Up front the WRX and WRX STI is undeniably aggressive, with a bumper that juts forwards and outwards for a three-dimensional look. The lower air intake – rectangular in shape – is extremely large and purposeful.

In fact, the entire car looks purposeful, with its wide body kit, vents for brakes and cooling, menacing bonnet scoop, 18" BBS rims on the STI (the WRX has 17" rims), quad exhaust pipes and rear diffuser.

In keeping with the upmarket status of the car, it has xenon headlamps, coupled to its trademark driving spotlights, which sit in nacelles near the outer ends of the front spoiler. Ducts just ahead of the front wheels ensure that the air pressure under the nose remains low by helping to prevent the build-up of air inside the wheel arches.

Add in the bulging rear arches, blacked-out surrounds in the light clusters, quartet of 80 mm diameter polished stainless steel exhaust tips… and the impression is of a wide and low car, with the heart and capabilities of a rally champion.