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SUBARU IMPREZA® WRX® STI® RESTYLED FOR 2006
300-hp Supercar Gains AWD Enhancement and New Safety Technology
CHERRY HILL, N.J., July 21, 2005 –
Subaru of America, Inc., America’s all-wheel drive leader, has
restyled its Impreza line for 2006 and in addition given the all-conquering
300-horsepower WRX STI
model several performance enhancements. On the safety front, all Impreza models
gain the new dualstage
Subaru Advanced Airbag System.
Following an interior redesign for 2005, all Impreza models have been restyled
for 2006 to reflect the new
brand identity. The new Subaru signature front-end design for Impreza features a
three-section mesh-type
grill inspired by the company’s aircraft heritage, plus boldly styled headlights
with smoke-tinted lenses.
All 2006 Impreza models are also identified by a new tail lamp cluster design.
The 2006 WRX STI is also distinguished by the lower-profile hood scoop from the
standard WRX to aid
forward visibility. Daytime running lights (DRL) are added to the safety roster
to make the WRX STI
more visible to other drivers. A new roof vane spoiler, inspired by the Impreza
World Rally
Championship competition car, contributes to stability at track speeds and
reinforces the car’s highperformance
attitude.
The WRX STI received several significant chassis performance enhancements for
2005, including wider
wheels. For 2006, the addition of a steering sensor input to the DCCD All-Wheel
Drive system enhances
power distribution response by more accurately relaying the car’s cornering
situation.
The WRX STI is based on the Impreza WRX platform but is completely re-engineered
to provide even
higher levels of acceleration, handling and braking performance that challenge
the world’s best sports
cars. In its first year, the WRX STI won Road & Track magazine’s “Best Car 2004”
Reader’s Choice
Award, edging out several dedicated(?) sports cars, including the Porsche® 911®
GT3.
The Impreza WRX STI is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter DOHC
boxer engine
producing 300 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft. of peak torque at 4,000 rpm.
Teamed exclusively
to a 6-speed manual transmission, the engine can propel the WRX STI from
zero-to-60 mph in under five
seconds. Power is transferred to all four wheels by a sophisticated Subaru
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
system with Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) to optimize performance
in all conditions.
Rally Tested, Road Ready
The WRX STI draws motorsports technology directly from Subaru expertise in World
Rally
Championship (WRC) competition and is designed to appeal to the most serious
driving enthusiasts. STI
stands for Subaru Tecnica International, the high-performance and motorsports
subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd.
In its exterior design, Impreza WRX STI leaves no doubts about its performance
potential – a look that is
equally functional. The scoop in the aluminum hood feeds outside air to an
intercooler that is
significantly larger than the intercooler used on WRX models. The dual-plane
rear spoiler – which
appears to be borrowed directly from the Impreza World Rally Car – helps reduce
lift and improve
stability at track speeds. An aerodynamic underbody cover and the new roof vane
spoiler contribute to
enhanced high-speed track stability. Airflow is also managed via front side
spoilers on the front bumper
and STI-design aerodynamic side ground effects.
The front fascia features a four-beam headlight system with high-intensity
discharge (HID) low beams.
Distinctive STI fog light insert covers add to the no-nonsense look. Large
diameter Brembo® brakes are
clearly visible between the spokes of the 17-inch lightweight aluminum-alloy BBS®
wheels.
300-Horsepower Turbo Legend
The 2.5-liter horizontally opposed (Boxer) 4-cylinder engine is based on a
specially reinforced semiclosed
deck engine block with forged aluminum-alloy pistons, forged high-carbon steel
connecting rods
and sodium-filled exhaust valves. The Subaru Active Valve Control System (AVCS)
variable valve timing technology helps provide strong torque characteristics throughout the
engine’s operating range.
The turbocharger produces 14.5 psi of maximum boost compared to 13.5 in the
standard WRX. The large
capacity intercooler uses a manually operated water spray feature to enhance
intercooler efficiency during
high-performance driving.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive With Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD)
The Impreza WRX STI is equipped with the brand’s most performance-directed
Symmetrical All-Wheel
Drive system featuring Driver Control Center Differential (DCCD). A planetary
center differential
provides a performance-oriented 35 percent front / 65 percent rear power split.
Set in automatic mode,
the electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch can vary the
torque distribution ratio as
needed to suit driving and road-surface conditions.
Automatic mode provides the best all-around performance for most drivers and
circumstances, varying
the front/rear torque distribution automatically depending on driving conditions
and driver input. The
system determines the ideal power distribution in response to vehicle
acceleration, deceleration, steering
angle, cornering force and wheel slippage.
In manual mode, DCCD allows the driver to vary the front-to-rear torque
distribution (up to 50/50
maximum) to optimize All-Wheel Drive performance for varying driving conditions.
The driver first
selects manual mode with a console-mounted button and then turns a thumbwheel on
the center console to
select from among six levels of center differential locking. Increasing the lock
factor keeps more power
at the front wheels, which the driver might want in certain driving conditions,
on particular roads or to
suit an individual driving style.
