NEWS – THE SUBARU WRX STI tS REVEALED

Busy times at STi… The same day the WRX STI Spec C was announced, Subaru revealed also the WRX STI tS. 7Tune already touched the matter 2 weeks ago when a teaser appeared on the STI website, but the car turns out to be a bit different from what we expected.

Unlike the Carbon Concept shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, the tS (tuned by STI) is based on the 4-door GVB/GVF only. Interestingly, while adopting a lightweight carbon roof, the killer feature of this car, as well as the aluminum hood also seen on the Spec C, the WRX STI tS is not so much a road registered all-out race car as more of a refined grown up version of the Subaru rocketship, for it loses the usual airliner grade rear wing, getting a subdued boot lip instead.

Which is not to say that the WRX STI  tS (hello, alphabet soup) is a boring old sedan. It went through the full STI fitness training program, receiving like the other tS badged models a specially tuned suspension with STI dampers, springs and strut bars.

It also receives the new 18 inches STI alloys.

Interior-wise, the all-important red stiched Recaros seats are there with a raft of STI and tS markings and a bright red key fob to set the tS driver apart from his lesser bretheren.

There will be 400 WRX STI tS sold between January 25 and March 14, with a choice of the 6MT 2liter or the 5AT 2.5liter version, in Satin white, Obsidian black, Spark grey or WR blue mica.

Perfect then. Pass the order form… except there is the slight problem of the price : 4,725,000 yens for the MT6 and 4,221,000 for the A-line 5AT. That’s a full million yens more than the corresponding non-carbon shed versions. Ouch. That should help to allay the sorrow of all those outside of Japan who will yet again only be able to lust after this JDM-only edition. It will be shown to the public for the first time at the Tokyo Auto Salon next month.

7tune – The Ultimate JDM Experience

Words – Pierre-Laurent Ribault
Source and Photos – Fuji Heavy Industries Japan