Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive
The Subaru WRX is a technological tour de force, and in one highly-focussed and drivercentric package sums up everything Subaru stands for: it combines unwavering stability and traction which ensure breathtaking acceleration and cornering, for an unrivalled driving experience.
No other car grips and goes like a WRX, making it a favourite with South African car connoisseurs since it was first introduced here. With its wide-bodied stance and generous track width the current generation looks exceptionally purposeful, and lives up to its promise of a rewarding drive.
Honed in the crucible of motorsport competition, the Subaru Tecnica International derivative has evolved continuously and is today a brutally quick yet user-friendly machine which bristles with both attitude and technology.  It is quite possibly the most complete performance sedan in the world.
The dramatic styling cues of the STI are not just for effect either, and aerodynamic benefits come from the trademark rear wing, providing downforce at high cornering speeds. The front spoiler is designed to balance that at the other end, speeding up the airflow under the car, creating a low-pressure cell which has the effect of pressing it against the tarmac.

Boxer engine
Under the distinctive bonnet of every WRX is an award-winning 2,5-litre DOHC turbocharged Boxer engine. In its standard form it provides an exhilarating 195 kW and 343 Nm, but in STI guise that is increased to a 221 kW at 6 000 rpm – which equates to a bruising 90 kW per litre. There’s also 407 Nm available when mated to Subaru’s bullet-proof six-speed gearbox and a standstill to 100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds and a top speed ability of 255 km/h make it the fastest Subaru ever.
Over the years the STI has evolved and today owners can choose to have their high-performance kicks with just two pedals. The engine’s torque curve is remapped completely for this application and the five-speed Sportshift (equipped with fast-acting paddle shifters) has 350 Nm available from just 3 000 rpm all the way to 6 000. Performance has never been so effortless and it’ll accelerate to 100 in a mere six seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h.
Si-Drive is fitted to both versions, which by simply twisting a rotary control allows the driver to select from three distinct engine personas...drive your STI in congested conditions while enjoying maximum fuel economy thanks to the Intelligent mode, and when the road opens up change the setting to Sport or Sport Sharp and leave the traffic behind.

Transmission
The three-pedal WRX STI is all about maximum driver interaction and heightening the driving experience. Giving the pilot a say in the car’s handling characteristics is part of that and the Driver Controlled Centre Differential, or DCCD, allows the torque distribution can be fine-tuned from the cockpit to suit conditions, whether it be a wet highway or a racetrack outing.  In the case of the two-pedal version, the centre differential integrated with the transmission has a 45:55 front/rear torque distribution which is automatically adjusted depending on the driving conditions.  Front and rear limited slip differentials and Subaru’s VDC stability control contribute further to the dynamic brilliance of the STI.
Everything about the STI is focussed on maximum performance: from the 245/40 semi-race rubber, to the lightweight suspension components and alloy wheels which reduce unsprung weight, to the track-bred KYB dampers, to the powerful braking system with ventilated discs all round. Little has been left untouched by the STI performance experts, and each aspect of the car has been tweaked to provide grin-inducing driving pleasure. Underpinning that with the advantages bestowed by combining a low-slung horizontally-opposed engine with Symmetrical  All-Wheel-Drive makes a WRX or a WRX STI a natural choice for those who love driving.