A helical-type limited-slip front differential and mechanical clutch-type
limited-slip rear differential help
to optimize power distribution side-to-side, helping to ensure that the inside
wheels don’t slip during
cornering.
Competition-Bred Chassis
A super-stiff Ring Frame Reinforced body structure with a hydroformed front
subframe provides the
foundation for the high-integrity Impreza platform. Compared to the standard WRX
models, the WRX
STI is lowered by 0.4-inch to help yield a lower center of gravity. The 4-wheel
independent suspension
inherits technology from the Impreza WRC competition car, but has been strictly
optimized in the WRX
STI for high cornering performance on paved roads.
Inverted struts used for the front and rear suspension increase bending
resistance for quicker and more
consistent performance under hard cornering. A rally-derived variation on the
MacPherson-type strut, the
inverted strut essentially functions like a conventional shock absorber set
upside-down and encased by
another tube. The strength of the outer steel tube bears the brunt of bending
forces acting upon the strut under cornering, rather than the internal piston
rod. The piston rod operates in the lower portion of the
strut tube rather than the upper section.
The secondary upper tube mounts to the inner fender where the piston rod would
mount in a conventional
strut. The piston’s stroke remains consistent during hard cornering, helping to
maintain the ideal tire-toroad
surface contact pattern for increased traction and cornering power.
Aluminum front suspension lower control arms and aluminum rear suspension
lateral links reduce
unsprung vehicle weight. The standard BBS light-alloy wheels measure 17 x
8-inches and are equipped
with 225/45 ZR17 Bridgestone Potenza RE070 directional performance tires.
The quick-ratio steering system yields 2.6 turns lock-to-lock, and the steering
rack uses a “cannon mount”
for greater rigidity that improves on-center response. A damper valve helps
reduce kickback that the
increased rigidity might cause.
Brembo Brakes with Super Sport ABS
Subaru equipped Impreza WRX STI with one of the most advanced and
performance-optimized braking
systems on the market today. The powerful Brembo Performance Brake System
employs ventilated 4-wheel disc brakes to help ensure stopping power and consistency commensurate
with the vehicle’s high
performance capability. The front discs measure 12.7 inches in diameter and
1.2-inch thick and utilize 4-piston, fixed-position calipers. The rear discs are 12.3 inches in diameter and
0.8-inch thick and use 2-piston, fixed-position calipers.
A combination of Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and the Super Sport
Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS) helps to reduce stopping distances and understeer compared to
conventional ABS systems.
EBD provides precise control of braking pressure between the front and rear
wheels based on the vehicle
load to improve stability and stopping distances. Conventional ABS systems
control the rear wheels as a
pair, reducing the braking force to both rear wheels. Super Sport ABS, using
input from a lateral gsensor,
can control the braking forces at each rear wheel independently, optimizing the
braking ability
during hard cornering to help reduce understeer.
Performance-Directed Interior
The WRX STI conveys its performance attitude from the inside, as well. The
driver grips a MOMO® 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel. Performance design front seats feature
substantial side bolsters,
integrated head restraints and embroidered “STI” logos. The seats are
upholstered in unique perforated blue high-grip Ecsaine® fabric with contrasting
black knit bolsters, complemented by matching blue door
trim and blue floor carpeting.
The WRX STI instrument gauge cluster places a 9,000-rpm tachometer in the
center, flanked by a 160-mph speedometer, DCCD display and fuel and temperature gauges. All three primary
gauges feature
aluminum trim rings. Red LED indicators and an illuminated “STI” logo in the
tachometer reinforce the
sporty driving environment. Previewing the vehicle’s performance potential, all
the gauge needles swing
to their maximum positions when the ignition is switched on, and then return to
their normal positions.
The standard automatic climate control system integrates cabin air filtration.
The standard 140-watt
AM/FM premium stereo plays through six speakers and includes a 6-disc in-dash CD
changer. An engine
immobilizer security system is standard equipment.
New Safety Technology for 2006
Front seat head/chest side impact air bags (SRS) are standard, and all Impreza
models for 2006 get the
new Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbag system. The driver’s side air bag deploys
according to the driver’s
proximity to the steering wheel, as measured by a sensor on the seat track. In
the passenger side front
seat, a sensor module detects weight on the passenger seat – first determining
if it’s occupied, and if so by
a child or adult – to control air bag deployment. As part of the system, the
dashboard features a new
“Airbag” indicator light.
Front seatbelts integrate electrically triggered pre-tensioners and force
limiters. A safety pedal system in
all Impreza models is designed to prevent injury to the driver’s lower limbs in
the event of a serious frontend
collision.
For additional information about Subaru of America, Inc. and Subaru vehicles,
visit the media website at
www.media.subaru.com.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries
Ltd. of Japan.
Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes
All-Wheel Drive Subaru
vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across
the United States. Subaru is
the only car company that offers Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard
equipment on every vehicle in
its product line.
Source: Subaru of America,
Inc.
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