Subaru's Late Holiday Gift for North America
Yesterday, Subaru released a teaser video for a rip-roaring special edition of the WRX STI. Hours earlier, AutoGuide reported the brand filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to reserve the “S209” moniker, which we (and every other automotive outlet) now believe is the car in the video.
Those in the know will recognize that the designation is one number higher than the Japan-only S208, which exists as the Christmas ham on Subaru Tecnica International’s table. The S208’s 2.0-liter turbo flat-four generates 329 horsepower and 319 pound-feet of torque. It also boasts shorter ratio steering, upgraded suspension with Bilstein dampers, BBS wheels, upsized Brembo brakes, a sizable rear spoiler, carbon-fiber roof, and a unique aero kit.
STI has been building special edition S models since 2000, when it debuted the S201. Thus far, track-focused cars have emerged every year, just never in America. That doesn’t appear to be the case for the S209.
Titled “From Japan With Love,” the video shows the camouflaged Subie flying around Virginia International Raceway and notes “Something special from Subaru Tecnica International is coming to America for the first time ever.”
Currently, the American-market STIs use Subaru’s old EJ25 2.5-liter flat-four — which makes 305 horsepower in standard trim and 310 horsepower in the Type RA — exclusively. Tuners have proven it’s capable of more. The car in the clip has a lot of RA-like touches, but some of the pieces are highly reminiscent of the S208. Unfortunately that hasn’t given us any hints as to what’s under the hood.
Thankfully, we’ll only have to wait a few weeks to find out. The probable WRX STI S209 makes its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 14th, 2019.
[Image: Subaru]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
"nothing…nothing…nothing…aaaand there is all the boost" Yes, but the monkey-boyz just love them.
"you can count on some major engine out service by 100k" The next one will probably have a blown version of Toyota's Dynamic Farce engine. Subaru H4 engines are going away.