Subaru loves to save special things for the home market. The 22B STI from 1998 might be the most notable example among casual Subie heads, but it’s hardly the only one. And now Nihon-boxer devotees have a pair of new Impreza-derived machines to lust after: the WRX S4 and the WRX STI Type S.
The STI Type S isn’t markedly different from the car you can trot down to your local Subie store and buy. It gives away a pony or so of our model’s 305 horsepower while bumping the torque up 21 lb-ft to 311. If torqueliness is next to godliness in your garage, this is the Subaru you’ll no doubt be drooling over.
To us, however, the WRX S4 is the more interesting of the pair. The name reeks of cheek. “Why yes, German AWD/turbocharging enthusiasts with a storied rally heritage, we’re just going to pluck that alphanumeric and stick it on the back of our turbocharged AWD car with its storied rally heritage.” Beyond the blatant pilfer from Audi, the S4 takes Subaru’s new FA engine to power levels near the beloved old EJ that’s still doing duty in the STI. Fuji Heavy Industries has managed to wring 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft from the new engine.
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The extra-zoot Rex is denoted by a nice little decklid spoiler, revised ducts in the front fascia, as well as unique side sills, a fancy boost gauge, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The S4 is also the first WRX to receive Subaru’s EyeSight collison-avoidance system. It all sounds pretty snappy, but there’s a downside, and it’s a pretty unfortunate one. It’s available only with Subaru’s Sport Lineartronic transmission, which is Subaru code for CVT. That’s one way to keep it from stepping on the STI, we suppose.
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