Subaru has long since bowed out of the World Rally Championship, but it was on the backwater racetracks of Europe that the WRX STI was born. Through every twist and turn, dirt ramp, and ford, Subaru's epitome of performance enjoyed prestige and glory. However, the Japanese car maker can't take all the credit for the making of a legend.
During the design process, Subaru contacted an old friend of theirs: Tommi Makinen.
Back On The Wheel Again
The Finnish WRC driver had experience with Subaru cars, namely the Impreza. While he didn't win any of the seasons during his tenure with the Subaru World Rally Team, Subaru believed he was the right man to determine what the WRX STI should be. Back in 2010, the 2011 WRX STI prototype was used to make several runs in the Nurburgring Northern Loop in Germany.
Four years later, Makinen got back in front of the wheel again; this time in a 2015 WRX STI prototype in Subaru's test track in Japan. The prototype was designed using the data collected during the runs in Germany. Makinen exited the vehicle a happy man, while Subaru found the right mix for a successful car.
Impreza on Steroids
If you want a souped-up Impreza, the WRX STI is the car for you. The latter shares the former's chassis, making it more stable at sharp turns and roomier inside. The car also features Active Torque Vectoring, a suite comprised of seven features that mitigates accident-prone events like understeer, which had plagued previous STI models.
To prove that the WRX STI meant business, it went toe-to-toe with a 2014 Porsche Cayman. While the latter clocked a higher top speed, both cars finished the course at the same time of 35.8 seconds. Keep in mind that Subaru went up with a brand synonymous with performance, specifically with 200 mL more displacement.
It's sexy on the outside, but under the hood lies a beast. This car is one of the most affordable high-performance cars in the market. Drivers with a need for speed can get the WRX STI at Subaru car dealerships in Covington, LA like Baldwin Subaru.
The WRX STI has plenty more features that may pique your interest, so you may want to head to reputable Covington, LA car dealerships for more info about this high-performance car. If it made a former rally driver happy, chances are, it will make you, too.
(Source: "How Subaru used Finland and Germany to effectively develop the 2015 WRX STI," Torque News, November 17, 2014)
