Site Login
Subaru Testing on Formula One Ground
It seems like not only Formula One cars are busy making laps around ‘the Ring’. The Nürburgring, found in Nurburg, Germany will not only play host to the upcoming European Grand Prix but it also served as the prowling ground for the upcoming 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which according to Wikipedia is the “highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line”.
According to Edmunds.com, one of the leading online sources of auto information, spy photographers have taken shots of the latest WRX STI being tested at the Nürburgring test track. Although the car has been camouflaged, it is easy to distinguish it as the next WRX STI. The hood scoop which is prominent in almost any Subaru auto model gave the pre-production car away.
Changes made to the redesigned WRX STI include the revision of the grille. The 2008 WRX STI sports a larger grille which, in auto speak, is called the egg-crate design because of its resemblance. The 2009 model year version of the WRX STI though sports a mesh grille which is much smaller than its former nose design.
The hood scoop which gave the car away as the new WRX STI is larger than the hood scoop on its predecessor. What this means is that the engine under the hood of the car is bigger than its forerunner. After all, more air intake means that the hood scoop is feeding a bigger mouth. With a bigger engine comes the issue of fuel efficiency and gas mileage and whatnot. Surely, with the exterior of the WRX STI revised for the 2009 model year, it should be expected that it will sport refined Subaru WRX parts.
Another change made to the WRX STI is a bigger spoiler on top of its rear hatch. This might be revised to give the WRX STI better aerodynamics. Although larger than the previous version used on the previous WRX STI, the spoiler does not ruin the clean lines of the vehicle nor its proportion.
Four tailpipes can be found on the rear of the tested vehicle. The quad-tailpipe configuration is further confirmation that its engine will be a bigger one thus the need for a better exhaust system. After all, Subaru is not an automaker which would use four tailpipes on a car just to make it look ‘cooler’.
The Japanese automaker though is yet to announce specifications of any kind for the 2009 WRX STI. After all, the testing is just one of the steps that a car should go through before it reaches production. The company may have to tweak the car a bit and put some finishing touches here and there before mass producing it.
Although no word has come out yet from the camp of Subaru regarding the specs of the WRX STI, it is speculated that it will be equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The said engine is expected to have a power output of about 325 hp. According to Edmunds, although spy photographers have provided pictures of the 2009 WRX STI, the official launching of the WRX STI will be at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show which is slated to be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City from the 26th of October to the 11th of November.
