recent
Although the Subaru WRX STI is certainly a

lights bring an added measure of safety

development was not outright speed;

hard-core performer, it also has a decidedly

to the driving experience. Meanwhile, the

rather, it was to bring further refinements

softer side. For example, the rally-inspired

power sunroof, automatic climate control,

to the steering and handling of the WRX

sport seats may be ultra-supportive, but

and brand-new Pioneer® audio/navigation

STI in order to boost driver confidence and

they’re also covered in rich black Alcantara®

system with smartphone integration◊,

increase cornering capability.

and black leather. Other standard creature

Bluetooth streaming audio and Pioneer

comforts on the WRX STI include Bluetooth®

premium speakers help make the drive all

four-time World Rally Champion Tommi

hands-free connectivity and a MediaHub for

the more enjoyable.

Mäkinen, the Subaru WRX STI set a new

iPod® and USB audio integration.
Step up to the Sport-tech Package and

All of these features have been included

Mission accomplished: Piloted by

lap record (7'55"00) — even though the top

to give the Subaru WRX STI an extra

speed of the car was unchanged from the

there are even more performance features on

dimension. After all, being a performance

previous year’s model. The conclusion was

tap, plus some inspired conveniences. The

car fanatic shouldn’t mean having to

that the new car’s cornering capabilities

Xenon HID headlights and multi-reflector fog

sacrifice on comfort or convenience.

had improved so much, it made the
difference — understandable given the
Nordschleife has more than 160 corners,
many of them highly challenging in nature.
At the conclusion of the test, Mäkinen
provided his expert analysis: “Some places
are extremely bumpy and extremely fast
and still the handling was very, very good
and the behavior had a very accurate

◊ iPhone 4 compatibility.

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