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.

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  • MaintenanceCosts An LA house is a much better investment.
  • FreedMike That's a crudload of fast for that kind of money. I wonder if you can shut off the one pedal driving system.
  • Tassos Elon’s father was my favourite boss. It’s a shame the wokes in South Africa took away his very-happy workforce. They were always free to leave, we just couldn’t guarantee their safety once they left.
  • Tassos If I win this giveaway I will trade my poor but attractive neighbour for pickled herring and aluminum-free deodorant.
  • Shipwright One point missed is that part (not sure how much)of the new plant will be built using foreign labour.