The unveiling of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX at the New York Auto Show caused both nods of approval and gasps of horror. Some liked the European flavor of the new design while others missed the hard-edged nature of past WRXs. Subaru has taken a new direction with its popular pocket-rocket, introducing a sporty-looking 5-door hatchback and an elegant sedan. But the question on everyone's mind was: What will happen with the super-high-performance WRX STI?

Unlike Mitsubishi and its Evo X, Subaru isn't quite ready to show off the styling of its highest-performing vehicle. The official debut of the car is still a few months away — probably at the Tokyo Motor Show this October — but we were able to get our hands on some vital information that provides a clear picture of what the next WRX STI will be like, including its basic appearance.

Take the exterior of the stock 5-door WRX and inject it with large doses of steroids; now you have an idea of how the next WRX STI will look. The car is about 3-4 in. wider than the stock Impreza WRX, with pronounced fender flares front and rear. “Muscular” is the operative term here, with the overall essence of the STI being that of a purebred race car instead of a street-legal 5-seater. The grille will be different from that of the stock WRX — black mesh will replace the chrome highlights of the stock car's — with the Subaru badge and STI logo placed inside. The car is a bit shorter than the current STI, measuring about 174.0 in. bumper to bumper, but wheelbase has grown to 103.1. As with the current model, gold-colored wheels will be optional, but they'll be 18 in. instead of the current model's 17s. The huge rear wing that has defined past WRX STIs will be replaced by something more subtle, like a diffuser coming off the roof.

Underneath the hood scoop is the same turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-4 of the past model. JDM (Japan domestic model) STIs will be powered by a 2.0-liter flat-4 for World Rally homologation reasons. The output of the 2.0-liter flat-4 is rumored to be at 300 bhp, which means our 2.5-liter version should pump out about 320. Torque will be around 320 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm. The slight boost in power, coupled with the fact that the car will be about 50 lb. lighter, will make the next WRX STI just as quick as, if not quicker than, the Evo X.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Price

est $35,000
Curb weight

est 3300 lb
Wheelbase

103.1 in.
Length

est 174.0 in.
Width

est 71.0 in.
Height

est 58.0 in.
Engine & Drivetrain
Type

alum. block & heads, turbo flat-4
Valves

4-valves/cyl
Displacement

2457 cc
Horsepower

est 320 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque

320 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Transmission

6-speed manual
Chassis & Body
Layout

front engine/awd
Body/frame

unit steel
Brakes, f&r

vented discs, ABS
Steering

rack & pinion, variable pwr assist
Suspension, f/r

MacPherson struts/multilink
Wheels

forged alloy, 18 in.
Tires

Bridgestone Potenza, 235/40R-18
Performance
0–60 mph

est 4.5 sec
0–1320 ft (¼ mile)

est 12.5 sec

Sixty mph should come in around 4.5 seconds, and the quarter-mile mark in about 12.5. The boxer powerplant will be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox — no automatic or twin-clutch system will be offered. What's new is Subaru's SI-Drive. This system, already in the Legacy spec.B, allows the driver to map the throttle to three different settings: Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp. It modifies the engine's torque characteristics, changing the way power is delivered. Intelligent mode is programmed for everyday commuting, while Sport Sharp is intended for sessions under the red mist, with super-quick throttle response and faster power delivery to the four wheels.

There probably won't be fancy traction- or yaw-control systems in the STI like in the Evo X, but DCCD (driver's control center differential) remains, allowing the driver to vary the torque delivery between the front and rear axles. The suspension system will be MacPherson struts up front and a multilink setup at the rear, the latter similar in geometry to that of the Legacy wagon. There are rumors that custom performance dampers, produced with Yamaha, and 6-pot front brake calipers from Brembo may make it into production. A yaw-control system similar to Mitsubishi's AYC is said to be in the works, but we're not sure if it will make it into this car. What we do know is the new STI will have sharper handling characteristics than the current model, without a sacrifice in ride quality, thanks to improved structural rigidity, a retuned suspension and its compact size.

Subaru wanted to keep things simple with the next WRX STI, opting not to cram it with all kinds of high-tech gadgetry. The engineers decided to focus on the basics and keep the price tag as low as possible. Early reports indicate that the next WRX STI will be priced about $35,000, right in the neighborhood of a certain aforementioned compact sports sedan. The on-sale date of early 2008 is also right on top of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. The official launch of both cars is still more than a half year away, but the battle lines are already being drawn. We can't predict which car will come out on top, but we do know that it's going to be one helluva dogfight.