It is expected to be released in Australia in April 2008, about the same time as the new and particularly impressive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. It is quite obvious that the styling departments at Mitsubishi and Subaru took a different path. Mitsubishi, for example, has styled the new Evo X to be an exciting and attractive car. No doubt, many will thinking that Subaru should have done the same!

STI models since 1994

STI versions of the Impreza have been produced since 1994. Based on the turbo WRX model, it was tuned by Subaru Tecnica International Inc. to win the WRC, and for the past 13 years the Subaru World Rally Car has been developed based on the Impreza WRX STI.

Background of Subaru Tecnica International

Subaru Tecnica International inc. is based in Mitaka, Tokyo and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. The acronym "STI" is derived from the name of the company and has come to symbolise Subaru's highest performance models.

The company was founded in April 1988 to develop Subaru's motor sport activities including the WRC. These competitions act as the ultimate testing ground for Subaru vehicles and the feedback gained is reflected in the development of production models.

Current President Ichiro Kudoh was appointed in June 2007 as the fourth President of STI. The company's first President, the late Mr. Ryuichiro Kuze, was also the founder of the company. His first programme was the development of a Subaru Legacy (Liberty in Australia) that set a world speed record for continuous driving over 100,000 kms, a record that stood for 16 years.

Subaru Tecnica International and WRC

Kuze went on to form the Subaru World Rally Team in Britain, with the SWRT entering its first WRC event, the Acropolis Rally in 1990.

The first WRC victory for Subaru was in 1993 in New Zealand and it claimed the Manufacturer's crown in 1995, 1996 and 1997, with the latter featuring legendary driver, the late Colin McRae. Subaru Tecnica International has competed in the WRC for the past 17 years, and holds three WRC manufacturers' titles and three drivers' titles.